Essay Format Guide 2026: APA, MLA & Chicago (with Templates)

Quick Start: 60-Second Essay Format Checklist

• Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides
• Font: a readable standard font (commonly 12-point)
• Line spacing: double spacing
• Paragraphs: first line indent (commonly 0.5 in / 1.27 cm) unless your rubric says otherwise
• Alignment: left-aligned (avoid full justification unless required)

• Page numbers: usually in the header, top right
• Title formatting: depends on style (APA title page vs. MLA first-page heading)

• Use one citation style consistently (don’t mix APA + MLA rules)
• Every in-text citation must appear in the References / Works Cited / Bibliography list

Pro Tip: Formatting is only the final step. If you are still in the early stages of drafting, mastering the structural requirements of a research paper or a complex analytical essay will make the final formatting much smoother.

Choose the Right Style (APA vs. MLA vs. Chicago)

Quick comparison table

Chicago has TWO systems

APA Format: Setup + Examples

APA is strict about consistency and dates. For a deeper dive into these specific rules, you can check out our dedicated guide on how to write an APA essay.

APA Setup

• Page header: page number only (a “running head” is typically for professional papers unless your instructor requests it)

• Title page: common in APA student papers (title + name + institution; course/instructor/date depend on your rubric)

• Headings: used to organize sections, especially in longer papers

APA In-Text Citations

Use these patterns for most student papers:

• Paraphrase (1 author): (Chen, 2024)

• Two authors: (Chen & Rivera, 2025)

• 3+ authors: (Chen et al., 2024)

• Direct quote: (Chen, 2024, p. 18)

APA almost always requires the year in citations. That’s the most common mistake students make when switching from MLA.

APA References Page

• Title the page: References

• Use hanging indents

• Entries are alphabetized by the author’s last name

• Every in-text citation must match a reference entry (and vice versa)

APA Reference Examples (2024–2025)

Journal article (example format):

Webpage (example format):

Replace names/titles/DOI/URLs with your real sources. The structure above is the key.

MLA Format: Setup + Examples + Template

MLA is common in humanities writing and is usually simpler than APA—but the header and Works Cited page are where people lose points.

MLA Header

MLA typically uses:

• LastName PageNumber in the top-right header (e.g., Ng 1)

• Pages numbered consecutively

MLA First Page (Common Setup)

MLA often does not require a separate title page. Instead, page 1 includes a first-page heading (your name, instructor, course, date), then a centered title, then your text.

MLA In-Text Citations

• Basic format: (AuthorLastName PageNumber)

• Example: (Patel 114)

Works Cited Essentials (What Graders Check)

• Title the page: Works Cited (centered)

• Use hanging indents

• Keep it double-spaced

• Do not add extra blank lines between entries

MLA Works Cited Examples (2024–2025)

Book (example format):

Website article (example format):

Chicago Style: Notes & Bibliography vs. Author–Date

Chicago is powerful—but confusing—because it can look like two completely different formats.

Option A: Notes & Bibliography (NB)

Most common in history and many humanities courses.

• In-text method: footnotes or endnotes

• End-of-paper list: usually a Bibliography

Chicago NB Footnote Examples (Safe, Correct Structure)

First citation (book):

Later citation (same source):

Chicago NB Bibliography Example (book)

Option B: Author–Date

More common in some sciences/social-science contexts.

• In-text method: (Author Year, Page)

• End-of-paper list: References

Chicago Author–Date In-Text Examples (2024–2025)

(Lastname 2024, 23) (Lastname and Lastname 2025, 114)

Chicago Author–Date Reference Example (journal article)

Rule of thumb: If your instructions say “Chicago” and mention footnotes → choose Notes & Bibliography.

Three Citation Style Templates

Templates save time and prevent errors because they lock in correct spacing, headings, and page layout.

What a Good Template Includes

APA template should include

• Title page layout (student paper)

• Correct header style (page number only unless instructor requires running head)

• References page with hanging indent + correct spacing

MLA template should include

• Proper header (LastName PageNumber)

• First-page heading format

• Works Cited page with hanging indent

Chicago template should include

• NB: footnote settings + bibliography page

• Author–Date: parenthetical citation format + reference list page

How to Use Templates Without Breaking Formatting

1. Open the template

2. Paste your content using Paste without formatting (to avoid importing messy styles)

3. Re-apply headings using built-in Styles (Heading 1, Heading 2)

4. Run the submission checklist below

Word & Google Docs Fixes (Fast)

These are the issues that make students rage-quit formatting.

Fix #1: Hanging Indent (References / Works Cited)

Goal: every line after the first line indents slightly.

Google Docs

1. Highlight your reference list

2. Format → Align & indent → Indentation options

3. Under “Special indent,” choose Hanging (commonly 0.5 in)

Microsoft Word

1. Highlight your references

2. Open Paragraph settings

3. Indentation → Special: Hanging (commonly 0.5 in)

Fix #2: “It’s double spaced… but still looks wrong”

Often caused by extra paragraph spacing.

• Set Spacing Before = 0 and After = 0

• Keep line spacing at Double

Fix #3: MLA Header Won’t Stay on Every Page

Don’t type it into the body. Use Insert → Header, then add your last name and page number so it updates automatically.

Submission-Ready Format Check

Use this checklist to catch the mistakes that cost the easiest points.

Style

• I used the correct style (APA/MLA/Chicago)

• If Chicago: I confirmed NB vs Author–Date

Layout

• Margins, spacing, and font are consistent

• Page numbers/header match the style rules

• Title/first page setup matches the style

Citations

• Every in-text citation appears in the source list

• No “orphan” sources in the list that aren’t cited in the paper

• References/Works Cited/Bibliography uses hanging indent

Consistency

• Names/years/pages match between citations and source list entries

• I didn’t switch formats halfway through (common after pasting notes)

 Fast Option: Generate Draft + Run a Format Check

• Choose your style (APA/MLA/Chicago)
• Start from a draft
• Run a format + citation consistency check before submission