Research paper format guides

Short, plain guides to the formats students and researchers are asked to use, and to checking that every reference is real. Styles differ between universities and journals, so always check your own instructions too.

• IEEE paper format: layout, headings and references

  Two columns, Roman-numeral headings, numbered citations.

• APA 7 paper format: title page, headings and references

  Double spacing, author-date citations, hanging-indent references.

• MLA 9 paper format: heading, in-text citations and Works Cited

  No title page, (Author page) citations, Works Cited list.

• Harvard referencing style: author-date citations and reference list

  Author-date citations; details vary by university.

• Vancouver referencing style for medical and health papers

  Numbered citations used in medicine and health sciences.

• How to check that a citation is real

  A five-step check for invented references.

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