How To Format An Essay - A Complete Guide

Once, Mark Twain said, “I like a good story well told. That’s the reason I am sometimes forced to tell them myself.” 

We also like excellent stories that are narrated lucidly. The issue arises that students have excellent stories to tell but don’t know how to narrate them. They have the seed of an idea and compelling arguments that make an excellent essay, but the structure is chaotic. 

Writing the perfect essay can be time-consuming for beginners, especially when it comes to formatting. You know you need to format your essays accurately but don’t have the faintest idea of where to begin or what the rules are. 

We’ve got your back. Today’s comprehensive guide will show you exactly how to format your essay accurately so that it looks professional and pruned to perfection. With this easy-to-follow guide and an accurate essay format template, you’ll have no hard time getting your essays in perfect shape effectively. 

Ready mates? Let’s take off then! 

What is Essay Format Structure? 

A close look at an essay layout will help you understand that an essay format refers to a specific set of specifications that determines how the essay elements will be organized. Regardless of the essay kind you’re working on, formatting is a vital step in crafting an impeccable essay. 

It is crucial to keep certain vital aspects in mind while formatting an essay. Let’s take a closer look at them below - 

Title Page 

• The title of the essay (centered) 
• Your Name 
• Affiliation of the institution 
• Course title or course number 
• Name of the instructor 
• Submission date 

Abstract 

• Place ‘Abstract’ at the top of the page in the center
• An essay’s summary that’s concise (it should be usually around 150-250 words). 
• Outline the main points, objective, methodology, and main findings or the conclusion of the essay. 
• Refrain from giving detailed explanations or references in the abstract. 

Table of Content 

Incorporate sections like the Research Question, Thesis, Introduction, Sub-Headings, Arguments, Conclusion, Appendix, Reference Page, etc. 

Introduction 

• After the title page and abstract, the introduction should be started on a new page.
• Include statistics, a hook, or a quote to capture the reader’s attention. 
• The background context of the topic. 
• Key arguments of thesis statement at the end of the introduction. 

Body Paragraphs 

• Try to start every paragraph with a clear topic sentence. 
• Try to give solid evidence or examples for every argument offered in the body paragraph. 
• Explain and analyze the evidence. 
• Utilize seamless transitions between all the paragraphs to maintain good consistency.
• Use a consistent and clear font like Times New Roman.
• Throughout the essay, make sure to use double-spaced lines. 
• Maintain one-inch margins on every side of every page.
• Incorporate page numbers (especially in the footer or header) of the essay. 
• Maintain proper indentation for paragraphs ( usually, it should be 0.5 inches) 

Conclusion 

• After the essay body, start the conclusion on a new page.
• Reiterate the thesis statement. 
• Present a synopsis of the main points presented in the essay. 
• Include an implication or final thoughts. 

Bibliography 

• Start a new page after the conclusion called the references page.  
• Make sure to mention the resources presented in the paper, adhering to the formatting style (like APA, Chicago, MLA, etc.)
• Make sure to organize all the sources alphabetically. 

Remember, the essay writing format for high school, college, and university students can mainly vary depending on the depth of the research and analysis needed, with higher education levels demanding more detailed work. 

Now that you’ve become well-versed with the essential essay paper format guidelines, let’s proceed to further understand how to format essays accurately as per the MLA guidelines. 

How to Format Essay in MLA Style?

In MLA style,  formatting an essay is a basic requirement in different educational settings, especially in the language arts, cultural studies, and other humanities disciplines. 

The MLA format offers unique guidelines for writing different aspects of the essay font style, font size, bibliography and references. Have a look at the MLA essay format template you can take a reference from for crafting your essays effectively - 

Template of the MLA Format 

Title Page - MLA doesn’t specifically demand a separate title page. Rather, one needs to insert the title at the top of the very first page. It should be centered. Include your name, instructor’s name, course name and number, and date, each on a different line. Try to keep them left-aligned.

Header & Page Numbers -  On the upper right-hand corner of every page, create a header with the last name and page number. It should be half an inch from the top. Like, Richardson 

Spacing & Margins - Try to use all margins to 1 inch. Use double-space throughout the paper.

Size & Font - Ensure to use a readable font such as Times New Roman or Arial of 12 size. 

Indentation - Make sure to indent the first line of every paragraph by 0.5 inches. Press “Tab key” to do this automatically in the word processor. 

Paragraphs - Make sure to leave one space after all punctuation marks like periods in sentences. 

Citations - In-text citations are used in MLA style to cite the resources accurately. While quoting or paraphrasing, make sure to include the page number and the last name of the author. (Line, Richardson 20). 

Works Cited Pages -Try to include a separate page at the end of the paper as ‘Works Cited.’ Make sure to list down all the resources cited by the author’s last name. 

Example of MLA Format 

Have a close look at an essay format example in MLA style - 

How to Format Essay in Chicago Style?

According to the best minds associated with a reputed academic writing service, the Chicago writing formats for essays is generally used in history and other disciplines of humanities. Here are certain effective guidelines to format your paper remarkably as per the Chicago essay format - 

Chicago Formatting Layout of an Essay 

Title Page -  In Chicago style, the title page should include the essay’s title (it should be centered), course name and number, your name (in the center), name of the educator, and date. 

Margins & Spaces- Keep every margin to one inch. Type the essay double-spaced. 

Size and Font - Make sure to use a readable and clear font style, like Times New Roman or Arial, of size 12. 

Page Numbers - On every page, make sure to number the pages. It should be in the upper right corner. It must start with the first page of the primary text. The numbers of the page must be done as per the Arabic numerals (1,2,3, etc.) 

Paragraphs - Indent by 0.5 inches the first sentence of all body paragraphs. 

Citations - As per the Chicago style, you need to cite in two ways. These are endnotes and footnotes. Make sure to place the superscript number (e.g., ^1) in the text at the end of a sentence that comprises the referenced information. Make sure the corresponding endnotes or footnotes provide complete details of the references. 

Bibliography - At the end of the essay, make sure to incorporate a separate page with the title ‘Bibliography.’  Ensure to enlist all the resources in an alphabetical order 

Adhere to the guidelines of Chicago style for various kinds of resources like academic journals, books, articles, or websites. 

Example of Chicago Format 

Let’s check out a Chicago essay format sample to connect the relevant theory to the practice - 

How to Format an Essay in APA Style?

One of the most common college paper formats in educational institutions is the APA essay format. It is mainly used in the social sciences and psychology. Hence, being well-versed in the intricacies of its requirements is vital. 

Here are certain guidelines you need to follow to compose your paper in  APA format style - 

Title Page - In APA essay style format,  the title page should include the title of the essay (It should be centered in bold and in title case), institution affiliation (placed at the center), your name (placed at the center), running head (title should be short and in uppercase), and the page number (it should be flush right). 

Header & Page Numbers- Ensure to make the header with the title of the essay. It should be in all capital letters. It should be followed by a colon and a shortened title version. Additionally, it must be placed upper left corner of each page. In the upper right corner, place the page number. 

Spacing & Margins - The margins should be kept at 1 inch. Try to use double-spacing throughout the essay. 

Paragraphs - Make the indentation of the first line of every paragraph by 0.5 inches. On the reference page, use a hanging indent for the references. 

Title - On the title page, utilize a bold title case for the essay title. 

Citations - Make in-text citations to reference different sources. Include the author’s last name and publication date or year when paraphrasing or quoting. 

References Page - At the end of the essay, create a separate page named ‘References.’ All the resources must be listed alphabetically by author’s last name.

Example of APA Format

Here’s an essay format example in APA style - 

Compare In-Text Citations for MLA, APA, and Chicago Essay Format

A close look at the samples of eminent essay writing service providers will help you understand that in-text citations are brief references that are incorporated in the body paragraphs of a research paper or essay. It indicates the sources of information you have incorporated in your essay. 

All formatting styles have a distinct way in which in-text citations must be incorporated. Let’s look at a table summarizing the in-text citation formats for the common formatting styles - 

Essay Format Style	Guidelines	Example
APA	Last name of the author, publishing date, and page number (if applicable) within the parentheses	(Richardson, 2024, p.30)
MLA	Last name of the author and page number without any punctuation marks between them.	(Mayer 72)
Chicago  (Author-Date)	Last name of the author and the date of publishing within parentheses.	(Smith 2023) or “According to Smith (2023)....”
Chicago  (Notes and Bibliography)	Numbered footnotes or endnotes within a superscript number in the text. This should correspond to a full citation in an endnote or footnote.	Richardson argues that “the data is convincing.” 12

• Essay Format Style
• Guidelines 
• Example 
• APA 

Last name of the author, publishing date, and page number (if applicable) within the parentheses 

(Richardson, 2024, p.30)

MLA 

Last name of the author and page number without any punctuation marks between them. 

(Mayer 72) 

Chicago 

(Author-Date) 

Last name of the author and the date of publishing within parentheses. 

(Smith 2023) or “According to Smith (2023)....”

Chicago 

(Notes and Bibliography) 

Numbered footnotes or endnotes within a superscript number in the text. This should correspond to a full citation in an endnote or footnote. 

Richardson argues that “the data is convincing.” 12

How to Figure Out Which Format Should Be Followed? 

Selecting an appropriate referencing format for your academic papers is significant to make sure that your essay abides by the specified standards. Check out the below-enlisted aspects to make a wise decision - 

Pay Attention to the Discipline and Subject 

APA - This style of formatting should be used to cite papers of social sciences such as education and psychology. This i mainly used in business and healthcare disciplines. 

Chicago - This formatting style is used to cite academic papers of history, and some social science papers, and humanities. The Chicago style of formatting includes both date-author and notes and bibliography style. This makes it an adaptable style for different subjects. 

MLA - It is generally used to format essays of humanities. This includes languages, literature, and cultural studies. 

Pay Attention to Your Professor’s Instructions 

Make sure to always adhere to the instructions of your professors regarding the style of referencing and different writing conventions. Your professor may also offer some specifications or needs based on the course or nature of your paper.

Like, your psychology professor may ask you to be well-versed in the intricacies of APA formatting style to become familiar with the research norms. But, when the educator does not specify any format style, you can adhere to the style suitable for your subject. 

Adhere to the Guidelines of the Institution 

Usually, academic institutions may already have a standard or guidelines for formatting your academic papers effectively. Check this style guide or get in touch with your academic advisors to make sure of compliance with specifications. 

When you choose the subject, specifications of your educator, and guidelines of the educational institution, you can easily choose the formatting style to enhance the professionalism and clarity of your essays. 

Wrapping Up, 

We hope by now you have gained a lucid understanding of the basics of three significant styles of formatting; you will be prepared to tackle your arduous essay formatting task like an academic champion. 

Whether you desire to craft a research paper, an assignment, a thesis, or any academic paper, these formatting guidelines will help you present all your arguments spectacularly and professionally. 

If you still struggle to format an essay accurately, you can buy essay services from AllEssayWriter.com. Our stalwarts will help you format your papers and deliver 100% plagiarism-free solutions that meet all your requirements accurately. Order now!