How To Format A Literature Review Paper? | Step By Step

What A Literature Review Format Needs

A good review reads like a map. It shows what has been tried, what worked, what failed, and where the open lanes sit. Your format turns that map into a paper people can scan fast and trust. The guide below keeps the layout tidy, the citations tight, and the story easy to follow.

You can write for APA or MLA. Pick one style and stick with it. The settings in the table help you set margins, spacing, fonts, page numbers, and headings so the paper looks neat on screen and on paper.

Formatting A Literature Review Paper: Core Rules

Formatting supports the thinking. Set up the skeleton first, then add the content. Keep sections in a steady order so readers can skim for what they need and stay oriented.

Page Setup That Looks Clean

Set 1-inch margins, double space the full paper, and use a standard 12-pt font. Turn on automatic page numbers in the header at the top right. Indent the first line of each paragraph by half an inch. Avoid extra space before or after paragraphs; the double spacing is enough.

Headings guide the eye. In APA, levels step down as the topic narrows; level 1 is centered and bold, then level 2 is flush left and bold, and so on. MLA keeps headings simpler and often uses only one or two levels. Use short, descriptive headings that mirror the outline.

Citation And Reference Basics

Paraphrase most claims in your own words and cite the source. Quote sparingly, only when wording matters. In APA, use author–year in the text and a reference list at the end. In MLA, use author–page and a works cited list. Check punctuation around citations and match every in-text entry to the list at the end.

Long quotes need special layout. In APA, block any quote of 40 words or longer. In MLA, block prose of four lines or more. Keep block quotes rare in a review; synthesis beats stringing quotes.

Common Sections And What Goes In

Title Page or Header. Put the paper title, your name, course, instructor, and date where your style needs it. APA uses a separate page for student work unless your school says otherwise. MLA prints this info on page one above the title.

Abstract (Optional). Some courses ask for a brief abstract. Keep it around 150–250 words. State the topic, scope, and main through-lines. Skip citations here.

Introduction. Set the topic, state the scope, and define any key terms that vary across authors. End the intro with a clear organizing principle, such as themes, methods, or time periods.

Body. Group studies in a logical way. A theme-based layout is the most common: cluster papers that tackle the same idea, then show where they agree and where they split. Method-based layouts group by approach (e.g., RCTs, cohort studies, qualitative work). A time-based layout works when the field has shifted across decades. In each group, compare aims, samples, measures, and findings.

Closing Section. Pull the threads together. Point to strong areas, weak spots, and what a solid next study would try. Keep the tone balanced and evidence-driven.

References or Works Cited. Start on a new page. Use hanging indents and alphabetize by the first author’s last name. Be consistent with punctuation and capitalization rules for your style.

Format A Literature Review Paper For APA Or MLA

Many instructors want APA. Some classes use MLA. Both can present a clean review if you follow their patterns. Use the notes below to set things up fast and avoid last-minute fixes.

APA Quick Pattern

1. Title page: paper title in bold, centered; include your name, affiliation, course, instructor, and due date. Add a page number in the header.
2. Abstract page if assigned. Write it last.
3. Headings: use levels that match your outline. Keep phrasing parallel across sections. See the official APA headings guide.
4. In-text citations: author–year. Include page numbers for exact quotes.
5. Reference list: new page, hanging indents, DOIs or URLs where required.

MLA Quick Pattern

1. Page one header: your name, instructor, course, date; then the title centered on the next line. No separate title page unless told to add one.
2. Simple headings if you use them. Keep the style consistent.
3. In-text citations: author–page. Keep periods after the parenthesis.
4. Works Cited: new page, hanging indents, alphabetized. Samples live on Purdue OWL.

How To Format A Literature Review In Practice

Here is a step-by-step way to go from blank page to clean draft without stress. It keeps your time focused on reading and synthesis, not on chasing small style errors.

Build A Sharp Outline

Start with a one-page outline. List the intro points, the main themes, and the closing takeaways. Under each theme, jot the key studies you plan to cite and what each adds. Keep each heading useful on its own; if a reader skims only the headings, the logic should still make sense.

Write With Templates

Use short, repeatable sentence patterns. They keep momentum and stop drift. Three handy moves:

• Compare: “X found Y in [sample]; Z reported a smaller effect in [sample], likely due to [difference].”
• Contrast: “While X used [method], Y relied on [method], which limits [issue].”
• Build: “Taken together, these studies point to [pattern], though measures of [construct] vary across teams.”

Swap in verbs that fit your field. Keep the tone steady and evidence-based.

Keep Sources Trackable

Use a reference manager or a tidy spreadsheet. Record author, year, title, journal, method, sample, main finding, and a one-line note. Add tags for each theme. This makes grouping painless and reduces missed citations.

Show Search Steps When Needed

If your instructor asks for a formal search report, add a brief note on databases, date ranges, and filters. For a true systematic review, attach a flow diagram that shows records found, screened, and included; see the PRISMA 2020 template.

Headings That Pass The Skim Test

After you draft, read only the headings top to bottom. Do they tell a clear story? If a heading feels vague, add a concrete hook. Swap “Background” for “Limits Of Small Sample Trials,” or “Measures Of Sleep Quality.” Short, precise, parallel headings keep readers on track.

Paragraph Shape That Flows

Use topic sentences that signal the main claim. Follow with evidence and a short tie-off line that links back to the theme. Keep paragraphs balanced at six to ten lines in a standard 12-pt font. Break longer blocks where a new idea starts.

Tone That Builds Trust

Stay neutral. Avoid hype. Report what authors did and found, then weigh strengths and limits. Use active voice and plain verbs. Favor concrete nouns over jargon. Keep first person rare unless your instructor invites it.

Tables And Figures

Most narrative reviews do not need many visuals. If you add a table, keep columns few and labels short. If you add a flow figure, stick to a standard template. Number each table or figure and mention it in the text.

Editing Passes That Raise Clarity

Run several tight passes instead of one long slog. Each pass has a job: headings, references, style, and polish.

Pass 1: Headings And Order

• Confirm the section order matches your outline.
• Check heading levels. Do not jump from level 1 to level 3.
• Keep phrasing parallel across peer headings.

Pass 2: Citations And List

• Every in-text cite appears on the list at the end.
• Names and years (or pages) match in both places.
• Apply hanging indents to every entry.

Pass 3: Style Consistency

• Numbers, dates, abbreviations, and hyphens follow one style.
• Capitalization in titles follows style rules.
• URLs and DOIs are live where required.

Pass 4: Sentence Polish

• Shorten strings of nouns; swap in helpful prepositions.
• Cut filler words and duplicated points.
• Read aloud; fix any flat spots.

Submission Checklist

• Margins set to 1 inch, double spaced, 12-pt font, page numbers on.
• Title page or page-one header formatted per style.
• Headings in place and parallel.
• Intro states topic, scope, and organizing lens.
• Every paragraph ties back to a theme.
• All claims backed by citations.
• Reference list or works cited complete and tidy.
• File name includes your surname and assignment code.

Common Mistakes And Fast Fixes

Unclear scope. Readers need to know what the review includes and what it does not. Add a crisp scope line in the intro that names years, populations, and settings.

String of summaries. A review is not a parade of abstracts. After each cluster of studies, write one linking line that explains the pattern across papers.

Overuse of quotes. Quote only when phrasing is central to the point. Most of the time, paraphrase and cite.

Vague headings. Headings that say “Background” or “Discussion” tell little. Replace them with content-rich labels that match the theme or method you cover.

Style drift. Mixing author–year with author–page, changing title case mid-paper, or switching fonts breaks flow. Pick one style and keep it steady from start to end.

Data without context. Reporting numbers without sample, measure, or limitation leaves readers guessing. Attach one clear clause that frames what the number means.

Missing links between themes. Add short bridge sentences at the start and end of each section so the paper reads as one thread, not separate notes.

Sample Mini-Outline You Can Copy

Title: “Mindfulness Training For Undergraduate Stress: A Review.”

Abstract: Scope (2015–2025), setting (universities), and main threads (program length, delivery mode, outcome measures).

Introduction: Define mindfulness in this context; set inclusion limits; state that the body groups studies by program length.

Theme 1 — Short Programs (≤4 weeks): Compare designs and measures; weigh effect sizes; flag limits in small samples.

Theme 2 — Standard Programs (6–8 weeks): Contrast in-person and online formats; note attrition; mention follow-ups.

Theme 3 — Extended Programs (≥10 weeks): Report gains and costs; note who benefits most; call out heterogeneity.

Methods Note: Databases, dates, and filters used to locate studies; brief inclusion logic.

Closing Section: Strong support for short programs with light coaching; weak evidence for long formats; propose a multi-site trial with common measures.

Works Cited/References: Start on a new page; use hanging indents; check every entry against the in-text citations.

Quick Answers To Tricky Spots

How Many Headings?

Use as many levels as your outline needs and no more. Many reviews work with two or three levels. If a section has one subheading, it should have a second; singletons look odd and break flow.

Do I Need An Abstract?

Only if asked. If you add one, write it after the draft. Keep it short and focused on scope and threads, not on minute details.

Can I Use First Person?

Some fields allow it in the intro and closing lines. Keep it light and purposeful. If unsure, follow the samples on Purdue OWL.

How Do I Show Search Flow?

Only formal reviews need that level of detail. If required, use the official PRISMA 2020 flow diagram and checklist pages.