All the Truth about MLA Editing Marks

Before learning of what MLA format is, know that MLA means Modern Language Association while the format of text is referring to the format made by the association and the same is now widely accepted and used in the academics. It is important to know of this specific format when it is asked by your professor. Check out the following for the table of editing and proofreading marks for MLA literature as well as ways on how to format.

MLA Literature Formatting

• The paper to use is 8.5 x 11 inches and the font to use is 12 point.
• There is only one space after punctuation marks and periods.
• The first line of a paragraph is indented one-half inch from the margin on the left; for the perfect indention, use the tab key.
• The paging number should be on the upper right hand corner, and every number should only be one-half inch from the paper’s top and it must be aligned with the right margin.
• Texts on the body should be double-spaced.
• There should be one-inch margins on every side.
• Usually, there is no title page in MLA format, but it may also depend on your professor’s request.
• The title of a page should be placed at the center and without special formatting, such as bold, italics and all caps, among others.
• You may need to consult a style guide for abbreviations, section headings and formatting quotations if you’re given more instructions by your professor.
• Make a header to number all pages. However, your professor may ask you to get rid of the number on the first page.
• You can use italics when needed and for titles of longer works in your essay.
• Include any endnotes on a separate page before the page for Works Cited. You should title the section notes in an unformatted and center manner.

MLA Editing Marks

Below is a short manual MLA you can make use of.

Symbol	Meaning	Example
	delete
	close up
	delete and close up
	caret
	insert a space
	space evenly
	let stand
	transpose
	used to separate two or more marks and often as a concluding stroke at the end of an insertion
	set farther to the left
	set farther to the right
	set as ligature (such as )
	align horizontally
	align vertically
	broken character
	indent or insert em quad space
	begin a new paragraph
	spell out
	set in CAPITALS
	set in SMALL CAPITALS
	set in lowercase
	set in italic
	set in roman
	set in boldface
	hyphen	multi-colored
	en dash	1965–72
	em (or long) dash	Now—at last!—we know.
	superscript or superior
	subscript or inferior
	centered
	comma
	apostrophe
	period
	semicolon
	colon
	quotation marks
	parentheses
	brackets
	query to author: has this been set as intended?
	push down a work-up
	turn over an inverted letter
	wrong font

Table credit: http://www.merriam-webster.com/mw/table/proofrea.htm

1The last three symbols are unlikely to be needed in marking proofs of photocomposed matter.

There you have what you need to know about MLA editing marks to apply in your paper if you have been asked to use the MLA literature format in your paper. Nevertheless, you should follow your instructions guidelines on how to do the formatting of your essay.