What is Thesis Formatting Anyway?
Formatting is really a fancy word for document design. Like good design, you often won’t notice a well-formatted document until you have a poorly formatted one to compare it with. When a document is formatted well, sections flow logically and are clearly defined; citations are easy to look up, and the font isn’t unusual or too large or overly stylized with bold and italics.
In contrast, a document that isn’t well-formatted can confuse the reader. Oddly large or small text stands out, but its significance is unclear. The font choice can even convey an unintended tone (maybe avoid Comic Sans, which, while easily readable, is a joke of a font for a thesis, and stick to favorites like Arial, Times New Roman, and Poppins).
When a thesis isn’t well-formatted, it’s hard for the reader to know where to find the information they are looking for and understand the overall flow of the document.
Everything you read has been formatted, whether well (like this paragraph) or poorly (like the paragraph above). Even this blog you’re reading right now has (hopefully) clear and helpful formatting. The sub-headlines indicate when we’re changing topics, and it’s easy to find the section of the article you want.
What are Common Thesis Formats?
In the world of academia, there are a couple of commonly used formatting styles you are probably familiar with. These include APA, which is short for the American Psychological Association; MLA, short for the Modern Language Association; and Chicago, short for the Chicago Manual of Style. You can find the specific rules for each thesis formatting style online.
Each formatting style proscribes rules for how to organize your thesis. These rules cover everything from how to write your citations, how many spaces should be in between sections, how to label and organize the parts of your thesis, how wide your margins can be, and where to put page numbers. Professors, journals, and institutions all have different rules for how to format your thesis. Following these rules is extremely important.
How Can I Make Sure to Format My Thesis Correctly?
Now that you understand the importance of formatting and know some of the most common styles, there are a couple of ways you can make sure you adhere to the correct formatting of your thesis.
- Read the formatting requirements before you start writing. Before you put a single word on the page, carefully review the formatting requirements of the journal, institution, or professor you are writing for. What citation style are you using? Is there a word limit? What sections will you need to have? Knowing these facts upfront will help you organize and format as you go.
- Use a style guide. It’s true that you can google “headline spacing MLA” or “in-text citations Chicago” and format your thesis that way. But obtaining a copy of the style guide to refer to will be faster and more accurate. You can subscribe online or check your institution’s library for a copy. Make sure you’re using the most recent edition, as rules do change regularly.
- Format your writing from the beginning. Some people are good at finishing their drafts early and leaving lots of time to format before the deadline to submit. But many people rush to finish writing at the last minute. If the deadline is upon you and you haven’t started formatting, you’ll be in trouble. Realizing you need to spend a couple of hours reformatting your entire paper is a terrible feeling. Spare yourself that feeling by formatting from the beginning.
- Consider using a thesis formatting service. You might think you can handle the details of thesis formatting on your own, and you might be right. But a lot of people submit their thesis to a journal at the same time as their institution. It’s not uncommon for formatting requirements to differ, which means twice as much work for you. You also don’t want to have your hard work rejected because you didn’t follow directions. A thesis formatting service can save you time and headaches in the long run.
Formatting is Always Important
Readability isn’t the only reason thesis formatting is essential. Properly adhering to formatting guidelines is a skill you’ll need in life. Formatting offers readers consistency and shows that you can follow directions.
Properly formatted documents look professional and have a higher chance of being published. Correctly formatting your thesis will let you sail smoothly through your defense to the publication stage since you won’t need to worry about fixing what your thesis looks like.
So don’t wait until the last minute! Prepare for success by formatting your thesis properly from the beginning.
