How to Format an Essay: Complete Guide with Examples (MLA, APA & More)

Every student needs to learn how to format an essay properly in order to present their ideas clearly and professionally. Many students struggle to choose the right essay format especially with the different formats for essays like MLA, APA, Chicago, and others used across various disciplines. Proper formatting will keep your paper clean, organized, and accurately cited, so you avoid plagiarism and maintain academic integrity.

This guide covers the basic essay format and the structural elements of introduction, body and conclusion. You will also get practical tips to make your paper align with your instructor’s requirements and make your work noticed. If you’re struggling to finish your assignment on time, you can always ask an expert to write my essay cheap and receive professional help.

What is an Essay Format?

An essay format is a series of guidelines determining how your paper should be arranged. It covers the cover page, basic essay structure, essay outline, conclusion, citations, etc.

How to Format an Essay

When working on essay formatting, it’s important to include essential elements such as a clear title page, correct capitalization and punctuation, accurate in-text citations, and a properly formatted works cited page. Additionally, maintaining a logical essay structure ensures your ideas flow smoothly and coherently. Below, you’ll find a clear breakdown of the key components of a proper essay format.

Essay Format Structure: Key Elements Explained

A standard academic essay typically includes several structural components, each serving a specific purpose. The table below clearly defines each of these essay formats elements, describes their purpose, and provides practical examples to help you apply them in your writing:

How to Format an Essay in MLA (9th Edition)

The MLA essay format, established by the Modern Language Association, is widely used for essays in humanities disciplines such as literature, languages, cultural studies, and philosophy. The most recent guidelines are outlined in the MLA Handbook, 9th edition (published in 2021), providing detailed rules for proper formatting and citation.

MLA style follows a straightforward and clean formatting approach, making it a standard essay format for many college assignments. Here are the primary components you should include:

Title Page

If you are asked to create an MLA 9 title page instead of just the header, you must include:

– Your college or university name.

– Original title of your paper. Subtitle (if relevant).

– Your first and last name.

– Your professor’s name.

– Class or course name (number).

– Date of the paper’s deadline in Day, Month, Year formatting.

• Your lines must be double-spaced and centered.
• Use Times New Roman font.
• Size 12 font.
• The first letter of each word must be capitalized except for “the, and, of”.
• The page number is not included on the title page.

If you are using the typical left top margin header, it follows the same formatting and includes:

• Your first and last name.
• Your teacher’s name.
• Class name or course number.
• Due date.

What we become in practice is:

First Page

It is recommended to use:

• 12-point Times New Roman font.
• Double-spacing must be used.
• Use 1-inch margins on all sides.

The first line of each paragraph must be indented (use the TAB key).

If you have quotes that are longer than four lines of text, they must be placed in a block of text half an inch from the left margin.;

If you have no requirement for a separate title page, use the one from the example provided in the previous section.

Regarding headers, you must always check your paper’s case and discuss it with your instructor because the rules at each institution may differ.

Introduction, Body, and Conclusion

As a rule, when writing in the MLA format, it is crucial to clearly structure your essay into Introduction, Body, and Conclusion. Regardless of essay type, following the basic five-paragraph essay format example ensures clarity and coherence. Keep in mind these key formatting guidelines:

• Font used must be either Times New Roman or Arial, size 12 pt.
• Use 1-inch margins on all sides.
• The first word in each paragraph must be indented.
• Use transition words between paragraphs.
• All your main points must be mentioned again in the Conclusion part.
• Avoid introducing any new ideas.

In-Text Citation

Cite sources directly in parentheses after quotes or paraphrasing:

Format: (Author’s last name page number)

Examples: 

• It uses only the last name of the author(s) with the page number: (Jackson 9).

• If there is no author, it uses: (“NASA”)

• When you have two authors in MLA 9: (Clark and Smith 19).

• When you have three or more authors: (Jolie et al. 34)

Works Cited Page

• List your references alphabetically.
• Use indents of every line after the first.
• Times New Roman, 12 pt. is recommended.

For example, if you need to cite a journal for your MLA essay format writing, use this template:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title, Title of the journal in italics, Vol. #, no.#, Publication Date, pp. 101-202.

If you are turning to online databases, a Database in italics or URL must be added.

Adhering to the MLA format helps ensure your essay’s clarity, consistency, and credibility, facilitating reader comprehension and strengthening your academic integrity.

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How to Write an Essay in APA Format (7th Edition)

The APA essay format, developed by the American Psychological Association, is commonly used in social sciences, psychology, education, and other related fields. The latest guidelines are outlined in the APA Publication Manual (7th edition, published in 2019). APA emphasizes clarity, precision, and straightforward formatting.

Below are the key components required when formatting your essay according to APA guidelines:

Title Page

Your APA 7 title page should provide the original paper’s title, author name(s), author affiliation, university’s course number, and relevant name for which the paper is being written. Then you must add your instructor’s name, assignment due date, and page number, which must start either from 1 or 0, depending on your formatting.

A typical student’s title page in APA 7 goes as follows:

NOTE: If you are writing a student paper, it does not include a running head unless your instructor tells you to!

• Title of an essay must be placed three to four lines down from the top.
• Major words of your title must be capitalized.
• If you have two authors, you must use “and” between the names or commas if there are more than two authors.
• Affiliation part must include the name of the department and your college or university. It must be centered.
• Course number must be provided exactly as shown on your instructional materials.
• Instructor’s name must follow below in full name.
• Page number in APA 7 starts from number 1 in the top right corner or zero number below if requested.

Professional publications also have the following:

• Running Head. It is written in capital letters with the left margin align. The words “Running Head” are not used anymore.
• Author Note. If you have any author’s notes, they are placed below Author’s Affiliation. They must be centered with aligning to the left.

First Page

• The first level of text must start as a new paragraph. It must be centered, bold, and use the title case heading format.
• Second level also starts as a new paragraph. It has an indent to the left, be bold and use title case heading.
• Third level is flushed to the left, remains bold but uses italics with the title case heading.
• Fourth level has an indent, bold with the title case that ends with a period. The paragraph’s text goes further on the same line and is approached as a normal paragraph.
• The fifth level goes as the previous one but adds italics.
• If you are writing an academic report or research paper, your Method, Results, and Discussion parts all must use first-level headings.

Some other changes worth mentioning:

• A running head is no longer required for student papers.
• Professional papers still require a running head, but without the “Running head:” prefix.
• The running head should be written in all capital letters.
• It’s also important to use bias-free and gender-neutral language in your paper.

Introduction, Body, and Conclusion

• Use Times New Roman font, point 12.
• Avoid starting your paper with a direct quote.
• The title must be centered, bolded, and typed in upper and lower case.
• The word “Introduction” should not be used.
• It should be about 2-3 pages long, depending on your total word count.
• It is recommended to use one idea per paragraph.
• The conclusion part should not introduce any new ideas.

In-Text Citation

Correct in-text citation is an essential part of avoiding plagiarism. When you aim to show your reader that you are either using a direct quote or paraphrase something, you follow the rules. Here is how to write an essay in APA 7:

• Use the “author-date” citation method with parentheses. It must be placed right after your quote. If you have a page number, the “p.” part is added before your relevant page’s number.

APA essay format in-text citation:

“When the brain activity of an autistic child changes, it does not affect the basic cognitive function and reaction to refraction of light” (Matthews, 2009, pp.33-34).

When you use a narrative style, it goes like this:

In his recent study, Dr. Jones observed that many pneumatic pumps in Leiden “worked with the help of Northern Sea wind and related turbines, which made it even more efficient” (2014, p. 62).

Works Cited Page

• Your sources must be listed according to the ABC.
• If your source is longer than two lines of text, the second line must be indented by using the TAB key. All the upcoming lines follow this format as well.
• Use Times New Roman, point 12 font.
• Each citation must go according to your source type.

How to Write an Essay MLA Format vs APA Format

As you will learn the basic rules of MLA and APA citations, identifying the required essay format will be quite easy. The trick is to remember the key differences as you focus on both similarities and aspects that set these writing formats apart:

The style differences in essay format rules between MLA and APA are as seen below:

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Other Essay Formats You Should Know

While MLA and APA are among the most common essay formats used by students, certain disciplines require different formats for essays. Depending on your academic field, your instructor might ask you to follow a specific formatting style tailored to the conventions of that discipline. Knowing the basics of these other formats ensures you are prepared to meet your instructor’s expectations and present your ideas clearly, effectively, and professionally.

Chicago Style Essay Format

The Chicago style essay format, detailed in The Chicago Manual of Style (currently the 17th edition), is commonly used in history, humanities, and social sciences. It emphasizes detailed footnotes or endnotes for citations, along with a comprehensive bibliography. Basic formatting includes Times New Roman (12 pt), double spacing, 1-inch margins, and paragraph indentation (0.5 inch). Citations are formatted as superscript numbers linked to detailed notes at the bottom of the page or at the end of the document.

IEEE

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) style is primarily used in engineering, computer science, and related technical fields. This numeric citation style assigns a number to each source, listed sequentially in square brackets (e.g., [1]). The IEEE format uses single spacing, Times New Roman or Arial fonts (10-12 pt), 1-inch margins, and aligned-left text. References are placed numerically at the end of the paper, matching the order cited within the text.

AMA

The American Medical Association (AMA) style is widely used in medicine, healthcare, and biological sciences. Citations in AMA format appear as superscript numbers within the text and correspond with references listed numerically at the end of the document. Essential formatting requirements include Times New Roman (12 pt), double spacing, standard 1-inch margins, and clear, concise writing. AMA emphasizes accuracy, clarity, and consistency to support evidence-based medical research.

ASA

The American Sociological Association (ASA) style is preferred within sociology and related social science disciplines. ASA format requires parenthetical citations (author-date) within the text, with a comprehensive, alphabetically arranged reference list at the end. Standard requirements include double-spaced text, Times New Roman font (12 pt), 1-inch margins, and clearly defined sections. ASA encourages detailed yet straightforward presentation of sociological research findings.

Which Essay Format Should You Use?

Choosing the right college essay format depends on your instructor’s guidelines, your field of study and the type of assignment. Good essay formatting shows you pay attention to detail. Consider these simple points when deciding which format to use for your paper:

• Instructor’s Preference: Always go with the format your instructor requests. If unsure, ask before you start.
• Discipline or Academic Field:
  • MLA – for humanities subjects like literature, languages and cultural studies.
  • APA – for social sciences, education, psychology and nursing.
  • Chicago – for history, philosophy and some social sciences.
  • IEEE – for engineering and computer science essays.
  • AMA – for medicine and healthcare research.
  • ASA – for sociology and related social sciences.
• Assignment Type: Think about the type of assignment. For example, research papers require APA, MLA or Chicago style, technical reports use IEEE or AMA.

To avoid confusion, always look at an essay writing format example that matches your required style to make sure your formatting is academic.

Tips for Writing and Conducting Research

As stated previously, writing is hard, and even professional writers like myself have trouble doing it. Here are a few useful tips that I follow in order to get the most out of my writing.

• Become an expert on the topic. Do as much reading as you can on your argumentative essays topics or any other specific type of topic so that you know more about it than your instructor. Write down the name of the author and the publishing information of the material you plan to use so that you can quickly insert it into your works cited page.
• Pre-writing. This is when you brainstorm ideas for your essay. When I do this, I write down every single word and thought that comes to mind for an hour straight – and before I know it, I am writing entire lines of text.
• Just write. When the American science fiction writer Robert Heinlein was asked what the secret to completing a novel was, he replied, “Just write.” In order to complete your task, you are going to have to sit down and do the work. Discipline yourself to commit a few hours each day to completing your paper, for as long as it takes.
• Don’t procrastinate. If you have an essay due, do not wait until the last minute to do it; instead, dedicate a few hours every day to doing a little bit of the work. Before you know it, you will be done – probably early – and your work will be superb. If you wait until the last moment to finally do it, the quality of your text will suffer.
• Check your work. No matter how skilled a writer you are, you are bound to make a few mistakes. I guarantee that you will find more than a few grammar and stylistic mistakes even in this guide. That is why you must check grammar and spelling in your own work.

Good Luck with Your Project!

I hope that this short guide will be of assistance to you. If you think you need more help than this guide can give, you should contact the customer service agents at EduBirdie. They will get you in touch with writers who can write in all types of formats:

• College essay format
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FAQ

How should an essay be formatted?
An essay should be formatted with clear structure: introduction, body, and conclusion, standard 1-inch margins, double spacing, readable font (usually Times New Roman, 12 pt), and correct citations based on the assigned style (e.g., MLA or APA).

What is the standard essay format?

APA 7:

• All page margins must be set to 1 inch.
• Text must be double-spaced including your headings.
• First line of every paragraph must be indented 0.5 inches.
• Use Times New Roman, 12 points, or Arial 11 points.

MLA 9:

• Your paper must be typed on a standard white 8.5 x 11′ paper.
• Text must be double-spaced.
• Times New Roman, 12 pt.
• Margins are set to one inch on all sides.
• Every first word in a paragraph must be tabbed.
• Italics are used to indicate titles of longer works.

How to format a college essay?

A college essay format typically includes double-spaced text, 1-inch margins on all sides, Times New Roman (12 pt) font, clearly structured introduction-body-conclusion sections, proper indentation of paragraphs, and accurate citations following your instructor’s recommended citation style (commonly MLA or APA).​