Writing Papers (formating and basic help)

[Big Nate]

If you need help writing a paper Post it here.

Formatting ?

Sentence structure?

Word use?

Post it here I will maintain this post with a list of where to find each item.

 

[Big Nate]

I need to know how to auto format or how to format a basic paper. MS Word is the program I am using. Is there a site that has this info?

 

[dmention7]

What kind of formatting are you trying to accomplish? Or are you just looking for basic style guidelines?

 

[Big Nate]

Basic or standard paper for a class that is not an "English 1000" or like class. Just for a nice look that is easy to read yet looks like you know WTF your doing.

 

[dmention7]

12-point font, a font with serifs (eg Times New Roman or Georgia), 1" margins all around, double-spacing if it's something that's going to be proof-read or marked up with notes, otherwise I'd use 1.5 line spacing. Make sure you indent all paragraphs as well.

Those would be my starting points.

 

[Big Nate]

Why use the serif style font?

 

[dmention7]

Apparently they tend to be easier to read, and are also a bit more formal and professional looking. I usually use a non-serif font when I'm writing more technical things because I think it looks simpler and cleaner, but that's just a matter of personal preference.

 

[Jana]

Typically your school will tell you how they want the paper formatted (type of font, size, spacing). Also if it should be in APA or MLA (?) if I remember correctly.

 

[AJ]

I just finished a paper and I had to use APA style with the basic layout of:

Cover Page
2.0 spacing
10 pt font

 

[ZoomZoom Diva]

MLA is what will likely be the case for most non-science courses. However, Jay has an excellent basic primer. Paranthetical references are normally now used over footnoting (which is a plus). Often the professor will give their preferences on line spacing.

Jay is also right that serif fonts are easier to read. I would pick Times New Roman over Georgia because Georgia is a more vintage appearance (why I happen to like it) rather than a classic one.

 

[JustROLLIN]

Yeah, I use 12pt Times New Roman, 1" margins, double line spacing or 1.5 depending on the requirements, and be sure to indent all paragraphs...as mentioned.

 

[JustROLLIN]

One other thing, teachers know about tricky fonts like Courier New and those types that extend papers out.

 

[ZoomZoom Diva]

Indent paragraphs? Is that a new trend? I am accustomed to seeing paragraphs indicated with an additional carriage return.

 

[JustROLLIN]

New trend? I dont think so. I was always taught that you single return and then indent any new paragraphs. I thought that was a standard practice to be honest.

 

[dmention7]

New trend? I dont think so. I was always taught that you single return and then indent any new paragraphs. I thought that was a standard practice to be honest.

+1 That's how I've been taught to do it ever since I learned what a paragraph was. Granted, that's going to depend on the type of document.

EDIT: Wikipedia says that in business writing it's common to use a single line space as a paragraph separator (block paragraph), while in most educational and literary styles, an indent, sometimes coupled with a line break, is the most common.

 

[blueamcat]

If you need an editor...I can go over it.
I do that on the side.

 

[JustROLLIN]

+1 That's how I've been taught to do it ever since I learned what a paragraph was. Granted, that's going to depend on the type of document.

EDIT: Wikipedia says that in business writing it's common to use a single line space as a paragraph separator (block paragraph), while in most educational and literary styles, an indent, sometimes coupled with a line break, is the most common.

Thats interesting. I was not aware that was the common practice. Maybe I will switch my style up.