Cite Your Sources: Formatting Rules

What is Formatting?

Formatting is a word to describe the appearance and arrangement of information on a page. Formatting can include aspects of appearance such as bolding, italics, preferred font, font size, or other such elements. It can also include arrangement aspects such as cover page layout, running head location, page number location, title location, heading locations, or the locations where information appears in a paper.

Each manual of style has a preferred method for formatting documents to adhere to that style. It can seem difficult to learn formatting rules, but there are some easy guides available. This page includes a video and sample paper for each of the three most commonly used style guides.

APA Style 7th Edition Format

You'll find some resources below to guide you as you format your APA-style papers.

• First, check out the videos below for help setting up the format of a paper in APA 7 (in either MS Word or Google Drive).
• Second, visit the Purdue Owl website to view it's outstanding APA Sample Paper. It provides both examples and notes to help you perfect your format.

FYI: Although both the linked example and the videos below state that you can use any font, most instructors prefer Times New Roman 12-point font. Review your assignment prompt to determine your instructor's preference.

Chicago 17th and Turabian 7th Formats

Below, you will find instructions for formatting your paper according to the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) 17th edition or Turabian 9th Edition in MS Word. Turabian is a modified version of CMS, so the set-up process is the same for the two styles/editions.

• First, check out the video below for help setting up the format of a Chicago-style paper in MS Word.
• Second, visit the Purdue Owl website to view it's excellent Chicago Sample Paper. It provides both examples and notes to help you perfect your format.

FYI: Although both the linked example and the video below state that you can use any font, most instructors prefer Times New Roman 12-point font. Review your assignment prompt to determine your instructor's preference.

MLA Style 9th Edition Format

You'll find instructions for formatting your paper according to MLA 9th edition below.

• First, check out the video below for help setting up the format of an MLA-style paper in MS Word.
• Second, visit the Purdue Owl website to view it's outstanding Chicago Sample Paper. It provides both examples and notes to help you perfect your format.

FYI: Although both the linked example and the video below state that you can use any font, most instructors prefer Times New Roman 12-point font. Review your assignment prompt to determine your instructor's preference.