Choose a style (APA, MLA, or Chicago), set clean page specs, structure intro–body–closing sections, and cite sources with a precise reference list.
Good formatting keeps attention on ideas, not layout quirks. This guide shows you how to format a literature review with clear sections, consistent typography, and clean citations. You’ll see what to write where, how to match common style guides, and how to finish with a professional references page.
What a literature review needs
A literature review surveys published work on a topic, maps patterns, and explains what those patterns mean for your question. It usually includes three parts: an opening that frames the scope, a body that groups sources by theme or method, and a closing section that points to gaps or next steps. Many reviewers also add a short methods note that states how sources were searched, screened, and selected.
Across fields, readers look for tight signposting. That means clear headings, consistent verb tense, and smooth synthesis rather than source-by-source summaries. Your format should make those moves easy to see at a glance.
Formatting a literature review step by step
Use the steps below to set up your paper and keep everything aligned from first page to last.
- Pick the required style. Most assignments call for APA, MLA, or Chicago. Each has rules for page setup, in-text citations, and the reference or works-cited page.
- Set page specs. Standard choices: 1-inch margins, double spacing, readable font, and 0.5-inch first-line indents for paragraphs. Add page numbers where the style asks for them.
- Plan section order. Typical flow: title page or header, abstract if needed, introduction, themed sections, brief methods note, closing section, references.
- Draft with headings. Headings help readers scan. Use consistent levels and wording that signals the logic of your grouping.
- Cite as you write. Add parenthetical or note citations the moment you paraphrase or quote. Build the reference entries alongside your draft to avoid backtracking.
- Polish visuals. If you use a table or figure (such as a search flowchart or matrix), give it a label, number, and source note.
- Run a format check. Confirm page layout, heading style, citation style, and the final reference list before submission.
Style guide snapshot for a literature review
| Style | Page setup & headings | In-text & end list |
|---|---|---|
| APA 7 (student) | Title page; page number in header; 1-in margins; double spaced; fonts such as 11-pt Calibri or 12-pt Times; headings in five levels as needed | Author-date citations (Smith, 2024); reference list titled “References” with hanging indents |
| APA 7 (professional) | Running head + page number; author note as needed; same margins, spacing, and fonts; headings follow APA levels | Author-date citations; DOIs as links; “References” page with hanging indents |
| MLA 9 | No title page; student name block at top left; header with surname + page number; 1-in margins; double spaced; one style of heading if used | Author-page citations (Smith 27); “Works Cited” page with hanging indents |
| Chicago (Notes-Bibliography) | Title page common; 1-in margins; double spaced body; notes at foot or end; headings allowed if consistent | Numbered notes with full details; “Bibliography” alphabetized by author |
| Chicago (Author-Date) | Title page or first-page title; same margins and spacing; headings optional but useful | Author-date citations (Smith 2024, 27); “References” list by author |
Need the official specs? See APA on approved fonts, the MLA Style Center on formatting papers, and the Chicago Manual’s citation quick guide.
Format for a literature review in APA, MLA, Chicago
This section lays out how to format a literature review in three common styles. Match the one your instructor, advisor, or journal requires.
APA style basics
Page setup. Use 1-inch margins, double spacing, and a legible font permitted by APA, such as 11-pt Calibri, 11-pt Arial, or 12-pt Times New Roman. Add the page number in the top right. Student papers use a simple title page; professional papers add a running head and may include an author note.
Headings. APA offers up to five levels. Level 1 is bold, centered; Level 2 bold, left-aligned; Level 3 bold, italic, left-aligned; Level 4 indented, bold, ends with a period; Level 5 indented, bold italic, ends with a period. Use levels to match your grouping: broad themes at Level 1, subthemes at Levels 2–3, and short labels within paragraphs at Levels 4–5 if needed.
In-text citations. Use author-date style. Paraphrase: (Lopez, 2023). Narrative: Lopez (2023) … Direct quote with page: (Lopez, 2023, p. 18). For three or more authors, use the first author + “et al.” from the first mention.
Reference list. Start on a new page titled “References.” Alphabetize by first author, use hanging indents of 0.5 inches, include DOIs as live links when available, and keep punctuation and capitalization exactly as the guide specifies.
APA tips for reviews. Keep tense steady (present when stating what studies show; past when describing what a study did). Place tables and figures after the reference list unless your instructor asks for them inside the text. Add a short methods note if your program expects one.
MLA style basics
Page setup. No separate title page unless asked. Start with your name block at the top left, then the title centered on the next line. Use 1-inch margins, double spacing, and a readable 12-point font. Add a right-aligned header with your surname and the page number.
Headings. MLA allows headings to help readers, but it does not prescribe a fixed pattern. If you use them, style in a clear descending order and keep capitalization and typography consistent.
In-text citations. Use author-page. Paraphrase: (Nguyen 145). If the author appears in the sentence, place the page number alone in parentheses. For two authors, use both surnames; for three or more, use the first surname + “et al.”
Works Cited. Start on a new page labeled “Works Cited.” Alphabetize by author, use hanging indents, and include container titles, version, number, publisher, date, and location as the handbook defines them. Online sources normally include a URL or DOI without “http://”.
Chicago style basics
Pick one of two systems. Notes-Bibliography uses footnotes or endnotes plus a bibliography. Author-Date uses parenthetical citations plus a reference list. Disciplines in the humanities tend to use Notes-Bibliography; the sciences and many social sciences lean toward Author-Date.
Page setup. Use standard margins and double spacing for the body text. A title page is common, and headings are fine if you apply them consistently.
Notes-Bibliography. Add a superscript number in the text and give the note at the foot or end. The first note carries full details; later notes use a shortened form. Build a “Bibliography” with hanging indents and authors in alphabetical order.
Author-Date. Paraphrase: (Khan 2022, 57). The reference list entry starts with the author, year, title, and publisher or journal details. Match punctuation and order to the guide.
Headings, visuals, and flow
Readers skim. Help them by writing short, informative headings that reveal the logic of your grouping. Avoid vague labels like “Background” unless you truly need them. Use parallel syntax: if one heading starts with a noun, keep the rest as nouns; if one starts with a verb, keep the rest as verbs.
When you add a table or figure, give it a number and a clear title. Place a source note below if you adapted or reproduced content. Keep formatting of captions uniform across the paper.
End each section with a one-line takeaway that links to the next heading, so readers never wonder why the next theme appears when it does there.
Taking a literature review from draft to camera-ready
At this stage you’ve got text, headings, and citations in place. Now you tune spacing, alignment, and reference details so the review reads cleanly and looks consistent.
Spacing, alignment, and indents
- Double space the entire document, including block quotes and the end list.
- Left-align the text; do not full-justify unless your venue requires it.
- Set paragraph first-line indents to 0.5 inches. Use a hanging indent of 0.5 inches on the reference, works-cited, or bibliography page.
Quotations and paraphrases
- Short quotes stay in the line with quotation marks. Use a block format for long passages as your style guide defines length.
- Paraphrase more than you quote. Follow each paraphrase with a citation in the correct location for your style.
- Keep page or paragraph numbers with direct quotes where the style calls for them.
Numbers, acronyms, and hyphens
- Follow your style’s rules for numerals and words (e.g., APA writes most numbers ten and above as numerals).
- Define acronyms at first use. Keep them consistent across the paper.
- Use en dashes for ranges (2019–2024) and hyphens for compound adjectives where needed.
Second-pass checks with a quick table
| Element | Spec | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Margins | 1 inch on all sides | Entire paper |
| Line spacing | Double throughout | Text, quotes, lists, end list |
| Font | Readable, widely accepted (e.g., 11-pt Calibri, 12-pt Times) | Entire paper |
| Page numbers | Top right (APA/MLA); per style in Chicago | All pages |
| Headings | Consistent levels; parallel wording | Sections and subsections |
| Paragraph indent | 0.5-inch first line | Body text |
| Hanging indent | 0.5 inch | References / Works Cited / Bibliography |
| List labels | Table and figure numbers with titles | Tables and figures |
| Link style | Live DOIs/URLs where needed | End list entries |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mismatched style. Mixing APA in-text with MLA Works Cited or Chicago footnotes confuses readers. Pick one system and keep it steady.
- Shaky headings. Headings that do not reflect the grouping force readers to guess. Write headings last if needed so they match the content.
- Source-by-source summaries. A review is synthesis. Group studies that address the same problem, compare methods and findings, and state what the pattern shows.
- Missing scope. Without dates, keywords, or databases, readers cannot tell how you searched. Add a brief methods note if your field expects it.
- Loose end list. Every in-text citation needs a matching end entry, and every entry should appear in the text. Run a one-to-one check.
Editing pass: clarity, economy, consistency
Read your paper aloud. Shorten long sentences. Remove duplicate phrases. Keep verb tense steady across a paragraph. Swap vague verbs for specific ones. Trim stacked nouns that feel heavy. Replace filler road-signs with clean signposting in headings and topic sentences.
Then scan the whole file for consistency: spelling of names, year digits, punctuation in reference entries, italics for titles, and capitalization patterns. Small slips add up; neat pages build trust.
Mini-templates you can copy
APA section plan
Title page → Abstract (if assigned) → Introduction (scope and purpose) → Themed sections (Level 1 and Level 2 headings) → Methods note (databases, years, terms, criteria) → Closing section (what the pattern shows and next steps) → References.
MLA section plan
Header (name block + surname/page) → Title → Introduction → Themed sections (use one style of heading) → Closing section → Works Cited.
Chicago section plan
Title page → Introduction → Themed sections → Closing section → Notes (if Notes-Bibliography) or References (if Author-Date) → Bibliography (if Notes-Bibliography).
Short notes on common points
- Section headings: Keep them short. Aim for five words or fewer, and place any extra context in the opening sentence.
- Study table: You can add one. Label it as a table, number it, title it clearly, and cite any source you reused or adapted.
- Abstracts: Include one only when assigned. If used, keep it on its own page and follow any word limit from your venue.
Final checks before you submit
- Confirm the required style and match it on every page.
- Verify margins, spacing, font, page numbers, and indentation.
- Scan headings for parallel wording and correct levels.
- Match every in-text citation with one end entry and vice versa.
- Test every DOI or URL.
- Export to PDF if your venue asks for fixed layout.
You now have a clean, credible literature review that reads smoothly and meets common style expectations. Save a copy of your final template for next time so setup goes even faster now.
Back up the project files, notes, and search strings inside your repository or cloud drive for reuse in the next review cycle.