What does Formatly actually do?

Formatly formats your document — margins, spacing, fonts, headings, page layout, and structure — all matched to your chosen style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). We don't edit your writing, check grammar, or validate citations. You write it; we make it look right.

Which citation styles are supported?

Formatly supports APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, Chicago Manual of Style, Harvard, and Turabian. We continuously evaluate new styles based on user requests.

How long does formatting take?

Most documents are formatted in about 30 seconds. The time depends on document size and length, but our engine is optimised for speed without sacrificing accuracy.

Yes. Your documents are processed in real-time and only you can access them. We never see, store, or share your content — your work stays yours.

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5 Common APA Formatting Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Faithman - Founder, FormatlyJune 19, 20264 min read

Stop Losing Marks on These APA Errors

After reviewing hundreds of student papers, we identified the five most common APA 7th edition formatting mistakes.

1. Incorrect Margins

APA requires exactly 1 inch on all sides.

2. Running Head

Student papers do not need a running head in APA 7.

3. Headings

Level 1: centered bold. Level 2: left-aligned bold.

4. References

Alphabetize entries, apply hanging indent, include DOIs.

5. Page Numbers

Every page needs a number top-right.

Word Table of Contents Guide

If your formatted document includes a Table of Contents, page numbers and headings must be synced inside Microsoft Word once downloaded.

To update the TOC:

Right-click the TOC in Word and select Update Field. Or, click inside the TOC and press the F9 keyboard key to sync page numbers.

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Ready to submit? Format in ~30 seconds.

Skip hours of manual styling. Upload your manuscript now and get perfectly formatted APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago structures.

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AI-powered document styling engine matching your manuscripts to APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and Turabian guidelines in seconds.

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Last updated: June 2026