Note about Word: each version of Word is slightly different. Though the tools work the same, menus are rearranged. I'm using Word 2010 for Windows. Helpful keyboard shortcuts (note that for Macs, replace CTRL with Command/Apple): Paste CTRL-V Cut CTRL-X Copy CTRL-C Save CTRL-S Print CTRL-P Find on page CTRL-F Introduction to menus: each menu has sub-menus, called tabs. For example, when I choose "insert", I have tabs specific to the "insert" menu. To return to the basic menu options, choose the "home" menu. There are additional menu options when you right-click on the page. This menu allows you to copy, cut, paste; change the font or color of text; and change margins and other document attributes. Note: you CAN right-click on a Mac! Hold down the Apple/command key while clicking. Creating section breaks The format requirements for the critical paper are as follows: No numbers on the title or signature pages A page number in the bottom center of the first page of text A page number in the top right corner of every subsequent page of text, including Works Cited 1-inch margins on the left, right, and bottom of each page 3-inch top margin on the title page 2-inch top margin on the signature page To format different sections of your paper in particular ways, you need to create section breaks. You can define each section to be formatted accordingly. To create a section break, use the Page Layout menu and choose the Breaks tab.
You will need a total of 4 (four) sections: 1. Signature page 2. Title page 3. First page of text 4. Second and subsequent pages of text, including Works Cited Put the cursor at the bottom of the page where you want the next section to start. For example, my first and second pages will be formatted differently, so I will put the cursor next to the last word on the first page. I will then choose Breaks from the Page Layout menu and choose Next Page. This may insert a blank page. To delete it, put your cursor in the upper right corner of the blank page and hit backspace. To make sure you have section breaks where you want them, open Header and Footer by double clicking in the top margin of the page. The section numbers should appear in the header and footer: Lastly, from the Header and Footer menu, de-select the Link to Previous option. It should look like this:
Adjusting page margins by section For every section, the left, right, and bottom margins are 1 inch. For the title page, the top margin is 3 inches. For the signature page, the top margin is 2 inches. Once you have your sections defined, click on the title page. In the Page Layout menu, go to the Margins section and select Custom Margins.
Change the top margin to 3 inches and select Apply to this section.
Repeat this step for the signature page, changing the top margin to 2 inches. Adding page numbers: Once you have your section breaks that are NOT linked to previous, you re ready for page numbers. Go to the first page you want a page number to appear: the 3 rd page. This should be Section 3. Double click in the bottom margin to open Header and Footer. Add page number and choose the bottom center orientation. A 3 will appear because it is the 3 rd page. However, you want the number to be 1, since it is the first page of your text. To change this, under the Page Number menu, choose Format Page Numbers
Choose Start at: and enter 1.
Click OK. There will be a 1 on the bottom center of your first page of text in Footer Section 3. There MAY be a 2 on the bottom of the second page. If that is the case, simply highlight the number and delete it. On the 2 nd page of text, follow the steps above to insert a page number in the upper right corner of the page. This should be in Header Section 4. There will now be page numbers in the upper right corner of every subsequent page. Hanging indentations: Getting your reference list perfect MLA citation style require that on a reference list, the second (and subsequent) lines of each reference be indented. This is known as a hanging indentation and looks like this: Pullen, K. If Ya Liked It, Then You Shoulda Made A Video: Beyonce Knowles, YouTube and the Public Sphere Of Images. Performance Research 16.2 (2011): 145-153. Web. How to: Either copy-and-paste the citation from a database, or type it out long hand. Highlight the reference and right-click. Choose Paragraph from the right-click menu. Then, under Indentation change the Special drop-down menu to Hanging and click OK.
Any questions? There are a lot of tutorials and guides available online! If you re having difficulty doing a specific task in Word, try looking it up in Google. Be sure to specify which version of Word you re using. An example search would be: Changing location of page numbers in Word 2010 for Mac. Or: Email me, call, or drop by the library for more help! Rebecca Halpern, Reference & Instruction Librarian rhalpern@antioch.edu 310-578-1080 ext. 333