A Quick Guide To Learn Everything About the IEEE Format

If you’re studying Computer Science or Information Technologies and you end up with a writing assignment in IEEE format, don’t freak out. We mean, no one said college was gonna be a walk in the park, right? You just gotta tackle those challenges head-on and figure out how to get through them.

Dealing with IEEE formatting is one of those challenges. Writing any paper can be tough, but when it comes to programming and computer science, it’s a whole different ball game. So, what exactly is IEEE format? And why do students prefer to hire a term paper writing service to tackle such formatting for them? Let’s get to find all these answers.

What is IEEE?

The word IEEE stands for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. This organization consists of engineers, scientists, and other professionals in the technology industry. IEEE publishes journals, holds conferences, and more so their experts can get opportunities for professional development. Now coming to our real question, which is IEEE format? Well, it is a widely accepted format for writing research papers. Most commonly, students of computer sciences, or other technical fields need to follow this academic writing style.

The IEEE Style Consists of 2 Critical Elements:

  1. In-text Citations
  2. Work Must be Cited in MLA Format

The in-text citations in IEEE style are numerical references appearing in the text. These numbers are indications of the source information.

Plus each citation corresponds to a numbered entry in the reference list at the end of the document. The usual way of placing citations is enclosing them in square brackets, like [1]

Need help with formatting? Leave us a message like help on my paper and our experts will reach you out ASAP. 

How Do Proper Citations Impact Your Academic Performance?

Before we get to understanding the IEEE writing format, let’s first understand how proper citations can improve a student’s academic performance. Here are some reasons:

Preventing Plagiarism in the Document

Just as you know when you properly cite a source, it means that you have credited the original author for his/her work. Doing that helps in avoiding plagiarism in the document. And it’s needless to say how important it is for students to keep plagiarism out of their papers or they could face serious penalties.

For Strengthening Arguments

When you add citations, they work as supportive evidence for your arguments. That as a result improves the credibility of your piece. When you reference a reputable source, it demonstrates that your ideas are tested in existing research. Most students would even consider an assignment writing service for strengthening arguments.

Demonstrating Research Skills

Yes, proper citations help you portray your research skills. It also tells about your ability to connect with existing literature in your field. It demonstrates that you have conducted thorough research and have a solid understanding of the topic.

Building Trust and Credibility

You should also know that trust and credibility build the trust. When you properly cite a source, you show respect for the intellectual property of others. Plus it is also a good way to contribute to the credibility of scholarly conversation in an ethical and scholarly manner.

Avoiding Academic Misconduct

Your academic record and reputation could be at risk with the failure of proper citations. Hence, you must properly cite and maintain academic integrity throughout.

Basic Page Format

If you go through an IEEE template, you will get to read the following sections:

  1. Title of the Page
  2. One paragraph long abstract
  3. Index Terms
  4. Nomenclature but it’s optional
  5. The Introduction Paragraph
  6. Body paragraphs of the article
  7. Comprehensive conclusion paragraph
  8. Appendixes
  9. Acknowledgments and References
  10. Biographies

Basic Rules of Formatting

Title of the paper

  • It should be on the first page
  • Must be top-centered
  • It’s font size must be 24pt

Byline

  •  It should come after a line break, below the title.
  •  Must be centered and the font size will be 10 pt.

Byline Data

  • Name of the author
  • Affiliation of the author
  • City & country location
  •  Email Address

Main Body

We are considering that you know how to write a paper well and hence you know the value of the main body paragraph. Please make sure all the text is in 10pt font size. And must appear in two columns. You just have to ensure that the last page columns have to be of the length.

Also, note that you have to start the paper with an index or abstract and it should be comprised of:

  • Acknowledgments for the work performed
  • Appendices if any
  • Notes for Practitioners
  • Nomenclature

Make sure you break up the main part of your paper into different sections that make sense. Plus, each of these sections must have a formatted heading.

Ensure the tables, equations, and figures are all centered and numbered in the right order.

Your paper needs to have a capital first letter, followed by a short phrase of 8-12 characters or 2 words.

Parts of Paper in Detail

Heading TypeFormat SuggestionExample 
Primary Heading Centered Roman numerals with a period. The first letter should be 10pt in size, and the rest should be in all caps and 8pt.
II. BODY PARAGRAPHS
Secondary HeadingFlush left A capital letter must enumerate it and have a period at the endThe font must be in Italics upper and lower case kept at 10pt B. Jurisdiction 
Tertiary Heading Indented Enumerated by Arabic numerals with parenthesis at the endThe font must be in upper and lower case Italic of 10pt size3) Governmental restrictions on some medicines supplies could….
Quaternary Heading Indented two ems Must be enumerated by lowercase letters Just have to capitalize the first letter onlyb) The measures taken by authorities are in favor of….

This table shows the section headings format. You also have to format appendix, reference, and acknowledgment headings separately like this. 

  • Formatting Appendix Headings
  • Must be formatted as per standard style 
  • You have to use letters or numerals for enumeration 
  • Avoid using Roman for enumeration 
  • Suppose your paper just has one heading, it will remain unchanged

Acknowledgments or Reference Headings

Must be formatted like primary headings 

You don’t have to label or enumerate them 

Formatting First Footnote

It is one of the most important steps for writing a term paper like a pro. The first footnote should consist of three paragraphs and must not be numbered 

Indicate the dates on which the papers were received and revised in the first paragraph. If there are multiple dates, please list all of them.

Dedicate the second paragraph to author affiliations. If your paper includes multiple authors with different affiliations, it is recommended to separate the information into distinct paragraphs and sentences for each author. Plus, you have to group the authors having the same affiliations. 

Mention the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) number assigned by IEEE in the last paragraph. 

Comprehensive Examples:

IEEE Paper Example 1

The manuscript was received on March 22, 2014, revised on August 17, 2014, and accepted on October 19, 2014. It was published on October 24, 2014, with the current version dated October 26, 2014. This research was funded by a donation from the National Authority for Scientific Research, UFDIS, as part of Project PN-III-ID-CXE-1011-5-4978. The corresponding author is Ian Bill.

The authors are affiliated with the Institute of Scientific Research at the Plasma Physics and Nuclear Fission Laboratory in the United States. You can contact them via email at butchshed@defirm.com, samwats@defirm.com, and mavis@defirm.com.

Color pictures of one or more of the figures can be found on the website http://forzaexpo.ieee.org. Please note that this information is exclusively for use in printed publications.

The Digital Object Identifier is 17.2298/JDT.4013.3348907.

IEEE Paper Example 2

The manuscript was received on March 15, 2023, revised on June 25, 2023, and accepted on August 10, 2023. It was published on September 5, 2023, with the current version dated September 15, 2023. This research received support from the National Institutes of Health under Grant No. NIH-123456. The corresponding author is Emily Brown.

The authors are affiliated with the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Science in City, State, Zip, and Country. You can contact them via email at emilybrown@university.edu.

Color versions of some figures in this paper can be found on the website http://www.example.com/ieee-figures. Please note that these are only available in electronic format.

The Digital Object Identifier for this particular article is 10.1109/JBHI.2023.1234567.

IEEE Paper Example 3

The manuscript was received on February 20, 2022, revised on May 10, 2022, and accepted on July 1, 2022. It was published on July 25, 2022, with the current version dated August 5, 2022. This research was funded by the National Science Foundation Grant No. NSF-987654. The corresponding author is Michael Johnson.

The authors are affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Engineering located in City, State, Zip, Country. They can be contacted via email at michaeljohnson@university.edu.

You can find color versions of the figures in this paper by visiting http://www.example.com/ieee-figures. Please note that these are only available in electronic versions.

The Digital Object Identifier for the journal article is 10.1109/JMEMS.2022.1234567.

If financial support for the work needs to be included, be sure to mention it in the first paragraph rather than in the acknowledgment section.

Example:

This project received funding from the National Authority for Scientific Research through Grant no 110233 and Grant ECS-76534.

Body of the Paper

Abstract Part

In the IEEE writing style, authors must provide a brief summary called an abstract in their papers. The abstract should be placed after the title page and should be written in bold font within the text. It should be concise and not contain any numerical references or mathematical equations. 

Index Terms Part

It is suggested that authors add Index terms to their IEEE papers. These terms should be in boldface, arranged alphabetically, and included in the Abstract as the final paragraphs. Acronyms should be defined only if they have been used before in the paper. A list of keywords can be obtained by contacting keywords[at]ieee.org.

Text Equation Part

Equations in the main text should be numbered in sequential order from the start to the end of the paper. Authors may also choose to use their own numbering system, such as numbering by section (e.g. 1.1, 1.2.1, B1) in some instances.

The Acknowledgment Part

The acknowledgments section should be located after the text, after any appendices, and before the references section. It is recommended to write this section in the third person.

Remember you don’t have to use full names and honorable like Mr., Mrs., or more when citing names in the acknowledgment section. Only use the first initials followed by a family name. 

References Part

In IEEE papers,it is important to assign a unique number to each reference and to list each reference separately. It is not permissible to assign the same reference number to multiple citations within an IEEE paper.

Text Citations of Figures and Tables

In the IEEE citation style, figures and tables should be numbered in a sequential order. Unlike MLA or APA headings, figures and tables in the text should be identified with the abbreviation ‘Fig,’ followed by the number. Authors are required to use this abbreviation consistently, even if it appears at the beginning of a sentence.

Biographies

Author biographies are a mandatory component of IEEE transactions. It is required that biographies be structured into three separate paragraphs:

1) First paragraph

The author’s complete name and membership history with IEEE should be provided, as well as their date and place of birth. Their educational history should be outlined, including the field of study in lowercase, the word ‘degree’ following the specific title, and the years the degree was earned. Abbreviations like Dipl.lng., Diplom-Physiker, Dr.ing., dr.Phil., Dr, Eng, B.S., S.B, Llc, es Sci., and Lic.es Lett. may be utilized to indicate degrees.

2) Second Paragraph

The author has an extensive professional background, with experience in various industries and job titles written in all capital letters. They have also served in the military. The author is currently located in a specific location. In addition to their work with IEEE journals, they have also been associated with non-IEEE journals. The author’s current and past areas of interest are also detailed in their work experience.

3) Third Paragraph

Dr. Mitchell, a professional Engineer, is a member of various professional societies but not IEEE. He has received multiple awards for his work and has published several articles. In addition, he has participated in various IEEE committees. Unfortunately, additional biographical information about Dr. Mitchell is currently unavailable.

Other Texts

In an IEEE format paper, a footnote is extra information, clarification, or note that is included at the bottom of the page. All footnotes should be sequentially numbered and indicated with superscript numbers. These superscript numbers should be positioned after punctuation marks in the text, except in compound sentences where they should be placed before certain punctuation marks. The footnotes themselves should be placed at the bottom of the page where the referenced information is located.

Lists in Texts

In IEEE style papers, lists should be labeled in the sequential order of 1), 2), 3), followed by a), b), c), and then i), ii), iii).

The Proper Way to Cite References

As mentioned earlier, it is crucial to provide an IEEE citation for each reference cited in the essay. Writers should use square brackets and insert a number each time a citation is included. These numbers should correspond to the complete references listed on a separate page specifically for references. The numbers on the references page should match the numbers in the text, making it simple for readers to find the complete reference. The references page should be presented on a separate page within the paper.

Each IEEE format paper should include all necessary bibliographic information to help readers find additional information on the subject. The elements of an IEEE format reference consist of: 

  • A number matching the in-text citation 
  • Author’s initials and surname 
  • Work full title 
  • Publication place 
  • Date of Publication 
  • Page number, issue, or volume 

Ebook

The number of communications. Writer. (year, month, and day of release). Title of the book. (version). [Format]. Vol. (edition). Retrieved from: http :// Website URL [date viewed]. 

Example: [7] summer. (1998, June 3). Facts and Figures. (2nd edition). [Online]. 27(3).Available: http://website URL [August 23, 2002]. 

IEEE Website Citation

[Number] website. The title of the webpage. Retrieved from: full web address, last updated on [date], accessed on [date]. 

Example: [7] digitor.com. ‘Direct Marketing Strategies Around the World.’ Available: http://website URL, Feb 15, 2016. [Accessed: Aug.23, 2016]. 

For Podcast

Harleyson was in charge at the school in 2013, according to William Murdoch. You can check out the podcast at this website url. I looked it up back in June 2010.

Mandatory Print References

Single Book Author

[Reference number] Author. Title of the Book. Where it was published: Name of the publishing company, year it was published, and the number of pages. 

Book with Two Authors

[insert number] Author, Author, and Author. Book Title. Where it was published: Publishing company, year, pages. 

Book with No Author

[corresponding number] Book title. Location: Publishing company, year, pp. 

Article in a Journal

[Corresponding number] Author. ‘Author Title.’ Journal Title, vol., pp, date.

The Challenges of Using IEEE Format

Tough Guidelines

The IEEE has some strict rules on how papers should be formatted. Students must have to stick to those rules. Failure to follow any of these rules could result in low grades. Hence, IEEE style formatting can be pretty nerve-wracking, especially for students who aren’t used to these kinds of strict rules.

Complexity

The rules of IEEE formatting are complex and hard to understand sometimes. It includes formatting titles, headings, fonts, and more. how to format the title, headings, fonts, spacing, and more. Hence for newbies, it is one challenging exercise. 

Technical Requirements

Formatting your paper according to IEEE guidelines will require you to deal with equations, tables, and more. Here you have to ensure that everything is just perfect, which means you must be aware of the subject and formatting rules of each element. 

Software Challenges

This is where IEEE formatting gets very technical and challenging for most students. They may be required to use IEEE format in Microsoft Word, LaTex, or any such software. It could be asking a lot from students not familiar with such software. 

Attention to Detail

When you’re working on an IEEE paper, you have to be very careful with every little detail. You need to check everything, from where you put those commas to how you format your references, to make sure it’s all up to IEEE standards. It can take a lot of time and be pretty exhausting, but it has to be done.

Limited Resources

Some students might not have all the info they need to understand IEEE formatting perfectly. It can be tough to get it right without the right guidance.

Tips for Getting Better at IEEE Formatting

If you want to get better at IEEE formatting, you need to put a lot of your time into practice. Must pay very close attention to the details. Also, you should be familiar with the guidelines of this writing standard. Here you go with some tips and tricks from the experts to help you hone your skills in IEEE formatting:

Understand the Guidelines Well

First things first, ensure you read and understand those IEEE guidelines well. Get to know what they want for the title page, headings, fonts, spacing, and all that jazz. Also familiarize yourself with how the formatting standard wants you to handle figures, tables, equations, citations, and references.

Make Use of the Templates

IEEE has templates for all kinds of documents. You can have templates for conference papers, journal articles, and more. So, it is better if you could make use of such templates which will ensure that your document is well-formatted according to standard requirements. Plus, you can also find some very useful templates for programs like Microsoft Word and LaTeX.

Practice Formatting

Practice makes perfect! Try formatting documents using IEEE guidelines, whether it’s sample docs or your stuff. Ensure you get the little things right like how things are indented, aligned, the fonts used, and the spacing. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at applying these rules quickly and correctly.

Study Examples

Check out some IEEE-formatted papers in your area of study. Analyze how they organize their headings, present their figures and tables, and cite their references. Going through examples can give you a better grasp of how to format your work according to IEEE guidelines.

Use Formatting Tools

You can make use of the various formatting tools in your word-processing software. Doing that will make your life easier! Different styles, templates, and formatting presets will help you apply quick IEEE formatting whenever required. 

Proofread Carefully

Go through your document thoroughly after the final draft to ensure it follows all the IEEE rules. If there are any mistakes in spacing, headings, or more, ensure to eradicate them at this stage.

Get Feedback

It is even better that you get feedback from your teachers, colleagues, and mentors. One piece of advice from them can help in pinpointing your mistakes that you might not have noticed. 

Refer to Resources

Don’t forget to follow your IEEE style guides, tutorials, and reference materials nearby for a quick check. You can also find useful tips and guidance for nailing down IEEE formatting from online resources, workshops, and tutorials.

Final Thoughts

When you are studying subjects like programming, web communication, and more, you have to use the IEEE formatting guidelines. Subjects like programming, web communication, and more need you to write a paper in IEEE format. So students must master it well. 

However, so many students get confused with the term and format. That’s why we thought to give you a good idea of what is IEEE format in detail. We have also shared some examples so you can have a good idea of how you can do it well. Still, if you are confused, don’t hesitate to count on our experts.

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