How to format a research paper.
This article provides helpful tips on how to format a research paper, with steps to include supporting materials.
Original research can be essential for obtaining a sought-after degree, landing the perfect job, or getting published. Even if your research is excellent, it may not be taken as seriously as it could be if you use incorrect formatting. To help your research paper get all the awareness it deserves, pay close attention to its structure and style.
What are the research paper format styles?
When it comes to formatting a research paper, different academic disciplines often require specific style guidelines to ensure consistency and proper citation. Understanding how to format your research paper according to the appropriate style is essential for presenting your work professionally. The three most commonly used research paper format styles are:
- Modern Language Association (MLA)
- American Psychological Association (APA)
- Chicago Manual of Style (CMS)
Each style has its own set of guidelines for formatting, citation, and reference listing.
How to format a research paper for each style.
Formatting a research paper correctly is crucial for academic writing, as it not only enhances the readability and organization of your work but also ensures that your sources are properly cited. Different academic disciplines often follow specific style guidelines when it comes to formatting research papers.
1. Use APA research paper format.
- Select 1-inch margins on all sides.
- Set the font as 12-point Times New Roman.
- Double-space the entire document, including the title page, abstract, main body, and references.
- Include a running head at the top of each page, with a shortened version of your paper’s title (limited to 50 characters) aligned to the left and the page number aligned to the right.
- On the title page, include the full title, author’s name, institutional affiliation, and running head.
- Begin the main body with an introduction, followed by headings and subheadings as appropriate.
- Cite sources using the author-date format in parentheses within the text and provide a corresponding reference list at the end of the paper.
2. Use MLA format for a research paper.
- Set 1-inch margins on all sides.
- Use a legible font, such as 12-point Times New Roman.
- Double-space the entire document.
- Include a header with your last name and page numbers in the top-right corner.
- On the first page, include your name, instructor’s name, course title, and date aligned to the left.
- Create a title centered on the next line without bold or underlined formatting.
- Start the main body with an introduction, followed by sections and subsections as needed.
- Use parenthetical in-text citations, including the author’s last name and page number, whenever referencing sources.
- Compile a Works Cited page listing all sources cited in the paper.
3. Format a research paper using Chicago style.
- Set 1-inch margins on all sides.
- Use a readable font, preferably 12-point Times New Roman.
- Double-space the entire document.
- Insert footnotes or endnotes for in-text citations and additional explanations or comments.
- Include a bibliography page listing all sources cited in the paper.
- Use title capitalization for headings in the main body.
- Begin the paper with a title page that includes the title, author’s name, course information, and date.
- Organize the main body with clear sections and subheadings as required.
Research paper PDF format tips.
As you begin formatting your research paper, be sure you know which style guide you’re required to follow. If there is no requirement, pick the one you want to follow and stick with it.
To augment your original research, you will probably want to include supporting material such as charts and graphs. Those documents will likely come as PDFs, so it’s important to know how to edit PDFs and add or extract pages.
Here are three tips to help you format a research paper when working with PDFs:
- Add comments and page numbers to PDFs to illustrate their relevance and keep the writing organized.
- Add important pages such as charts, graphs, and other supporting documents as a part of your paper.
- When adding documents to support your research, extract pages that aren’t relevant or that could cause confusion.
Groundbreaking ideas and a new perspective will make up the substance of your research paper, but don’t stop there. How the piece is put together with concise and relevant supporting documents, as well as learning how to write an executive summary that’s strong, can make a difference in a reader’s impression of the work. Look at your labor from a total package perspective and ensure that it’s tight and accurate.
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