To format an essay in APA, MLA or Chicago style, set one-inch margins, double spacing and a readable font, then follow each style's own rules for the title page, page header, headings and reference list.
The three styles look similar at a glance, which is why small differences cost marks. This guide sets out each one, then compares them in a single table.
The Settings All Three Styles Share
All three expect one-inch (2.54 cm) margins on every side, double-spaced body text, a clear 12-point font such as Times New Roman, paragraphs indented by half an inch, and page numbers in the header.
They differ in the first page, the header content, the heading system and the name and layout of the source list: References in APA, Works Cited in MLA, and Bibliography in Chicago notes style.
APA 7th Edition Essay Format
APA 7th has a student version and a professional version. Most coursework uses the student version, which is simpler.
- Font: any accessible font used consistently, such as Times New Roman 12, Georgia 11, Calibri 11 or Arial 11.
- Spacing and margins: double-spaced throughout, including the reference list, with one-inch margins.
- Header: a page number in the top right of every page. Student papers do not need a running head.
- Title page: the title in bold, centered in the upper half, then your name, department and university, course number and name, instructor and due date.
- First page of text: repeat the title in bold, centered, then begin the introduction without an "Introduction" heading.
- References: a new page headed "References" in bold and centered, with entries in alphabetical order and a half-inch hanging indent.
APA Heading Levels
| Level | Format |
|---|---|
| 1 | Centered, bold, title case |
| 2 | Flush left, bold, title case |
| 3 | Flush left, bold italic, title case |
| 4 | Indented, bold, title case, ending with a full stop, text continues on the same line |
| 5 | Indented, bold italic, title case, ending with a full stop, text continues on the same line |
Short essays rarely need more than two levels. Use headings only if your instructor expects them.
MLA 9th Edition Essay Format
MLA does not use a title page unless your instructor asks for one. Everything starts on page one.
- Font: a readable font, usually 12-point, with italics that stand out clearly.
- Spacing and margins: double-spaced throughout, including quotations and Works Cited, with one-inch margins.
- Header: your surname and the page number in the top right, half an inch from the top.
- Heading block: on the first page, top left, double-spaced: your name, instructor's name, course and date (for example, 9 October 2026).
- Title: centered on the next line, in title case, not bold, underlined or in quotation marks.
- Works Cited: a new page with "Works Cited" centered at the top, entries in alphabetical order and a half-inch hanging indent.
Amina Yusuf
Dr. Hale
English 102
9 October 2026
Silence and Power in Contemporary Short Fiction
MLA has no fixed heading system. If you use headings in a longer paper, keep them consistent and in title case.
Chicago Style Essay Format
Student essays in Chicago style usually follow Turabian's guidelines, which adapt the Chicago Manual of Style for student papers. Chicago has two systems: notes and bibliography, common in history and the humanities, and author-date, common in the sciences.
- Font and spacing: a readable 12-point font, double-spaced body text, with one-inch margins.
- Title page: many instructors expect one, with the title about a third of the way down and your name, course and date lower on the page. Turabian also allows the title at the top of the first page instead.
- Page numbers: in the top right or bottom center, usually not shown on the title page.
- Footnotes: numbered in superscript, single-spaced within each note, with a blank line between notes.
- Bibliography: a new page headed "Bibliography", entries single-spaced with a blank line between them and a half-inch hanging indent. In author-date, the list is usually headed "References".
If your instructor gives a Chicago template, follow it. Chicago's own manual leaves several layout choices open.
APA, MLA and Chicago Compared
| Element | APA 7th (student) | MLA 9th | Chicago (Turabian) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Title page | Yes | No, heading block on page one | Usually, or title on page one |
| Header | Page number only | Surname and page number | Page number |
| In-text citations | (Author, year) | (Author page) | Footnotes, or (Author year) in author-date |
| Source list name | References | Works Cited | Bibliography, or References in author-date |
| Source list spacing | Double | Double | Single within entries, blank line between |
| Heading system | Five set levels | None required | Simple levels, kept consistent |
Long Quotations, Tables and Figures
Block quotations, tables and figures are where formatting slips most often. Each style handles them a little differently.
| Item | APA 7th | MLA 9th | Chicago (Turabian) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Block quotation | 40 words or more, indented half an inch, no quotation marks | Prose longer than four lines, indented half an inch, no quotation marks | Five or more lines, indented, no quotation marks |
| Citation placement in a block | After the final punctuation | After the final punctuation | Footnote number after the final punctuation |
| Table label | Bold "Table 1" above, italic title below it | "Table 1" and caption above, source below | Number and title above, source note below |
| Figure label | Bold "Figure 1" above, italic title below it | "Fig. 1" with caption below the image | Number and caption below the image |
Keep quotations short where you can. A block quotation should earn its space, and it always needs your own analysis straight after it.
Setting up Your Document, Step by Step
- Set margins to one inch on all sides.
- Choose your font and size, and set line spacing to double.
- Remove extra spacing before and after paragraphs, a common word processor default.
- Set a half-inch first-line indent for paragraphs.
- Insert page numbers in the header, adding your surname for MLA.
- Build the title page or heading block for your style.
- Start the source list on a new page with a hanging indent.
Save the finished set-up as a template. Your next essay in the same style will take seconds to start.
Common Formatting Mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Extra space between paragraphs | Set spacing before and after to zero |
| A running head on an APA student paper | Remove it unless your instructor wants one |
| A bold or underlined MLA title | Use plain title case, centered |
| Reference list without a hanging indent | Apply a half-inch hanging indent to every entry |
| Mixing styles, such as APA citations with an MLA header | Pick one style and apply it throughout |
| Following an older edition | Check you are using APA 7th and MLA 9th |
When Your Instructor's Rules Differ
Course instructions always come first. Many tutors adjust a style, for example asking for a title page in MLA or a word count on the cover.
When the instructions are silent, follow the style guide. When the two conflict, follow the instructor and keep everything else consistent.
Keep a copy of the assignment brief beside you while you format. A five-minute check against it at the end catches the small requests, such as a word count on the first page, that are easy to forget.
How EssayOasis Helps with Essay Formatting
Send your essay, the style and edition, and any course template. An editor sets up the title page or heading block, header, spacing and headings, and formats every citation and reference entry to match.
If you order a custom essay, it arrives formatted in your chosen style, which gives you a clean layout to study. Free revisions within the scope of your original request are included.
Want Your Essay Formatted Exactly Right?
Send your draft and the style your course uses. An editor fixes the layout, headings and references to the current edition.
Order Essay FormattingFree revisions · Full refund if late · Written from scratch for your order
Frequently Asked Questions
No. APA 7th student papers need only a page number in the top right, unless your instructor asks for a running head.
No. MLA uses a heading block on the first page. Add a title page only if your instructor requests one.
Turabian is a student version of Chicago style. It follows the same citation rules with extra guidance on formatting papers.
Times New Roman 12-point is accepted by all three styles. APA 7th also lists Calibri 11, Arial 11 and Georgia 11, among others.
In APA and MLA, yes. In Chicago, entries are usually single-spaced with a blank line between them.
In APA, yes, on the title page and the first page of text. In MLA, no.
In your word processor's paragraph settings, choose a special indent of "hanging" at half an inch.
On the fourth line of the heading block, written day month year, such as 9 October 2026.
Ask, because the choice usually follows the discipline. APA is common in psychology, education, nursing and the social sciences, MLA in literature and languages, and Chicago in history and some humanities subjects.
Usually not. APA 7th student papers include an abstract only when the instructor asks for one, and MLA and Chicago essays rarely use them.