Research papers are a large part of academic life. From high school to graduate-level education, research papers are commonly assigned to students to develop research skills and knowledge on various topics. Along with developing the content for a research paper, students must also format their papers correctly based on the style guide prescribed for their discipline. There are three main formatting styles used in academic writing – MLA, APA, and Chicago style. Each has its own set of rules for formatting elements like page layout, title page, headings, citations, works cited/references page, footnotes and in-text citations. Understanding the key requirements of each style can help students properly format their papers and design them professionally. Let’s take a more in-depth look at each research paper format style commonly used:
MLA (Modern Language Association) Style
MLA style is most often used for research papers and citations in the humanities, especially language arts and literature. MLA style features brief parenthetical citations in the text that refer to aWorks Cited page or bibliography at the end of the paper. Key MLA formatting requirements include:
-1-inch margins on all sides of the page
-Double-spaced text throughout the paper
-Times New Roman 12-point font is recommended
-Page numbers in the upper right hand corner, 1/2 inch from the top
-Student’s name and instructor’s name on the title page only, no page number
-Paper title centered in the middle of the page without formatting (italics, bold, underlining)
-Headings are center aligned and used for formatting differentiation of text
-Parenthetical citation includes author last name and page number, example (Smith 25)
-Works Cited page titled with the words Works Cited, double-spaced, and in alphabetical order by author last name
APA (American Psychological Association) Style
APA style is commonly used for social sciences like psychology, education, and business. Key features of APA style include:
-1-inch margins on all sides
-Double-spaced text with 12-point Times New Roman font
-Page header with short title (50 character max) in upper left corner flush with right margin
-Student’s name and school abbreviation in upper right corner flush with left margin
-Page numbers centered on each page in header
-Headings formatted as levels to separate subsections of content
-Parenthetical citation includes author last name and year, example (Smith, 2020)
-References page titled References, entries alphabetized by author last name or title if no author given
-References include hanging indent which indents the second line of each citation
Chicago/Turabian Styles
The Chicago style has two basic formats – Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) for published works and Turabian style for student works. Both emphasize detailed footnote/endnote references with citations in the text via number. Key Chicago/Turabian formatting includes:
-1-inch margins top, bottom and sides
-Double-spaced or 1.5 spaced text with 12-point font
-Title page presents paper title, author name, course name and number spaced evenly and centered
-Consistent header in upper right corner includes page number and student/author last name separated by a space
-Footnotes, endnotes or parenthetical citations in sequential order denoted by raised number
-Footnote references give full citation details the first time with subsequent shortened citations
-Bibliography or reference page separates works cited alphabetically in one continuous list
Choosing a Style Guide
The style guide for a research paper is determined by the course instructor or field of study. Using the prescribed style correctly formats the structure and organization of a paper, as well as citations. Programs like Microsoft Word also offer formatting assistance with built-in style templates. By understanding each major style’s layout and citation requirements, students can apply the proper formatting to design research papers that meet all criteria and make a professional academic impression. Mastering style guidelines enables good research writing habits that can benefit scholars throughout their studies.