Formatting and editing help to produce a professional assignment. Learn about the value of proofreading and how to calculate the acceptable range for your assignment's word length.
Formatting and layout
Assignments vary in their requirements for formatting and layout. Be consistent in your formatting.
Most assignments are submitted electronically and students are generally advised to:
- use a clear, legible font and font size. Times New Roman is one of the most common fonts and 12 point is the most common size
- set page margins to around 1 inch/2.5cm
- use 1.5 or double line spacing
- keep the space between paragraphs consistent
- not indent paragraphs and leave a blank line between paragraphs
- ensure text alignment is consistent throughout the document. Assignment guidelines and style guides vary when it comes to text alignment. If you are writing in APA style, align the text left.
APA Style: annotated sample APA student assignment
Help with formatting in Microsoft Word
Always check the formatting requirements of your assignment in your course materials or with your course coordinator or lecturer.
Cover sheet
Assignments submitted electronically via Stream will not usually require a cover sheet. If you need to add a cover sheet, check your assignment guidelines for what to include. If you need clarification, contact your lecturer or course coordinator directly.
Title page
If a title page is not required, you can usually include the assignment title or question at the top of the first page and place other details (name, student ID number and course number) in the document's header.
If you need a title page
A title page is needed for longer assignments, most postgraduate assignments or certain types of report.
The format of title pages varies according to the assignment's requirements, but typically contain a title, the author's name and student ID number, the lecturer's name and the assignment's due date.
If you need to format your title page in APA style, visit the APA Style website for guidance.
Title format
Centre the title in the upper half of the page (for example, about 3 or 4 lines down from the top margin). Your title should be concise and ideally no more than a single line. If you have a subtitle, separate it from the main title with a blank, double-spaced line. The title should be in bold font and title case (capitalise the first letter of words over three letters). The title's font is the same style and size as the rest of the cover page's details (for example, Times New Roman or Calibri, 12pt).
The author's name and student ID number
Use one blank double-spaced line between the assignment title and your centred name and ID. Write your name in full rather than using initials. Your name should be non-bold and the same size and font as the rest of the cover page. Omit all titles, degrees or licenses (for example, Dr, Ms, Mr, PhD, RN). Multiple authors should be given alphabetically.
The lecturer’s name and title
The lecturer’s name, including their title (for example, Dr, Professor), should follow a blank, double-spaced line after the class code and name and be non-bold and the same size and font as the rest of the cover page.
The assignment due date
The due date should follow a blank, double-spaced line after the lecturer’s name, and be non-bold and the same size and font as the rest of the cover page.
Headings
Reports often require specific headings and sub-headings, such as Introduction and Discussion.
The only sub-heading common in essays is 'References' for the reference list. Some essay guidelines might suggest including sub-headings, so check the specific instructions for your assignment.
Whether headings are used or not, the first sentence of each paragraph should clearly signal the topic to the reader.
Keep the heading and sub-heading style consistent throughout your assignment.
Appendices
Most assignments do not use appendices, but sometimes you need to include additional information, transcripts, questionnaire details or raw data. These should go in an appendix.
If there is only 1 appendix, its title is 'Appendix'. If there are several appendices, give each one a letter and follow the order of the appendices mentioned in the body of the assignment: Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C, and so on.
The title is used in the body of the assignment to draw the reader's attention to the appendix.
Example
The analysis shows that the mean was well above expected (see Appendix B for details).
Location of appendices
Style guides differ on whether the appendices should come before or after the reference list and bibliography or works cited list.
Refer to Massey's Thesis Presentation Guide for further support with the reference list and bibliography.
Editing and proofreading
To produce a professional assignment, you must proofread. Consider reading your work aloud. You could record yourself reading it and then play the recording to listen for issues. You could also ask a friend or family member to read the assignment.
Editing your work
When you're editing your writing:
- Be concise. Make sure every sentence is relevant to your topic. Strategies involving style and big-picture statements will help you improve your writing.
- Make sure the main point of each paragraph is clear in the topic sentence. In certain assignments (such as argument essays) you should be able to take the first sentence of each paragraph and see a coherent and logical argument develop.
- If appropriate, start paragraphs with bridging sentences and utilise well-selected linking words to enhance the flow of your argument.
- Support the body of your paragraphs and increase your credibility with references, definitions, facts and figures and research findings.
Watch the video Editing Your Work to learn practical strategies to improve your writing. The recorded lecture discusses refining a draft assignment to enhance the flow and clarity of the writing.
Style rules and guidelines
Inclusive language
Learn how to be specific when describing someone with inclusivity and respect in your academic writing with these guidelines for bias-free language.
Writing objectively
Learn how to write objectively in academic writing.
First or third person
Learn when to use the first or third person in academic writing.
Writing concisely
Learn how to write concisely in academic writing.
Active and passive voice
Learn how to use active and passive voice in academic writing.
Subject-verb agreement & verb tenses
Learn about subject-verb agreement's singular and plural principles and how to use verb tenses in different referencing styles.
Word limits and assignment length
Assignment length requirements are in terms of the number of words.
Unless the lecturer says these limits are strict, it is acceptable to be 10% above or below the word limit. If the assignment requirements say 'up to' (for example, up to 2500 words), you cannot go above the limit.
Word limit examples
2,000 word limit
Acceptable range: from 1,800 to 2,200 words
3,000 word limit
Acceptable range: from 2,700 to 3,300 words
5,000 word limit
Acceptable range: from 4,500 to 5,500 words
10,000 word limit
Acceptable range: from 9,000 to 11,000 words
Administrative sections
Unless the lecturer tells you otherwise, the word limit does not include the administrative sections of the assignment: the cover or title page, table of contents, table of figures, reference list, list of works cited, bibliography or any appendices.
Long or short assignments
The word limit reflects the level of detail required. If your assignment is too long, you're using too many words to explain your point or giving too many or too detailed examples. If your assignment is too short, either there is more to the answer than you have written, or the assignment has not gone into enough detail about the answer.
When your assignment is too long
- Aim to remove or condense whole sections of your assignment. Removing single words from your assignment is unlikely to reduce the assignment's length and may confuse your argument.
- Include something only if it is relevant to your argument. You should not include something just because it is a fact or in your course materials.
- Be direct. State your point rather than writing many paragraphs to lead up to it.
- Go back to the question. Which sections relate to the point, and which are secondary?
- Go back to the plan. Which paragraphs fit in the overall structure? Which paragraphs overlap and can be combined?
- Remove sections where you over-explain or over-specify points, repeat yourself, write off-topic or ramble. Often, students give too much background detail and don’t have sufficient focus on what is being asked.
- Remove multiple examples where 1 or 2 are sufficient.
- Remove hedging language that adds little to the argument (for example, it would seem that, it is possible that).
If you're often over the word count, review your writing style.
When your assignment is too short
Fully explain your argument
- Make sure every argument in your head and in your plan is on the page.
- Would a general, non-specialist reader understand your point? Have someone else read over your assignment and ask you questions about it. What do they think is missing?
- Are there gaps in your argument?
- Does each point logically follow the last one, or do you skip over important points?
- Have you briefly defined or explained new concepts or terms before discussing them? It is usually not a good idea to assume the reader has the same knowledge as you.
- If appropriate, have you gone beyond your course materials to find other arguments or supporting material?
Look for the hidden answer
- What theories do you think the marker expects? Learning objectives related to the assignment can tell you what you are expected to understand. Refer to the marking rubric for guidance on what your assignment should include.
- How does what you have written relate to the materials from lectures and study guides? Answer the assignment question using the course information and other sources if appropriate.
- Are there complications or contradictions in the argument or in your research? Explain them and explore them.
Flesh it out
- Define any unique terminology that a general reader would not be familiar with.
- Illustrate with more examples, in-text citations and quotations.
- Contextualise and explain the in-text citations and quotations you use. How do they relate to your argument?
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