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LRC

Writing Guide: Essay Formatting

Quick tips on organizing & formatting an essay or research paper

Formatting an Essay

What is Formatting? 

To do well on a paper, you must use proper formatting. Formatting refers to the way your paper looks. This includes font size, line spacing, page headers, and many other details. The two most common formats are MLA and APA . Your teacher should specify which format they expect you to use, but sometimes they will not. In deciding which format to use, keep this in mind: APA is used for social sciences and psychology, and MLA is used for humanities and literature. The boxes below contain guidelines for both formats. 

MLA Formatting

Important basics of MLA formatting to keep in mind: 

  • Size 12pt font 
  • Times New Roman 
  • Double Spaced 
  • 1 Inch Margins 
  • Header 
  • Title 

APA Formatting

Some important basics of APA formatting to keep in mind: 

  • Title Page
  • 1 Inch Margins
  • Double Spaced 
  • Page Header on Every Page
  • Any Accessible Font (Times New Roman 12pt., Arial 11pt., Georgia 11pt.) 

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