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What font style and size to use in an essay?

  • 14-02-2006 04:16PM
    #1
    Sandals
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,299 ✭✭✭


    Its a proper term paper, what is expected/considered good, any tips, I have to do 1.5 spacing.


Comments

  • #2
    Sandals
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,299 ✭✭✭Sandals


    Any links to where i could get more advice?


  • #3
    Heinrich
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,576 ✭✭✭Heinrich


    If you are doing this in Word please be careful using farfelou typefaces. If the person opening the file has not got the font on his/her machine it will probably come out in default or even worse - courrier!!!

    A serif (Times New Roman) for body text and sans (Ariel) for headings is the usual.

    If the typeface changes then the spaces wraps are all over the place. Instead if 1.5 line spacing (obviously for clarity) why not try a fixed line spacing e.g. 11pt on 15pt which would be less awkward looking.


  • #4
    Sandals
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,299 ✭✭✭Sandals


    ok cool.


  • #5
    Red Alert
    Hosted Moderators Posts: 7,486 ✭✭✭Red Alert


    the word default of arial for headings and times new roman are usually good choices. make sure to use the headings/styles and not manually do font size/underline/bold. that way you can change all the headings for example with just one or two clicks.


  • #6
    Kojak
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,801 ✭✭✭✭Kojak


    1.5 spacing, Times New Roman is the usual settings I use. For college work (in my college at least) that is what is expected unless stated otherwise.


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  • #7
    seamus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,173 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Your college should have a policy on formatting. Deviating from this could render your paper unmarkable. This is to ensure fairness across the board. From what I remember, they usually insist on 1.5 spacing, 12pt Times New Roman, with 1" (or 2.5cm) margins.


  • #8
    besty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,010 ✭✭✭besty


    I like using Tahoma in my essays.


  • #9
    Diarmiud
    Closed Accounts Posts: 191 ✭✭Diarmiud


    Times New Roman, size 12, 1.5 line spacing for main body
    Headings: Times New Roman, size 14


  • #10
    Lump
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,984 ✭✭✭✭Lump


    As seamus says, you college will normally have guidelines, even if it's just Serif or Sans.... if you move away from this, you may be marked down.

    John


  • #11
    Banphrionsa
    Closed Accounts Posts: 335 ✭✭Banphrionsa


    Diarmiud wrote:
    Times New Roman, size 12, 1.5 line spacing for main body
    Headings: Times New Roman, size 14


    Boldface, when appropriate?


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  • #12
    darth insidiari
    Closed Accounts Posts: 42 ✭darth insidiari


    I know this is an old thread but I think it's worth saying that your department should have a style sheet and the MLA Handbook style is typical in university. Anything not in 12 pt New Times Roman, 1.5 spaced just would not be acceptable to my department and it's the standard throughout my university. I don't know where you or the first few posters study but style is generally fixed and taken quite seriously. You could throw away marks needlessly.


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