Research is defined as work for advancement of knowledge that includes gathering data, facts and information. When the results of the finding of a research work are documented, it is called as a research paper. There are several prescribed formats to write a research paper to bring in consistency in the ways that research papers are written in. There are two most commonly accepted research paper formats; MLA (Modern Language Association) Formatting and APA (American Psychological Association) Formatting.

MLA formatting is used to write research papers within the discipline of liberal arts and humanities. APA formatting on the other hand is used to write research papers in the discipline of social sciences.The use of either of the above formats are heavily dependent on individual preferences.

Broad guidelines for best research paper formats are as follows:

Paper: To write a research paper use high quality 8 1/2" x 11" white paper. Use only one side of the paper.

Margins: Leave a margin of 1" (2.5cm) at the left, right, top and bottom each page in your text. However, the page numbers should be placed 1/2" (1.25 cm) from the top upper right corner on the right hand margin.

Title Page: Having a title page in your research paper is a matter of choice or as mandated by your research guide. The title page must include title of the page, name of the author, and the institute.

In MLA format the title is written as following:

• Mention your name, instructors name, the course and date in the same order on the upper left hand corner of the first page.
• Write the title in Title case, not in All CAPS. Put the title in the center of the page. Do not put the title in quotation marks, period or underline it.
• Use italics or quotation marks when referring to someone else´s work on your title page.
• Create a header on the upper right margin of the title page. The header should include your last name, and page number in Arabic numerals. If your research guide doesn´t want you to put a number on the title page then start number the rest of the document from Page 2. Do not put period after the page number.

In APA Format the title is written as following:

• Place the title in Title case in the center of the page. As per APA format the length of the title should be restricted to at most 12 words.
• All the text on the title page and rest of the research paper should be double spaced.
• The author´s name should come just after the title. The order of the name should be first name, middle name and last name. Use of prefixes such as degrees (Dr. or PhD.) or titles (Mr. or Mrs.) is not required in APA format.
• The institutional affiliation is mentioned below the author´s name. Institutional affiliation is the location where author has conducted the research.
• Line spacing: The lines between the texts in the research paper should be double spaced with a margin of 1" on all sides.
• Word spacing: Leave one space after every punctuation mark.
• Indentation: Each paragraph should begin with an indentation of 1" from the left margin. Put quadruple space between every paragraph.
• Text case: Do not write the whole research paper in Caps. It makes it difficult for the reader to comprehend.
• Table of contents: In a research paper the table of contents should be placed in following order:
o Acknowledgements
o Foreword
o Introduction
o Body (Chapter 1, Chapter 2 etc)
o Conclusion
o After word
o Explanatory notes
o Appendices
o Contact Organizations
o Glossary
o Bibliography
o Index

Do not fold the research papers or hand over you research paper in a loose sheets form even if the pages are numbered. Present the research paper in a folder or a binder depending on how the guide wants it.

To summarize, a best research paper format is one that is in adherence to the requirement outlines of your research guide. The MLA and APA formatting styles are only guidelines meant to give you direction and are not hard and fast rules that the author must follow when writing a research paper.