OmniDocHow to format a literature review: font size and title level
Explain clearly the key points of typesetting in the literature review section: how to set font, font size, line spacing, indentation and title level, how to use Word style to unify the full text, and check each item. Applicable to dissertations, journal submissions and coursework.
Key points of this article
- Look for formal regulations first, school templates or journal author instructions first, and online examples are only for structural reference.
- The text font, font size, line spacing and first line indentation should be set once in the style, rather than manually adjusted paragraph by paragraph.
- The title can be divided into three levels. The levels should be advanced step by step without skipping levels. The numbering method should be consistent throughout the text.
- Use the title style instead of manual bolding, and the full text can be synchronized by changing one place, and the directory can also correctly identify the hierarchy.
- Randomly check the font, level, line spacing and page number before submitting. If any inconsistency is found, go back to the style and make unified changes.
Many people have finished writing the literature review and the content has been finalized, but they are stuck on the layout: what font to use for the main text, whether to bold the title, how much line spacing to set, and the school template and the online sample essay are different. The literature review format may seem trivial, but it is the first thing reviewers and instructors see when they open the paper. A literature review is usually a chapter in a thesis, or it may be an independent assignment. The format requirements are basically the same as the main text, but its structure is divided into sections by topic and advanced layer by layer, and has higher requirements for the title level.
This article talks about the layout of the literature review part itself: how to set the font, font size, line spacing, paragraph and title levels, and how to use Word styles to unify the entire text. The description and citation of references are not discussed here. After reading, you can arrange the summary part neatly and consistently according to a set of fixed rules.
How to format the literature review? One sentence conclusion
First, refer to the school template or journal requirements, and then implement these requirements into the style, so that the full text can be synchronized with just one change. The table below lists common situations and corresponding actions.
| your situation | Recommended practices | reason |
|---|---|---|
| Dissertation, the school has a unified template | Apply the template directly, the font size shall be subject to the template | The format review is based on school regulations |
| Submit to journal | Set according to the instructions for journal authors, and check them one by one before submitting. | The requirements of each journal vary greatly |
| Coursework or Class Submissions | Read the homework instructions first or ask the teacher; if there is no requirement, use Song style Xiaosi, and set the line spacing according to common practices. | Uniformity and readability are the bottom line |
| The review is divided into sections thematically | The first-level headings are used for major sections, the second-level headings are for topics, and the third-level headings are for sub-topics. No more than three levels. | The hierarchy is too deep, making it difficult for readers to follow the structure |
| Need to revise content repeatedly | Use title styles, do not bold or change font size manually | Change one part of the style, and the whole text will follow. |
# before you start: confirm these points first
Make sure of the following items before you start, so as to avoid rework after the arrangement.
- find the officially specified source. the school template, the format description of the department and the notes for the author of the journal all count. Online model articles and regulations may conflict, subject to formal regulations.
- determine the numbering method of the title. whether to use 1, 1.1, 1.1.1, or one, (1) such Chinese serial numbers. Once numbers are mixed, both directories and cross-references can go wrong.
- confirm the page requirements. margins, paper size, and page number position affect the number of lines per page and paging. These are set before the typesetting is accurate.
- pay attention to the forms and pictures. there are often tables in the review, and the font size of the table and picture questions should be consistent with the text and set up in accordance with the regulations.
# steps to set the format of literature review in Word
The following steps are done in Word. If you are used to editing in a web page, you can also open the document with the UniDoc Page Editor (app.unidoc.top), which supports Word-compatible editing, making it easy to continue to adjust the heading level and paragraph formatting.
- set up the page first. fill in the margins, paper and page number position as required. When the page is set in front, the subsequent pages are stable.
- set the text style. Song style is selected for Chinese fonts, Times New Roman can be used in western languages, and the font size is set according to regulations, which is commonly referred to as Primary four. The text style is the basis of the full text.
- format paragraphs. the line spacing is set to a multiple or fixed value, and the first line is indented by two characters. Indentation is done with paragraph settings, not spaces.
- set the title style. the first-level title, the second-level title and the third-level title define the font, font size and bold method respectively. The title is often boldface, and the font size is subject to the stipulation, for example, the first level is larger and the third level is close to the text.
- apply the title style. * apply each section title to the corresponding level style, do not manually change the font size or bold. After the style is applied, the catalog and navigation pane can automatically recognize the level.
- check whether the level is progressive. level 1 is followed by level 2, and level 2 is followed by level 3. Do not skip from level 1 to level 3. The introduction and summary should also apply the style of the corresponding level.
- unify the full text. * scan section by section to make sure that the font, font size and spacing of the headings at the same level are the same, and the manually adjusted paragraphs are restored to the style settings.
- set the header and page number, and then export. set the starting page and location of the page number as required, and read it again after exporting Word or PDF.
# check item by item after completion
When the typesetting is complete, press the following table to check. When you find a problem, it is preferred to go back to the style to modify it, not to fix it paragraph by paragraph.
| Check item | What do you think? | What if there's a problem? |
|---|---|---|
| Font and font size | Randomly select a few paragraphs of text and headings to see the font name and size | If the style setting is wrong, modify the style, and apply it uniformly in the full text. |
| Title level | Open the navigation pane or catalog to see if the level is progressing step by step | Skip the title and change it to the style of the adjacent level. |
| Line spacing and indentation | View line spacing and first line indentation in paragraph settings | The paragraphs that have been manually changed are restored to style settings |
| Page number and header | Turn to different pages and see the page number location and start page | Reset sections and page numbers as required |
| Table questions and picture questions | Compare the font size and position of the table title, picture title and text | Uniformly apply the same style of caption |
# Core comparison: manual setting and style setting
There are usually two ways to adjust the format, the difference in the cost of later modification.
| Mode | Practice | Main shortcoming |
|---|---|---|
| Manual settin | Select each heading and paragraph separately, change the font, font size, and bold | It is easy to change one place, and it is difficult to unify the hierarchy. |
| Style settin | Define the text and title styles at all levels first, and then apply them paragraph by paragraph | It will take a few minutes to set up in the early stage, and then modify it quickly. |
The longer the length of the review and the more frequent the changes, the easier it is to set the style.
# frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Does the font size of the literature review have to be Song style Xiao Si?
Not necessarily. Song style small four and boldface titles are common combinations, but the regulations of schools and periodicals are different. Before formal submission, the school template or periodical requirements shall prevail.
2. Should the title of literature review be bold or boldface?
Most specifications require a distinction between the title and the text in font, often boldface. Whether it is bold or not and how big the font size is, the same rules shall prevail.
3. Do you want another page for the first-level title?
Many dissertations require a separate chapter, and course assignments are generally not compulsory. Specific to the school or curriculum requirements shall prevail.
4. Can the model articles of literature review on the Internet be typeset?
You can refer to the structure and title level of the sample text, but the font size may not meet the requirements of your school or journal. Typesetting should be based on formal requirements, not model essays.
# Summary
The core of the format of literature review is to determine the rules first, and then unify the style. Set the font, font size, line spacing and title level according to the requirements of the school or periodical, apply the style and check item by item, the summary part can be neat and consistent.
