Formatting Chapter Notes | Additional Learning for TOEIC PDF Download

What is Formatting?

Formatting involves a set of rules for academic writing that govern a paper’s appearance, including font settings, margins, headers, footers, title pages, and citations. Consistent formatting is crucial for upholding academic integrity, particularly in providing accurate citations to prevent plagiarism. Citations identify each source used in the paper, ensuring proper attribution. Adhering to style guidelines guarantees that all required citation details are included and presented appropriately for academic audiences.

Types of Formatting

Various academic fields require specific formatting styles. The three most prevalent in academic writing are the American Psychological Association (APA), Modern Language Association (MLA), and Chicago Manual of Style (CMS). The choice of formatting style depends on the paper’s subject and academic discipline.
All three styles share some fundamental formatting requirements. Papers must be double-spaced with one-inch margins on all sides and use a standard typeface, such as Times New Roman, typically in 12-point font. However, the styles differ in aspects like title pages, headers, and citation formats.

1. APA Style

• The American Psychological Association (APA) style is primarily used in the sciences and social sciences for both academic and professional papers. 
• An APA paper requires a title page that includes the paper’s title, the author’s name, and their institutional affiliation. Professional papers include an author’s note, while student papers include the course name, instructor’s name, and assignment due date.
  
• An abstract, summarizing the paper’s content, appears on the second page and is mandatory for professional papers but optional for student papers, depending on the instructor’s requirements.
  
• Each page, except the title page, includes a running header with the page number in the top right corner. For professional papers, the paper’s title is also included in the top left corner of each page.

2. APA Citations

• APA citation requirements vary by source type but generally include the author’s name (last name, first initial), publication year, article or book title, italicized publication or publisher name, and, if applicable, volume/issue numbers, page numbers, and a DOI or URL for online sources. 
  
• An example format is: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article. Title of Publication, volume number (issue number), pages. https://doi.org/xx.xxx/yyyy
  
• Citations appear on a References page at the paper’s end, listed alphabetically by the author’s last name. The first line of each citation aligns with the left margin, while subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches.
  
• In-text citations, used to indicate source material within the paper’s body, guide readers to the full citation on the References page. APA in-text citations include the author’s last name, publication year, and, if relevant, page number, enclosed in parentheses at the end of quoted or paraphrased material (Author, Year, pg.).

3. MLA Style

The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is used in humanities fields like history and literature. Unlike APA, MLA papers do not require a title page. Instead, essential information is placed at the top of the first page, aligned to the left. This heading includes the author’s name, instructor’s name, course title, and date, each on a separate line, double-spaced:
Writer’s name
Instructor’s name
Course title
Date

Summary

Academic papers must adhere to specific formatting guidelines to standardize their appearance and citation structure. The three most common styles are the American Psychological Association (APA), Modern Language Association (MLA), and Chicago Manual of Style (CMS), with usage varying by academic discipline. Humanities fields, such as history and literature, typically use MLA, while sciences and social sciences often employ APA. CMS is generally used for published works rather than student papers.
These styles share common elements, including margin sizes, double-spaced text, standard font styles and sizes, and the requirement for in-text and full citations. However, they differ in presentation details, such as the use of a title page and citation formatting. For instance, MLA uses a Works Cited page, while APA uses a References page.