Dissertation/thesis format is very important aspect of the process of dissertation/thesis writing. These formats can be also called as styles, but it doesn’t change their meaning. These formats or styles include rules according to which it is necessary to write citations, references, foot-notes and other similar things in the text of the dissertation. There are several formats and each of them has its own rules, although some of them have many similar features. Among this formats, several styles are often used for academic paper writing, other ones are mostly used for other publications, which are not connected with education.

Dissertation/thesis formats can be divided into two groups. To one group we can refer those styles, which are used in Humanities, to other group – those ones that are used in Sciences. There is also one style, which is widely used for legal papers.

To formats, which are used in Humanities, belong ASA style, APSA style, Chicago style, MHRA style, MLA style, and Turabian style. The most popular styles among above mentioned are MLA style and Chicago style. As for Turabian style, it is similar to Chicago style and it also was created in the same city. And this format is mostly focused on educational academic papers in comparison with Chicago style, which has wider range of usage.

As for styles used in Sciences, to this group belong Vancouver style and APA style. The first one is mostly used for medical and scientific papers; the second one is used in social sciences. As for legal sphere, there is one style called Bluebook, which is mostly used for legal papers.