What are the best tools for learning document formatting standards in online research?

1 Why formatting matters

Formatting is not just about making your documents look nice and neat. It is also about conveying your credibility, authority, and attention to detail. Formatting can affect how your readers perceive and understand your information, and how they respond to your recommendations or requests. By following the relevant formatting standards, you can ensure that your documents are consistent, accurate, and easy to read and reference.

2 Common formatting standards

When writing different types of documents, such as reports, proposals, memos, letters, or resumes, there are various formatting standards to be aware of. For example, APA (American Psychological Association) is used for academic and scientific writing in the social sciences, while MLA (Modern Language Association) is used for academic writing in the humanities. Chicago (Chicago Manual of Style) is used for academic and professional writing in various disciplines, such as history and law. Additionally, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) is used for technical and engineering writing in the fields of computer science and electronics. Harvard is also used for academic and professional writing in various disciplines. It is essential to review the requirements and preferences of your instructor, employer, or client before selecting a formatting standard for your document as each standard has its own rules and guidelines for citations, references, headings, tables, figures, footnotes, and appendices.

4 Online courses for learning formatting standards

Gaining knowledge on document formatting standards can be done through online research and taking online courses. Coursera offers courses and certificates from leading universities and organizations, such as the University of Michigan, Duke University, and Google. You can learn how to use different formatting standards for your documents in topics such as academic writing, technical writing, business writing, and research methods. Udemy provides courses and tutorials from experts and instructors, such as Dr. Maggie Sokolik, Dr. David Plumlee, and Dr. Luke Strongman. Here you can find courses on APA style, MLA style, Chicago style, and Harvard style to help format your documents according to each standard. LinkedIn Learning offers courses and videos from professionals and industry leaders such as Judy Steiner-Williams, Tom Geller, and Dave Crenshaw. This platform can help you learn how to format your documents for different audiences and purposes with topics such as writing in plain English, writing effective reports and proposals, and writing for the web.

5 Online tools for checking and improving formatting

Learning document formatting standards in online research can be made easier with the help of online tools. Grammarly, for example, helps you check and correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style errors, as well as plagiarism and readability issues. It can also adjust your tone, formality, and clarity according to your document type and goal. Hemingway is great for making writing more concise, clear, and powerful. It can also detect and remove passive voice, adverbs, complex sentences, and weak words from your document. ProWritingAid provides feedback and suggestions on structure, style, vocabulary, transitions, and consistency. Plus, it can compare your document with the formatting standards you need such as APA, MLA, Chicago or Harvard.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?