Hi there! I'm in the process of writing my college essays, and I'm not sure whether I should indent the beginning of each paragraph. Is there a proper format for the application essays, or is it up to personal preference? I appreciate any advice!
Hello! Great question—and one that many students wonder about as they're putting the final touches on their application essays. It's good that you're attentive to the details of your essay's presentation, as it can reflect your commitment to submitting polished work. For most college essays, especially those submitted through the Common Application or similar platforms, there is no strict rule requiring indentation. Many application systems have a text box editor that will remove formatting. However, having a clear visual separation between paragraphs can aid readability. One common approach is to include a space between paragraphs instead of indenting. Therefore, to keep the appearance of your essay consistent across different platforms, I recommend separating paragraphs with a single blank line and ensuring that you're adhering to any specific guidelines provided by the college or application system you're using. Good luck with your college essays!
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