how many pages is a 500 word essay mla format

📝 MLA Style Word Count Calculator

Word count calculator for mla style group paper.

This calculator multiplies the number of pages by the average words per page to estimate the total word count. Please note that this is an estimate and the actual word count may vary.

How Does Our Calculator Work?

Why is word count important.

How can a group paper be formatted in MLA style?

Share superior formatting, people also asked.

What is a reliable MLA format essay generator?

How can I create a header in MLA format?

What is the standard MLA format?

How can I convert a document to MLA format in Word?

What are the key elements to consider when formatting an essay in MLA style?

Login to superior formatting.

• Help Us Out

Login with your site account:

Create a site account:

Welcome to Words per Page

Enter total number of words, type in your words.

There are times when it helps to know how many words per page you're writing. While a general guideline is one page is 500 words (single spaced) or 250 words (double spaced), this is a ballpark figure. The truth is the number of words per page depends on a variety of factors such as the type of font, the font size, spacing elements, margin spacing, and paragraph length to name a few. While it's not possible to take into all these factors when estimating how many words per page there will be for your writing, this calculator can give a more accurate words per page conversion estimate than the typical 250/500 ballpark figure .

The calculator is able to provide a more accurate conversion by taking into account more specific information. For example, you can choose from a different variety of common fonts to generate an estimate:

• Comic Sans MS
• Times New Roman

You can then choose your preferred spacing from the following options:

• Single spaced
• Double spaced

Finally, you can choose your preferred font size: 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14.

By using these three options to more accurately define your writing, the words per page calculator should provide a better estimate on how many words you need to write to fill a page. In the opposite direction, it can give a more accurate estimate of how many pages you have created if you only know the word count .

While we make every attempt to make our calculators as accurate as possible, the results won't be perfect. This converter addresses some issues to provide a more accurate estimate, but in the end, it's still an estimate. Other issues such as margin space and paragraph length will likely result in some variation from the calculations given. That being said, it should provide a more accurate indication of the number of pages a specific word count will be and the number of words per page you type when compared to the general rule of thumb.

For general information, the following are calculations using 12-point Arial font, double spaced:

How many pages is 500 words? 500 words is approximately 1.8 pages. How many pages is 750 words? 750 words is approximately 2.7 pages. How many pages is 1,000 words? 1,000 words is approximately 3.7 pages. How many pages is 1,250 words? 1,250 words is approximately 4.6 pages. How many pages is 1,500 words? 1,500 words is approximately 5.5 pages. How many pages is 2,000 words? 2,000 words is approximately 7.3 pages. How many pages is 2,500 words? 2,500 words is approximately 9.1 pages. How many pages is 3,000 words? 3,000 words is approximately 11 pages. How many pages is 4,000 words? 4,000 words is approximately 14.6 pages. How many pages is 5,000 words? 5,000 words is approximately 18.3 pages. How many pages is 7,500 words? 7,500 words is approximately 27.4 pages. How many pages is 10,000 words? 10,000 words is approximately 36.5 pages.

How many words are in one page? There are approximately 450 words in one page. How many words are in two pages? There are approximately 900 words in two pages. How many words are in three pages? There are approximately 1350 words in three pages. How many words are in four pages? There are approximately 1800 words in four pages. How many words are in five pages? There are approximately 2250 words in five pages. How many words are in ten pages? There are approximately 4500 words in ten pages. How many words are in 15 pages? There are approximately 6750 words in 15 pages. How many words are in 25 pages? There are approximately 11250 words in 25 pages. How many words are in 50 pages? There are approximately 22500 words in 50 pages. How many words are in 100 pages? There are approximately 45000 words in 100 pages.

• Help WordCounter
• Embed WordCounter
• Report a Bug
• Privacy Policy

Found a Bug

• Link to facebook
• Link to linkedin
• Link to twitter
• Link to youtube
• Writing Tips

What Is the MLA Format for an Essay?

4-minute read

• 12th October 2023

When writing academic essays, adhering to the proper formatting guidelines is crucial. One of the most widely used styles for academic writing is the Modern Language Association (MLA) format. However, MLA is more than just providing in-text citations and a Works Cited page . If you’re curious, read on.

Today’s post will explore:

●  What MLA format is.

●  Why it is important.

●  How to correctly format essays in MLA style .

What Is MLA Format?

MLA format is a set of guidelines established by the Modern Language Association for writing and documenting research papers, essays, and scholarly articles. These guidelines provide a standardized way to structure and format academic writing, making it easier for readers to understand and engage with the content.

Why Is MLA Format Important?

 MLA format serves several important purposes in academic writing:

1. Clarity and Readability

Thanks to its standardized layout and citation style, MLA ensures your essay is easy to read and comprehend.

2. Academic Integrity

Properly citing sources demonstrates academic integrity by giving credit to the original authors and avoiding plagiarism .

3. Consistency

MLA provides a consistent and uniform structure for essays, making it easier for readers and instructors to navigate your work.

 4. Publication Standards

Many academic journals and publishers require submissions to follow MLA guidelines, making it crucial for researchers and authors.

How to Format Your Essay in MLA Style

Now, let’s go through step-by-step instructions to help you correctly format your essay.

1. Margins and Page Layout

●  Go to the Page Layout settings in your word processor and set one-inch margins on all sides of the paper.

●  Set the text to be left-aligned.

●  Choose a legible 12-point font (e.g., Times New Roman or Arial).

2. Create a Title Page

●  Include your name, instructor’s name, course title, and the date in the upper left-hand corner.

●  Center the title of your essay, using standard capitalization (no bold, italics, or underlining).

3. Insert Header and Page Numbers

●  Create a header in the upper right-hand corner with your last name and page number (e.g., Jones 1).

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

4. Use Proper Line Spacing

●  Use double-spacing throughout the entire essay, including the Works Cited page.

5. In-Text Citations

●  Cite sources within your essay using parenthetical citations (author’s last name and page number).

Example: We have no time to appreciate the finer things in life (Toldo 201)

●  Include a Works Cited page with full bibliographic details for all cited sources.

●  Ensure that in-text citations correspond to entries in the Works Cited page.

6. Works Cited Page

●  You must start the list with the title Works Cited.

●  List all sources used in alphabetical order by the author’s last name.

●  Follow a specific format for different types of sources (books, journal articles, websites, etc.).

MLA format is essential to academic writing, ensuring clarity, consistency, and proper citation of sources. As MLA is a widely used style, you’ll have a few essays during your undergraduate years that will require you to adhere to its standards. You can confidently format your essays in MLA style, impressing your professors and maintaining academic integrity by following our guidelines in this post.

We strongly recommend proofreading your essay once it’s finished. Proofreading can be challenging, so we recommend asking our proofreading experts to review your writing . They’ll ensure perfect grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Additionally, they can check that your essay adheres to MLA standards. Consider submitting a 500-word document for free!

Happy learning and happy writing!

1. Is MLA the same as APA or Chicago Turabian?

No! MLA formatting is different from other referencing styles such as APA and Chicago Turabian. If you’re used to using APA or Chicago, you’ll have to familiarize yourself with MLA.

2. Will failing to adhere to MLA affect my essay’s grade?

If your essay is required to be in MLA format, it must adhere to the standards. You can expect the professor to deduct marks for failing to adhere to MLA.

3. Can I write References or Reference List instead of Works Cited?

The title for the list of references must be Works Cited. Again, you could lose marks for deviating from the required title.

4. How will I know if my essay needs to be in MLA?

The essay rubric will usually state the required referencing style. Otherwise, we recommend checking with your professor.

Share this article:

Post A New Comment

Got content that needs a quick turnaround? Let us polish your work. Explore our editorial business services.

3-minute read

What Is a Content Editor?

Are you interested in learning more about the role of a content editor and the...

The Benefits of Using an Online Proofreading Service

Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...

2-minute read

6 Online AI Presentation Maker Tools

Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...

What Is Market Research?

No matter your industry, conducting market research helps you keep up to date with shifting...

8 Press Release Distribution Services for Your Business

In a world where you need to stand out, press releases are key to being...

How to Get a Patent

In the United States, the US Patent and Trademarks Office issues patents. In the United...

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.

MLA 9th Edition Formatting

A Simple, Step-by-Step Guide + Free Template

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Reviewer: Eunice Rautenbach (DTech) | July 2023

Formatting your paper in MLA style can feel like a pretty daunting task . In this post, we’ll show you exactly how to set up your paper for MLA (9th edition), as quickly and easily as possible. We’ll also share our popular free MLA template , to help you fast-track your writing.

Overview: MLA 9th Edition Formatting

• Structure and layout
• General page setup
• The opening section
• The main body
• Works cited (reference list)
• Free MLA 9 template

MLA Structure and Layout

Let’s start by looking at the overall structure of a typical student paper formatted for MLA 9th edition, before diving into the details of each section. For the most part, MLA papers follow a standardised structure, consisting of the following parts:

The opening section : While MLA doesn’t require a dedicated title page (unlike APA ), it does require an opening section that details some important information about yourself, your university and the paper itself.

The main body : The main body begins directly after the opening section on the first page. This is the “heart” of your paper and there are a very specific requirements regarding how you present and format this content.

The appendix (or appendices):  While using an appendix in a student paper is relatively uncommon, you’ll place this section directly after the main body section, if required by your university.

The “Works Cited” list : This section is equivalent to what we’d usually call a references page and it’s where you’ll detail all the reference information corresponding to the in-text citations in the main body of your paper.

These four sections form the standard structure and order of a student paper using MLA 9th edition. As we mentioned, not all sections are always required , so be sure to double check what your university expects from you before submitting. Also, it’s always a good idea to ask your university if they have any  style requirements in addition to the standard MLA specification.

Now that we’ve got a big-picture view of the typical paper structure, let’s look at the specific formatting requirements for each of these sections.

Generic Page Setup

Before you jump into writing up your paper, you’ll first need to set up your document to align with MLA’s generic page requirements. Alternatively, you can download our MLA paper template (which comes fully preformatted).

MLA 9th edition requires a 1-inch margin on all sides , for all pages. That said, if you’re writing a dissertation, thesis or any document that will ultimately be printed and bound, your university will likely require a larger left margin to accommodate for physical binding.

Fonts & sizing

MLA does not require that you use any specific font, but we do recommend sticking to the tried and tested , well-accepted fonts. For example, you might consider using one of the following:

• Sans serif fonts : Calibri (11), Arial (11), or Lucida Sans Unicode (10)
• Serif fonts : Times New Roman (12), Georgia (11), or Computer Modern (10)

Whichever font you opt for, be sure to use it consistently throughout your paper . Don’t chop and change, or use different fonts for different parts of the document (e.g., different fonts for the body text and the headings). Also, keep in mind that while MLA does not have a specific font requirement, your university may have its own preference or requirement. So, be sure to check with them beforehand regarding any additional specifications they may have.

In general, all text throughout your document needs to be left-aligned and should not be justified (i.e., leave an uneven right edge). You might consider using a different alignment for section headings, but in general, it’s best to keep things simple .

Line spacing

MLA 9th edition requires double line spacing throughout the document . There should also be no extra space before and after paragraphs . This applies to all sections of the paper, including the “Works Cited” page (more on this later).

Page header

Last but not least, you’ll need to set up a running header for your document. This should contain your last name, followed by the page number. Both of these should be positioned in the top right corner of all pages (even the first page). On a related note, there’s no need for you to include any footer content unless your university specifically requests it.

Now that we’ve looked at the generic formatting considerations, let’s dive into the specific requirements for each section of your paper.

The Opening Section

While MLA-formatted papers typically don’t require a title page, there are very specific requirements regarding the opening section of the first page .

Here’s how you can set your first page up for MLA 9th edition.

• On the first line, write your full name (flush left)
• On a new line, write your professor or instructor’s full name
• On a new line, write the course code and course name
• On a new line, write the full date spelt out (e.g., 15 June 2023)
• On a new line, write the full title of your paper , centre-aligned and using title case (consider using a title case converter if you’re not familiar with this)
• On a new line, begin your body content

All of the above should be in plain, unformatted font – in other words, you don’t need to apply any boldfacing, underlining , etc. That said, you should use italics whenever you’re writing out the titles of other works (for example, titles of books or articles).

To make it all a little more tangible, below is an example of a first page formatted according to the MLA specifications that we just covered.

The Main Body

While the formatting requirements for the body section are relatively light for MLA (at least when compared to APA ), there are still quite a few important things to pay attention to. Here’s what you need to know to get started.

Each of your paragraphs needs to start on a new line , and the first sentence of each paragraph requires a half-inch indent (while the rest of the paragraph is flush left aligned). Note that each paragraph simply starts on a new line and doesn’t require an additional blank line.

MLA 9th edition is fairly flexible in terms of heading formatting. There is no specified formatting, so you can decide what works best for you. However, there are still a few basic rules you need to follow:

• All your headings should be written in title case – never use all caps
• There should be no period following a heading
• Each heading level needs to be uniquely formatted and easily distinguishable from other levels (for example, a distinct difference in terms of boldfacing, underlining or italicisation)
• You can have as many heading levels as you need, but each level must have at least two instances

Abbreviations

When using abbreviations, you’ll need to make sure that you’re using the MLA version of the abbreviation . Below we’ve listed a few common ones you should be aware of:

• Appendix: app.
• Circa: c. or ca.
• Chapter: ch.
• Column: col.
• Definition: def.
• Department: dept.
• Example: e.g.
• Edition: ed.
• Figure: fig.
• Foreword: fwd.
• That is: i.e.
• Journal: jour.
• Library: lib.
• Manuscript(s): MS
• Number: no.
• Quoted in: qtd. in
• Revised: rev.
• Section: sec. or sect.
• Series: ser.
• Translation: trans.
• Version: vers.
• Variant: var.
• Volume: vol.

If you’re interested, you can find a more comprehensive list here . Alternatively, if you have access to the MLA 9th edition handbook, you can find the full list in the first appendix.

In-text citations

MLA 9 has a very specific set of requirements regarding how to cite your sources within the body of your paper. Here are some of the most important things to help you get started with MLA citations.

Author-page number system: in-text citations consist of (at a minimum) the lead author’s last name, followed by the page number of the paragraph you are citing. There is no comma between the two components (only a space).

Types of citations: MLA allows two types of in-text citations: parenthetical and narrative . Parenthetical citations feature the author and page number in parentheses (brackets) at the end of the respective sentence. Here’s an example:

MLA 9th edition is easy to grasp if you visit the Grad Coach blog (Jansen 13).

Narrative citations, on the other hand, weave the author’s name into the flow of the sentence and then present the publication date in parentheses at the end of the sentence. Here’s an example:

Jansen states that MLA 9th edition is easy for students to grasp if they visit the Grad Coach blog (13).

In general, it’s a good idea to utilise a mix of both in your writing. Narrative citations are particularly useful when you want to highlight or contrast authors or their viewpoints, while parenthetical citations are useful when you want to strengthen your own academic voice. In other words, both formats have their respective strengths and weaknesses, so try to use citation format strategically in your writing.

Quotations: when quoting text verbatim from a source, there is no need to do anything differently in terms of the citation itself, but do remember to wrap the verbatim text in quotation marks. Here’s an example:

Jansen proposes that MLA 9th edition is “easy to grasp if you visit the Grad Coach blog” (13).

Multiple authors: when citing resources that were authored by three or more people, you only need to list the lead author, followed by “et al.”. Here’s an example:

MLA 9th edition is easy to grasp if you visit the Grad Coach blog (Jansen et al. 13).

 Below are a few more examples from our free MLA template .

Please keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list of all the MLA 9th edition citation-related requirements – just a shortlist of the most commonly relevant ones. If you’d like to learn more, consult the MLA handbook .

The Works Cited (Reference List)

The final section that you’ll need to pay close attention to is the “Works Cited” page, which should contain a list of reference information for all the sources cited in the body of the paper. Again, MLA has a quite a meaty set of specifications regarding the content and formatting of this list, but we’ll cover the basics here to get your started on the right foot. 

Basic setup

Your reference list needs to start on a new page and should be titled “Works Cited”. The title should be unformatted and centred . The reference list should then start on the next line. As with the rest of your document, you should use double line spacing throughout.

When it comes to the reference list itself, you’ll need to keep the following in mind:

• All the sources that you cited in the body of your document should feature in the reference list. Make sure that every citation is accounted for .
• The references should be ordered alphabetically , according to the lead author’s last name .
• The exact information required within each entry depends on the type of content being referenced (e.g., a journal article, web page, etc.)
• Components that may need to feature (other than the author) include the title of the source, the title of the container, other contributors, the article version or number, the publisher, the publication date, and the location.
• All references should be left-aligned and should use a hanging indent – i.e., the second line of any given reference (if it has one) should be indented a half inch.

We have to stress that these are just the basics. MLA 9th edition requires that your references be structured and formatted in a very specific way , depending on the type of resource. If you plan to draft your reference list manually, it’s important to consult your university’s style guide or the MLA manual itself. This leads us to our next point…

In general, it’s a bad idea to write your reference list manually . Given the incredibly high level of intricacy involved, it’s highly likely that you’ll make mistakes if you try to craft this section yourself. A better solution is to use (free) reference management software such as Mendeley or Zotero . Either of these will take care of the formatting and content for you, and they’ll do a much more accurate job of it too. 

If you’re not familiar with any sort of reference management software, be sure to check out our easy-to-follow Mendeley explainer video below.

Wrapping Up

In this post, we’ve provided a primer covering how to format your paper according to MLA 9th edition. To recap, we’ve looked at the following:

• The structure and layout
• The general page setup
• The “Works Cited” page (reference list)

Remember to always check your university’s style guide to familiarise yourself with any additional requirements they may. Also, if your university has specified anything that contrasts what we’ve discussed here, please do follow their guidance . 

If you need any help formatting your paper for MLA 9, take a look at our “done for you” language editing and proofreading service . Simply send us your document and we’ll take care of all the MLA formatting intracies on your behalf. 

You Might Also Like:

Very well recounted!

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Print Friendly

Apr 20, 2023

How to Write in MLA Essay Format (With Examples)

Did you know that MLA essay format isn't just about citation style? It also includes guidelines for headings, spacing, margins, and more. If you're not sure how to put it all together, don't worry - we've got you covered. In this article, we'll provide you with clear instructions and examples to help you write in MLA essay format like a pro!

Many pupils in higher education are required to become familiar with the Modern Language Association (MLA) format to write effectively on academic assignments. The formatting guide for this writing method is around 400 pages long, so we've compiled some basic guidelines to get you started.

MLA, short for the Modern Language Association , is a standard format for scholarly writing like study papers and essays. As a college student, you'll find that liberal arts and sciences courses almost always insist on MLA citations and paper formats. In this article, you will find detailed instructions for creating an MLA-formatted document in Office.

What does MLA format mean?

The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is "the style suggested by the MLA for writing scholarly works and student research papers," as explained by Thesaurus.com. Essays written in MLA format or MLA style require specific elements: a header, pagination with the last name and page number, a title, the use of Times New Roman font in 12 point size, double spacing throughout, margins set to 1 inch on all sides, and the inclusion of a Works Cited page.

When is MLA format used?

Most courses in the arts (including English, film, literature, philosophy, and early creative writing) will require you to use MLA format. Although instructors in introductory classes may give students some leeway in selecting a preferred style of citation and essay format, MLA is frequently used because it is one of the most straightforward.

How do I properly organise my Google Docs document in MLA style?

Using Google Documents , you can easily create an MLA formatted paper. If you already have a Gmail account, Google Docs is a complimentary bonus. There is no cost to set up a Google account if you don't already have one.

In MLA style, how many parts should my paper have?

Paragraph requirements for an MLA essay will vary depending on the requirements of your instructor. Instead, you should aim for a specific word count or a specific page count. Find out from your educator the minimum number of words or pages expected for the essay. Essays for high school and college freshmen are typically between three and five pages long, or about 1,250 to 1,500 words (2 to 3 paragraphs).

When using MLA style, how many words should my paper be?

The length of your final MLA essay will rely heavily on the specifics of your instructor's assignment. Determine the required length of your composition by consulting with your instructor. Commonly assigned to freshmen in college, essays typically range between three and five pages. The average length of a standard 5-page thesis written in double space is around 1250 words.

When using the APA style, how do you properly reference a book?

It is not necessary to struggle through the process of creating a Works Cited page for a book. The following elements should be included in your book's citation: Initials, Surname, etc. Book Description. Place of Distribution, Publishing House, and Year of Publication.

Know the General Guidelines of MLA Style

Language classes and literature courses are where you're most likely to come across an essay written in MLA style. While there is some flexibility in the design, there are also some strict guidelines to follow. In 2021, the ninth version of the manual of style was published.

When Unsure, Stick to a Generic Layout

The five guidelines below are the standard for any MLA-styled paper.

Change the default typeface to Times New Roman, size 12.

The recommended size for paper borders is one inch on all sides.

Don't use two spaces after a semicolon.

Leave a half-inch space between the left margin and the first line of each column. (Tab instead of using the spacebar to create indents).

Use double spacing for the entire article.

Proper use of headings, footnotes, and page numbers is crucial.

To ensure that your paper is easily understood, it is crucial that you use correct headers and cover sheets. Plagiarism can be avoided by providing thorough and correct information.

Unless otherwise specified by your instructor, a cover sheet is not required.

Any lengthy headings used in the body of the paper should be italicized.

Put your name at the top left of the first page of your writing.

Write the name of your teacher on the line beneath your own. Type the name of the class below that. And finally, don't forget to include the date below.

Create page numbers in the top right area. Page numbers should appear to the left of your last name (Jones 1). This will serve as the header for the entire document.

On the line beneath the date, centered, write the subject of your essay.

You need to use numbered headings to separate parts if there are any. For ease of reference, you can number your essay's parts as follows: "1. Section One, 2. Section Two, 3. Section Three," etc.

The standard for referencing within the body of the text is to place the author's surname and the page number in brackets

If you cite the same source multiple times in the same paragraph and there are no other citations in that section, you can simply list the citations after the paragraph.

Put your endnotes on a distinct page before your works cited page. The heading for this section should read "Notes."

Understand What a Works Cited Page Is 

In MLA format, a Works Cited page is included rather than a Bibliography or Sources section. To achieve this flexibility, MLA 9 employs a container structure, within which nine fundamental elements are created.

Use this basic works cited format:

Initials, Surname, etc. A Title of the Original Author. Title of Container, Names of Other Authors, Version and Number, Publisher, Publication Date, and Place of Distribution.

Each entry should be a genuine resource that you used for research and properly referenced in your paper.

You can skip any of the above steps if you don't have the necessary materials.

Italicize titles of books, websites, magazines, TV programmes, and albums.

Article titles, magazine titles, episode titles, and music titles all need to be enclosed in quotation marks when used in a paper or essay.

Create an alphabetical list of your references, beginning with the authors' last names.

When there is no author given, put the title of the source in the first position of the entry and arrange the entries alphabetically by title.

Add-ons that can be made to a Project Include the following information in your citation: date of original publication; city of original publishing; date of access; URL; and digital object identifier.

Get to Know MLA

While it may not seem important now, understanding the fundamentals of MLA style will make your life much easier when it comes time to write college papers. These standards will become second nature the more you read and apply them.

4 MLA Format Essay Examples

Jane Doe                                                                                                                                                                

Professor John

6-September-2022

What is Wi-Fi?

You know the feeling: You’re reading a website or streaming a movie when your Wi-Fi goes out. What is Wi-Fi, and why do we depend on it so much? Understanding the concept of Wi-Fi is important for users of modern technology because it connects us to the world.

Wi-Fi is the wireless local network between nearby devices, such as wireless routers, computers, smartphones, tablets, or external drives. It is part of the LAN (local area network) protocols and has largely replaced the wired Ethernet option. When your device has Wi-Fi turned on, it can find the nearest router. If the router is connected to a modem and works with an Internet service provider (ISP), your device can now access the Internet and other devices on the network. Wi-Fi covers a much more limited area than a cell phone tower. However, Wi-Fi does not use expensive cellular data like LTE or 4G.

Many people believe that Wi-Fi is short for “wireless fidelity.” The founding members of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance needed a name that was easier to remember than “wireless ethernet,” and much easier than Wi-Fi’s actual original name, “IEEE 802.11b Direct Sequence.” They added the slogan “The Standard for Wireless Fidelity,” but dropped it after people mistook the meaning of Wi-Fi. The name is a play on the term “hi-fi,” which is a high-quality reproduction in stereo sound (“high fidelity”), and not related to Wi-Fi at all. The IEEE 802.11b standard has since been upgraded to faster protocols, including 802.11g, 802.11n, and 802.11ac.

Because of Wi-Fi’s widespread use and popularity, Merriam-Webster added “Wi-Fi” to its dictionary in 2005, only eight years after it was invented. Today, most modern computers depend on Wi-Fi for Internet access. Free Wi-Fi is available in many restaurants, hotels, and coffee shops. It is also easy to install in your home for private use. However, even private Wi-Fi connections should be password-protected. Joining an unprotected Wi-Fi network, or allowing others to join your network, could compromise your online safety and privacy.

Understanding what Wi-Fi is can protect you and your information. When used correctly and safely, Wi-Fi is an essential part of the 21st-century experience. Whether you’re watching your favourite show or finishing up a research paper, you should know more about how data travels to and from your device.

Allen Bailey                        

Professor Jane

3-August-2022

Everyone feels afraid from time to time. From feeling the jitters to facing a lifelong phobia, it’s difficult to put fears aside when trying to accomplish a goal. But one doesn’t need to forget that they are afraid to be brave; in fact, bravery doesn’t exist without real fear behind it.

Bravery is the mindset one takes when facing a challenge that could be dangerous or difficult. The task could be objectively dangerous, such as engaging in battle or driving in adverse conditions. A person could also perceive a seemingly harmless situation as challenging, such as climbing a flight of stairs or talking to someone they’d like to date. A brave act requires one to face and embrace the task rather than withdraw from it.

There are examples of bravery in every community. Look no further than your local fire station or police station to see acts of bravery. Community heroes help others in small and large ways every day, often at great risk to their own lives. Students are brave when they stand up to a bully or present a project in front of the whole class. Practicing small acts of bravery can prepare a person to lead a heroic life.

“Fearlessness” can be a connotation of bravery, but it’s not a true synonym (although bystanders may believe that a brave person acts without fear). If a task does not seem frightening in some way, it would be simple to complete, requiring no bravery at all. Heroes who exhibit bravery often put themselves at risk to help others. The closest synonym for bravery would be “courage.” The ability to do what’s right despite a real or perceived threat requires strength, making “fortitude” another near-synonym for bravery.

Bravery doesn’t exist without fear. No matter how challenging or dangerous a task can be, bravery allows a person to work alongside their fear rather than forget about it. The next time you see someone acting heroically, remind yourself that they are probably terrified at that moment – and that makes them even braver.

Example # 3

Adams Aderson                      

Professor Bell

12-July-2022

Most Important Health Risks for Women to Be Aware Of

Introduction

Women's health is a critical issue that has gained attention in recent years. Women face different health risks than men, and they must be aware of them to maintain a healthy life. Breast cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, depression, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are some of the most important health risks for women to be aware of. In this essay, we will discuss each of these risks in detail and provide advice on how to mitigate them.

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. It occurs when breast cells grow uncontrollably. The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age, and women with a family history of breast cancer are also at a higher risk (American Cancer Society). The best way to detect breast cancer early is through regular mammograms (National Breast Cancer Foundation). Women should also conduct breast self-exams monthly and report any changes to their doctor. Maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding alcohol consumption, and exercising regularly can also lower the risk of developing breast cancer (American Cancer Society).

Heart Disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States. Women with a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are at a higher risk of developing heart disease (American Heart Association). Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, not smoking, and managing stress are effective ways to prevent heart disease (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute). Women should also have their blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones, making them more likely to break. Women are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis than men because they have smaller, thinner bones (National Osteoporosis Foundation). Women should consume adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D, exercise regularly, and avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption to maintain bone health. Women over the age of 50 should also have regular bone density tests.

Depression is a common mental health disorder that affects women twice as often as men. Women who have a family history of depression, have experienced trauma, or have chronic illnesses are at a higher risk of developing depression (National Institute of Mental Health). Regular exercise, a healthy diet, good sleep habits, and social support can help prevent depression. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, such as persistent sadness, lack of interest in activities, and difficulty sleeping, seek help from a mental health professional.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that are spread through sexual contact. Women are at a higher risk of contracting STIs than men because of the anatomy of their reproductive system (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The most effective way to prevent STIs is to practice safe sex, such as using condoms and getting regular STI testing. Women should also be vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV), which can lead to cervical cancer (American Cancer Society).

Women face unique health risks that must be taken seriously. Breast cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, depression, and sexually transmitted infections are some of the most important health risks for women to be aware of. By practising healthy habits, such as maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, not smoking, and seeking regular medical care, women can mitigate these risks and lead long, healthy lives. Women need to prioritize their health and take steps to prevent and detect health problems early on.

Works Cited

American Cancer Society. "Breast Cancer Risk and Prevention." Cancer.org, American Cancer Society, 2022, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/risk-and-prevention.html .

American Heart Association Society. “Heart Valve and Disease” heart.org, American Heart Association Society 2022, https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-valve-problems-and-disease

Bennett Brown                      

Professor Burton

22-October-2022

The Effect of Birth Control and Pregnancy on a Woman's Psyche

Women's reproductive health has always been a critical issue, and it has gained attention in recent years. Birth control and pregnancy are two of the most significant factors that affect a woman's psyche. Birth control has both physical and psychological effects, while pregnancy can bring about significant changes in a woman's mental and emotional state. In this essay, we will explore the effects of birth control and pregnancy on a woman's psyche.

Birth Control

Birth control is a common method of preventing unwanted pregnancies. Hormonal birth control methods, such as the pill, patch, and hormonal IUD, work by altering a woman's hormone levels to prevent ovulation. The use of hormonal birth control has been associated with changes in a woman's mood and behaviour. In a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health, researchers found that women who used hormonal birth control were more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety than those who did not use hormonal birth control (Skovlund et al.).

However, it is important to note that the use of hormonal birth control may not cause depression and anxiety in all women. Women who have a history of depression or anxiety may be more susceptible to these side effects. Additionally, not all women experience these side effects, and for some women, birth control may improve their mental health by reducing symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome.

Pregnancy is a significant event that brings about numerous changes in a woman's body, both physically and mentally. Pregnancy can be a time of emotional highs and lows, and many women experience mood swings, anxiety, and depression during pregnancy. According to the American Pregnancy Association, up to 20% of women experience depression during pregnancy (American Pregnancy Association).

One of the factors that contribute to the risk of depression during pregnancy is the hormonal changes that occur. During pregnancy, there is an increase in the levels of estrogen and progesterone, which can affect a woman's mood and behaviour. Additionally, changes in a woman's social and economic status, as well as the stress of preparing for a new baby, can contribute to depression during pregnancy.

However, it is important to note that not all women experience depression during pregnancy. Some women report feeling more energized and happier during pregnancy. Additionally, many women report feeling a sense of purpose and joy as they prepare for the arrival of their new baby.

Birth control and pregnancy are two of the most significant factors that affect a woman's psyche. Hormonal birth control can cause changes in mood and behaviour, while pregnancy can bring about significant changes in a woman's mental and emotional state. Women should be aware of these potential effects and seek medical advice if they experience significant mood changes. It is important to remember that not all women experience negative side effects from birth control or pregnancy and that every woman's experience is unique.

American Pregnancy Association. "Depression During Pregnancy." Americanpregnancy.org, American Pregnancy Association, 2022, https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/depression-during-pregnancy/

Skovlund, Charlotte Wessel, et al. "Association of Hormonal Contraception with Depression." JAMA Psychiatry, vol. 73, no. 11, 2016, pp. 1154–1162.

In conclusion, MLA format is a widely used citation style that helps ensure academic integrity by providing guidelines for documenting sources in research papers and essays. To write in MLA format, it is essential to follow a few simple guidelines, including using 12-point font, double spacing, and adding a header with your last name and page number. 

Mastering the MLA essay format may seem daunting at first, but with practice and guidance, you can learn to write with confidence and clarity. By following the key elements we've outlined in this article, such as in-text citations, works cited pages, and proper formatting, you'll be well on your way to producing high-quality essays that meet MLA standards.

But even with a solid understanding of MLA format, the writing process can still be challenging. That's where Jenni.ai comes in. Our AI-powered writing assistant can help you with every aspect of the writing process, from generating ideas to checking for grammar and spelling errors. Jenni.ai's advanced features, such as AI autocomplete and citation assistance, make it easier than ever to write in MLA essay format with precision and ease.

So why not try Jenni.ai today and see how our platform can help you streamline the writing process, improve your writing skills, and submit top-quality essays that meet the highest standards of MLA format?

Try Jenni for free today

Create your first piece of content with Jenni today and never look back

MLA Style Guide, 8th & 9th Editions: Formatting Your MLA Paper

• Works Cited entries: What to Include
• Title of source
• Title of container
• Contributors
• Publication date
• Supplemental Elements
• Book with Personal Author(s)
• Book with Organization as Author
• Book with Editor(s)
• Parts of Books
• Government Publication
• Journal Article
• Magazine Article
• Multivolume Works
• Newspaper Article
• Other Formats
• Websites, Social Media, and Email
• About In-text Citations
• In-text Examples
• How to Paraphrase and Quote
• Citing Poetry
• Formatting Your MLA Paper
• Formatting Your Works Cited List
• MLA Annotated Bibliography
• MLA 9th Edition Quick Guide
• Submit Your Paper for MLA Style Review

MLA recommends using 12-point Times New Roman font or another readable typeface (e.g. serif ).

Line Spacing & Margins

Use double-spacing throughout the entire paper.

Leave 1 inch margins on the top, bottom, and each side.

Indent the first line of each paragraph half an inch from the left margin.

Quotes longer than 4 lines should be written as a block of text a half an inch from the left margin.

Heading and Title

An MLA research paper does not need a title page, but your instructor may require one. If no instructions are given, follow the MLA guidelines below:

Type the following one inch from the top of the first page, flush with the left margin (double spacing throughout).

Your Instructor's Name

Course Number or Name

Center the title on the next line. Follow the rules for capitalization. Do not italicize, underline, or bold the title. An exception is when your title includes a title.  Example:  The Attitude toward Violence in A Clockwork Orange

Indent the next line and begin typing your text.

Include your last name and page numbers in the upper right-hand corner of every page. The page numbers will be one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. If your instructor prefers no page number on the first page, begin numbering from 2 on the second page.

Sample Papers from MLA

There are sample papers available in the MLA Style Center. Check them out to see the correct formatting.

Styling Headings and Subheadings

According to the MLA Style Center website, writers should avoid using headings in shorter papers. If you are writing a longer research paper, you may want to include headings and subheadings to help organize the sections of your paper. Advice from the MLA Style Center :

"Levels

The paper or chapter title is the first level of heading, and it must be the most prominent.

Headings should be styled in descending order of prominence. After the first level, the other headings are subheadings—that is, they are subordinate. Font styling and size are used to signal prominence. In general, a boldface, larger font indicates prominence; a smaller font, italics, and lack of bold can be used to signal subordination. For readability, don’t go overboard: avoid using all capital letters for headings (in some cases, small capitals may be acceptable):

Heading Level 1

Heading Level 2

Heading Level 3

Note that word-processing software often has built-in heading styles.

Consistency

Consistency in the styling of headings and subheadings is key to signaling to readers the structure of a research project. That is, each level 1 heading should appear in the same style and size, as should each level 2 heading, and so on. Generally, avoid numbers and letters to designate heads unless you are working in a discipline where doing so is conventional. Note that a heading labeled “1” requires a subsequent heading labeled “2,” and a heading labeled “a” requires a subsequent heading labeled “b.” 

In a project that is not professionally designed and published, headings should be flush with the left margin, to avoid confusion with block quotations. (The exception is the paper or chapter title, which is centered in MLA style.)

For readability, it is helpful to include a line space above and below a heading, as shown in this post.

No internal heading level should have only one instance. For example, if you have one level 1 heading, you need to have a second level 1 heading. (The exceptions are the paper or chapter title and the headings for notes and the list of works cited.) You should also generally have text under each heading.

Capitalization

Capitalize headings like the titles of works, as explained in section 1.2 of the MLA Handbook.

The shorter, the better."

Modern Language Association. "How Do I Style Headings and Subheadings in a Research Paper?" MLA Style Center., 13 December 2018,  style.mla.org/styling-headings-and-subheadings .

MLA Style Paper Template

• MLA 9th Edition Paper Template This template was created and saved as a Word template for Microsoft Word 2016. The process for saving and using the template is the same for the instructions given above for 2013.

You can save a personal template in Microsoft Word (IRSC students, download Office for free, see a librarian if you need help). Above is a template you can use every time you need to set-up a research paper using MLA style format. Simply open the template and type your own information every time you need to write an MLA style paper. Microsoft Word will allow you to save personal templates. Once you have the template opened in Word

Click "Save as"

Give the file a name

Under "Save as type", select Word Template

Then when you open Word, you will be able to choose a template rather than a blank document. You might have to select Personal to find your template.

Sample MLA Paper

How to Use the MLA Style Template

Formatting Group Project Papers

For a research paper written collaboratively by several students, such as for a group project, create a title page instead of listing all authors in the header on page 1 of the essay. On the title page, list each student's full name, placing one name on each double-spaced line. After the final student name, enter the professor's name. After the professor's name, give the course name. The last line of the heading will be the date in 5 August 2021 format. Press Enter a few times to move down the page then give the paper title, centered.

• << Previous: Citing Poetry
• Next: Formatting Your Works Cited List >>
• Last Updated: Jan 23, 2024 11:37 AM
• URL: https://irsc.libguides.com/mla

• school Campus Bookshelves
• menu_book Bookshelves
• perm_media Learning Objects
• login Login
• how_to_reg Request Instructor Account
• hub Instructor Commons
• Download Page (PDF)
• Download Full Book (PDF)
• Periodic Table
• Physics Constants
• Scientific Calculator
• Reference & Cite
• Tools expand_more
• Readability

selected template will load here

This action is not available.

6.10: MLA Essay Format

• Last updated
• Save as PDF
• Page ID 120162

Media Alternative

Listen to an audio version of this page (4 min, 27 sec):

One of the ways we can create a sense of being part of one larger academic conversation is by adopting an agreed-upon, consistent and uniform way of presenting academic material. By following these conventions, we build our credibility because we signal to readers that we are part of the larger conversation and aware of its customs. For English classes and a variety of humanities disciplines, the agreed-upon style is called MLA.  For other classes, you may also be asked to format your papers in APA or Chicago Style.

The following sample paper shows how the first page of a paper written in MLA is formatted. Note the header information in the upper-left corner, the last name and page numbers in the upper-right corner, the double-spaced text, and indentations that begin each paragraph:

Use a Template

The simplest way to get the format right is to use a template.  You can download this MLA format essay template  and open it in any word processing program. (You can also make a copy of the Google Docs template  rather than downloading.) Then just replace the text with your own name, title, and essay. A slightly different way is to create a new document in Google Docs, Pages, or Microsoft Word and use the built-in template for MLA essays. You'll want to choose the option to create a new document from a template and then search the template gallery for "MLA," which may be categorized under "Education."

General MLA Formatting Rules

If you prefer not to use a template, you can also manually format your essay.

• Font : Your paper should be written in 12-point text. Whichever font you choose, MLA requires that regular and italicized text be easily distinguishable from each other. Times and Times New Roman are often recommended.
• Line Spacing : All text in your paper should be double-spaced.
• Margins : All page margins (top, bottom, left, and right) should be 1 inch. All text should be left justified.
• Indentation : The first line of every paragraph should be indented 0.5 inches.
• Page Numbers : Create a right-justified header 0.5 inches from the top edge of every page. This header should include your last name, followed by a space and the page number. Your pages should be numbered with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3…) and should start with the number 1 on your title page. Most word-processing programs have the ability to automatically add the correct page number to each page so you don’t have to do this by hand.
• Use of Italics: In MLA style, you should italicize (rather than underline) the titles of books, plays, or other standalone works (shorter works such as articles or speeches should be in quotation marks with no italics). You should also italicize (rather than underline) words or phrases you want to lend particular emphasis—though you should do this rarely.
• on the first line, your first and last name
• on the second line, your instructor’s name
• on the third line, the name of the class
• on the fourth line, the date
• The title: After the header, the next double-spaced line should include the title of your paper. This should be centered and in title case, and it should not be bolded, underlined, or italicized (unless it includes the name of a book, in which case just the book title should be italicized).

Additional resources

Visit the Modern Language Association website to see an example of a student paper following MLA guidelines. You can also read more on the MLA website about correctly formatting your document.

Attributions

Adapted by Anna Mills from English Composition I: MLA Document Formatting , provided by Lumen Learning and licensed  CC BY-SA .

Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Writing > Writing an Essay in MLA Format

Writing an Essay in MLA Format

Knowing how to write a Modern Language Association—or MLA—essay is an essential part of making it through school these days. Be warned, however, that daunting little tasks await around every corner—whether it’s knowing where to set your margins, how to edit a header, the right way to format a heading, and beyond!

While we can’t write your paper for you, this guide can certainly help you understand the proper MLA format for your essay. Keep reading to learn about writing an MLA-format paper with some tips for making sure it’s done right the first time.

Get the most out of your documents with Word

Elevate your writing and collaborate with others - anywhere, anytime

What is an MLA-format essay? It’s not uncommon for associations and organizations to follow a standard format and writing style. The Associated Press (AP) and University of Chicago styles are most common in professional settings. News outlets typically prefer the AP style, while businesses and creative agencies will choose the Chicago style. Academia, on the other hand, traditionally follows APA and MLA styles. APA (not the same as AP style) comes from the American Psychological Association and is used in scholarly articles. An MLA-format essay fits the established style for citing references and formatting essays established by the Modern Language Association.

Required elements of an MLA-format paper. MLA is the preferred style when writing an essay in high school and most college settings. As with other writing styles, there are specific characteristics and items an MLA-format paper needs to include to fit the bill of the style. Every MLA-format essay must include the following:

• One-inch margins
• Double-spaced text
• Easy-to-read font (typically Times New Roman) in size 12
• New paragraphs indented 0.5 inches
• Italicized media titles (books, magazines, etc.), no underlining
• Page numbers in the header 0.5 inches from the top of the page
• Oxford comma
• Center-justified title
• Headings and subheadings
• Clearly labeled and titled tables and figures
• Parenthetical citations

In addition to the listed elements above, every MLA essay must include a Works Cited. MLA format doesn’t require a title page, but it also doesn’t deem them unnecessary, so it’s up to your professor whether you’ll need one or not. One way to take the edge off the process of writing this type of essay is to use a free template or a handy built-in tool that helps you build bibliographies and more.

Tips for meeting MLA formatting guidelines. It’s said that the devil is in the details, and it’s never truer than when it comes to MLA-format essays. The following tips are areas to pay attention to when writing your essay:

• Set your margins. Your software might be set to one-inch margins, double-spaced text, and 0.5-inch indentations by default—but you can save yourself the trouble (and a headache) later in the writing process by adjusting them before you get started. Of course, one of the best parts about using a computer to write your essay is that you can always make adjustments later.
• Straighten out your headings . One area students might miss with MLA formatting is with the title, headings, and subheadings. It’s normal to want to use bold or italicized typeface on your titles and headings to make them stand out from the rest of the text. MLA style specifically calls for them to match the rest of the text without any alterations aside from title case. A centered or left-justified heading will stand out enough from the rest of your text that it needn’t any additional adjustments.
• Understand subheadings. While primary headings aren’t to receive any special formatting, subheadings will be changed to set them apart from their headings. For example, if your heading is about mammals, you might have subheadings about land and water mammals. You can further organize your water mammals subheading into types of whales and dolphins. Using subheadings helps to organize your writing and makes it easier to consume as a reader.
• Know how to cite your work. The information you’re presenting in your essay didn’t mysteriously appear from out of the ether. You need to give credit where it’s due when writing an MLA-format paper, so you’re giving credit to the original author of your sources. You can also improve your writing credibility and avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism is one of the biggest academic offenses a student can commit and could lead to expulsion in some cases. Properly citing your work with parenthetical citations and quoting authors when necessary will help to keep you covered.

When it comes down to it, practice makes perfect. The more essays you write, the better you’ll become at writing and meeting the expectations of MLA style. Before you know it, MLA format will be second nature, and everything will fall into place.

Still having a hard time visualizing what an MLA essay looks like? Check out a sample paper so you can see first-hand how they’re formatted!

Get started with Microsoft 365

It’s the Office you know, plus the tools to help you work better together, so you can get more done—anytime, anywhere.

Topics in this article

More articles like this one.

What is independent publishing?

Avoid the hassle of shopping your book around to publishing houses. Publish your book independently and understand the benefits it provides for your as an author.

What are literary tropes?

Engage your audience with literary tropes. Learn about different types of literary tropes, like metaphors and oxymorons, to elevate your writing.

What are genre tropes?

Your favorite genres are filled with unifying tropes that can define them or are meant to be subverted.

What is literary fiction?

Define literary fiction and learn what sets it apart from genre fiction.

Everything you need to achieve more in less time

Get powerful productivity and security apps with Microsoft 365

Explore Other Categories

Frequently asked questions

How do i format a paper in mla style.

The main guidelines for formatting a paper in MLA style are as follows:

• Use an easily readable font like 12 pt Times New Roman
• Set 1 inch page margins
• Apply double line spacing
• Include a four-line MLA heading on the first page
• Center the paper’s title
• Indent every new paragraph ½ inch
• Use title case capitalization for headings
• Cite your sources with MLA in-text citations
• List all sources cited on a Works Cited page at the end

Frequently asked questions: Writing a research paper

A research project is an academic, scientific, or professional undertaking to answer a research question . Research projects can take many forms, such as qualitative or quantitative , descriptive , longitudinal , experimental , or correlational . What kind of research approach you choose will depend on your topic.

The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.

Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .

However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:

• Researchability
• Feasibility and specificity
• Relevance and originality

Research questions anchor your whole project, so it’s important to spend some time refining them.

In general, they should be:

• Focused and researchable
• Answerable using credible sources
• Complex and arguable
• Feasible and specific
• Relevant and original

All research questions should be:

• Focused on a single problem or issue
• Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources
• Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints
• Specific enough to answer thoroughly
• Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis
• Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly

A research aim is a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear in your introduction at the end of your problem statement , before your research objectives.

Research objectives are more specific than your research aim. They indicate the specific ways you’ll address the overarching aim.

Once you’ve decided on your research objectives , you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement .

Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one.

I will compare …

Your research objectives indicate how you’ll try to address your research problem and should be specific:

Research objectives describe what you intend your research project to accomplish.

They summarize the approach and purpose of the project and help to focus your research.

Your objectives should appear in the introduction of your research paper , at the end of your problem statement .

The main guidelines for formatting a paper in Chicago style are to:

• Use a standard font like 12 pt Times New Roman
• Use 1 inch margins or larger
• Include a title page
• Place page numbers in the top right or bottom center
• Cite your sources with author-date citations or Chicago footnotes
• Include a bibliography or reference list

To automatically generate accurate Chicago references, you can use Scribbr’s free Chicago reference generator .

To format a paper in APA Style , follow these guidelines:

• Use a standard font like 12 pt Times New Roman or 11 pt Arial
• If submitting for publication, insert a running head on every page
• Apply APA heading styles
• Cite your sources with APA in-text citations
• List all sources cited on a reference page at the end

No, it’s not appropriate to present new arguments or evidence in the conclusion . While you might be tempted to save a striking argument for last, research papers follow a more formal structure than this.

All your findings and arguments should be presented in the body of the text (more specifically in the results and discussion sections if you are following a scientific structure). The conclusion is meant to summarize and reflect on the evidence and arguments you have already presented, not introduce new ones.

The conclusion of a research paper has several key elements you should make sure to include:

• A restatement of the research problem
• A summary of your key arguments and/or findings
• A short discussion of the implications of your research

Don’t feel that you have to write the introduction first. The introduction is often one of the last parts of the research paper you’ll write, along with the conclusion.

This is because it can be easier to introduce your paper once you’ve already written the body ; you may not have the clearest idea of your arguments until you’ve written them, and things can change during the writing process .

The way you present your research problem in your introduction varies depending on the nature of your research paper . A research paper that presents a sustained argument will usually encapsulate this argument in a thesis statement .

A research paper designed to present the results of empirical research tends to present a research question that it seeks to answer. It may also include a hypothesis —a prediction that will be confirmed or disproved by your research.

The introduction of a research paper includes several key elements:

• A hook to catch the reader’s interest
• Relevant background on the topic
• Details of your research problem

and your problem statement

• A thesis statement or research question
• Sometimes an overview of the paper

Ask our team

Want to contact us directly? No problem.  We  are always here for you.

• Email [email protected]
• Start live chat
• Call +1 (510) 822-8066
• WhatsApp +31 20 261 6040

Our team helps students graduate by offering:

• A world-class citation generator
• Plagiarism Checker software powered by Turnitin
• Innovative Citation Checker software
• Professional proofreading services
• Over 300 helpful articles about academic writing, citing sources, plagiarism, and more

Scribbr specializes in editing study-related documents . We proofread:

• PhD dissertations
• Research proposals
• Personal statements
• Admission essays
• Motivation letters
• Reflection papers
• Journal articles
• Capstone projects

Scribbr’s Plagiarism Checker is powered by elements of Turnitin’s Similarity Checker , namely the plagiarism detection software and the Internet Archive and Premium Scholarly Publications content databases .

The add-on AI detector is powered by Scribbr’s proprietary software.

The Scribbr Citation Generator is developed using the open-source Citation Style Language (CSL) project and Frank Bennett’s citeproc-js . It’s the same technology used by dozens of other popular citation tools, including Mendeley and Zotero.

You can find all the citation styles and locales used in the Scribbr Citation Generator in our publicly accessible repository on Github .

How to Write a 500 Word Essay & How Many Pages Is It? + Examples

Have you ever struggled with writing a 500-word essay? Generally, 500 words are a standard word count for college essays or, more often, for scholarship essays and personal statements. Even though 500-word papers are short (about 2 pages), they must be written according to all the rules of academic writing. There should be no spelling or grammar mistakes, and your paper should be well-organized.

This article will discuss how to write and structure a 500-word essay . Some helpful writing prompts and examples are also waiting for you below!

• ✍️ How to Write a 500-Word Essay
• 🖊️ Writing Prompts
• 👩‍🎓 Personal Statement Examples
• 💼 Essay on Career Goals: Examples
• 📚 500-Word Essay Topics

🔗 References

📋 what does a 500 word essay look like.

Appropriately structuring your essay is critical to academic success. In the following paragraphs, we will consider the 500-word essay format and length in detail.

500 Word Essay Format

A 500-word college essay has the same structure as a shorter or longer one. It consists of an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion. Let’s dive in to learn some more information about it!

Introduction

The purpose of the introduction paragraph is to capture your reader’s attention and create a basis for your essay. There are several main components of a compelling introduction:

• Hook . A hook is an opening sentence in an essay that seeks to pique readers’ interest and entice them to continue reading.
• Background information . Background information often describes the topic’s history or the root cause of the problem being addressed.
• Thesis statement . It is a sentence that sums up the main arguments of your essay.

Body Paragraphs

The main body focuses on supporting your thesis statement . Generally, the main body of a 500-word essay includes 3 paragraphs but can contain up to 5 if you write shorter paragraphs. Each paragraph should be structured according to the PEE (Point-Evidence-Explanation) framework.

A conclusion is a crucial component of the essay since it gives readers a sense of closure and reminds them of the paper’s contents and value. Here are some valuable tips on how to write a strong conclusion:

• Remind your reader of the essay’s key ideas.
• Share your thoughts on what you and your readers might do in response to the issues you addressed.
• Leave something to think about.

500 Word Essay Length

The 500-word essay length depends on the font and page parameters that you use. For instance, if you use Times New Roman font and 12 pt font size, your essay will take 1 single-spaced page or 2 double-spaced pages. If you are writing your draft by hand, it will take 2-3 pages, depending on your handwriting.

How many paragraphs should a 500-word essay have? It usually takes a form of a standard 5-paragraph essay with an introduction, 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Now, let’s look at how to divide the 500-word essay length among its constituents.

✍️ How to Write a 500 Word Essay

If you have been assigned a 500-word essay but do not know where to begin, our 6-step framework will assist you with this task:

Step 1: Conduct the Research

You can start writing your essay by gathering background information on your topic. Use only reliable sources, such as books, scholarly journals, or websites of reputable organizations. This step is essential even if you are not writing a research paper. For example, if you work on a scholarship essay, you should learn the program’s requirements to maximize your chances of success.

Step 2: Create an Outline

An outline is the skeleton of your paper. It should include your thesis statement, all the main points you will make, and the evidence you will use to support your claims. An essay plan assists you in organizing your writing and making your thoughts more focused and coherent.

Step 3: Write the Introduction

Begin your essay with something that will pique readers’ interest . For example, you can highlight your essay’s central point and tell your readers what they will find in the main part. Other ways to start a paper include asking a thought-provoking question relevant to the topic or citing surprising statistics.

Step 4: Develop Body Paragraphs

Your main body should contain information on your core issue backed up by examples, properly cited statistics, or research findings. Each paragraph should be specific and comprise ideas relevant to your topic and thesis. Ensure your thought flow is smooth by adding transitional words and sentences.

Step 5: Write the Conclusion

Your conclusion should summarize what you discussed in your paper. Begin by restating your thesis statement and continue by mentioning major points discussed in the body. Finish by adding a call to action or stating the significance of your topic.

Step 6: Proofread Your Piece of Writing

Proofreading ensures your paper has no lingering flaws, errors, or writing inconsistencies. Don’t rely solely on spell checkers: they can identify spelling and grammar mistakes but cannot spot weak arguments or non-cited evidence.

🖊️ 500 Word College Essay: Writing Prompts

Have you ever been stuck on an essay due to a lack of ideas? Don’t worry! We have valuable writing prompts to help you create a paper on various topics.

📃 500 Word Essay on Diversity

Your paper can focus on the importance of diversity and culture in psychology. For example, provide information about the psychological adaptations that immigrants have to undergo. You can also suggest ways for counselors to help immigrants to adapt while valuing and preserving their traditions and cultures.

📃 500 Word Essay on Respect

You can start your essay by explaining the term “respect” and highlighting its role in social life. Also, it is a good idea to find out how people show their respect to others and why it makes them internally stronger.

📃 500 Word Essay on Integrity

Integrity is one of the most fundamental components of personal and professional success. Your essay can discuss integrity as a key to becoming a leader in a business or academic field. Besides, you can analyze the impact of integrity on a person’s character and lifestyle.

📃 500 Word Essay on Drinking and Driving

Provide statistics on drinking and driving cases occurring each year to attract readers’ attention to this problem. Then, you can tell in detail why such driving is dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians. Finally, give your own opinion on actions that should be taken to address this issue.

📃 500 Word Essay on Responsibility

In your paper on responsibility, you may raise the following questions:

• What is a responsibility, and why is it crucial?
• Why is responsibility important in a family?
• What is the duty of parents towards their children or vice versa?

📃 Abortion Essay — 500 Words

Abortion is one of the most controversial problems in modern society. You can provide arguments to show whether you support abortions or whether you are against them. Don’t forget to use evidence to back up your point of view.

📃 500 Word Essay on Leadership

Your leadership essay can focus on the following aspects:

• The concept of leadership.
• The role of leadership in school or at work.
• A real-life example of leadership.

👩‍🎓 500 Word Personal Statement Examples

The personal statement is an essay you write when applying to a university, a college, or a scholarship program. It is your chance to present yourself during the application process. Here are some beneficial tips that may help you create a perfect personal statement:

• Use an intriguing hook. The opening paragraph determines whether you capture or lose the reader’s interest. Therefore, start your statement with a unique fact about yourself.
• Conduct some research. Researching what your college requires and how it differs from others will help you tailor your personal statement to that particular school.
• Avoid clichés. Stay away from obvious or overused statements. For example, if you’re applying to a nursing school, don’t write that you are pursuing this profession because you want to help people. Instead, add unique information about yourself and your interests.
• Be specific. Back up your claims by providing logical reasons and discussing experiences that have shaped your career choice.
• Adjust your answers. You may receive similar questions if you apply to many colleges. Avoid the temptation to use the same personal statement in every application.
• Be creative. Let your creativity inspire the essay’s structure and content.
• Provide new information. Tell the facts about yourself that have not been mentioned in your application form.

500 Words Essay About Myself

In your personal essay, focus on your own life. Instead of spending the entire paper describing the life of your favorite or most successful family member, concentrate on how they have influenced you and your decisions.

📝 Check out an example of a 500-word essay about myself shared by a nursing student: College Degree and Its Role in Nursing Career .

500 Word Essay on Why I Deserve a Scholarship

In this essay, you should discuss your educational and career goals. You can also provide background information about your interests, volunteer work, hobbies, etc. Give arguments on why you need this scholarship and how it will impact your life.

📝 Take a look at a scholarship essay example submitted by your fellow student: Bachelor of Science in Web Design and Development: Scholarship Application.

Why This College Essay: 500 Words

This essay aims to distinguish you from other applicants and increase your chances of getting into college. You can spend the first half of your paper describing your passions. Include a personal anecdote that will draw the reader in. Devote the remaining half to explaining why and how you will thrive in your chosen college.

📝 Here’s an example of a 500-word Why This College essay: Nursing College Education and Career.

‍💼 500 Word Essay on Career Goals: Examples

Writing about your future job is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate to universities and scholarship committees how you intend to put your knowledge to use. Take these steps to write about your dream job:

• Choose the career you are excited about.
• Begin your essay by stating your desired career and introducing significant experiences that affected your choice.
• Build your story by using robust evidence and examples from your life.
• Conclude by shedding new light on your key idea.

500 Word Essay on Why I Want to Be a Nurse

If your career goals essay is about why you want to be a nurse, consider the following ideas:

• Nursing as meaningful work.
• High demand for nurses.
• Job stability and flexibility.
• Community respect for nurses.

📝 Look at an example of a 500-word essay on why I want to be a nurse: Nursing Career: Achieving Goals and Objectives.

500 Word Essay on Why I Want to Be a Teacher

In an essay on why you want to be a teacher, you can focus on the following aspects:

• Importance of being a teacher.
• Rewards that a teacher receives.
• Pitfalls of working as a teacher.
• Teacher as a role model.

📝 Check out an example of a 500-word essay on a teacher’s career aspirations: My Philosophy of Education.

📚 500 Word Essay Topics

• Your leadership role in school activities.
• The obstacles or challenges you’ve overcome.
• The diversity of the perspective you gained from learning a foreign language.
• The role of commitment in your life accomplishments.
• Your professional goals for the future.
• The impact of COVID-19 on your education.
• The experience that best demonstrates your character.
• The role of an after-school job in shaping your career choice.
• The experience of a woman seeking a predominantly male profession.
• Growing up with a sibling with a mental disability.
• Why should college campuses be smoke-free?
• The benefits of volunteer work for college students.
• Simple actions every person can do to cope with climate change.
• Bicycling as a healthy alternative mode of transportation.
• Is net neutrality essential to democracy?
• Hitler and Stalin: Two evils of the 20 th century.
• The Storming of the Bastille analysis .
• Field experience: Science lesson .
• Ancient Greek, Roman, and medieval philosophies.
• Arguments that the South “won” the Civil War.
• How to caramelize onions?
• Nursing student’s college experience.
• Sensitivity training against workplace prejudices.
• An archbishop as a legitimate authority.
• Hidden costs of integrating computers in the school setting.
• Andrew Johnson’s biography.
• Shakespeare’s sonnets from Magnusson’s perspective.
• New and old media: Form, impact, and accessibility.
• Reflection of Livy’s ideas in Aeschylus’s book.
• Gifted education program and its issues.
• Social workers’ effectiveness and professional skills.
• Writing a memo with research information.
• The dabbawalas and the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Patient-centered care, quality, and safe practice.
• Military bases in Okinawa: The impact on the economy.
• Reducing food packaging litter in Ireland.
• HIV/AIDS epidemiology in Miami, Florida.
• The Revolution in American history.
• Self-reflexivity: Body ritual among the Nacirema.
• World Trade Organization: Definition and tasks.
• Document analysis of the Code of Hammurabi.
• Lost childhood in a ghetto in Elie Wiesel’s Night .
• Handwashing compliance of healthcare workers.
• Balance and gait in neurodegenerative patients.
• English language learners should be immersed in English.
• Taxes in the Australian gambling industry.
• Honor: Traditional meaning and broader definition.
• What does it mean to be a Pacific Islander today and in the future?
• Quantitative research: Methodology and main focus.
• Microsoft Corporation’s resources and capabilities.

❓500 Words Essay: FAQ

How many pages is a 500 word essay.

When you convert 500 words to pages, consider the font parameters and page layout. For instance, if you use Times New Roman font and 12-point font size, your paper will be 1 single-spaced page or 2 double-spaced pages. A handwritten draft can require 2-3 pages, depending on your handwriting.

How Many Paragraphs Is a 500 Word Essay?

A 500-word essay should have at least 3 paragraphs: an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion. Considering that a paragraph should have at least 65 words, a 500-word essay can have a maximum of 7 paragraphs: an introduction, 5 body paragraphs, and a conclusion. As a result, the total number of paragraphs is 3-7.

How Long Is a 500 Words Essay?

The 500-word essay usually takes 1-2 pages, depending on the font and line spacing. Each part of the essay consists of the following number of sentences:

• Introduction : 3-4 well-written sentences.
• Main body : 14-18 sentences.
• Conclusion : 4-5 sentences.

How Long Does It Take to Write a 500 Word Essay?

You will need 2-3 hours to compose a 500-word essay. Here is the time each step takes:

• Researching some information : 30-60 minutes.
• Organizing : 20 minutes.
• Writing : 35-50 minutes
• Proofreading : 20-30 minutes.
• The 5-Step Personal Essay Writing Guide: “Future Career” | GEAR Up Waco
• Essay Writing Advice: “Why X University?” Essays | The University of Chicago
• How To: Write Your Personal Essay | Vanderbilt University
• Writing the Personal Statement | Purdue Online Writing Lab
• Structure Suggestions for a 500 Word Essay | Stanford School of Medicine
• How to Write a 500-Word Application (Advice from the Archives) | Rutgers
• College Admissions Essay Tips | Texas Tech University
• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter X
• Share to LinkedIn

You might also like

The ultimate guide to networking: how to stand out at college events and career fairs, can ai change the way we study in the near future, how to beat job search depression [+ job search checklist for college students].

Do you wonder how many pages a given number of words is? This website converts the number of words to the number of pages, online and for free. This tool is useful when writing essays at university to determine how many pages you are required to write.

The number of pages changes depending on the number of words, the font and the font size. You can select the following fonts: Arial, Calibri, Comic sans MS, Courier New, Times New Roman and Verdana. Available spacing options: single spaced, 1.5, double spaced.

Note: This calculator provides an indication only and works most accurately for an academic essay with four paragraphs per page and no (sub)headings.

Enter details below

The overview below provides an indication of the number of pages required (based on font: arial, font size: 12, single spaced):

• How many pages is 500 words? 1.1 pages
• How many pages is 600 words? 1.3 pages
• How many pages is 750 words? 1.8 pages
• How many pages is 800 words? 1.8 pages
• How many pages is 1000 words? 2.2 pages
• How many pages is 1200 words? 2.7 pages
• How many pages is 1500 words? 3.3 pages
• How many pages is 2000 words? 4.4 pages
• How many pages is 2500 words? 5.6 pages
• How many pages is 3000 words? 6.7 pages
• How many pages is 4000 words? 8.9 pages
• How many pages is 5000 words? 11.1 pages
• How many pages is 6000 words? 13.3 pages
• How many pages is 8000 words? 17.8 pages
• How many pages is 10000 words? 22.2 pages
• How many words is 1 page? 450 words
• How many words is 2 page? 900 words
• How many words is 3 page? 1350 words
• How many words is 4 page? 1800 words
• How many words is 5 page? 2250 words
• How many words is 6 page? 2700 words
• How many words is 7 page? 3150 words
• How many words is 8 page? 3600 words
• How many words is 10 page? 4500 words
• How many words is 12 page? 5400 words
• How many words is 15 page? 6750 words
• How many words is 20 page? 9000 words
• How many words is 30 page? 13500 words
• How many words is 50 page? 22500 words
• How many words is 100 page? 45000 words

Essay Writing Guide

500 Word Essay

A Complete 500 Word Essay Writing Guide

13 min read

People also read

An Easy Guide to Writing an Essay

Learn How to Write An Essay in Simple Steps

A Catalog of 500+ Essay Topics for Students

Explore Different Types of Essays, their Purpose, and Sub-types

Essay Format: A Basic Guide With Examples

Learn How to Create a Perfect Essay Outline

How to Start an Essay- A Step-by-Step Guide

A Complete Essay Introduction Writing Guide With Examples

20+ Hook Examples to Grab Reader’s Attention

The Ultimate Guide to Writing Powerful Thesis Statement

20+ Thesis Statement Examples for Different Types of Essays?

How to Write a Topic Sentence: Purpose, Tips & Examples

Learn How to Write a Conclusion in Simple Steps

Transition Words For Essays - The Ultimate List

4 Types of Sentences - Definition & Examples

Writing Conventions - Definition, Tips & Examples

Essay Writing Problems - 5 Most Paralyzing Problems

How to Make an Essay Longer: 14 Easy Ways

How to Title an Essay - A Detailed Guide

1000 Word Essay - A Simple Guide With Examples

A 500-word essay is a common format assignment that students have to deal with. It is a three-part paper that provides vivid descriptions of an event, object, or phenomenon.

This format of essay writing is very easy if you know the correct techniques to put down your ideas in a specific word limit. 

The best way to write an essay in this format is by using specific words and making your ideas flow well. This essay enables you to learn how to be concise so that you meet your word limit without sacrificing quality.

We understand that students often face many challenges when writing an essay . Especially, if they are writing on a difficult and uninteresting topic or a theme.  

Now you are saved as you can find all the important instructions here for writing a 500-word essay worthy of an A+ grade. 

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

• 1. The Definition of A 500 Word Essay
• 2. 500 Words Essay Format 
• 3. How to Write a 500-word Essay?
• 4. How Long is a 500 Word Essay? 
• 5. 500 Word Essay Examples
• 6. 500 Word Essay Topics 

The Definition of A 500 Word Essay

A 500-word essay is an important piece of academic writing that describes the writer’s perspective on a certain point of view. 

It is actually not an essay type but a specific format. It can be followed while writing different types of essays such as:

Argumentative Essay Analytical Essay Narrative Essay Critical Essay Reflective Essay Descriptive Essay Persuasive Essay Expository Essay Rhetorical Analysis Essay Literary Analysis Essay Cause and Effect Essay Compare and Contrast Essay   A 500-word essay can be the easiest and at the same time, the most difficult one to write. It all depends on two things; the Topic and the Writer’s Abilities .    Teachers love to assign 500-word essay assignments to students. Because it can help them quickly access their critical, analytical and writing skills. 

As a student, it is important for you to follow the required essay format to fit your ideas properly.

500-Word Essay vs. 250-Word Essay

The length of an essay can make a huge difference when it comes to the level of impact it has. A 500-word essay is typically much longer than a 250-word essay, allowing for more detail and evidence to be included in the paper. 

This additional content can help provide a strong argument or support a point of view, helping to make the essay more effective.

500-Word Essay vs. 1000-Word Essay 

When writing a 500-word essay, you should focus on providing an introduction that gives the reader some context for the topic at hand and then quickly moves into your main points.

A 500-word essay can be quite concise and to the point, so there’s no need to add filler or fluff just to reach the word count. 

1000+ word essays require more than just getting right to the point; they also require thorough research and in-depth analysis of your topic. 

With a longer essay, you will have time to provide more detail and evidence to support your points. 

500 Words Essay Format 

The 500-word essay challenges writers to express their thoughts, ideas, and arguments in a compact format. Here is the format and structure of a well-crafted 500-word essay.

• Introduction (Approximately 50-75 words)
• Body Paragraphs (2-3 paragraphs, Approximately 150-200 words)
• Counterargument (Optional, Approximately 50-75 words)
• Conclusion (Approximately 50-75 words)

Introduction

• Start with a compelling hook or a thought-provoking question to engage your reader.
• Provide a clear thesis statement that encapsulates the main idea or argument of your essay.

Body Paragraphs 

• Each paragraph should focus on a single point or idea that supports your thesis.
• Begin with a topic sentence that introduces the main point of the paragraph.
• Provide evidence, examples, or arguments to support your point.
• Ensure smooth transitions between paragraphs to maintain the essay's coherence.

Counterargument 

• Address a potential counterargument to your thesis to demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the topic.
• Refute the counterargument or explain why your thesis remains valid despite it.
• Summarize the key points made in the essay without introducing new ideas.
• Restate the thesis in different words to reinforce its significance.
• End with a thought-provoking closing statement that leaves a lasting impression.

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

How to Write a 500-word Essay?

Writing a 500-word essay is pretty much like classic essay writing. Here you have to provide solid arguments to support your claim, inform your reader, or discuss a trendy topic.

Like any other typical essay outline, it contains three parts; introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

Here is the step-by-step guide that you can follow for writing a 500-word essay.

Create An Outline

• Write A Strong Introduction

Composing The Body Paragraphs

• Write An Impressive Conclusion

Below is a detailed description of each step for writing a perfect 500-word essay. 

First, make a clear and detailed essay outline , and do not miss anything at this point. It will serve as a backbone for your entire paper.

The purpose of this outline is to break down the ideas in a logical and structured manner. Then, to make the content clearer and more coherent throughout the paper. After the outline, write your paper on your own to avoid the risk of plagiarism.

Write a Strong Introduction

The introductory paragraph of your essay will be the first glimpse the reader will catch. Grab your reader from the start of this paragraph with an attention-grabbing hook . Make it as interesting and creative as you can so that they don't put down the essay before reading it all!   For writing an essay introduction , first, you need to introduce your main topic. And give an idea of what the reader may encounter in the rest of the essay.  The first step to start writing an introduction is to introduce your main topic and give a brief idea of what the reader may find later on.

Don’t forget to end this paragraph with a perfect thesis statement on which the whole essay is based. 

The body section of an essay is mostly divided into 3 paragraphs. It is the point where you need to explain all types of arguments you made in an essay. Then, support these arguments with relevant examples, facts, or personal interpretations. 

Here are the key points that are important to cover for a perfect body section of a 500-word essay:

• Start your body paragraph with an engaging topic sentence that discusses what you are going to talk about.
• Examine the main point of view and provide solid facts to support the argument.
• Introduce a new idea with detailed information, examples, and evidence from reliable sources.
• Make sure every idea described in the body paragraphs is concise and relevant.
• Make sure you use transitions in your essay paragraphs so the readers understand the relationship between your ideas.

Write an Impressive Conclusion

The last part of the essay where you have to summarise the main argument of the essay. It begins with restating the thesis statement and explaining it with some strong points analyzed in the body section.

It is important to learn how to write a conclusion  that reminds the readers of the thesis. Make sure it does not completely iterate the introduction. Focus on providing critical insight into the main subject of discussion.

Always proofread your essay for mistakes and inconsistencies. Also, make sure the writing convention checklist is followed, as it will give you a clearer idea of what needs to be improved before submitting!

Now you know what a 500-word essay looks like and will be able to write your 500-word essay the best way possible.

If you still need some guidance, here is a video on how to write a 500-word essay!

How Long is a 500 Word Essay? 

Many students wonder how long a 500-word essay is, how many paragraphs it should consist of and what is the appropriate font to use. The answer to these questions seems pretty obvious at first glance. 

But the question is not about the words. Rather, students want to know how many pages are there in a 500-word essay. 

How Many Pages is a 500 Word Essay?

A 500-word essay is typically one to two pages long, depending on formatting and spacing.

For APA style, use a 12-point font for serif (e.g., Times New Roman) and 11-point for sans-serif (e.g., Arial).

Always follow the formatting guidelines provided by your assignment or course.

How Many Paragraphs is a 500-Word Essay? 

A 500-word essay usually includes 4 to 6 paragraphs, with each paragraph containing approximately 75 to 200 words. The specific number and length of paragraphs can vary based on the type and structure of the essay.

Word count is important in this essay so it is best to write an introduction within 100 words, body paragraphs should be of 300 words, and conclude the essay in 100 words.

500 Word Essay Examples

All 500-word essays follow a different style and structure, making it difficult for a student to understand what their instructor expects. In such scenarios, 500-word essay examples can be of great help.

Below you can find some 500-word essay examples on different topics to better understand the various style formats.

500 Word Essay On Honesty

A 500-word essay on honesty is a commonly assigned task to high school and college students. It simply involves writing on how to develop a practice of speaking the truth always.

Here is an example 500-word essay on honesty that you can refer to for your understanding.

500 Word Essay on Honesty

500 Word Essay On Integrity

Below, you can find a great 500-word essay on integrity written by one of our expert writers for your help.

500 Word Essay On Leadership

Leadership essay discusses the quality of leading people. Get help from the following leadership essay example and learn how you can write on one of the important aspects of life.

500 Word Essay On Punctuality  

Punctuality is an important trait that everyone should strive to possess. Take help from this punctual example essay and make your writing even more powerful.

500 Word Essay On Punctuality

500 Word Essay On Responsibility  

Responsibility is an important value that everyone should possess. It dictates the way we interact with others and how we carry out our daily lives. Take a look at our example of an essay on responsibility to understand what it means to be responsible.

500 Word Essay On Responsibility  

500 Word Essay On Why I Deserve a Scholarship  

Writing an essay explaining why you deserve a scholarship can be a challenging experience since students often feel like they’re bragging about themselves. Learn how to write a 500-word essay for scholarship that will make a strong case for your academic excellence with our sample!

500 Word Essay On Why I Deserve a Scholarship Pdf

500 Word Essay on Respect 

Respect is a very important concept in today's society. It is an essential component of any successful relationship, both personal and professional. Check out our essay example on  Respect to begin learning more about this topic.

500 Word Essay On Respect

500 Word Essay on Why I Want to be a Teacher 

Writing essays about something you are passionate about is never an easy task. When it comes to writing about why people want to be a teacher, you can always take help from some great sample essays.

500 Word Essay on Why I Want to be a Teacher

500 Word Essay on Why I Want to be a Nurse 

Nursing is a passion for a lot of people. If you want to write an essay on why you want to be a nurse, you must look at our sample essay.

500 Word Essay on Why I Want to be a Nurse

500 Word Essay on Global Warming

Global warming is not just an environmental concern but a moral obligation for the well-being of our planet. Write a 500 word essay on global warming with the help of our sample.

500 Word Essay Topics 

Following are the best 500-word essay topics that you can go through and choose the one that you find interesting.

• Describe your favorite trip.
• Is it possible to earn on the Internet?
• What are the challenges of people living with disabilities?
• How to avoid problems at college.
• What is honesty?
• Abstract art and its impact on people.
• Causes of racism.
• The best day of your life.
• What is the objective of your life? 
• What do you mean by punctuality? 

If you want to look at more topics, feel free to choose from our interesting list of topics . Start working on your essay confidently!

Writing essays in this format might seem easy, but the writing process can be tricky for students.

The biggest challenge is fitting all the important details into those 500 words.

If you want help brainstorming ideas, let MyPerfectWords.com address your “ write my essay for me ” requests efficiently. 

Have Questions? Ask our 24/7 available customer support.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many sentences is a 500-word essay.

You can fit about 500 words on one page with standard margins, single spacing, and size 12 font. This is because there are usually 5 letters in each word, 15 words in a sentence, and an average of 7 sentences in a paragraph.

Can a 500-word essay have 4 paragraphs?

The length of your essay will depend on the type and topic. A 500-word paper can be 3-4 paragraphs long, while a 600 or 700-word document requires 4 to 5 paragraphs in order for it all to make sense.

How many references are needed for a 500-word essay?

Going by the 500-word essay length, you would not need to add more than 2-4 references since you’re limited by the word count. Each citation needs its introductory statement, followed by the source’s data and its explanation, so that leaves little room to add in too many sources.

Does a 500-word essay have to be exactly 500 words?

Yes, that’s because the general rule for any academic essay is to not exceed the given word count by more than 10%. So applying the same rule, your 500 word essay length should ideally not exceed 10%, that is 550 words, so you should try to wrap up your thoughts within that word count or otherwise risk a negative marking by the professor.

Write Essay Within 60 Seconds!

Nova Allison is a Digital Content Strategist with over eight years of experience. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. She is majorly involved in developing and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Nova has a passion for writing that engages and informs her readers.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Keep reading

Comparison texts

500 words in pages

How many paragraphs are 500 words, how much is 500 words in characters, how many pages is 500 words in a book, mla format and apa format, how many words in a 500 page novel, how many pages is 500 words essay.

Times New Roman

How many typed pages is 500 words

In google docs, how many lines is 500 words.

Comic Sans MS

Handwritten

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook (9 th ed.), offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.

Guidelines for referring to the works of others in your text using MLA style are covered throughout the  MLA Handbook  and in chapter 7 of the  MLA Style Manual . Both books provide extensive examples, so it's a good idea to consult them if you want to become even more familiar with MLA guidelines or if you have a particular reference question.

Basic in-text citation rules

In MLA Style, referring to the works of others in your text is done using parenthetical citations . This method involves providing relevant source information in parentheses whenever a sentence uses a quotation or paraphrase. Usually, the simplest way to do this is to put all of the source information in parentheses at the end of the sentence (i.e., just before the period). However, as the examples below will illustrate, there are situations where it makes sense to put the parenthetical elsewhere in the sentence, or even to leave information out.

General Guidelines

• The source information required in a parenthetical citation depends (1) upon the source medium (e.g. print, web, DVD) and (2) upon the source’s entry on the Works Cited page.
• Any source information that you provide in-text must correspond to the source information on the Works Cited page. More specifically, whatever signal word or phrase you provide to your readers in the text must be the first thing that appears on the left-hand margin of the corresponding entry on the Works Cited page.

In-text citations: Author-page style

MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page. The author's name may appear either in the sentence itself or in parentheses following the quotation or paraphrase, but the page number(s) should always appear in the parentheses, not in the text of your sentence. For example:

Both citations in the examples above, (263) and (Wordsworth 263), tell readers that the information in the sentence can be located on page 263 of a work by an author named Wordsworth. If readers want more information about this source, they can turn to the Works Cited page, where, under the name of Wordsworth, they would find the following information:

Wordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads . Oxford UP, 1967.

In-text citations for print sources with known author

For print sources like books, magazines, scholarly journal articles, and newspapers, provide a signal word or phrase (usually the author’s last name) and a page number. If you provide the signal word/phrase in the sentence, you do not need to include it in the parenthetical citation.

These examples must correspond to an entry that begins with Burke, which will be the first thing that appears on the left-hand margin of an entry on the Works Cited page:

Burke, Kenneth. Language as Symbolic Action: Essays on Life, Literature, and Method . University of California Press, 1966.

In-text citations for print sources by a corporate author

When a source has a corporate author, it is acceptable to use the name of the corporation followed by the page number for the in-text citation. You should also use abbreviations (e.g., nat'l for national) where appropriate, so as to avoid interrupting the flow of reading with overly long parenthetical citations.

In-text citations for sources with non-standard labeling systems

If a source uses a labeling or numbering system other than page numbers, such as a script or poetry, precede the citation with said label. When citing a poem, for instance, the parenthetical would begin with the word “line”, and then the line number or range. For example, the examination of William Blake’s poem “The Tyger” would be cited as such:

The speaker makes an ardent call for the exploration of the connection between the violence of nature and the divinity of creation. “In what distant deeps or skies. / Burnt the fire of thine eyes," they ask in reference to the tiger as they attempt to reconcile their intimidation with their relationship to creationism (lines 5-6).

Longer labels, such as chapters (ch.) and scenes (sc.), should be abbreviated.

In-text citations for print sources with no known author

When a source has no known author, use a shortened title of the work instead of an author name, following these guidelines.

Place the title in quotation marks if it's a short work (such as an article) or italicize it if it's a longer work (e.g. plays, books, television shows, entire Web sites) and provide a page number if it is available.

Titles longer than a standard noun phrase should be shortened into a noun phrase by excluding articles. For example, To the Lighthouse would be shortened to Lighthouse .

If the title cannot be easily shortened into a noun phrase, the title should be cut after the first clause, phrase, or punctuation:

In this example, since the reader does not know the author of the article, an abbreviated title appears in the parenthetical citation, and the full title of the article appears first at the left-hand margin of its respective entry on the Works Cited page. Thus, the writer includes the title in quotation marks as the signal phrase in the parenthetical citation in order to lead the reader directly to the source on the Works Cited page. The Works Cited entry appears as follows:

"The Impact of Global Warming in North America." Global Warming: Early Signs . 1999. www.climatehotmap.org/. Accessed 23 Mar. 2009.

If the title of the work begins with a quotation mark, such as a title that refers to another work, that quote or quoted title can be used as the shortened title. The single quotation marks must be included in the parenthetical, rather than the double quotation.

Parenthetical citations and Works Cited pages, used in conjunction, allow readers to know which sources you consulted in writing your essay, so that they can either verify your interpretation of the sources or use them in their own scholarly work.

Author-page citation for classic and literary works with multiple editions

Page numbers are always required, but additional citation information can help literary scholars, who may have a different edition of a classic work, like Marx and Engels's  The Communist Manifesto . In such cases, give the page number of your edition (making sure the edition is listed in your Works Cited page, of course) followed by a semicolon, and then the appropriate abbreviations for volume (vol.), book (bk.), part (pt.), chapter (ch.), section (sec.), or paragraph (par.). For example:

Author-page citation for works in an anthology, periodical, or collection

When you cite a work that appears inside a larger source (for instance, an article in a periodical or an essay in a collection), cite the author of the  internal source (i.e., the article or essay). For example, to cite Albert Einstein's article "A Brief Outline of the Theory of Relativity," which was published in  Nature  in 1921, you might write something like this:

See also our page on documenting periodicals in the Works Cited .

Citing authors with same last names

Sometimes more information is necessary to identify the source from which a quotation is taken. For instance, if two or more authors have the same last name, provide both authors' first initials (or even the authors' full name if different authors share initials) in your citation. For example:

Citing a work by multiple authors

For a source with two authors, list the authors’ last names in the text or in the parenthetical citation:

Corresponding Works Cited entry:

Best, David, and Sharon Marcus. “Surface Reading: An Introduction.” Representations , vol. 108, no. 1, Fall 2009, pp. 1-21. JSTOR, doi:10.1525/rep.2009.108.1.1

For a source with three or more authors, list only the first author’s last name, and replace the additional names with et al.

Franck, Caroline, et al. “Agricultural Subsidies and the American Obesity Epidemic.” American Journal of Preventative Medicine , vol. 45, no. 3, Sept. 2013, pp. 327-333.

Citing multiple works by the same author

If you cite more than one work by an author, include a shortened title for the particular work from which you are quoting to distinguish it from the others. Put short titles of books in italics and short titles of articles in quotation marks.

Citing two articles by the same author :

Citing two books by the same author :

Additionally, if the author's name is not mentioned in the sentence, format your citation with the author's name followed by a comma, followed by a shortened title of the work, and, when appropriate, the page number(s):

Citing multivolume works

If you cite from different volumes of a multivolume work, always include the volume number followed by a colon. Put a space after the colon, then provide the page number(s). (If you only cite from one volume, provide only the page number in parentheses.)

Citing the Bible

In your first parenthetical citation, you want to make clear which Bible you're using (and underline or italicize the title), as each version varies in its translation, followed by book (do not italicize or underline), chapter, and verse. For example:

If future references employ the same edition of the Bible you’re using, list only the book, chapter, and verse in the parenthetical citation:

John of Patmos echoes this passage when describing his vision (Rev. 4.6-8).

Citing indirect sources

Sometimes you may have to use an indirect source. An indirect source is a source cited within another source. For such indirect quotations, use "qtd. in" to indicate the source you actually consulted. For example:

Note that, in most cases, a responsible researcher will attempt to find the original source, rather than citing an indirect source.

Citing transcripts, plays, or screenplays

Sources that take the form of a dialogue involving two or more participants have special guidelines for their quotation and citation. Each line of dialogue should begin with the speaker's name written in all capitals and indented half an inch. A period follows the name (e.g., JAMES.) . After the period, write the dialogue. Each successive line after the first should receive an additional indentation. When another person begins speaking, start a new line with that person's name indented only half an inch. Repeat this pattern each time the speaker changes. You can include stage directions in the quote if they appear in the original source.

Conclude with a parenthetical that explains where to find the excerpt in the source. Usually, the author and title of the source can be given in a signal phrase before quoting the excerpt, so the concluding parenthetical will often just contain location information like page numbers or act/scene indicators.

Here is an example from O'Neill's  The Iceman Cometh.

WILLIE. (Pleadingly) Give me a drink, Rocky. Harry said it was all right. God, I need a drink.

ROCKY. Den grab it. It's right under your nose.

WILLIE. (Avidly) Thanks. (He takes the bottle with both twitching hands and tilts it to his lips and gulps down the whiskey in big swallows.) (1.1)

Citing non-print or sources from the Internet

With more and more scholarly work published on the Internet, you may have to cite sources you found in digital environments. While many sources on the Internet should not be used for scholarly work (reference the OWL's  Evaluating Sources of Information  resource), some Web sources are perfectly acceptable for research. When creating in-text citations for electronic, film, or Internet sources, remember that your citation must reference the source on your Works Cited page.

Sometimes writers are confused with how to craft parenthetical citations for electronic sources because of the absence of page numbers. However, these sorts of entries often do not require a page number in the parenthetical citation. For electronic and Internet sources, follow the following guidelines:

• Include in the text the first item that appears in the Work Cited entry that corresponds to the citation (e.g. author name, article name, website name, film name).
• Do not provide paragraph numbers or page numbers based on your Web browser’s print preview function.
• Unless you must list the Web site name in the signal phrase in order to get the reader to the appropriate entry, do not include URLs in-text. Only provide partial URLs such as when the name of the site includes, for example, a domain name, like  CNN.com  or  Forbes.com,  as opposed to writing out http://www.cnn.com or http://www.forbes.com.

Miscellaneous non-print sources

Two types of non-print sources you may encounter are films and lectures/presentations:

In the two examples above “Herzog” (a film’s director) and “Yates” (a presentor) lead the reader to the first item in each citation’s respective entry on the Works Cited page:

Herzog, Werner, dir. Fitzcarraldo . Perf. Klaus Kinski. Filmverlag der Autoren, 1982.

Yates, Jane. "Invention in Rhetoric and Composition." Gaps Addressed: Future Work in Rhetoric and Composition, CCCC, Palmer House Hilton, 2002. Address.

Electronic sources

Electronic sources may include web pages and online news or magazine articles:

In the first example (an online magazine article), the writer has chosen not to include the author name in-text; however, two entries from the same author appear in the Works Cited. Thus, the writer includes both the author’s last name and the article title in the parenthetical citation in order to lead the reader to the appropriate entry on the Works Cited page (see below).

In the second example (a web page), a parenthetical citation is not necessary because the page does not list an author, and the title of the article, “MLA Formatting and Style Guide,” is used as a signal phrase within the sentence. If the title of the article was not named in the sentence, an abbreviated version would appear in a parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence. Both corresponding Works Cited entries are as follows:

Taylor, Rumsey. "Fitzcarraldo." Slant , 13 Jun. 2003, www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/fitzcarraldo/. Accessed 29 Sep. 2009. 

"MLA Formatting and Style Guide." The Purdue OWL , 2 Aug. 2016, owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/. Accessed 2 April 2018.

Multiple citations

To cite multiple sources in the same parenthetical reference, separate the citations by a semi-colon:

Time-based media sources

When creating in-text citations for media that has a runtime, such as a movie or podcast, include the range of hours, minutes and seconds you plan to reference. For example: (00:02:15-00:02:35).

When a citation is not needed

Common sense and ethics should determine your need for documenting sources. You do not need to give sources for familiar proverbs, well-known quotations, or common knowledge (For example, it is expected that U.S. citizens know that George Washington was the first President.). Remember that citing sources is a rhetorical task, and, as such, can vary based on your audience. If you’re writing for an expert audience of a scholarly journal, for example, you may need to deal with expectations of what constitutes “common knowledge” that differ from common norms.

Other Sources

The MLA Handbook describes how to cite many different kinds of authors and content creators. However, you may occasionally encounter a source or author category that the handbook does not describe, making the best way to proceed can be unclear.

In these cases, it's typically acceptable to apply the general principles of MLA citation to the new kind of source in a way that's consistent and sensible. A good way to do this is to simply use the standard MLA directions for a type of source that resembles the source you want to cite.

You may also want to investigate whether a third-party organization has provided directions for how to cite this kind of source. For example, Norquest College provides guidelines for citing Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers⁠ —an author category that does not appear in the MLA Handbook . In cases like this, however, it's a good idea to ask your instructor or supervisor whether using third-party citation guidelines might present problems.