Writing Styles and Formatting

Main Elements to Cover:

1. General Format for Proposals and Reports:

Title Page:

• Include the project/research title, your name or team name, and date of submission.

• Ensure the title is centered and in a larger font size (e.g., 16-18 pt), while the rest of the information (name, date) should be in a standard font size (e.g., 12 pt).

Table of Contents:

• For longer reports or proposals, include a table of contents for easy navigation.

• This helps readers quickly locate key sections like Introduction, Methodology, Findings, etc. It should automatically update if you're using Word or Google Docs.

Headings and Subheadings:

• Use clear and consistent headings to break the document into logical sections (e.g., Introduction, Methodology, Findings, etc.).

• The main headings should be bold, in a larger font size (e.g., 14-16 pt), while subheadings can be in 12 pt or bold.

• Ensure consistent formatting for all headings and subheadings throughout the document.

Page Numbers:

• Ensure pages are numbered, starting from the introduction or the first content page (not the title page).

• Typically, use the footer area to insert page numbers, aligned to the right or centered.

Spacing and Margins:

• Margins: Set the margins to 1 inch on all sides (top, bottom, left, right) for a clean, professional look.

• Spacing: Use double-spacing throughout the document to ensure readability, unless otherwise specified.

• Font Style: Use a professional, readable font such as Times New Roman or Arial.

• Font Size: Standard text should be in 12 pt for readability, while the title page and headings can use larger fonts (e.g., 16-18 pt for the title).

• Alignment: Text should generally be left-aligned, with the exception of the title page where the title can be centered.

2. Citation and Referencing Styles:

• Why it Matters: Proper citation ensures that the sources you reference are acknowledged and allows others to verify your sources. The choice of citation style often depends on the discipline (e.g., IT, Business, Design) or specific requirements from stakeholders.

• Common Citation Styles:

  • APA (American Psychological Association): Commonly used in business and social sciences research.

  • MLA (Modern Language Association): Often used in humanities, including design-related topics.

  • Chicago: Preferred in some business, humanities, and design research.

  • IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers): Typically used for IT and technical fields.

• Example of Citation Formats:

  • APA: Lastname, F.M. (Year). Title of Work. Publisher.

  • MLA: Lastname, Firstname. Title of Work. Publisher, Year.

  • IEEE: [1] F. M. Lastname, Title of Paper, Journal Name, vol. xx, no. xx, pp. xx-xx, Year.