Essays are a common task that students get assigned throughout their academic life. Any student who excels at essay writing has a huge advantage. Though such students are a rarity. This is because even after writing papers for years, most students don’t understand English essay writing well enough. The key factor in essays clearly is the quality of writing, however, it is not the only criteria your paper is judged upon. Though students always tend to focus exclusively on writing, there are various factors like formatting that need attention.
Formatting has always been looked at by students as an unimportant aspect of essay writing. But when an essay is evaluated by the teacher, the format plays a crucial role. After putting so much effort into an essay you wouldn’t want to lose out on grades due to the format. So, to avoid this, here’s how you format your essay effectively:
- Get the Formatting Guidelines Cleared
Before you go and format your document according to any general format, discuss with your teacher. Although the format remains pretty standardized, there might be slight changes. Talk to your teacher and get it cleared before you begin the task.
- Set Margins at 1 Inch
Spacing is what formatting is all about. The traditional format requires setting the margin space to 1 inch (2.5 cm) margin. Most word processors have this as their default. You can check this in the ‘page setup’ or ‘layout’ section.
- Double Spacing
Another aspect related to spacing is the spacing between the lines. Wider spacing will make sure that all your writing isn’t cramped up in a congested paragraph. Set the spacing to double as it helps the reader to read the text with ease.
- Font Size
This might seem like an insignificant aspect but is one of the most important parts of formatting. Many students keep the font too large or too small which can lead to an unpleasant presentation. Set the font to the classic 12pt. size.
- Insert Page Number
This is one thing that most students forget to do. Not inserting pages numbers, especially when writing a long essay can get messy. Remember to insert the page number at the top-right header for easy navigation.
- Select the Classic Times New Roman
Times new roman is the classic font that most formats follow as it is easy to read. If your professor has asked you to format in a specific font, use that, otherwise, Times New Roman should be preferred.
- Place Names in Order
Coming to the actual writing part, you need to start your essay well by giving proper information. At the top left header, you need to mention your name, followed by your professor’s name and submission date respectively.
- Align to the Left
Proper alignment is very important. A paper that had headings and texts with different alignments looks messy and is difficult to read. Therefore align your cursor to the left before you start writing to avoid any confusion.
Formatting is a boring task you’d want to skip, but it is very important. Follow the above-mentioned points to format easily. If your need more help with your paper, consider taking aid from a good English essay writing help service.