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Essay Sizes
Choosing the right essay size is an important consideration in the essay writing process. Since the size is a key component of formatting, it should not be overlooked.
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Essay Sizes Standard
Letter (8.5 × 11 Inches)
Whether you are crafting a persuasive essay, analysis essay, or personal narrative essay, the US Letter size is versatile enough to use. The standard dimensions of a US Letter are 8.5 × 11 inches and the size is ideal for basically any type of essay.
A4 (8.3 × 11.7 Inches)
An alternative to letter size is the A4 size. It has slightly similar dimensions (8.3 × 11.7 inches) to a US Letter size and can also be used for any kind of essay.
Essay Sizes for Print
Essays, particularly academic and research essays, are usually printed out. If you are required to print out a copy of your essay, stick to the standard sizes of US Letter (215.9 × 279.4 mm) and A4 (210 × 297 mm). Although rare and not as commonly used as A4 or US Letter size, a legal size (8.5 × 14 inches) can also be used for essays as well.
Essay Sizes for MS Word
When using the word processor application Microsoft Word, it is best to set the measurements to either A4 or US Letter size for your essay. Since an essay is a short form of prose, you do not need a long or broad paper size. And whether you choose standard 8.5 × 11 inch size or A4 size, make sure the format you use is consistent throughout.
Essay Sizes for Apple Pages
If you are more comfortable using Mac OS, then Apple Pages is the recommended application for writing essays. The recommended sizes for essays are either A4 size or US Letter size. The former has a width of 29.7 cm and a height of 21 cm while the latter has a width of 22 cm and a height of 28 cm.
Essay Sizes for Google Docs
An alternative to MS Word and Apple Pages is Google Docs. This application is ideal for students and professionals who need to work remotely or online. The same standard sizes apply when setting the dimensions for your essay. Whether you are writing a college admissions essay or an essay for a business course, it is best to use A4 size (8.3 × 11.7 inches) or US Letter size (8.5 × 11 inches) when using Google Docs.
Essay Sizes FAQs
What is the font size of an essay?
The ideal font size for a standard essay is 11 or 12 with a classic font style.
What is a good size essay?
An essay is typically a short form type of prose; thus, a page or two using standard US letter size should be enough.
What is an essay format?
The basic format of an essay normally consists of an introduction, body, and conclusion.
What is considered a large essay?
A large essay is a lengthy essay that consists of more than a couple of pages.
What is the proper essay format?
There are several formats including MLA, APA, and Chicago formats that can be applied in essay writing.
How to reduce the size of essay?
Pick out only the most important main and supporting ideas and do away with unnecessary sentences.
What style and tone should be used in college application essays?
As far as college application essays are concerned, an expository or creative essay can help showcase your motivation and personality while still maintaining a candid and professional tone.
How many pages should an essay be?
A typical essay is no more than a page or two.
What is the average essay size?
The average essay size is around 500 words.
What is the minimum length of an essay?
An essay should contain at least a few paragraphs- enough that you have an introduction, main body, and a conclusion.
How to change the size of the essay?
Review it carefully then retain only the important ideas or add supporting ideas to further expound on the main idea.
What format should your college essay be in?
It can come in different formats (e.g., APA, MLA, etc.) depending on the course requirements.
How long is an essay in literature?
Usually, an essay can range anywhere between 500 and 1000 words.
What is the college essay word limit?
A college essay that exceeds 2000 words is considered too long and is not recommended.
How should you format a university essay?
A university essay can be formatted using any of the common styles such as APA, MLA, or Chicago format.
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