Formatting a research paper is essential for creating a good impression on the reader. Different academic institutions and publications require different formatting styles, such as APA style (American Psychological Association) and MLA style (Modern Language Association). Knowing how to format your paper properly in either APA or MLA style is crucial for writing research papers in many high school and college courses. This guide provides an in-depth overview on formatting research papers in both APA and MLA styles.
APA (American Psychological Association) Style
APA style was created by the American Psychological Association and is commonly used for papers in psychology, education, and the social sciences. There are specific guidelines for formatting the layout, citations, and reference page in APA style.
Page Layout
Use standard sized paper (8.5″ x 11″) and 1″ margins on all sides
Double space the entire paper, including the reference list
Use a readable font like Times New Roman in 12pt size
Include a page header (also known as the “running head”) at the top of every page that includes a shortened title in all caps
Indent the first line of each new paragraph by 0.5 inches
In-Text Citations
Citations are included whenever a source is referenced or quoted in the body of the paper
In-text citations contain the author’s last name and year of publication only, separated by commas (e.g. Smith, 2019)
For direct quotes, include the page number as well (e.g. Smith, 2019, p. 23)
When no author is provided, use the title in the citation (e.g. “Title of Article,” 2019)
Reference Page
Include a separate references page at the end of the paper titled “References”
References are listed in alphabetical order by the author’s last name
Entries should be formatted with a hanging indent, meaning the first line of each entry is flush left and subsequent lines are indented
References include the author’s name, year of publication, title, source location, and other relevant details depending on the source type
Book and journal titles are italicized while article and chapter titles are in quotation marks
MLA (Modern Language Association) Style
MLA style is commonly used for papers in the humanities disciplines and liberal arts, especially languages, literature and other cultural studies. The formatting guidelines are similar but not identical to APA style.
Page Layout
Same page size, font size, spacing, and margins as APA
Include a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the top right corner, about 0.5 inches from the top edge
No running head or title included
In-Text Citations
Parenthetical citations contain the author’s last name and page number only within parentheses
If no page number is available, include as much source information as needed to identify the source
For indirect quotes or paraphrases use just the author’s last name and no page number
Works Cited Page
Provide a separate works cited page (instead of a references page) at the end
Use the same formatting rules for alphabetizing references
Source types are formatted with a hanging indent, omit the date, and include location
Books and long works cite the city of publication while shorter works cite publisher
Beyond the formatting differences between APA and MLA styles, the overall paper structure is also similar in both styles:
Title page with paper title, author name, course name, instructor name, and date centered
Abstract page included for papers longer than one page (APA only)
Main body of paper divided into sections with appropriately formatted section headings
Properly formatted in-text citations and references/works cited page at the end
Proper formatting sets the tone and level of professionalism for a research paper. Adhering to established styles like APA or MLA creates consistency and allows readers to focus on the content itself without distraction. Following the guidelines outlined here will ensure papers are formatted correctly according to the chosen style.