1. Too Much White Space
White space is important. It simplifies reading, separates paragraphs, and indicates the end of one thought and the beginning of another. Unfortunately, when white space is overused, you can inhibit the flow of your document. Imagine your engaged reader moving through a key paragraph of your findings, only for it to be abruptly interrupted by a half-page of white space. Quickly scan through your final draft to find unnecessary page breaks or paragraph returns and eliminate them.
2. Split Tables
Your tables supplement your research findings and display important data in an easy-to-understand format. When possible, keep your tables on one page. Longer tables may require some tweaking to keep them on a page. Try reducing the font size from 12 point to 10 point or shifting the orientation of the page to landscape. If your table is simply too lengthy to keep on a page, have the heading row repeat on each page so readers can follow the data.
3. Separated Figures and Captions
Like tables, your figures share your research in an engaging way. Maximize the use of your figures by tying them to captions that are included under the figure, according to APA Style. Captions explain what your readers are seeing and cite any sources. Keep them on the same page as the figures for maximum impact.
4. Widows
Improve readability by eliminating widowed text. Scan your document and carefully check the top of each page for a single line of a paragraph that’s separated from the rest of the text. Remove widowed text by revising the paragraph so that it fits on the previous page or including a page break to keep at least two lines of text together at the top of the page.
5. Orphans
Orphans are another awkward formatting feature that often unintentionally occurs when you write. Orphaned text stands alone at the bottom of a page. Look for a heading that is separated from its text or a single line of a paragraph displayed on the bottom of a page. Again, thoughtful revisions or simple formatting fixes can eliminate orphaned text.
While it’s easy to make these formatting mistakes, it’s equally simple to correct them. Give your final draft a formatting scan to ensure these common flaws are eliminated before you submit.
