How to Format in Harvard: A Complete Guide

• Tomas Elliott (Ph.D.)
• Published on 10/04/2025

This article explains the key aspects of Harvard formatting, covering document presentation, paragraphing, and the use of headers and titles. 

Document Formatting

When preparing an academic essay, report, or research paper, consistent formatting ensures readability and professionalism.

• Font choice: Times New Roman is used in the majority of institutions of learning because it is easy to read, has a formal look, and can be widely applied across word-processing systems. Never employ fancy or casual fonts since they can be distracting.
• Font size: Use 12-point size throughout the document, including the main text, quotations, and references. This is a perfect font size both for reading purposes and for leaving sufficient space on the page. Footnotes and endnotes can be slightly smaller (usually 10-point), but this depends on institutional requirements.
• Line spacing: Double spacing is normally applied in scholarly writing. Double spacing increases readability, provides space for comments from the marker, and prevents cluttering the text. Apply single spacing only when specifically requested by the instructor, but only throughout the document and never in an alternating pattern within the same essay.
• Margins: Keep document margins at 1 inch (2.54 cm) all around—top, bottom, left, and right. This is the standard size for comfortable placement of text on a page and for space for binding or scribbled-in notes. Margins that are too tight jam the text, whereas wider margins are a waste of space and reduce readability.
• Page numbering: Your paper should have a page number on each page so that readers can readily use them to find their way through the work. Page numbers may be placed at top-right within the header, bottom center, or some other fixed location, depending on preference or institutional requirements. Don’t place page numbers in different positions throughout the essay because this reduces consistency.

Paragraphing

Paragraphs play a very significant function in structuring ideas. Well-structured paragraphs with proper structuring contribute to the power of the argument and to the ease of transition of the essay.

• Indentation: Indent each new paragraph with a ½-inch indent, otherwise referred to as one tab space. Indentation clearly separates paragraphs from using extra blank lines and maintaining the neat and professional appearance.
• Alignment: For all academic work, left justification should be used. What this would mean is that the text would be aligned on the left margin of the page leaving the right margin uneven. Full justification (straight edges on both margins) can create unattractive spacing between words, which can decrease readability.
• Length and organization: A paragraph needs to be long enough to carry one idea, but not long enough to overwhelm the reader. Generally, paragraphs are four to eight sentences long. Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence, followed by evidence or analysis supporting it, and conclude with a link sentence that introduces the following point.

Headers and Titles

Headers and titles tell the reader significant information and establish the formal look of the document.

• Header material: What you include in your header will be determined by your topic, school, or desired audience. College essays, for instance, generally include little header on page one only. This typically includes your full name, title of the course or number, the instructor’s name, and date submitted.
• Placement: Position this header information in the top-left corner of the first page, in standard format (Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced). This serves to make identifying information visible but not obtrusive to the essay content.
• Essay title: After the header, insert the title of your essay. The title should be centered on the page, alone above the normal text. Do not underline, italicize or embolden the title unless otherwise required by your style guide. Titles should be in standard title case (capitalizing important words), concise, and consistent with the essay’s theme.

Use Consistent Line Spacing – Put a blank line before and after each heading. This facilitates easier reading of the essay and provides clear section demarcation. Use Hanging Indentation in the Reference List – In the reference list, use hanging indentation at all times, with the first line of each entry flush left and the rest of the lines indented ½ inch. This format is more convenient to scan many references. Alphabetical by Author Surname – All references in the list of references should be in alphabetical order based on the first author’s surname. In cases where one has multiple works by a single author, they should be arranged in the order of year of publication. Use Sentence Case for Titles – When Harvard references books, articles, or internet sources, use the sentence case when it refers to titles. Use only the first word, proper nouns, and subtitles (after a colon) with the initial letter in capital form. Maintain Consistency with Abbreviations and Numbers – If abbreviations (e.g., “UN” for United Nations) or numbers are used, make consistent usage of them in the essay. Harvard style encourages clarity, so refrain from switching between full forms and abbreviations unless they are introduced properly.