Writing Styles

APA

(American Psychological Association)

MLA

(Modern Language Association)

General Formatting

Use Times New Roman 12-point.

Leave one-inch margins all around.

Double space everything.

Left justify the text.

Disable hyphen help at line breaks.

Tab paragraphs at one-half inch.

Leave one space after commas, colons, and some periods.Exception: Leave two spaces at end of sentence, no space in abbreviations.

Order of PagesTitle page

Abstract

Body of paper

References

Tables

Figures

Appendices

Title Page Type the title centered horizontally in upper half of

page

Use same font as body of paper For two line title break at a meaningful point Center your name one double space under the title Center name of institution one double space under

your name Use “Running Head” left justified, page number

right justified

“Author Note” section can be place at the bottom, but is not required

Abstract Page

Double spaced and left justified

Starts on a separate page Shortened title in header with page number The word “Abstract” centered at top of page

Body Starts on a separate page Full title centered at top Everything double spaced Tab paragraphs at one-half inch

References in the Body (Carmona, 2004) (Yanovski & Yanovski, 2002, p. 592) Berkowitz et al. (2003) (McDuffie et al., 2002, p. 646) (Hoppin & Taveras, 2004, Conclusion section, para.

1) As journalist Greg Critser (2003) noted in his book

Fat Land (Hoppin & Taveras, 2004, Weight-Loss Drugs

section, para. 6)

More Body Reference Details

(Hoppin & Taveras, 2004, Weight-Loss Drugs section, para. 6)

Use the ampersand in parentheses and the word and in the text.

It was a nice day (Weatherson & Sunshine, 2008) Weatherson and Sunshine (2008) …

Use commas only for three or more authors (Sleet, Hail, Snow, & Rain, 2009)

(Weatherson & Sunshine, 2008)

Reference Page Starts on a separate page Label as “References” centered at top Alphabatize by author’s last name Use hanging indent If you read only one chapter of a book you must list

only that chapter Never type author’s first or middle name Leave one space after all commas and periods

Next is MLA Formatting

MLA Formatting Use Times New Roman 12-point Double space everything Leave one space after all commas Leave one or two spaces after concluding

punctuation, but be consistent

Header contains your name and page number, right justified

Your name, instructor’s name, course number and date left justified at top of first page

Title is centered

MLA Order of Content The first paragraph is your introduction The thesis statement usually is the last sentence of

the introduction Continue with the body of your paper “Notes”, if needed, begins a new page “Works Cited”, begins a new page

MLA In-Text Citations Parenthetical, preferred, more streamline

If block quote is use then citation follows the punctuation separated by one space

For one source by an author, use author’s last name and page number with a space between (Smith 62)

Concluding punctuation comes after the citation

If you mentioned the author’s name in your text then just use the page number (62)

For more than one source by an author, include one or two key words from the title

(Poe, “Usher”, 236). or (Poe, “Black Cat”, 52).

MLA Block Quote

Perhaps it would be well, if some institution were devised, and supported at the expense of the State, which would be so organized as would tend most effectually to produce a due degree of emulation among Farmers, by rewards and honorary distinctions conferred by those who, by their successful experimental efforts and improvements, should render themselves duly entitled to them. (Allen 92)

Indented 10 spaces from left margin Do not use quotation marks

Citing Works with More than one Author Separate two authors with the word and (DeNitto and Herman 50) Separate three authors with commas and the word

and (Madison, Hamilton, and Jay 87) If four or more authors use et al (Bellah et al. 19) Works with volume and page number (Emerson 3: 211)

Notes Endnotes or Footnotes Endnotes listed on new page Titled as “Notes”, double spaced, each entry

indented 5 spaces

Footnotes listed at bottom of page where reference is located

Footnotes are double spaced and justified left Many word processors automatically format your

footnotes for you

Works Cited Starts new last page Titled “Works Cited”, centered at top Alphabetical entries by author’s last name Double spaced with hanging indent for each entry No additional space between entries Every source listed must have in-text reference Use author’s last name, comma, first name

Works Cited continued For two or three authors, separate with commas and

the word and Levitt, Steven D., and Stephen J. Dubner. Levitt, Steven D., Joe W. Smith, and Stephen J.

Dubner.

Four or more authors use first author and et al Levitt, Steven D., et al. Use italics for book titles

Bellah, Robert N., et al. Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life.

Example Works CitedSmith 13

Works Cited

Allen, R.L. The American Farm Book; or Compend of American Agriculture; Being a

Practical Treatise on Soils, Manures, Draining, Irrigation, Grasses, Grain,

Roots, Fruits, Cotton, Tobacco, Sugar Cane, Rice, and Every Staple Product of

the United States with the Best Methods of Planting, Cultivating, and Preparation

for Market. New York: Saxton, 1849. Print.

Baker, Gladys L., Wayne D. Rasmussen, Vivian Wiser, and Jane M. Porter. Century of

Service: The First 100 Years of the United States Department of Agriculture.

[Federal Government], 1996. Print.

Danhof, Clarence H. Change in Agriculture: The Northern United States, 1820-1870.

Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1969. Print.

Thank You

You can find more information on writing styles in the

Virtual Library