A standard academic essay uses 1-inch margins on all sides, a readable 12-point font (Times New Roman is the most widely accepted), and double-spaced lines throughout. Beyond those basics, the way your essay looks depends on whether your instructor requires MLA, APA, or another format. Here’s what each element should look like on the page.
The First Page
How your essay opens depends on the style guide you’re following. In MLA format, there is no separate title page. Instead, you place your name, your instructor’s name, the course name, and the date on the first four lines in the upper-left corner, all double-spaced. Your title goes on the next line, centered, in the same font and size as the rest of your text. You don’t bold it, underline it, or increase the font size. The body of your essay begins on the very next double-spaced line.
APA format works differently. It uses a full title page. Your title goes centered and boldfaced in the upper half of the page. Below the title, you list your name, your school or institution, the course number and name, your instructor’s name, and the assignment due date, all centered and double-spaced. The body of your essay starts on the next page.
Page Numbers and Headers
In MLA, your last name and the page number appear together in the upper-right corner of every page, including the first. So the top-right of page three would read “Smith 3.”
In APA student papers, only the page number appears in the upper-right corner. There’s no need for a running head (a shortened version of your title in the header) unless your instructor specifically asks for one or you’re preparing a professional manuscript.
Margins, Font, and Spacing
Both MLA and APA call for 1-inch margins on the top, bottom, left, and right. Most word processors default to this, but it’s worth checking. Use a clean, readable font at 12 points. Times New Roman is the safest choice across formats, though APA also accepts fonts like Calibri (11-point) and Arial (11-point).
Double-space everything: the body text, block quotations, and the reference list. Don’t add extra space between paragraphs. Your word processor may insert additional spacing by default, so check the paragraph settings and set “before” and “after” spacing to zero.
Paragraph Formatting
Indent the first line of every paragraph 0.5 inches from the left margin. Use the Tab key or your word processor’s automatic indent setting rather than hitting the space bar multiple times. The rest of the paragraph text should be aligned to the left margin with the right side left ragged (uneven). Don’t use full justification, which spreads words across the line to create even margins on both sides. Left-aligned text is easier to read and is what both major style guides require.
There are a few exceptions to the standard indent. If your paper includes an abstract (common in APA), the first line of the abstract is flush left, not indented. Block quotations, used when you quote a passage longer than about four lines, get indented 0.5 inches as a whole block. If a block quotation contains more than one paragraph, indent the first line of the second and any later paragraphs an additional 0.5 inches, for a total indent of 1 inch.
Using Headings and Subheadings
Short essays (under five pages) rarely need headings. For longer papers, headings help the reader follow your argument. Each style guide has its own system.
In APA, Level 1 headings are centered and bold. Level 2 headings are flush left and bold. Level 3 headings are flush left, bold, and italic. Levels 4 and 5 are indented like regular paragraphs. Most student papers only need one or two levels.
In MLA, the heading system is less rigid. One common approach is to number sections (1., 2., 3.) followed by the section name. If you use unnumbered headings, MLA suggests bolding Level 1 headings flush left and italicizing Level 2 headings flush left. If you create multiple levels of headings, it’s a good idea to tell your instructor which system you’re using.
The Works Cited or References Page
Your reference list starts on a new page at the end of your essay. Center the title (“Works Cited” in MLA, “References” in APA) at the top. Double-space all entries with no extra space between them.
Every citation uses a hanging indent: the first line of each entry sits flush with the left margin, and every line after that is indented 0.5 inches. This is the opposite of a normal paragraph indent, and it makes it easy for readers to scan your sources by author name. Most word processors have a hanging indent option in the paragraph formatting menu so you don’t have to set it manually line by line.
A Quick Visual Checklist
- Font: 12-point Times New Roman (or another approved font if using APA)
- Margins: 1 inch on all four sides
- Spacing: Double-spaced throughout, no extra gaps between paragraphs
- Paragraph indent: 0.5 inches on the first line
- Alignment: Left-aligned (not justified)
- Page numbers: Upper-right corner on every page
- Title: Centered, same font size as body text (bold in APA, plain in MLA)
- References: New page, hanging indent, double-spaced
When in doubt, check your assignment sheet. Some instructors have specific preferences that override the style guide defaults. But if all you’re told is “write an essay in MLA format” or “use APA style,” the formatting details above will give your paper the clean, professional look your reader expects.