The Academic Center for Excellence
Google Docs: Instructions for Formatting
Updated May 2021
Google Docs: Instructions for Formatting an Academic Paper
Google Docs is a free, web-based application that allows users to produce, manage, and save
documents through their Gmail accounts; all Germanna students have access to Google Docs
through their Germanna email addresses. The application has many useful features: documents
save
automatically so that work is never lost; documents can be shared with others so that
multiple
people can review and edit at the same time; and documents are available both
online and offline.
This handout discusses how to format a paper using Google Docs. It reviews how to create a
Google Doc, how to set up a general paper, how to set up a paper using MLA, APA, or Chicago
citation styles, and how to insert a hanging indent within a bibliography page.
You can navigate to specific sections of this handout by clicking the links below.
Creating a Google Doc: pg. 2
General Formatting: pg. 3
MLA Format: pg. 5
APA Format: pg. 8
Chicago Manual Style: pg. 12
Hanging Indent: pg. 16
Additional Resources: pg. 17