How to format a research paper without losing your mind? Quick tips from survivors 📚

[rebel_research]

help! writing my first serious research paper and the formatting is killing me slowly... my citations are a mess, margins look weird, and i swear the header keeps moving by itself anyone got tips on how to not lose it completely?

 

[molecularninja]

Former writing center tutor here! Quick formatting checklist that saved many students:

1. General Layout:

1-inch margins all around
Double spacing
12pt Times New Roman (usually)
Page numbers in header
Running head if required


2. SAVE YOUR DOCUMENT EVERY 5 MINUTES! Nothing worse than losing formatting

 

[rebel_research]

@molecularninja omg thank you! but what about citations? i'm drowning in APA rules

 

[rushhour]

Listen, APA used to make me cry too. Here's what helped:

Use citation manager (Zotero saved my life!)
Keep track of DOIs
Create reference list AS YOU GO
Double-check in-text citations immediately

 

[blank_page_panic]

make a template! Save it with all your formatting done right - margins, spacing, fonts, styles. Never format from scratch again!

 

[Outfielder]

@rebel_research library secret - we literally have pre-formatted Word templates! Come by the help desk, we got you

 

[rebel_research]

@Outfielder wait what?? you're telling me i've been suffering for nothing??

 

[midnight.biologist]

Some MS Word tricks that'll save your sanity:

Use Styles for headings
Set up automatic page numbers
Learn keyboard shortcuts
Create custom shortcuts for common formatting

 

[pitchperfect]

different journals = different formats. Always check specific guidelines first! Nothing worse than reformatting an entire paper

 

[Outfielder]

@rebel_research things i wish i knew earlier:

Back up your files!
Keep a formatting checklist
Take breaks (formatting fatigue is real)
Don't edit content and format at the same time

 

[rebel_research]

update: got the template from library... why did no one tell me about this before?? actual lifesaver!