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How to Format an Essay

Last Updated: August 26, 2022 References

This article was co-authored by Carrie Adkins, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano . Carrie Adkins is the cofounder of NursingClio, an open access, peer-reviewed, collaborative blog that connects historical scholarship to current issues in gender and medicine. She completed her PhD in American History at the University of Oregon in 2013. While completing her PhD, she earned numerous competitive research grants, teaching fellowships, and writing awards. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 68,852 times.

You’re opening your laptop to write an essay, knowing exactly what you want to write, but then it hits you—you don’t know how to format it! Using the correct format when writing an essay can help your paper look polished and professional while earning you full credit. There are 3 common essay formats—MLA, APA, and Chicago Style—and we’ll teach you the basics of properly formatting each in this article. So, before you shut your laptop in frustration, take a deep breath and keep reading because soon you’ll be formatting like a pro.

Setting Up Your Document

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Writing the Essay Body

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Using References

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Essay Writing Guide

Essay Format

Nova A.

Essay Format: A Basic Guide With Examples

Published on: Sep 24, 2017

Last updated on: Jan 23, 2023

essay format

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Writing essays is an important part of every student’s life. However, it is not just about to list down ideas in a linear manner. But  essay writing  also involves a well-structured outline and format to organize all the research in one place.

Many institutions require a standard format that a paper of any kind must follow such as MLA, APA, and Chicago. The purpose of each format is to present the information in a more structured way.

In this article, find out what is an essay format and the general guidelines in each format type. The application of these formats could range from high school essays to college essays.

Refer to this guide and follow the instructions for a perfectly formatted paper.

What is an Essay Format?

An essay format refers to a set of guidelines that decides how the elements of your paper should be arranged. The format guidelines cover the essay structure, title, citations, and the basic outline of the essay.

When formatting a paper, there are certain things that you need to pay attention to. These include the structure of an essay, title page, works cited page, and in-text citations.

The guidelines for the standard  essay outline  and format are as follows:

Basic Essay Outline

Each essay needs an introduction, body paragraph, and conclusion to include all the key information. The following outline shows the basic format for all types of essay and research papers.

Introduction

Here is a detailed description of each step for creating the basic essay outline.

Start your essay by introducing your topic and provide some background information. Don’t forget to end this with a strong thesis statement that shows the main argument of the paper.

Body of the essay

In each body paragraph, write a topic sentence at the start and provide the main arguments to support the thesis.

In the last paragraph, provide a summary of the entire paper and restate the thesis statement. Provide a call to action or give the readers something to think about.

Learn how to write a conclusion and better wrap up the information by bringing together all of your key points.

Standard Essay Format Guidelines

Below are the standard essay format guidelines that you should follow for an organized piece of writing.

Basic Essay Format Template

Below is an essay format template that you can refer to while crafting your essays or any other type of academic writing.

Essay Format Template

Essay Format MLA Style Guidelines

MLA is the most commonly used format style used in the field of humanities. To craft an essay in MLA format, here are the basic guidelines that you are required to follow:

To know more about this specific format, we have a detailed  MLA format guide  to help you understand the concept better.

MLA Format Essay Example

Writing a paper in MLA format can be a challenging task if you don’t know the basic guidelines to follow.

Here is a free MLA format example to help you better understand what to include in this specific format style.

Essay Format APA Style Guideline

APA stands for American Psychological Association and is mostly used in scientific papers. Many behavioral and social science students make use of the APA format to structure their papers.

Here are the basic APA format guidelines for you if you don’t know how to write an essay in APA format.

Related:   APA Format - Basic Rules & Sample Paper

APA Format Essay Example

Looking for an APA essay format pdf example? Here is a well-designed APA format essay example to help you nail your next essay formatting.

Essay Format Chicago Style Guidelines

The Chicago style contains a set of comprehensive guidelines for formatting papers and essays. Precise citations and footnotes are key for a perfect and successful Chicago-style paper.

Here are the guidelines for formatting a paper in Chicago style.

Chicago Style Format Example

Here is an expert Chicago-style essay format example that you can go through and learn how to format an essay.

Hopefully, this short guide helps you in understanding the various elements of a well-formatted paper. Follow the above guidelines for crafting good essays that are coherent and easy to read throughout.

After formatting the paper, don’t forget to revise your paper to remove all the formatting mistakes. Make sure the paper complies with the correct format required by your institution.

Get Expert Help In Formatting Your Paper

Still, confused and looking for  essay help  to make sure your paper follows a correct format? Contact our customer service agents at MyPerfectWords.com and get help with your academic papers. 

Following are the formats in which you can get help from our  top essay writing service :

Let our best essay writers  craft any type of paper in any format for you. Contact us today and let our expert writers take care of your academic needs!

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Nova Allison is a Digital Content Strategist with over eight years of experience. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. She is majorly involved in developing and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Nova has a passion for writing that engages and informs her readers.

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Formatting An Essay - Tips From an English Teacher

By: Tasha Kolesnikova

Formatting An Essay - Tips From an English Teacher

Why Is Your Essay Format Important?

Mla essay format, apa essay format, chicago essay format, how to create a title page, the first page of your essay, introduction, body, and conclusion, in-text citation, section headings, need someone to format your paper.

So you're sitting at your desk, ready to produce a great article in English. The catchy title is prepared, the main thoughts are written in the draft - you have to start! Do you want your work to make a good first impression? Sitting down to write articles or essays in English, you should consider some of the formatting nuances inherent in this language. Following the rules described below, you will immediately show that you know English writing culture and have a professional business approach.

Not sure about your paper and don't know how to format it? Please do not worry, and we will help. Yes, text formatting is not fun. Indeed you are interested in making a catchy proposal, writing a plan. Still, we assure you formatting is an essential part of the document, and your assessment will depend on this element. In this article, you will learn about the rules for formatting essays using three different styles: MLA, APA, and Chicago.

We will provide a brief overview of how the article, structure, and links will look for each style. We will also tell you about the most important details for each style. If you are wondering which font you should use for each format, this article is worth looking at. We will also point out the main advantages of formatting and choose the right style to make your essay look brilliant.

What Is An Essay Format?

An essay format is essentially a blueprint for making your text appear structured and logical. The basic format of an essay consists of three parts - introduction, central part, and conclusion. An essay always contains a thesis - the main idea, the position of the author. The thesis can be at the beginning of the essay if the author already has a perspective on the given problem. Two or three arguments must support any thesis. The arguments, in turn, should be illustrated with two or three examples.

Surely you are asking yourself if the font size, citation style affects how your article will look. The answer is obvious. Formatting is essential for essays. Without a well-formed structure, you won't be able to write easy-to-read text. For essays, ease of reading is an important criterion. Many researchers have worked hard to create styles that are standard across all educational institutions. Researchers have developed guidelines on how written papers should look and citation lists for their documents.

Why was it necessary to complicate the learning process by introducing formatting requirements? Put yourself in the shoes of a teacher, professor, researcher who checks dozens of written documents every day. If each writer used a different formatting style, it would be easy to understand which sources were used, whether certain information is direct quotation or paraphrasing. Every teacher wants to see quality work, so you can't do without formatting.

It is also worth noting that thanks to formatting, writers do not need to come up with the style, structure, and tone of the text. One has only to look at the formatting instructions, and you will ensure yourself a successful article. Readers will appreciate your preparation and will not have to look for information that is important to them.

The 3 Popular Essay Formats: Which One To Choose?

There are many styles available today, but we will tell you about the most popular ones. These include MLA, APA, Chicago. If you do not know which one is best for you, then study the information below. Thanks to the overview, you can find the style that is perfect for the article's topic.

The MLA style was developed for the liberal arts students to format documents and cite sources correctly. The Association of Modern Languages developed it. The MLA's academic style is most often used by students of humanitarian colleges and universities in Canada and the USA. Also, students from other countries use the MLA style to write documents such as an essay in English, essay in English literature, comparative analysis, literary criticism, term paper, dissertation.

Today there are seven editions. In March 2009, the style creators published their latest guide, intended for high school students, colleges, university teachers, and their students. Also, the creators of the style, from time to time, publish examples of how to design each section.

For the MLA style, the developers put forward the following rules:

In the MLA format, the author of the material where the quote is taken must be indicated in a sentence. This technique helps the reader immediately find the material they need, instead of flipping through all the work and opening a list of originators. The source you use in the text must write according to this example: the author and the quote page. You need to write only the author's surname and a page from the material. All the details will be superfluous, and you will violate the design rules. All additional information about the source should indicate in the section entitled "Used literature." The author's name, who wrote the material and quoted him, must be written in curly brackets at the end of the sentence.

Psychologists developed the style of APA to write sociological papers. Sociologists have developed this style to make it more convenient to create coursework, research reports, paper analyzes, literary reviews, methodological articles, and essays. Also, using the APA style makes it easier for scientists to study problems and questions in different fields of sciences.

To create an APA-style paper, you must follow the formatting rules:

The APA style involves using references in the work of the work every time a source is cited, whether it is a paraphrase, an inside-line quote, or a blockquote. The intra-text link contains information about: the author of the work, the editor, the compiler, the cited source's name, the year of publication, and the page interval. A page interval can not indicate if it is not a quote, but some ideas or links to the work as a whole are expressed.

The Chicago style of citation determines the peculiarities of preparation and publication of works in formatting and citation. These and other rules are described in the Chicago Style Reference, called the "bible of editors." It was first published in 1906 by the University of Chicago Press. In September 2010, its 16th edition came out. The handbook is updated based on editorial practice and covers everything from American English grammar to document preparation.

This style is used in some social science publications and most essays. The American Anthropological Association's Stylistic Guide and the Organization of American Historians' publishing instructions are based on the Chicago Stylistic Guide. Many small publishers around the world have adopted this style for their publications.

Chicago Style offers a choice of several formats. Within the style, it is allowed to mix ways of citing the source, provided the text is clear and consistent. The manual describes two citation formats:

How To Format An Essay

Regardless of which style you choose, the essay should have some essential elements. Let's take a look at how to form an essay correctly.

The title page is the "face" of the work, which the inspector pays attention to first of all. To correctly design the essay's title page, you need to adhere to the rules described in the style guide or clarify the teacher's wishes for this element. There are several must-haves for creating a cover page:

Before you write the text, you must properly structure the first page of the work. To format the first page, follow these steps:

Rarely enough, the introduction is placed on a separate page. Usually, it is immediately followed by the main body, separated by a subheading or indentation. In the introduction, you should analyze the relevance of the chosen topic, outline the purpose of writing an essay, and put forward a hypothesis that needs to be confirmed or refuted. From this page onwards, the work is numbered.

Further, it is necessary to logically and consistently give arguments, revealing the stated topic. It is recommended to actively use various scientists' opinions to provide quotes and situations from life. The quotes used must be enclosed in quotation marks and contain a link to the source indicating the authorship, year of publication, and the page where the quoted phrase is located. Information about the source can be given in parentheses in the text or square brackets, indicating the source's serial number in the references list.

An explanation and an example should accompany each statement. At the end of each section with a statement, there should be a conclusion or final judgment. In the final part, the problem is again voiced, all judgments from the central part are summarized, and a general conclusion is made based on the author's position.

Very often, to write an essay, additional sources of information are required. To take information from there and not be convicted of plagiarism, it is necessary to make bibliographic references to the source at the end of the page or the entire essay. Unlike other works, an essay is a work of fiction. Therefore, it uses different types of citation inherent in the essay:

Essays can contain headings. They can be highlighted in bold. The headings are printed with paragraph indentation and with a capital letter. Do not put a period after the headings.

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formatting for an essay

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Proper Essay Format Guide (Updated for 2021)

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Content is king. The substance of what you write is the most important thing in your essays and term papers .

However, you also have to nail the mechanics of academic writing. You need to master good grammar and sentence structure, and use appropriate vocabulary for your subject or assignment. Many instructors take points off for incorrect formatting.

You also need to understand different types of essay format, and use the one that is appropriate to your assignment. This article introduces you to the basic elements of essay format, and helps you to improve your essay formatting.

What is Proper Essay Format?

The format of an essay refers to its basic structure , layout, and even its appearance on the page. Although it seems confusing at first, mastering the different essay formats is not that hard.

There are different formats you will use in different classes, but they share many elements in common. After you write enough essays, you will become familiar with the main essay formats used in typical college classes. Also, some subject areas have preferred essay formats or styles. 

Standard College Essay Format

Technically, there is no “right” college essay format. Each teacher will have personal preferences for how they want their students’ papers to appear. Each class will have its own rules, and it is up to you to follow whatever rules your professor provides.

However, there are some basic elements in a college essay format including font or typeface, linen spacing, margins, and whether to include page numbers, headers, headings, and/or a title page. With a few possible variations, the common formatting elements in college essays include the following:

Standard college essays use standard fonts to create a uniform appearance. The most widely acceptable font used in college essays is Times New Roman, but Arial is sometimes acceptable too. Typically, you will be asked to standardize the size of your font to 12 point, but some instructors prefer 10.  Read this article for more information on how to write an essay .

Line Spacing

Most of the time, you will be asked to use double spacing in your college essays. Occasionally you will be asked to use single spacing, or even 1.5 spacing.

The most common margin size is one inch all around.

Page Numbers and Title Page

Short essays usually do not take a title page, but some do. Likewise, you may be asked to include page numbers only for longer assignments.

First Line Indent

Your college essay will be formatted a lot like the books you read, with the first line of each paragraph being indented. Typically, the first line indent is .5 inch. Also, your college essay should be left aligned, as opposed to centering the text on the page.

Essay Format Headings vs. Headers

Some of your college professors may request that you use a heading, while others will ask that you use a header. Some may ask for both. What is the difference between a heading and a header ?

A heading appears only on the first page, and will typically include your name, your professor’s name, the name of the class, and the date of the assignment. For example, MLA style formatting frequently asks for a heading in addition to a running header.

A running header appears on all the pages of your college essay and typically includes only the title of the essay and the page number. Your pages will look like this:

formatting for an essay

Essay Format Outline

Essay outlines also have their own formats. If you have to create a formal outline for an academic essay, it is always best to check with your professor to see if there is a specific style you are supposed to follow. A typical college essay outline is as follows, using Roman numerals as the top level:

I. Introduction

            A. Body section

                        1. Sub-section

                                    a. Detail

                                    b. Detail

                        2. Sub-section

            B. Body section

III. Conclusion

Essay Format Templates

Scholarship essay format.

If you ever hope to earn a scholarship, now is the time to master the scholarship essay . A scholarship essay should be tailored to the specific fund you are applying for, and it is best to avoid a generalized essay. The main components of the scholarship essay format are similar to those in a standard college essay:

Unlike most college essays, a scholarship essay is going to be written in the first person, because it is about you. You are supposed to talk about yourself in a scholarship essay, whereas in a college essay, you should be writing in third person unless instructed otherwise. The scholarship essay will give you a chance to show how much work you have done to reach your goals, and why you stand out from the crowd.

Even for needs-based scholarships, you will want your reader to know that receiving financial aid is not the only reason you are worthy of receiving the scholarship. Talk at length about what motivates you and what makes you tick. Even if your future goals and career plans are not etched in stone, you can share information about your visions and dreams for the future and how you believe a college education will help you contribute to society.

College Application Essay Format

Like a scholarship essay, a college application essay should be written in the first person. Some college essays will be as short as 100 words, whereas others will be 1500 words or even more. Always follow the instructions, while also keeping in mind the standard rules for what the admissions committee wants:

If you are sincere about getting into a school, spend time on your admissions essay. Make sure the formatting is correct, that you answered the question or responded to the prompts, and that you use good grammar.

For many college application essays, you want to start with a powerful introduction. Telling a brief story about something that happened in your life to shape your character is a good start. Then, be honest and tell the admissions committee about who you are, and why you are interested in their institution. You should ideally share information about your interests and goals, and what courses you are interested in as well. Many college entrance essays have prompts that ask you to reflect on a personal experience that shaped who you are, a position of leadership that you held, or a story about how you overcame a challenge or defeated an obstacle. Because a college application essay is a high stakes situation, it is advisable to seek help from a professional writer or tutor to help you polish your prose. Remember, you are competing with hundreds of applicants and your essay needs to stand out.

Reflective Essay Format

A reflective essay is naturally less formal than an ordinary expository essay. However, there are still formats that you would be expected to follow when you prepare a reflective essay. Some reflective essays are written in the first person, whereas others are more formal like a typical college essay. The format of the reflective essay will include the basic rules of font, paragraph and line formatting, and page setting like margins.

Some reflective essays ask you to reflect on an event in your life or on your own personality. However, not all reflective essays are that personal. Many reflective essays ask you to comment on a specific text that you have been reading in class, a work of art or music, or a current event. When asked to write a more formal reflective essay like this, it helps to begin with an introduction to the object of reflection. If you are reflecting on a scholarly article, your introductory paragraph would include information about the author and title of the publication, and a brief summary of the main arguments. Then, you would begin the reflection as if you were having a conversation with the author.

A sample reflective essay outline is as follows:

            A. Name, date, and title of the article, piece of music, or work of art.

            B. Brief overview or summary of the object of reflection

            C. Thesis: Your opinion or take on the article.

                        1. Do you agree or disagree with the author, or like or dislike the piece?

                        2. Introduce a new angle or line of thinking that adds to or challenges the original piece.

            A. Focus on one element of the source, weaving in your own ideas or personal experiences.

            B. Focus on another element of the source, weaving in your own ideas or personal experiences.

            A. Wrap up the reflective essay with a brief summary

            B. Suggestions for further research or reflection       

Persuasive Essay Format

When you write a persuasive essay , your goal is to influence your reader. For example, you want to talk your reader into changing his or her voting habits, or you want your reader to stop eating meat. When you write a persuasive essay, you have the opportunity to use all the rhetorical strategies you have been learning, such as pathos, ethos, and logos. Use strong and emotionally powerful diction, tone, and imagery, but also rely on credible evidence to substantiate your claim.

A persuasive essay can be of almost any length, and is written in formal academic style. You will follow the structure and outline used for a standard academic essay with an introduction, body, and conclusion. Persuasive essays are also strongly driven by a thesis statement .

            A. Hook your reader with a fun or controversial opening statement.

            B. Lead into the main topic with background information.

            C. State your case, persuade your reader with a strong thesis statement.

            A. Reason one

            B. Reason two

            C. Reason three

            D. Acknowledge the opposing or alternative points of view

            E. Respond to and refute the opposing points of view

            A. Restate your claim

            B. Urge the audience to take action

Use the same essay format for standard college essays, with 12-point Times New Roman font throughout and double spacing.

APA Essay Format

The American Psychological Association (APA) offers one of the most widely used essay formats. It is unlikely you will get through college without having to write at least one essay using APA style citation . Psychology classes almost always rely on APA formatting, but APA formatting is standard in a range of other social science disciplines including criminal justice and nursing.

APA formatting follows the basic rules for a standard college essay:

However, APA formatting also includes a title page, a running header with both title and page numbers, and in some cases, an abstract.

APA Title Page

A title page helps your completed essay look polished and presentable in class. On the APA formatted title page, you will include the title of your essay, centered on the page. On a line immediately below the title, also centered, you will write your name. You may also write the name of your class or institution below your name, as well as the date.

APA Running Header

A running header is what appears at the top of every page of the completed essay. In APA format, your essay header will include the TITLE OF THE ESSAY IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, and also the page numbers. An example of a title page with the running header in APA format is as follows:

formatting for an essay

APA Abstract

Longer research papers in APA format may include an abstract. An abstract is similar to a summary in that it includes the main points of your research. Especially if you are preparing the results of your own research, you will include an abstract that reviews the methods and results of your experiment. Not all papers require an abstract. Usually an abstract accompanies original research in which you want the reader to have a snapshot or overview of how you conducted the study and what the results indicate.

Some APA format papers follow the standard format of research publications, which include the following sections after the abstract:

Introduction or Background

Conclusions

Not all APA format papers are research reports, though. Some will be standard college essays, some will be article reviews, and others will be responses to essay questions or prompts.

In APA formatting, when you have a longer paper it helps to organize it with subheadings. The subheadings help draw the reader’s eye to the different sections of your paper. You can use bold font to identify the subheadings, as follows:

This is the introduction to your topic, and where you hook the audience into reading the rest of the paper.

The review of literature is where you describe some of the most important research studies that have already been done on this topic.

The methods section is where you describe the research participants and procedures of the experiment. If you did not conduct an experiment, then you would discuss how you went about compiling data, such as through a search of academic databases or through interviews.

This is the section where you list the raw data from your survey or experiment, or where you simply discuss the results without making inferences or analyses.

In the discussion section of an APA paper, you analyze the results of your research, placing those results into the context of prior literature. Talk about whether you proved your hypothesis. Also discuss limitations to the research, and suggestions for future research.

Wrap up all your research neatly, mentioning how your research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the topic.

Always list the sources you used in the paper, but do not list any sources that you do not cite directly in the body of the essay using parenthetical citations.

Appendix or Appendices

Include the survey instrument you used, a list of interview questions, or important tables and charts.

MLA Essay Format

Another one of the common essay formats you will encounter in college is from the Modern Language Association (MLA). Used most commonly in the arts and literature classes, MLA format shares some elements in common with other college essays, such as:

Unlike APA formatting, MLA does not typically require a title page. However, you may be asked to put your name, professor’s name, class name, and date in the upper left corner of the first page of your essay instead. For example:

formatting for an essay

Another thing that differentiates MLA format from APA and other types of essay formats is how you cite your sources. In MLA, you always offer the page number even when you do not quote directly. This may seem problematic when you are paraphrasing an author’s main idea, but it is nevertheless standard practice. MLA papers tend to be discursive. You are expected to engage a work of art or literature in a sort of conversation, weaving in what other people have said on the topic.

Chicago Essay Format

Chicago style format is also common in college essays, particularly in classes in history, political science, and public policy. With Chicago style, you can stick to the basics:

Chicago style formatting also has a title page, similar to APA format. However, you will insert a lot of space between the title of the essay and your name and date as follows:

formatting for an essay

Another thing that differentiates Chicago style from other styles of essay formats is the citation style. Whereas APA and MLA style essays use in-text parenthetical citations, Chicago style usually takes footnotes.

Additional Elements of an Essay

Some types of essays, such as longer research papers or dissertations , also include other elements. A table of contents is one thing that is unnecessary in all shorter essays, but essential for long assignments like dissertations or Masters theses. Software like Microsoft Word can help you create a table of contents that takes into account the important headings or subheadings of your document.

Types of Essay Formats

The most common types of essay format you are likely to encounter in college include the following:

Essay Format Example

The main elements of any standard college essay include the following:

The main elements of an APA format essay include the following:

The format of an essay is important for its overall appearance and structure. When you master the different essay formats, you will find it much easier to complete your assignments. Each essay format has its own set of rules and guidelines, but all college essays share certain elements in common.

Almost all essays have an introduction, body, and a conclusion. In some cases, you will also need a title page, an abstract, and a running header. Each class and each instructor will give you specific instructions about the formatting of your essay.

After reading this article, you have a better understanding of the most common essay formats you will encounter during your academic career. You can apply what you have learned about standard college essays to any assignment you encounter. In addition to this guide, you can also consult with a writing coach or assistant to help you with your work.

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How To Write An Essay

Essay Format

Barbara P

Essay Format - An Easy Writing Guide & Examples

11 min read

Published on: Nov 14, 2020

Last updated on: Mar 9, 2023

Essay Format

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Drafting a perfect college essay is very important for students for their academics. And to write a perfect essay, its formatting is important.

An essay is a formal piece of writing. Any formal writing requires proper structure and formatting. You can not just jumble up information and expect your essay to be effective. Its clarity depends on the format you choose.

This blog is written to give a better understanding of an essay format and the general guidelines of each type of format to present the gathered information in a disciplined way.

What is an Essay Format?

An essay format is a way in which the information is organized for your essay. The format of an essay has a lot to do with the presentation of the text. If your essay is poorly structured or lacks a format, your readers will have difficulty understanding the main argument and the idea.

Readers will never continue reading something that is confusing or gives the impression that a writer is sloppy.

A standard format to write your essay or paper is through the linear approach. In this, each idea is presented to make it easier for the readers to understand. If you know how to structure an essay, you are halfway through.

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Importance of Essay Format

An essay format is important for so many reasons. It helps the readers understand the ideas and thoughts presented in the essay in a logical flow by the writer. Not just that, readability is essential. If the information is just presented randomly, the clarity will be missing.

Also, if the essay doesn’t appeal to the eyes, it will not grab the people’s attention. So the way an essay is written decides whether it would be read by the audience or not.

In addition to this, the format is important for the writer as well. As it provides a guideline, it works as a checklist for a writer. To make sure every important aspect is discussed in the essay, a format is used.

Types of Essay Formats

There are 3 basic formatting styles or types in which all essays and papers are formatted. They are:

Whether you are writing a research paper or a general academic essay, you have to choose a format to draft it. Students are often assigned a format by their instructors, so they should read the guidelines carefully.

In order to understand each essay format type, we shall discuss it in detail.

MLA format style is quite common in the humanities world. Papers and essays that are to be written in this format should fulfill the following requirements.

MLA Format Essay Example (PDF)

Unlike MLA format, APA format is used for scientific papers and essays. Essays are written for behavioral or social sciences follow this format. Following are the guidelines for the American Psychological Association format:

APA Format Essay Example (PDF)

Chicago Format

This format is a bit similar to the other format style guides. This format includes:

Chicago Format Essay Example (PDF)

Basic Parts Of An Essay Format

A typical and general format that an essay uses is simple. Every type of essay can be written in that format. Following are the parts that an essay format is based on:

In order to make sure that your academic essay is effective, each of the parts should be drafted professionally. Continue reading to understand each part in detail.

Continue reading to understand each part in detail.

The cover or title page is the first page on which the topic of your paper or essay is presented. Along with this, the title page includes other information such as the name of the writer, instructor, institution, course, and the submission date.

An abstract is a brief summary of your essay or research paper. It is usually a 300-word long paragraph and precisely presents the purpose of the essay, the main thesis statement, and the design of the study.

When you are drafting a long essay or paper, a table of content is developed. In this table, headings and subheadings are presented along with their page numbers. The reader navigates your work using this table of content.

An introduction is the first section of your essay. When writing a short essay of about 300 - 1000 words, a writer directly starts with an introduction after stating the essay topic.

An introduction of an essay is as important as the body of it. The introduction discloses the main idea of the essay and attempts to motivate readers to read the essay. Apart from the presentation of the main idea, it also contains background information about the topic.

A writer then forms a thesis statement which is the main argument of an essay. A  thesis statement  is the essence of the essay, and all other information provided in the body of an essay justifies it and proves it.

The main body of your essay is the soul of it. Without it, the thesis statement will just be meaningless. The information you gather on the topic is presented in the body which acts as evidence to prove the argument right or wrong depending on the writer.

A format helps the body give a logical flow that walks the reader towards the end. The point to prove your argument is to persuade the reader that your thesis statement is right. Make sure you give a topic sentence to all your body paragraphs.

Then comes the conclusion part of the essay. This is the final verdict of an essay writer. In this, a writer avoids giving new ideas to the readers and tries to sum up the whole conversation. This is done by restating the thesis statement in different words and providing a summary of the key ideas. At last, “call to action” is given.

An appendix is formulated when a writer uses unusual terms, phrases, and words in the document. This is a list prepared to describe those unordinary words for the readers.

When gathering information for your essay or paper, a writer has to consult different sources. Therefore, when using such sources and information in your content, a bibliography is created to provide their references.

A bibliography is a reference list presented at the end of the essay where all the cited sources are given along with the details.

Formatting an Essay

Formatting an essay means working on the essay structure. When writing an academic essay, make sure that every part is drafted according to format. Your title page, in-text citation, essay outline, and reference list should be following the chosen format.

To understand the formatting of the different parts better, continue reading.

According to the MLA style, the title page of an essay should be written in the following way:

If you are using an APA style formatting for your essay, make sure to format your title page in the following way:

A title page is the first thing that an instructor sees in your assignment. Therefore, it is very important to form it in a neat format.

Before you start writing your essay, format your first page. To do this, add a header in which you give your last name and the page number. Place the header on the right-hand corner of your page.

Follow this for every page of your essay except the last page; the “work cited” page

On the left upper corner, write your name, instructor’s, course’s, and the date. Put the title in the center and use double-spacing throughout the essay.

When you are conducting research for your essay, you will come across a lot of text which will complement your essay topic. Without knowing the consequences, people take the text from the internet and add it to the essay.

Citing the source properly is essential. If you do not cite the sources properly, you will be accused of plagiarism, a crime in the writing world. Therefore, even if you are using other’s words in the form of quotation marks or rephrasing it, it needs to be cited to avoid plagiarism.

Get to know which style of the in-text citations is recommended by your instructor and follow that. In APA format, the citation is done in the following way:

The other way is to cite in MLA style:

Therefore, cite your sources according to the essay format and make your essay writing phase easy.

Format The Bibliography

The last page of your essay is the “works cited” page. This page is written in the way presented below:

Essay Format Examples

There are several types of academic essays that students get assigned. No matter which type the essay is, it has to be properly formatted. Carefully examine the formats provided below for the different essay types:

Argumentative Essay Format (PDF)

College Essay Format (PDF)

Narrative Essay Format (PDF)

Descriptive Essay Format (PDF)

Scholarship Essay Format (PDF)

Writing a good essay includes the proper representation of the text. For this purpose, formatting is done. Unfortunately, when students rush to finish their assignments, they often end up with poorly formatted content. This not only results in untidy writing but also makes students lose their grades.

If you are out of time or having any issues in producing structured content for your essays, you can get help from professionals online.

Writers at  CollegeEssay.org  provide high-quality writing services to students of every type and style of writing. Get assistance from our expert to help you write flawless and ‘A’ worthy essays, term papers, and research papers for you.

Place your  order today at affordable prices.

Barbara P (Literature, Marketing)

Barbara is a highly educated and qualified author with a Ph.D. in public health from an Ivy League university. She has spent a significant amount of time working in the medical field, conducting a thorough study on a variety of health issues. Her work has been published in several major publications.

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Essay Format

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 3 popular essay formats: which should you use.

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Not sure which path your essay should follow? Formatting an essay may not be as interesting as choosing a topic to write about or carefully crafting elegant sentences, but it’s an extremely important part of creating a high-quality paper. In this article, we’ll explain essay formatting rules for three of the most popular essay styles: MLA, APA, and Chicago.

For each, we’ll do a high-level overview of what your essay’s structure and references should look like, then we include a comparison chart with nitty-gritty details for each style, such as which font you should use for each and whether they’re a proponent of the Oxford comma. We also include information on why essay formatting is important and what you should do if you’re not sure which style to use.

Why Is Your Essay Format Important?

Does it really matter which font size you use or exactly how you cite a source in your paper? It can! Style formats were developed as a way to standardize how pieces of writing and their works cited lists should look. 

Why is this necessary? Imagine you’re a teacher, researcher, or publisher who reviews dozens of papers a week. If the papers didn’t follow the same formatting rules, you could waste a lot of time trying to figure out which sources were used, if certain information is a direct quote or paraphrased, even who the paper’s author is. Having essay formatting rules to follow makes things easier for everyone involved. Writers can follow a set of guidelines without trying to decide for themselves which formatting choices are best, and readers don’t need to go hunting for the information they’re trying to find.

Next, we’ll discuss the three most common style formats for essays.

MLA Essay Format

MLA style was designed by the Modern Language Association, and it has become the most popular college essay format for students writing papers for class. It was originally developed for students and researchers in the literature and language fields to have a standardized way of formatting their papers, but it is now used by people in all disciplines, particularly humanities. MLA is often the style teachers prefer their students to use because it has simple, clear rules to follow without extraneous inclusions often not needed for school papers. For example, unlike APA or Chicago styles, MLA doesn’t require a title page for a paper, only a header in the upper left-hand corner of the page.

MLA style doesn’t have any specific requirements for how to write your essay, but an MLA format essay will typically follow the standard essay format of an introduction (ending with a thesis statement), several body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

One of the nice things about creating your works cited for MLA is that all references are structured the same way, regardless of whether they’re a book, newspaper, etc. It’s the only essay format style that makes citing references this easy! Here is a guide on how to cite any source in MLA format. When typing up your works cited, here are a few MLA format essay rules to keep in mind:

APA Essay Format

APA stands for the American Psychological Association. This format type is most often used for research papers, specifically those in behavioral sciences (such as psychology and neuroscience) and social sciences (ranging from archeology to economics). Because APA is often used for more research-focused papers, they have a more specific format to follow compared to, say, MLA style.

All APA style papers begin with a title page, which contains the title of the paper (in capital letters), your name, and your institutional affiliation (if you’re a student, then this is simply the name of the school you attend). The APA recommends the title of your paper not be longer than 12 words.

After your title page, your paper begins with an abstract. The abstract is a single paragraph, typically between 150 to 250 words, that sums up your research. It should include the topic you’re researching, research questions, methods, results, analysis, and a conclusion that touches on the significance of the research. Many people find it easier to write the abstract last, after completing the paper.

After the abstract comes the paper itself. APA essay format recommends papers be short, direct, and make their point clearly and concisely. This isn’t the time to use flowery language or extraneous descriptions. Your paper should include all the sections mentioned in the abstract, each expanded upon.

Following the paper is the list of references used. Unlike MLA style, in APA essay format, every source type is referenced differently. So the rules for referencing a book are different from those for referencing a journal article are different from those referencing an interview. Here’s a guide for how to reference different source types in APA format . Your references should begin on a new page that says “REFERENCES” at the top, centered. The references should be listed in alphabetical order.

body_bookshelves

Chicago Essay Format

Chicago style (sometimes referred to as “Turabian style”) was developed by the University of Chicago Press and is typically the least-used by students of the three major essay style formats. The Chicago Manual of Style (currently on its 17th edition) contains within its 1000+ pages every rule you need to know for this style. This is a very comprehensive style, with a rule for everything. It’s most often used in history-related fields, although many people refer to The Chicago Manual of Style for help with a tricky citation or essay format question. Many book authors use this style as well.

Like APA, Chicago style begins with a title page, and it has very specific format rules for doing this which are laid out in the chart below. After the title page may come an abstract, depending on whether you’re writing a research paper or not. Then comes the essay itself. The essay can either follow the introduction → body → conclusion format of MLA or the different sections included in the APA section. Again, this depends on whether you’re writing a paper on research you conducted or not.

Unlike MLA or APA, Chicago style typically uses footnotes or endnotes instead of in-text or parenthetical citations. You’ll place the superscript number at the end of the sentence (for a footnote) or end of the page (for an endnote), then have an abbreviated source reference at the bottom of the page. The sources will then be fully referenced at the end of the paper, in the order of their footnote/endnote numbers. The reference page should be titled “Bibliography” if you used footnotes/endnotes or “References” if you used parenthetical author/date in-text citations.

Comparison Chart

Below is a chart comparing different formatting rules for APA, Chicago, and MLA styles.

How Should You Format Your Essay If Your Teacher Hasn’t Specified a Format?

What if your teacher hasn’t specified which essay format they want you to use? The easiest way to solve this problem is simply to ask your teacher which essay format they prefer. However, if you can’t get ahold of them or they don’t have a preference, we recommend following MLA format. It’s the most commonly-used essay style for students writing papers that aren’t based on their own research, and its formatting rules are general enough that a teacher of any subject shouldn’t have a problem with an MLA format essay. The fact that this style has one of the simplest sets of rules for citing sources is an added bonus!

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Thinking about taking an AP English class? Read our guide on AP English classes to learn whether you should take AP English Language or AP English Literature (or both!)

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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ESSAY FORMAT

How To Format an Essa y

Nowadays we are all quite aware that everything requires formatting, even our computers. Funny enough the idea behind formatting your computer and papers are rather similar but need an entirely different approach.  Quite often we hear from our teachers, ever since high school and well into our college years, always asking students to use proper essay format. This may be problematic at first since each lecturer may ask for a different formatting style, which may end up confusing you . Understandably that might sound odd at first, but that is done to create a standardized way of checking academic articles. If everybody used their own individual formats and referencing styles, then it would be rather difficult to establish the reliability of the work. However, there is no need to worry even if you find yourself asking “ How to format a college essay ”, since our experts have put together this guide to explain all the most popular styles in a quick and efficient manner.

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In the off chance you are new to academic writing or the content of a college essay format then we suggest initially having a look at our guide on how to write an essay.

What is an Essay Format?

Before exploring what the most encountered essay format styles are, firstly we must understand why academic institutions make such a requirement.  In essence, what formatting an assignment means is structuring it in such a way as to organize a coherent set of ideas into a logical smooth flowing argument. That is one of the main reasons behind why academic papers present one idea at a time in a linear fashion . This keeps the subject matter from becoming too complicated for the reader to comprehend. A successful basic essay format will manage to lead its reader down the narrative of its argument without confusing them.

Nonetheless, after having understood this concept, it is time to apply it to some of the most popular formatting styles in academia discussed below.

Most Common College Essay Formats

As we proceed with our examination of the most encountered formatting styles in the academic community, it is important to take into account that you will probably be faced with all of them at one point or another. Thus, without any further distractions let us begin by firstly investigating what an MLA format essay should look like and contain.

What MLA stands for in this case is the Modern Language Association and was created with the purpose of exchanging scholarly articles and educational research in a universal manner amongst academic s. Luckily Microsoft Word 2007 provides you with most of the essay format requirements directly. But despite the luxury given to us by modern technology below are the fundamental essentials that should be in every MLA style article:

Secondly, we will be examining the APA essay format.  The acronym APA stands for American Psychological Association and was established after the MLA system as this particular group saw the MLA style as being too complicated . Nonetheless, despite that, both methods revolve around the idea of maintaining a standardized way of presenting your work regarding its content, structure, referencing style and so on. This standardization for this style goes as follows:

The Chicago essay format, sometimes also referred to as Turabian, is quite similar to the previously discussed MLA style. It is important to note that Turabian style is considered a modified version of the Chicago essay format . What sets this particular group apart from the others are fundamental differences in the papers styling, presentation of sources, running headers amongst other elements that will be explored below.

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Home ➔ Guide on How to Format an Essay

Guide on How to Format an Essay

There is a big difference between academic writing formatting and structure. Students usually call both things “ format ,” and that is what can create confusion. When we speak about standard essay format meaning its structure, we suggest an outline, an action plan to follow while organizing the work. It serves as a table of contents or a mind map. As for the essay format as of a document, it refers to how the essay should appear and is based on the guidelines given by the educational institutions.

Note: You can format papers in MLA, APA, IEEE, McGill, Chicago, and many other styles. But, a proper essay structure varies based on the requirements.

You will find out when to format an essay in its first and second meanings by reading this article and looking at essay format examples.

Common Essay Formatting Styles

So, how to format an essay using different styles? First, the MLA format is the most commonly used one, introduced by the Modern Language Association and applied in humanities, liberal arts, and social sciences. Mostly, students studying in the US and Canada apply it when writing essays. The specific elements that make the MLA format stand out from the rest of the styles include:

Works cited page

The latest published manual of MLA format is the 8th edition, and, if you were asked to use it, you should stick to it as required by most high-school and college tutors.

Also called a running head, it should be present on every page, including the first page, with a half-inch margin from the top. It generally consists of your last name and the page number following it. Note that some instructors can ask you to omit one of those elements in the header. Please adhere to what you’ve been told to use.

The first page details

It typically includes the last name of the student, instructor’s name, course name, and the date of the project submission placed before the body of the work.

As for a title page (also called a cover page), it isn’t required by MLA. But, you can add a separate page with the title of an essay and basic details if necessary — read the requirements carefully or ask the instructor if this element is needed.

how to format an essay in MLA

Always start listing your references from a new page at the end of your paper and place the words “Works Cited” centered. All formatting requirements that apply to other pages of your essay apply to this page as well. Except, you must indent the second and all the following lines of the same reference with an additional half-inch margin.

Other requirements

After this, goes the title of your essay in the center of the page. During essay writing, place all titles of other works in quotations or italics, and mind some other requirements of the MLA style, such as:

(You can usually do that using the Tab key in your word processor or by configuring it in the paragraph settings.)

The page headers should appear on every page except for the title page of your essay (if present). As for the direct quotes, you should put them in quotation marks when paraphrasing or citing an external source. There is no need to do that with common knowledge. You can read more about that in our guide How to Introduce a Quote .

Formatting in APA Style

The next most popular style is APA. It was introduced by the American Psychological Association, which already implies that you’ll use it for your papers in psychology disciplines as well as education, nursing, and social sciences. The seventh edition is the latest manual for you if you need to use APA format in essay writing.

In an APA paper, there should be a running head on each page in the upper left-hand corner. An APA header is a shortened version of your paper’s title, but it cannot be longer than 50 characters (including spaces and punctuation marks).

Page numbers are also counted as part of the header and should be placed in the upper right-hand corner of every page of your essay.

Note: For school or college essay writing, you are usually not required to include a running head but only the page number.

The first page detail s

APA requires you to create a title page. When created for a school paper, it should include the following elements:

essay format apa

References (Works cited)

The formatting requirements for this page are pretty much the same as for a “Works Cited” page in MLA. You must center the word “References” (without quotes and bolded) and use a half-inch hanging indent for all your references. All other APA requirements apply to this page as well.

To learn more about structuring your reference entries and in-text citation, read the articles we linked to in the MLA section.

Major APA format guidelines for an essay:

No matter what style of essay you choose, you should provide the full list of sources you have used in your work.

Some Other Citation Formats to Keep in Mind

AMA, established by the American Medical Association, is one more way to organize your academic paper and make it clear for the audience. Use it whenever you have some essays to cite for a nursing program or health-related classes.

The American Sociological Association did not waste time either. This organization has proposed its own unique referencing style known as ASA, which is a close resemblance to the APA format with several basic differences. The style has an emphasis on the date and the author’s name.

Students who study law should have heard about Bluebook and McGill. The Bluebook refers to a source system that contains a set of guidelines for citing among legal professionals who refer to the works of scholars in their studies. This style was prepared and proposed by Harvard, Yale, and the University of Pennsylvania.

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) is one more guide to consider. Students and scholars who wish to be published in historical or social periodicals should study the rules of the Chicago Style, which is also sometimes mistaken for the Turabian style. The two known approaches to this format are the Notes-Bibliography System and Author-Notes System.

Even students who study coding have a style to follow in their written works. IEEE, established and developed by the Institute for Electrical & Electronics Engineers, is a Bible for those involved in IT, engineering, and computer science.

This one is also known as the Author-Date reference style and is mostly used in the domain of economics. There are no official manuals for this format; however, two variants of the guide were published by the British Standards Institution and the Australian Government Publishing Service (AGPS). Some may argue it’s among the easiest to use.

That is not the full list! There are many citation formats to master, basically to avoid issues with plagiarism, organize your papers properly.

How to Structure an Essay (Outline)

This section discusses how your essay should be organized in terms of its core parts. A proper structure is among the key elements to a high grade as it helps the reader move through your work without missing the point and follow the logical flow of your thoughts. A standard essay format looks like this:

5-paragraph essay format outline template

One introduction paragraph

All your papers should start with a title. After that, use an engaging sentence to make the readers want to read the whole text, and only then you can introduce the central argument. Wrap your intro with a solid thesis statement .

Learn more about this first part in our separate guide: How to Write an Essay Introduction .

Three body paragraphs

Usually, you’ll have three body paragraphs , each dedicated to one argument or claim related to your thesis statement. There can be more body paragraphs, of course, but make sure to consult your tutor on this question.

Each body paragraph starts with a topic sentence, the main point you want to make by presenting the paragraph. Then the evidence and its interpretation, followed by a transition sentence that should logically introduce the next body paragraph.

Read our comprehensive 12-step guide on essay writing to learn more about this part: How to Write an Essay .

One conclusion paragraph

The final section is generally made of one paragraph, which is called a conclusion, and it’s a bit more than a summary of everything said above. You can add some forecasts or reverse hook at the end to leave an impression.

Find out how you can write this part in our article: How to Write a Conclusion for an Essay .

As for the reference page, that’s where both types of formats collide when writing an essay.

Note:  This part, called Works Cited or References in corresponding writing styles (MLA and APA), should contain entries with information about used or cited sources (the author’s first and last name, the source title, the year of publication, etc.).

As for the structure of the references and citations themselves, check our article with examples: How to Cite an Article in an Essay (MLA and APA).

No matter whether you have to write a  1000-word essay  for the American History class or a  500-word  term paper, you should stick to the general structure. Look at the example below for a better understanding.

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Essay Format Example (Outline)

Once you are done selecting your essay topic, it is time to create a plan. If the prompt were about cultural identity, here’s how the outline could look:

Note: For more examples and tips for writing, check this guide —  How to Make an Outline for an Essay .

I. INTRODUCTION

The academic image of a student partially depends on how well he or she follows the proper format of an essay.

The first step to avoiding problems with structure and format is to read the assignment sheet provided by the teacher or professor carefully as well as adhere to general academic standards of writing. You can also look for outline examples and templates online to ease your life.

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Essay writing: Formatting

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Essays are formal documents and should look professional Advice from the Skills Team

Whilst there are no hard rules about how you format essays, there are some conventions and common practices that are best to follow. If you use the settings on this page, you will produce an acceptably formatted essay.

Document layout

Visual display of the information on this page.

Margins - between 2 cm and 2.54 cm (1 inch) all around.

Line spacing - either 1.5 or double-line spacing.

Paragraph spacing - either 1 clear line between or at least 8 pt space after each paragraph (more if double-line spaced)

Alignment - left aligned (fully justified with a straight right-edge is not recommended as this reduces readability and accessibility). Some longer essays may require subheadings which should also be left-aligned.

Indents - no indents on first lines of paragraphs are needed.

It is also good practice to put your student number and module number in the header of the document and a page number at the bottom of the page.

Text formatting

Font - the default font that comes with MS Word (currently Calibri) is fine for academic work. You may see persistent advice in handbooks that suggests you should use Times New Roman or Arial. If you prefer these, you can change it - but this is no longer a requirement.

Font size - fonts should be 11 or 12 point.

Font style - headings and subheadings, if they are required (most essays will not use them), are usually formatted in bold and should be at least 2 point sizes larger than the standard text. Underlining should be avoided as this is seen as rather dated. Some text can be formatted in italics - see our page  Italics, when to use them , for guidance.

Shorter quotations in the text do not need to be italicised and should have double-quotations marks "like this" to indicate they are direct quotations. Longer quotations (what counts as this differs depending on your referencing style) should be created in their own paragraph, single spaced and indented by 1cm from both left and right margins:

For example:

Graduate attributes for employability are described as:

a set of achievements – skills, understandings and personal attributes – that makes graduates more likely to gain employment and be successful in their chosen occupations, which benefits themselves, the workforce, the community and the economy. (Yorke, 2006)

The main change in this definition compared to the earlier definition of graduate attributes from Bowden (2000) is that that the attributes are no longer ...

UoH Harvard/APA

Your reference list should be in alphabetical order (by author surname) and single line spaced. There should be a clear line space (or at least 6 pt space) between each reference. All references should be left-aligned with no indentation. For information about how to format individual references, see the Harvard Hull Referencing Guide.

UoH Footnotes

Your reference list should be in alphabetical order (by first author surname) and single line spaced.  All references should be left-aligned and have a hanging indent (all but the first line are indented by approx. 1cm). For information about how to format individual references, see the  Footnotes Hull Referencing Guide.

Other referencing styles

Please see your individual departmental guidance.

We provide here a Microsoft Word template that can be used for your essays. It has the correct layout and formatting, including useful styles.

Download this template to somewhere you can access easily. When you click to open it, it will open a new document based on the template , leaving the original intact.

Tips for Formatting an Essay in Microsoft Word: Fonts and More

Why is formatting important.

Formatting refers to the arrangement of text on a document. There are many ways to format different types of documents. The focus of this guide will be formatting for essays.

In general, you will want your documents to look neat and professional. Special attention to formatting will ensure that your essays make a great first impression. In fact, some teachers will mark your paper down if you do not format correctly, or follow specific guidelines the teacher has requested (such as double spacing.)

Sans serif fonts do not have the little lines at the end of the letters. Some examples of sans serif fonts are Arial, Calibri, and Comic Sans. Usually, sans serif fonts work well in short sections of text such as headings or titles. It is best not to use a sans serif font as the bulk of your essay. Furthermore, while I suggested Comic Sans as an example for a sans serif font, its use is typically frowned upon as it does not present a professional quality.

Another aspect of typography is the size of your font. Fonts are measured in points. A one point font is 1/72 of an inch. A 72 point font would measure one inch. Normally, you should choose 10 to 12 point font for all parts of your essay. Font sizes smaller than ten points become difficult to see and read. Font sizes larger than twelve point are difficult to read as well, and they make your teacher think that you’re just trying to use more space.

At times, you may need to use bold, italics, or underlining. Bold is best used only in the title of your essay, if at all. Italics and underlining are typically used when you need to emphasize text or if you are referring to a title of another work.

Spacing refers to the amount of space between lines of text. Typically, teachers ask for double spaced text for most assignments. The extra space between each line gives them room for comments and corrections. The extra space also makes the text easier to read. Always double check your teacher’s spacing policy, though. Sometimes a teacher will require a certain page total for your writing, while expecting single spaced lines. Double spacing will cut the length of your essay in half which will cause you to lose points. Always be sure to double check what the teacher wants.

To control spacing in Microsoft Word, select the text, then right click. Choose “Paragraph.” This will open the Format Paragraph Window. It should look like the image to the left (click on the image for a larger view). In the Spacing section, you’ll see two fields: one for Before and one for After. These allow you to space paragraphs apart, either before the paragraph or after. The spacing is measured in points, similar to fonts.

Indentation

To set a .5" first line indent for all paragraphs, select your text, then right click. Choose “Paragraph.” This will bring up the Format Paragraph Window. In the Indentation section, choose First Line from the drop down menu labeled Special. This will activate a first line indent for your text. Now choose the measurement for the indent. Again, .5" is a good standard to follow.

Finally, if you are quoting material of four or more lines, you will need to separate the text from the rest of the paragraph and indent both sides. To do this, go to the Format Paragraph Window. Choose the text to be indented and choose the measurement of indent for both left and right sides. Usually, you will want 1" on each side of quoted material. A sample image is attached to show how this should appear on the page.

Working with Images

Good luck on your essay! If you have any additional Microsoft Word tips to share post them in the comments.

How to Format an Essay

Essays are focused pieces of writing that aim to convey a writer's main argument by consolidating information about a specific subject, topic, or idea, and bringing this information and evidence together to present it to it's readers. The definition of an essay, however, continues to be a little flexible. Writing work such as letters, academic papers, blogs, or speeches and so on can also be considered to be forms of essays.

Simplistically, essays can be understood to be pieces of writing that address a given subject, topic, or problem to a relative amount of depth. But it is not just about linearly listing points or ideas. Across many essay types, be it academic papers, research papers, or argumentative essays, institutions or publishing platforms require that they follow fixed formatting requirements.

There are a handful of ways you can go about the formatting of your essays. Most commonly, essays adhere to either MLA, APA, or Chicago formatting guidelines. Each of the following formatting guidelines have specific uses and application methods.

Other formatting guidelines that are prevalent outside of academic essays and papers include :

The Economist Style Guide

Associated Press Stylebook (AP Stylebook)

American Chemical Society (ACS)

The Manual of Scientific Style

MacBook Pro, white ceramic mug,and black smartphone on table

The MLA, APA and Chicago formatting guidelines are adhered to most prominently amongst academic writers and scholars. The following tables explicate the various requirements for different formatting elements :

MLA Formatting Guidelines

Apa formatting guidelines, chicago formatting guidelines.

Uniformity and organization in writing is highly crucial when writers work towards getting their work published in academic articles, or when students are to submit assignments. It reflects integrity, professionalism, and having had taken pride in your work. While there are multiple schools of formatting styles, choosing the most appropriate school to adhere depends largely on your essay topic, essay style, and on your discretion.

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MLA Format | Complete Guidelines & Free Template

Published on December 11, 2019 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on June 16, 2022 by Jack Caulfield.

The MLA Handbook provides guidelines for creating MLA citations and formatting academic papers. This quick guide will help you set up your MLA format paper in no time.

Start by applying these MLA format guidelines to your document:

Download Word template Open Google Docs template

(To use the Google Docs template, copy the file to your Drive by clicking on ‘file’ > ‘Make a copy’)

Table of contents

How to set up mla format in google docs, header and title, running head, works cited page, creating mla style citations, headings and subheadings, tables and figures, frequently asked questions about mla format.

The header in MLA format is left-aligned on the first page of your paper. It includes

After the MLA header, press ENTER once and type your paper title. Center the title and don’t forget to apply title-case capitalization. Read our article on writing strong titles that are informative, striking and appropriate.

MLA header

For a paper with multiple authors, it’s better to use a separate title page instead.

At the top of every page, including the first page, you need to include your last name and the page number. This is called the “running head.” Follow these steps to set up the MLA running head in your Word or Google Docs document:

The running head should look like this:

MLA running head

The Works Cited list is included on a separate page at the end of your paper. You list all the sources you referenced in your paper in alphabetical order. Don’t include sources that weren’t cited in the paper, except potentially in an MLA annotated bibliography assignment.

Place the title “Works Cited” in the center at the top of the page. After the title, press ENTER once and insert your MLA references.

If a reference entry is longer than one line, each line after the first should be indented ½ inch (called a hanging indent ). All entries are double spaced, just like the rest of the text.

Format of an MLA Works Cited page

Generate accurate MLA citations with Scribbr

Prefer to cite your sources manually? Use the interactive example below to see what the Works Cited entry and MLA in-text citation look like for different source types.

Headings and subheadings are not mandatory, but they can help you organize and structure your paper, especially in longer assignments.

MLA has only a few formatting requirements for headings. They should

We recommend keeping the font and size the same as the body text and applying title case capitalization. In general, boldface indicates greater prominence, while italics are appropriate for subordinate headings.

Chapter Title

Section Heading

Tip: Both Google Docs and Microsoft Word allow you to create heading levels that help you to keep your headings consistent.

Tables and other illustrations (referred to as “figures”) should be placed as close to the relevant part of text as possible. MLA also provides guidelines for presenting them.

MLA format for tables

Tables are labeled and numbered, along with a descriptive title. The label and title are placed above the table on separate lines; the label and number appear in bold.

A caption providing information about the source appears below the table; you don’t need one if the table is your own work.

Below this, any explanatory notes appear, marked on the relevant part of the table with a superscript letter. The first line of each note is indented; your word processor should apply this formatting automatically.

Just like in the rest of the paper, the text is double spaced and you should use title case capitalization for the title (but not for the caption or notes).

MLA table

MLA format for figures

Figures (any image included in your paper that isn’t a table) are also labeled and numbered, but here, this is integrated into the caption below the image. The caption in this case is also centered.

The label “Figure” is abbreviated to “Fig.” and followed by the figure number and a period. The rest of the caption gives either full source information, or (as in the example here) just basic descriptive information about the image (author, title, publication year).

MLA figure

Source information in table and figure captions

If the caption of your table or figure includes full source information and that source is not otherwise cited in the text, you don’t need to include it in your Works Cited list.

Give full source information in a caption in the same format as you would in the Works Cited list, but without inverting the author name (i.e. John Smith, not Smith, John).

MLA recommends using 12-point Times New Roman , since it’s easy to read and installed on every computer. Other standard fonts such as Arial or Georgia are also acceptable. If in doubt, check with your supervisor which font you should be using.

The main guidelines for formatting a paper in MLA style are as follows:

The fastest and most accurate way to create MLA citations is by using Scribbr’s MLA Citation Generator .

Search by book title, page URL, or journal DOI to automatically generate flawless citations, or cite manually using the simple citation forms.

The MLA Handbook is currently in its 9th edition , published in 2021.

This quick guide to MLA style  explains the latest guidelines for citing sources and formatting papers according to MLA.

Usually, no title page is needed in an MLA paper . A header is generally included at the top of the first page instead. The exceptions are when:

In those cases, you should use a title page instead of a header, listing the same information but on a separate page.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Streefkerk, R. (2022, June 16). MLA Format | Complete Guidelines & Free Template. Scribbr. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/mla/formatting/

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Essay Writing Guide

Essay Format

Last updated on: Feb 8, 2023

Essay Format: Detailed Writing Tips & Examples

By: Nova A.

Reviewed By: Jacklyn H.

Published on: Jan 22, 2019

Essay Format

Essay writing  is an inevitable part of a student’s life. Students dread it the most as they get overwhelmed with the thought of crafting several essays in a short amount of time.

What students don’t realize is that writing a good essay isn’t as difficult as it sounds. Academic essays are a product of grouping different ideas, arguments and presenting them logically with the help of a format.

However, there are some generalized guidelines that we will be discussing in this blog

Essay Format

On this Page

What is an Essay Format?

A proper essay format defines a set of guidelines that will be used to create an overall structure and how the elements of your paper will be arranged. A standard format follows a linear approach where each idea is presented to make it more reader-friendly. If you learn how to structure an essay effectively, half of the work will be taken care of.

The essay structure dictates the information presented to the reader and how it will be presented. Your professor defines the essay format that needs to be followed, as it is unique for a different essay

Formatting an Essay - Standard Guidelines -

To format an essay properly, you must have a proper structure, including an introduction, thesis statement, body of your essay, and conclusion. Also, a title page, works cited page, text capitalization, proper citations, and in-text citations using MLA or APA format.

Here, we have discussed the standard essay formatting guidelines that you should follow.

How to Format an Essay Title Page?

When writing a paper’s title page, keep in mind the following guidelines for different formatting styles:

MLA Style Essay Format

APA Essay Format

Chicago Essay Format

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Formatting the First Page of an Essay

Consider the following tips to format the first page of your essay.

Essay Outline Format

A typical essay is a five-paragraph essay with an introduction, body, and conclusion. Here, the body comprises three paragraphs that hold the main argument, ideas, and supporting evidence.

Once you get the hang of crafting such essays, writing longer, complex essays will become simpler. A 5 paragraph essay format looks like this:

Introduction

Body Paragraphs

In each body paragraph, highlight and discuss a separate idea. Start with a topic sentence and provide supporting facts and evidence to support it logically. And indent the first line of every body paragraph.

In this section, you summarize the entire paper and restate the thesis statement. Avoid introducing new ideas at this stage of the essay. Instead, give the reader something to ponder over or a call to action.

Don't forget to add the header and the page numbers to every page.

Have a look at the detailed blog about the  essay outline  to give you a better understanding.

How to Cite an Essay?

It is necessary to cite different sources when using someone else’s words in your paper. It could be in the form of a direct quote, paraphrased, or summarized text. To avoid plagiarism and show the reader the authenticity of what you are talking about, you must cite your sources.

There are different citation styles and rules. Make sure to use the one specified by your teacher.

Here we will discuss in-text citations in APA and MLA format. With in-text citations, the sources are cited within the body paragraphs. Let’s have a look at how it is done:

For example,

“Darwin's theory of evolution is false and inconsistent. (Taylor, 2018, p. 5).”

“Darwin's theory of evolution is false and inconsistent. (Taylor, p. 5).”

Chicago Style Format

Albert Einstein, The Meaning of Relativity, (p. 44–45).

To know more regarding the differences between these two citation formats, we have a detailed guide on  APA vs. MLA  that will help you clarify the concepts further.

How to Draft the Works Cited Page?

Once you are done writing your essay, the last page is for the works cited. Here you enlist all the sources used to write the essay.

MLA Citation

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Essay Format Examples

To increase your understanding of the format required for different essay types and formats, we have added a few examples. Below are sample essays with the proper essay format that you can use.

COLLEGE ESSAY FORMAT (PDF)

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY FORMAT (PDF)

PERSUASIVE ESSAY FORMAT (PDF)

MLA FORMAT ESSAY EXAMPLE (PDF)

CHICAGO ESSAY FORMAT (PDF)

APA ESSAY FORMAT (PDF)

NARRATIVE ESSAY FORMAT (PDF)

If you are still confused about the essay writing format, it is advisable to seek professional assistance. The expert essay writers at  5StarEssays.com  are equipped to draft an essay according to different formatting styles.

All you have to do is to reach out to them and request ‘ write an essay for me.? ’ In return, you will get an A-grade-worthy paper in no time.

Place your  order  now and get rid of all your academic worries.

Nova A.

As a Digital Content Strategist, Nova Allison has eight years of experience in writing both technical and scientific content. With a focus on developing online content plans that engage audiences, Nova strives to write pieces that are not only informative but captivating as well.

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formatting for an essay

MLA General Format 

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MLA Style specifies guidelines for formatting manuscripts and citing research in writing. MLA Style also provides writers with a system for referencing their sources through parenthetical citation in their essays and Works Cited pages. 

Writers who properly use MLA also build their credibility by demonstrating accountability to their source material. Most importantly, the use of MLA style can protect writers from accusations of plagiarism, which is the purposeful or accidental uncredited use of source material produced by other writers. 

If you are asked to use MLA format, be sure to consult the  MLA Handbook  (9th edition). Publishing scholars and graduate students should also consult the  MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing  (3rd edition). The  MLA Handbook  is available in most writing centers and reference libraries. It is also widely available in bookstores, libraries, and at the MLA web site. See the Additional Resources section of this page for a list of helpful books and sites about using MLA Style.

Paper Format

The preparation of papers and manuscripts in MLA Style is covered in part four of the  MLA Style Manual . Below are some basic guidelines for formatting a paper in  MLA Style :

General Guidelines

Formatting the First Page of Your Paper

Here is a sample of the first page of a paper in MLA style:

This image shows the first page of an MLA paper.

The First Page of an MLA Paper

Section Headings

Writers sometimes use section headings to improve a document’s readability. These sections may include individual chapters or other named parts of a book or essay.

MLA recommends that when dividing an essay into sections you number those sections with an Arabic number and a period followed by a space and the section name.

MLA does not have a prescribed system of headings for books (for more information on headings, please see page 146 in the MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing , 3rd edition). If you are only using one level of headings, meaning that all of the sections are distinct and parallel and have no additional sections that fit within them, MLA recommends that these sections resemble one another grammatically. For instance, if your headings are typically short phrases, make all of the headings short phrases (and not, for example, full sentences). Otherwise, the formatting is up to you. It should, however, be consistent throughout the document.

If you employ multiple levels of headings (some of your sections have sections within sections), you may want to provide a key of your chosen level headings and their formatting to your instructor or editor.

Sample Section Headings

The following sample headings are meant to be used only as a reference. You may employ whatever system of formatting that works best for you so long as it remains consistent throughout the document.

Formatted, unnumbered:

Level 1 Heading: bold, flush left

Level 2 Heading: italics, flush left

Level 3 Heading: centered, bold

Level 4 Heading: centered, italics

Level 5 Heading: underlined, flush left

How to Write an Academic Essay: Guide and Tips

formatting for an essay

A large portion of university and high school education is based on writing academic essays. They are most effective at demonstrating students’ knowledge of a subject and showcasing their abilities to gather and present information and data. In this guide from our essay writing service , we are going to explain to you how to write an excellent academic essay and show you the different types you can choose from.

What Is an Academic Essay?

In a nutshell, an academic essay is a structured form of writing students face in school, college, and university as a part of their curricula. The most common purposes of such writing are to either present some new pieces of information or to use existing facts and knowledge to deliver specific ideas. This type of assignment allows students to demonstrate their knowledge and creativity and encourages them to develop their ideas to communicate a message.

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Compared to other types of academic writing, essays are usually shorter in length and present the authors’ opinions to support their arguments. Here are some key features of an academic essay for you to keep in mind:

It helps to develop your academic writing skills early—as they are skills you will carry forward throughout your studies and lifetime. People who are good at writing academic essays also tend to be able to articulate themselves more clearly, and tend to have more confidence when speaking.

To fully understand how and when to use an academic essay, our custom writing service will describe the main types of them for you.

Academic Essay Example

Here is a perfect academic essay example from our research paper writer .

Types of Academic Essays

Academic writing can be categorized into four main types of essays that serve unique purposes—though some share similar structures. With that being said, the four types of academic papers are narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive.

Expository and persuasive types are most commonly seen in university curriculums as they are more scientific and objective. Narrative and descriptive essays are more subjective and engage your creativity. Now, let’s break down each type and look at each academic essay definition.

Narrative Essay

This type of writing requires the author to create a compelling story of practically anything imaginable. In other words, it is a super-condensed version of a novel. This type of essay requires students to demonstrate their creative abilities. Therefore, it implies the constant use of strong adjectives. Their use will help the author of an essay to create a strong, graphic picture for their story and enhance the audience's perception of the topic. Although telling a compelling story is basically the main purpose of this type of essay, there is much more to it than there seems. A well-written narration should also have a point that is “written between the lines”. Simply put, there should be a clear message delivered through the text. By putting a hidden message between the lines, you motivate the reader to read the paper in its entirety as it sparks their curiosity.

Read more about how to write a narrative essay .

Descriptive Essay

In short, in this type of essay, the author chooses a specific thing, experience, emotion, or idea and describes it for the reader. Just like with narrative writing, this style requires the author to be subjective and creative. And, just like a narrative essay, the author is meant to draw a picture in the audience’s eyes. Another key to success in writing a descriptive essay is carefully selecting words. Such a paper should evoke certain emotions in the reader and connect them to the object of discussion. Finally, the paper should describe the subject in simple terms. When the reader understands the subject well after reading an essay - that’s when you know you have written a stellar descriptive paper.

Expository Essay

Another type of academic writing — an expository essay is used to help readers understand subject matter by providing grounded information and facts. This type of writing requires its author to support all of the information included in the paper with valid evidence. An expository paper is no place for opinions or personal views on a subject. A quality paper should use analysis that consists of factual information on its subject. The author's key goal is to inform and educate the audience through clear logic and facts. Just to give you an example, this “How to Write an Academic Essay” article can be considered as expository writing.

Persuasive Essay

Writing a persuasive paper requires one to embrace the role of a salesman (or saleswoman). You can state an opinion, project, or idea which you then have to sell to your reader(s). The logic behind how you supply the reader(s) with information should be impenetrable, leaving them with no doubt that what you are expressing is the only truth they need to know. Cater your points carefully to avoid being pushy, and hide your sales tactic behind well-thought-out sentences. When it comes to defending an argument, you can use logical tactics, emotional tactics, or a mix of both; this depends on what you are attempting to argue.

Good Academic Essay Topics

Logically, topics will vary based on the style of writing you are creating. Sometimes you can find the same topic within separate academic essay categories, but the main content will always vary depending on the category of paper you write about. That being said, here are some good academic essay topics for high school and college students:

Narrative Essay Topics

Descriptive Essay Topics

Expository Essay Topics

Persuasive/Argumentative Essay Topics

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Proper Format for Your Academic Writing

Usually, an academic essay follows the standard 5-paragraph structure: an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Moreover, each section will have its own unique internal structure. The introduction’s main goal is to introduce the topic and to reveal the essay’s main message (a.k.a. the thesis statement). The body paragraphs’ primary tasks are to defend the thesis with 3 sub arguments—1 per paragraph. Lastly, the conclusion is there to wrap up the entire argument and to leave a lasting impression in the form of an overall concluding statement. Down below we have presented a graphic organizer that illustrates the breakdown.

academic essay

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Start Off the Writing Process by Creating an Outline

Before commencing any academic writing, you need to create four essential components that need to be answered beforehand. They are the thesis statement, subpoints, a connection, and the summary.

academic essay

You might also be interested in getting more info about HOW TO WRITE AN OUTLINE in MLA and APA styles.

To help you get a better idea of how to shape a perfect outline for your essay, here is a sample outline for a paper written about “Police Brutality and Its Impact on the Society”:

Once you have created a proper outline, listed your main points, and collected evidence to support your ideas, it is time to start writing your paper. A lot of people choose to come up with a title before the writing process as it helps them set the mood for their work. Others prefer writing first and then creating a title based on their written information. The second option is more suitable for writing a narrative or descriptive essays, as the title’s meaning could be abstract. However, when it comes to expository and persuasive papers, it is important to set a specific essay title and to follow its general theme.

Introduction: How to Start an Academic Essay

The academic essay format we are talking about in this article is pretty basic. It has been widely used to create high-quality essay examples for university for years. The main reason students still use it is that it is considered to be the most effective in terms of delivering information to the reader.

Where to start: When writing any academic writing assignment, a student should begin by shaping a solid introduction.

Quick tip: If you are not too experienced in writing academic papers, don’t hesitate to find a good academic paper example to give you an idea about how to make a good introduction. Looking at good samples can help to get you going.

A reader’s attention span is at its peak at the very beginning of a paper, when they just start reading, so your introductory paragraph will basically set the tone for the entire academic paper. Luckily, EssayPro can share a few handy and highly effective techniques to help you build a compelling introduction!

First of all, you should begin with a powerful hook. The term “hook” is used to refer to the first sentence of the introduction paragraph—the main purpose of which is to grab the reader's attention and encourage them to read on. To help you get on the right track, here are some of the best tactics for creating a hook that works:

Bad Hook Example: “Police brutality must stop.” – This is not intriguing and does not grab the reader’s attention, though it gives the reader an idea of what the essay will be about.
Good Hook Example: “I don’t have a gun. Stop shooting.” – This hook will have a stronger impact on a reader because it is a famous quote from a police-brutality victim. Consequently, it hints on the topic of the essay, but keeps the intrigue.

When you have a powerful hook, it is time to give your readers an insight into the essay's main topic. Since the main theme of the paper may not yet be evidently clear at this point, you need to narrow down your paper’s focus by introducing some valuable contextual background information. Outlining the background data will help readers understand how the topic will unfold throughout the paper. Finally, after you provide the background, it is time to shape your golden sentence (a.k.a. thesis statement).

In a nutshell, the thesis statement is the key theme, idea, or argument of your essay. In other words, it summarizes the entire message you are going to deliver in a single sentence.

Bonus tip: When shaping your thesis statement, do not overload it with unnecessary information. Keep it straight to the point and concise. Remember that the main purposes of this sentence are to lay out the focus of the paper and to introduce the readers to the main ideas you will cover within the body paragraphs.

Bad Thesis Statement Example: “Police violence is bad for society.” – This is too short and does not indicate a solid opinion from the author.
Good Thesis Statement Example: “The unwarranted use of force is a real problem that has a significant influence on society and has to be addressed appropriately to prevent the growth of discontent and violence further.” – This is concise, but detailed enough to let the readers understand the purpose of the writing. It is logical and states the clear position the author supports.

The Main Body

The body paragraphs of your essay will be the source of information for your audience. The main body is always the biggest part of a 5 paragraph assignment and requires the most attention. When writing your body paragraphs, your main points should be stated according to the order of your outline and should support your thesis statement with valid arguments and facts. If you deviate from that, it’s going to confuse the audience, especially those who are very attentive to your essay’s flow.

Here are the main requirements for writing a strong body section:

Bad Example: Due to the rapid growth of atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, we can assume that climate change is a real issue. (Point 1) However, according to some sources, Antarctica is now gaining back ice, which indicates that the problem is being resolved. (Point 2)
Good Example: Due to the rapid growth of atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, we can assume that climate change is a real issue. (Point 1) Also, according to scientists and the reports from statistics taken from satellites, Antarctica keeps losing its land ice rapidly, which also indicates continued global warming. (Point 2)
Bad Example: Global warming is a real threat because of the increase in the carbon footprint left by people.
Good Example: According to the official Nasa report, the atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have now almost reached the point of 420 parts per million. This indicator is considerably larger compared to the level of the atmospheric carbon dioxide reported in 1950, which barely reached 320 parts per million. These facts let us conclude that the issue of climate change is now indisputable.
Bad Example: Last but not least, police brutality cases cause society discontent that leads to mass riots and generates even more violence.
Good Example: Lastly, police brutality causes discontent that leads to mass riots and generates even more violence. 

The main body's goal is to answer any questions that have appeared in the reader’s mind after the introduction. Every new point should get the audience closer to understanding the complete concept you deliver throughout your essay. Ideally, your goal is to bring them to the same level of knowledge on the subject as you have in your capacity. After doing so successfully, it is time to transition to the conclusion.

Academic Essay Conclusion

In any assignment you write, you have to start strong and finish even stronger. As you move towards the end of your paper, your reader might not even remember what the first paragraph you wrote was about. Therefore, you have to remind them. Overall, a good essay conclusion is going to include:

Writing Process

The drafting process takes you from a compilation of information to the structured delivery of your idea within your essay. No excellent-quality paper has ever been written in a single draft. The process begins with a rough draft – a stage where you use all of the information you have acquired from your relative outline. From there, you narrow down this information to the most relevant parts that add actual value to your academic essay topic. Every new draft must also rid itself of content problems, structural flaws, or simple typos. The final draft of an essay might end up being drastically smaller than its original draft.

formatting for an essay

Word Choice ‍

Word choice is one of the factors that define the quality of an academic essay. It is also often overseeded or neglected. It is no secret that some words are better at communicating ideas than others. It is also no secret that vocabulary plays a big role in the writing process. Focusing on word choice is especially significant in descriptive essay writing when your goal is to paint a picture in a reader’s mind. If you are writing a paper on a specific area of study, it is crucial to use words related to that field and avoid simple neutral words that offer no contribution to the text.

Finalizing the Submission ‍

At this stage of writing, your content should be well polished. After taking your essay through a peer review and/or red pen edits, make sure to:

formatting for an essay

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We hope we’ve given you a good head start at becoming an expert academic essay writer. Remember, the purpose of an academic essay is to develop your ideas to deliver a message. As a result of getting better at academic essay writing, you will be able to articulate yourselves clearly and be able to write and speak more confidently. Good luck with your assignment!

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Still aren’t sure if you can handle writing an academic paper all by yourself? No worries, we’ve got you covered! EssayPro has a large pool of professional writers with MA and Ph.D. degrees, and many years of experience in delivering top-quality academic help.

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Essay Formatting: How to Format an Essay That Wows Your Professor

If you want to be one of the top students in your class, you’re going to have to nail essay formatting . Learn how to format an essay and you’ll see a huge difference in your grades.

How to format an essay blog title image

One of the biggest obstacles that students face when trying to write a great essay is getting the main points across in a clear, logical fashion that actually answers the set question.

It doesn’t matter which way you cut it: Writing an A-grade essay is a science.

Very few students crack the secret of writing a great essay on their first attempt. They engage in a process of trial and error through which they work out what works… and what doesn’t.

Fortunately, you don’t need to start this process from scratch. Our essay editors know exactly what it takes to get results.

The best thing of all is that the rules on how to format an essay are incredibly simple. So simple, in fact, that we’ve fit them all on one page (whoop!).

How to Format an Essay: The Perfect Essay Format

When formatting your essay, you will need to ensure you follow the appropriate style guide. This will usually be APA, MLA , or something similar. You can read more about APA in our guide to APA formatting for dissertations .

If there’s one thing that is consistent across all great essays, it’s this:

They follow a clear and logical format that incorporates effective transitions.

As such, before we delve a little deeper into what is happening in each section of an essay that utilizes optimal essay formatting, we need to take a look at transitions.

The first thing you should get straight in your mind is that a good essay is formatted to take the reader on a journey through your train of thought. Transitions help them along this journey.

With the addition of just a few strategically chosen and placed transition words, the organization of the whole essay is greatly enhanced. Transitions strengthen the flow of ideas from one sentence to the other, from one paragraph to the next, and from section to section.  You can read more here: Guide to essay transitions .

Here is a list of the types of transitions you could use when formatting your essay:

Useful Transitions for Essays: A Really Cool Cheat Sheet

So that’s the transition sorted. Let’s look at how they work within the essay itself.

For the purpose of this guide, we’ll focus on a five-paragraph essay format; however, the same techniques and tips will apply regardless of how many paragraphs your essay contains.

How to Format An Essay: The Five-Paragraph Essay

1) introduction.

The introduction to your paper is critical because this is where you get your reader involved in your essay. You need a strong opening that hooks the reader into reading more. Check out our guide to how to write an essay introduction for more information.

Here are a couple of examples of great opening lines that capture the reader’s attention:

As Gru was in the process of giving his acceptance speech at the annual Anti-Villain League Employee of the Year awards, many people in the room looked on in shock. Exactly what had Gru done that had made him so worthy of this accolade? The playwright George Bernard Shaw famously stated ‘Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.’ Later, the film director Woody Allen took the definition one step further by positing ‘Those who can’t teach, teach gym’…

The second purpose of your introductory paragraph is to tell the reader what they will learn from reading your essay. As such, you should include a thesis statement that outlines what your essay will set out to prove. Not sure how to write a thesis statement? Check out our guide to how to write a thesis statement .

Here’s a couple of examples of great thesis statements:

From examining minions’ cramped working conditions, low pay, and lack of vacation entitlement, it is clear that Gru should not have been awarded Employer of the Year. As individuals who directly impact children’s educational development, aspirations, and ability to function in society, teachers should be afforded a greater level of respect than that afforded to them by people like George Bernard Shaw.”

The third purpose of your intro is to keep the reader engaged. As such, you should include a good transitional hook that transitions him or her from the introduction to the main body of the essay.

Here’s an example of a great transitional hook:

This paper will examine some of the ways in which Gru’s minions are mistreated and prove that he is unworthy of the Employer of the Year award he recently won at the Bad Guys Conference.

So, let’s put it all together: A fabulous opening paragraph

As Gru was in the process of giving his acceptance speech at the annual Anti-Villain League Employee of the Year awards, many people in the room looked on in shock. Exactly what had Gru done that had made him so worthy of this accolade? As someone who is renowned for controlling and manipulating his minions, Gru is perhaps one of the last people who should be granted an award for exemplary employment practices. In fact, from examining minions’ cramped working conditions, low pay, and lack of vacation entitlement, it is clear that Gru should not have been awarded Employer of the Year. This paper will examine some of the ways in which Gru’s minions are mistreated and prove that he is unworthy of the Employer of the Year award he recently won at the Anti-Villain League Conference.

2) The Body

Paragraph one.

So, this is where we progress to the real meat of the essay.

Open the first paragraph of the body with a reverse hook that pulls in the transitional hook with which you closed the introductory paragraph.

Okay, admittedly, that sounds complicated. Luckily, it isn’t.

Here are some examples to help you out:

Examples of Essay Transitions

In the first body paragraph, you should aim to reel the reader in. As such, you should put across your strongest argument at this point.

Immediately following the reverse hook, state your topic for the first paragraph. This topic should be directly relevant to the thesis statement you presented in the introduction.

Once you have shared all the main points related to that particular argument, close the paragraph with…

You guessed it, a transition! (Gotta love a good transition).

Paragraph Two

From this point onward, you kinda rinse and repeat.

That is, in your second body paragraph, you use a reverse hook and then present your second strongest argument, second most significant example, second smartest point… you get the picture.

Don’t forget to relate the points you have made back to the thesis statement.

There is one super simple sentence that can help you to nail this every time:

This proves that the view that <main argument of thesis> is correct because…

The word because is extremely important here because it is at this point you present your “so what.” You’ve shared some facts that are relevant to the thesis but you need to explicitly outline how they prove your claim is true.

Once you’ve put your argument across and tied it back to the thesis, you’re ready for…

Can you guess what’s coming?

A transition!

By now this should all be becoming crystal clear. And it couldn’t be simpler.

Here’s our ideal paragraph structure…

Reverse hook > Argument/Strong example > Thesis statement > Transition

Essay Paragraph Structure

A Quick Tip on Proofreading Paragraph Transitions

When you reach the editing stage of writing your essay, take a look at the end of each paragraph and check that it connects to the first sentence of the paragraph following it. If the connection doesn’t quite seem strong enough, consider rewriting the transition by clarifying your logic or even rearranging the paragraphs.

Paragraph Three

Follow the same processes you used in paragraph one and paragraph two. That is:

If you’re making more than three points, you’ll carry on the cycle with each additional body paragraph until you’ve said everything you have to say.

However, at a minimum, you should aim to have at least three body paragraphs that make at least three separate, but important, points related to your thesis.

Closing Body Paragraph

The closing paragraph in the body of your essay will follow the cycle we looked at for paras. one, two, and three.

There will be just one small difference:

The final sentence won’t just be a standard transition. It will be a concluding hook that tells the reader you’ve finished presenting your argument.

Here is an example of a concluding transition:

As such, the third and final reason why Gru should not have been awarded the Employer of the Year award is because he does not allow his minions to take any vacation, something that is in violation of the Bad Guys’ Employment Act 1018.

So, in the final body paragraph of the paper, we have:

Reverse hook > Final Argument/Strong example > Thesis statement > Concluding transition

3) Conclusion

You’ve done all the hard work, but you’re certainly not finished yet.

The conclusion is where you tie everything together and leave a great impression on the reader.

Your conclusion should contain the following:

Here’s an example of a great concluding statement:

In the end, then, one thing is clear: Teachers do far more than simply teach a curriculum. As the examples provided in this paper confirm, teachers directly impact children’s educational development, aspirations, and ability to function in society. Those who can , teach.

Useful Transitions for Conclusions

And, we’re done.

Got any essay formatting advice to share? Any top tips on how to format an essay that we’ve missed? Leave a comment and give us the full lowdown.

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  2. 023 Research Essay Examples Example Mla Format Paper What Is For An Sample Citation Customer

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  6. 018 Mla Format Essay Example ~ Thatsnotus

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COMMENTS

  1. How to Format an Essay: MLA, APA, & Chicago Styles

    For APA formatting, place the title in bold at the center of the page 3 to 4 lines down from the top. Insert one double-spaced line under the title and type your name. Under your name, in separate centered lines, type out the name of your school, course, instructor, and assignment due date. [6]

  2. How to Format an Essay

    To write an essay in MLA format, one must follow a basic set of guidelines and instructions. This is a step by step from our business essay writing service Font: 12pt Times New Roman Spacing: Double spaced everywhere No extra spaces, especially between paragraphs Heading: Example of the heading on the first page of the essay (upper left corner)

  3. Essay Format

    An essay format refers to a set of guidelines that decides how the elements of your paper should be arranged. The format guidelines cover the essay structure, title, citations, and the basic outline of the essay. When formatting a paper, there are certain things that you need to pay attention to.

  4. Formatting An Essay: Simple Instruction

    An essay format is essentially a blueprint for making your text appear structured and logical. The basic format of an essay consists of three parts - introduction, central part, and conclusion. An essay always contains a thesis - the main idea, the position of the author.

  5. Proper Essay Format Guide (Updated For 2021)

    Proper Essay Format Guide (Updated for 2021) Content is king. The substance of what you write is the most important thing in your essays and term papers. However, you also have to nail the mechanics of academic writing. You need to master good grammar and sentence structure, and use appropriate vocabulary for your subject or assignment.

  6. Essay Format

    Formatting an essay means working on the essay structure. When writing an academic essay, make sure that every part is drafted according to format. Your title page, in-text citation, essay outline, and reference list should be following the chosen format. To understand the formatting of the different parts better, continue reading.

  7. Formatting An Essay: Complete Guide

    Knowing how to format an essay and listing ideas neatly will not earn you a good score. Some of the formats required by most education institutions include

  8. The 3 Popular Essay Formats: Which Should You Use?

    Formatting an essay may not be as interesting as choosing a topic to write about or carefully crafting elegant sentences, but it's an extremely important part of creating a high-quality paper. In this article, we'll explain essay formatting rules for three of the most popular essay styles: MLA, APA, and Chicago.

  9. My Assignment Tutor

    A successful basic essay format will manage to lead its reader down the narrative of its argument without confusing them. Nonetheless, after having understood this concept, it is time to apply it to some of the most popular formatting styles in academia discussed below. Most Common College Essay Formats. As we proceed with our examination of ...

  10. Formatting

    Block format all quotations of more than four lines. When you quote brief passages of poetry, line and stanza divisions are shown as a slash (Ex. "Roses are red, / Violets are blue / You love me / And I like you"). For more help, see the OWL handout on using quotes. Resources Communication OneCampus Portal

  11. How to Format an Essay ⇒ MLA, APA, and Structure Tips

    During essay writing, place all titles of other works in quotations or italics, and mind some other requirements of the MLA style, such as: Font: Times New Roman with 12pt font size. The text should be double spaced. One-inch margins on all sides. Indent the paragraphs with half an inch.

  12. Formatting

    Document layout Typical layout for an essay is as shown here: Margins - between 2 cm and 2.54 cm (1 inch) all around. Line spacing - either 1.5 or double-line spacing. Paragraph spacing - either 1 clear line between or at least 8 pt space after each paragraph (more if double-line spaced)

  13. Tips for Formatting an Essay in Microsoft Word: Fonts and More

    To get there, right click with the mouse and choose "Font" from the menu that appears. The Format Font Window looks like the image to the left (click on the image for a larger view). The selected text will appear in the preview pane. As you format the text, you can see how your text will look in the preview pane.

  14. How to Format an Essay

    Add the title of your paper, in title case, in the middle of the page, without any other formatting (bold, italicize, underline, or all capital letters). 3. Use italicized letter for the titles of any sources in the title of your essay. 4. Include a subtitle on the next line below your title if applicable. 5.

  15. MLA Format

    This quick guide will help you set up your MLA format paper in no time. Start by applying these MLA format guidelines to your document: Times New Roman 12 1″ page margins Double line spacing ½" indent for new paragraphs Title case capitalization for headings Download Word template Open Google Docs template

  16. PDF Basic Essay and Paragraph Format

    A basic essay consists of three main parts: intro duction, body, and conclusion. Following this format wil. l help you write and organize an essay. However, flexibility is important. While keeping this basic essay format in mind, let the topic and specific assignment guide the writing and organization. Parts of an Essay . Introduction

  17. Essay Format

    Consider the following tips to format the first page of your essay. Add the header to write your last name and the page number. The header goes on the right-hand corner of the page, leaving half-inch space from the top. This holds for all pages of the essay except for the works cited page. In the upper left-hand corner, state your name ...

  18. General Format

    Paper Format The preparation of papers and manuscripts in MLA Style is covered in part four of the MLA Style Manual. Below are some basic guidelines for formatting a paper in MLAStyle: General Guidelines Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper.

  19. How to Write an Academic Essay: Format, Examples

    Well-structured text — although essays can be considered as one of the least formal types of writing, they still need to have a solid structure and follow the proper academic paper format. Clear central idea — every academic essay should deliver a specific point that should be clear and powerful (i.e. thesis statement).

  20. Formatting An Essay Examples

    For expository writing, our writers investigate a given idea, evaluate its various evidence, set forth interesting arguments by expounding on the idea, and that too concisely and clearly. Our online essay writing service has the eligibility to write marvelous expository essays for you. View Sample. ID 10820. Check your inbox.

  21. Essay Formatting

    How to Format An Essay: The Five-Paragraph Essay 1) Introduction The introduction to your paper is critical because this is where you get your reader involved in your essay. You need a strong opening that hooks the reader into reading more. Check out our guide to how to write an essay introduction for more information.