What is Formatting?
Formatting in the publication process entails structuring a manuscript according to a journal’s format, citations, fonts, and figures. It guarantees that the material is presented professionally and meets the criteria required for submission and review.
General Formatting
1. Font: Typically Times New Roman, 12-point.
2. Margins: All sides have 1 inch margins.
3. Double-space throughout the paper.
4. Page numbers are located in the header, typically in the upper right corner.
5. Indentation: The first line of each paragraph is indented by 0.5 inches.
6. Headings/Subheadings: Use a consistent format to differentiate between parts and sub-sections (APA, for example, offers recommendations for five levels of headings).
Research Paper Format
The formatting of a research paper varies based on the style guide you are using. In addition to citations, APA, MLA, and Chicago give formatting requirements for font selection, page layout, heading type, and reference page format.
- APA (American Psychological Association) style.
- MLA (Modern Language Association) style.
- The Chicago Manual of Style.
APA (American Psychological Association) Format:
1. Title Page: Center the title of your paper, your name, and institutional affiliation on the upper half of the page. For student papers, add the course number and name, the instructor’s name, and the assignment’s due date.
2. Abstract: Provide a brief summary of your research (150-250 words) on a separate page after the title.
3. Main body:
- Use a normal typeface, such as 12pt Times New Roman or 11pt Arial.
- Double-space all text and leave 1-inch margins on both sides.
- Add a page header (title and page number) to each page.
- Organize sections with headings and subheadings that follow APA criteria.
4. References:
APA Style citation calls for (author-date) APA in-text citations throughout the text.
MLA (Modern Language Association) format:
1. First page: There is no separate title page. In the upper left corner, include your name, instructor’s name, course, and date, followed by the title of your work, which should be centered on the next line.
2. Main Body:
- Use a readable font, such as 12 pt Times New Roman.
- Double-space all text and maintain 1-inch margins.
- Add a header with your last name and page number to the upper right corner of each page.
3. Works Cited: Use MLA in-text citations when referencing sources in your work. The MLA Works Cited page appears at the end of your content and lists all sources utilized.
Chicago style
1. Title Page: Centered and double-spaced, provide your paper title, name, and institution name.
2. Main body:
- Use a regular font, such as 12 pt Times New Roman.
- Use double-spaced text with 1-inch margins.
- Use footnotes or endnotes for citation.
3. Chicago provides two citation styles for bibliographies: author-date citations with a reference list and footnote citations. Choose one style over another and stick with it.
Sources:
- https://www.scribbr.com/research-paper/research-paper-format/
- https://www.dremio.com/wiki/formatting/