Writing a research paper is more than just having good sources, devising a solid argument and producing new ideas. Even the most thorough research paper can lose marks if formatting errors are made that make the paper hard to decipher or if it infringes on the rules set down by a university, journal or teacher. Students often become so engrossed in putting together a solid research paper and argument that they neglect to learn about such things as margins, headings, citations, line spacing, page numbering and bibliographies. If the deadline is looming, they may even seek an affordable assignment writing service.

Formatting mistakes can be surprisingly simple to make because academic styles are varied. An APA formatted paper may call for a different format of headings, page numbers, in text and reference citation details, and bibliography page presentation than an MLA or Chicago style paper. Students saying, "please do my assignment for me in UAE, may be under multiple present requirements, but the draft copy, whoever prepares it, will still need to meet exact formatting guidelines specified by their school. A close final check can catch these small details that can devalue the entire paper.

Why Research Paper Formatting Matters

Formatting is not simply about making the paper pretty. Aiding reader comprehension, uniformity and clarity is aided by consistent formats (whether utilizing APA, Chicago, etc.) of headings, paragraphs, citations and references. Making a document easy to read, clear and organized enables the focus of the reader to be on the research contents.

Whether you are understanding the formatting, excellent. By giving your guidelines of exact formatting they want their authors to adhere to a certain academic style. Even a well researched paper can look careless if the formatting instructions are ignored. In competitive environments this can make a paper look less impressive.

It is also worth pointing out that formatting styles can be quite different. A student who has used APA style in one class should not expect that another instructor will want to see the same style. You need to find out which style guide you will be using and read your assignment directions thoroughly.

Start by Identifying the Required Formatting Style

The first thing students often do is begin formatting their paper before they know what style they're required to follow. Differences between APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard and others can be subtle, but all must be maintained within a paper.

Prior to editing the paper, check to see if the instructor has given instructions, if there is a course handbook, research guide or official style manual. Notice any specific requirements for the title page, heading, headings, in text citations, quotations, footnotes, reference page, page numbers, spacing, etc. If the instructor has provided a format, this takes precedence over the standard version of the style.

Another good tip is to compile a short formatting checklist before you start the final proof-read. For example, this might include font, size, margins, spacing, page numbers, heading structure, citation system and reference list requirements. Then go through these one by one; it is more effective than trying to spot these things while reading.

Use Consistent Margins and Page Layout

Wrong margins can make an otherwise good research paper look immediately "amateur." There are students who will modify their margin settings in order to get more content onto each page, reduce the overall length of the paper, or offset a paragraph heading which they felt was badly placed. This is a trap to avoid.
The initial task is to verify the necessary margin configuration. Determine the appropriate settings, and then use the same values universally for your work. Avoid manually altering each page to accommodate the margins, unless your formatting guide indicates the need for an alternative arrangement in certain areas.

Page layout should also be uniform. Look at the paper for any strange changes in orientation, odd indentations, blank gaps, or areas that seem to be shifted from the rest of the paper. Keep the entire paper looking steady from page 1 through 10.

Choose the Correct Font and Size

Font errors are one of the easiest forms of formatting to avoid, but they still seem to happen quite often. Perhaps a student intends to use one font for the body but introduces a second font for headings and a third for quotes or references.

Rather than altering fonts by hand, set the right font and size at the beginning. Stick to it throughout, unless the academic style you are following states otherwise.

Use particularly stringent measures when copying and pasting information from websites, PDFs, or data bases, and from older files and documents. Pasted text is likely to bring along concealed formatting which results in inconsistencies of font, size, spacing, and/or colour. Analyze the formatting of the pasted material.

Maintain Proper Line Spacing

Line spacing is important for the readability of a paper and also for the visual appearance. If a paper intended to be double spaced becomes partially single spaced when sections are taken from other sources and inserted into it or when it is separately edited, it can make for a poor presentation.
The paragraph spacing can also cause issues. Students sometimes insert an additional space either before or after a paragraph in a word-processing program. This will cause a correctly double-spaced paper to look inconsistent.

Final Thoughts

You don't have to use high tech software or have a master's degree in order to avoid research paper format mistakes. It simply requires attention to the directions, consistency, and a final check for format.
In the most effective way to write, you need to work out what style of writing is needed before starting the actual writing process, keep the formatting consistent from the start, and make good use of the (word processing) tools provided by the computer. Before submitting the piece, you should check the title page, margins, font, spacing, headings, citations, page numbers, quotations, tables, figures, and reference list.

While many errors can be attributed to not enough research, most formatting errors are unnecessary. They can be avoided because they are commonly made when the student is trying to finish their paper too quickly. Allowing enough time to conduct a proper formatting review of your paper will bring about a professional, clean, finished product.