Bartleby Write includes the most common formatting tasks on a handy floating toolbar. You can see it here at the bottom of the editor panel:
The formatting toolbar provides fundamental text styling options for your paper.
It’s really easy to use – simply highlight the desired text and select the formatting option you want. It works as a toggle, so if you have previously-formatted text you can select the text and use the toolbar to reset the formatting.
Options on the Formatting Toolbar
The toolbar floats at the bottom of the text, so it’s always visible and supports the following formatting options:
1. Bold
Use bold to call attention to text, but be mindful that your usage falls within your paper’s style guidelines. For example, here is the APA guidance on its use:
Use boldface only for headings within the body of your paper, that is, within the text itself—these headings we refer to by levels (Levels 1–3 use boldface; Level 4 uses boldface and italics; Level 5 uses italics only).
2. Underline
Underline is rarely used in academic writing, but it can be useful to call attention to words in other contexts. For example, if you’re writing a speech, underlining a word is a good way to remind the speaker that a word should be emphasized.
3. Italics
Styles (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.) are mixed on how or even if italics should be used in the text of an essay. Most styles do mandate the use of italics to some degree in citations and reference lists. Be sure to refer to the guidelines for your paper’s style when creating citations.
4. Bulleted List
A bulleted list is a great way to organize information when order is not important. For example:
- An important summary of results or findings
- A list of rules or guidelines
- A list of characteristics
5. Numbered List
A numbered list is useful for step-by-step instructions or organizing other items where order is important as in this list of last year’s Kentucky Derby finishers:
- Authentic
- Tiz the Law
- Mr. Big News
A general rule when formatting an academic document is to do it sparingly. Formatting should add clarity to a document and not distract from its readability. Thanks for using Bartleby Write and happy formatting!