Formatting Your Paper

This page offers a quick guide for formatting in MLA and APA. Please stop by the library for further assistance with using MLA and APA styles for citations. You can also reference your assigned style guide or check online at Purdue OWL.

Do I use MLA, APA or Chicago Style?

Always follow the guidelines given to you by your teacher/professor
You will most often be required to format your papers in MLA, APA, or Chicago (CMS).
MLA will most often be requested by professors in the language and literature fields, APA will be requested by professors in the social sciences, and CMS may be requested by professors in the fine arts and history disciplines
Check in with your librarian for assistance on formatting your paper or see Purdue Owl

MLA Style

Use an easily readable typeface, such as Times New Roman, or the typeface that is designated by your instructor
Use Size 11-13 pt. font or the size that is designated by your instructor
Use the same typeface and typeface size throughout your paper
Double-space your paper
Use 1" margins
Leave only one space after periods (or other punctuation)
Create a header on the right side with your last name and page numbers
In the upper left hand corner list your name, instructor's name, class and date (this should also be double spaced)
Give your paper a title and center it above your paper
The rest of your paper should be left aligned and new paragraphs indented (if needed, use the tab key to indent paragraphs)
Include in-text citations when referencing works of others in your paper
All references in your paper should appear on a Works Cited page at the end of your paper
Do not include any works on your Works Cited page that are not referenced in your paper

APA Style

Typeface must be legible and accessible to all readers and used consistently throughout your paper - (suggested fonts include 11 pt. Calibri, 11 pt. Arial, 10 pt. Lucida Sans Unicode, 12 pt. Times New Roman, 11 pt. Georgia, 10 pt. Computer Modern)
Double-spaced
1" margins
Leave only one space after periods (or other punctuation)
Include a page header/running head at the top of every page (student papers do not require this as of APA 7th ed.). Check your syllabus and assignment requirements to see if your instructor is asking you to add this to your paper. Page headers/running heads should be in all capital letters and located flush left in the header of all pages.
Include page numbers flush right in the header of all pages
Include four major sections: Title Page, Abstract, Main Body, and References
Your title page should be double spaced with the title centered and boldface on the upper half of your page. Beneath your title type your name, then on a new line type the department and university/school name, start a new line for the course number and name, start a new line for your professor's name and then start a new line to list the due date of your assignment.
Start a new page for the abstract with the word "Abstract" centered and in boldface at the top of the page. Then start a new line and type a concise summary of the key points in your paper. Do not indent the summary. Keywords may be listed on your abstract page by starting a new paragraph, indenting, typing "Keywords:" italicized, and then listing keywords (do not italicize the listed keywords).
The main body of your paper should include level headings. Please reference the APA Style website on level headings, visit Purdue OWL or check in with your librarian for assistance.
Reference lists should be at the end of your paper starting on a new page
Start the page with "References" in bold and centered at the top of the page
Your reference list should also be double-spaced
Use a hanging indent for all entries on your reference list
Author's names should be written: Last name, First initial. Middle initial.
All sources cited in your paper must be listed in your reference list
All entries on your reference list must appear in your paper