Formatting a research paper in Microsoft Word can feel like a daunting task, but following a few key guidelines can help ensure your paper is well organized and easy to read. This article will walk through the basic rules of formatting a research paper in Word, including setting up page layout, styling headers and footers, inserting page numbers, and developing an appropriate citation and works cited section.
To start, open a new Word document and select the appropriate page size, which is usually Letter size (8 1/2″ x 11″). Next, set the margins to 1″ on all sides. Most academic papers require 1″ margins on all pages. Click the Layout tab and choose Margins to access these settings. While you’re in the Layout tab, select the appropriate page orientation, which is almost always portrait for research papers.
Next comes styling the header and footer. Click inside the top margin to access the header and footer tools. Select Different First Page to format the title page header differently than subsequent pages. On the first page header, center the title of your paper in title case (capitalizing only the first letters of words except for articles, prepositions, and conjunctions). Leave the rest of the header blank on the first page.
For the remaining pages, insert a running header that identifies your last name and the page number concisely. For example, “Smith 1”. Click inside the top margin again and select Edit Header. Then type your last name, a space, the page number field code {PAGE}, and format it right aligned. This header will automatically update the page number on every page except the first. Repeat the process in the footer area but leave it blank unless required otherwise.
Most research papers require a page number on every page except the title page. To add this, go to the Insert tab and select Page Number. Choose the bottom, centered location and Plain Number 3 format. This will add numeric page numbers to the footer on all pages. Remember to Suppress the First Page number on the title page. Page numbers allow readers to easily reference specific parts of your paper.
The next major step is formatting the body text. Select the entire document and change the font style to a standard academic style like Times New Roman or Calibri. Set the font size to 12 pt. for body text. Apply 1.5 or double line spacing to improve readability. You can adjust the line spacing by going to Paragraph Spacing in the Paragraph section of the Home tab. Bold and italic text are acceptable but underlining and CAPITAL LETTERS should generally be avoided as they are harder to read.
Finally, build an accurate citation and works cited section. Use proper citations inline with the text each time you paraphrase or directly quote a source. Then create a Works Cited list at the end with full bibliographic information for every source cited. Use a consistent citation style like MLA, APA, or Chicago throughout. Proper citations allow readers to clearly evaluate your sources and verify your research claims.
Review your document extensively before submitting for any errors or inconsistencies. Remember to check spelling and grammar, citation formats, page number continuity, and overall layout and appearance. Following basic formatting rules like setting appropriate margins, styling headers/footers, inserting page numbers, formatting text/citations consistently, and creating a bibliography puts your research paper in a polished, professional format that is easy for readers to follow. With careful attention to these details, you can present your research and writing in the strongest possible format.