When we write messages to friends or just talk about brands, we never think about the special way to mention them. What we care about is to make communication convenient, so we usually use the shortest version of each company name we can think of. If you’re reading this article, you probably already know that the same approach doesn’t apply to academic essays and research papers.
Suppose you need to know how to write the name of a company in an essay, but it’s hard for you to grasp all the rules at once; this article is here to help you. Can students only use the full version of the company name or are there exceptions? Do learners have to reference the organizations they mention? Let’s answer these questions right away!
Writing the Name of a Company in an Essay: Key Facts
After they enter college, many students find themselves with more questions than answers about writing papers. Since many essays involve discussing consumerism and business ethics, writing the names of companies is among the trickiest parts for most learners. Here are some general rules to follow if you want to write all the company names in your essays correctly:
- Check the website of the organization you’re writing about to see the way it presents itself. Use the exact capitalization and spaces between words you see on the logo and in the company’s documents. As long as you follow the same patterns, you’re sure to write the name of any brand in the correct way.
- Use the full name of the organization when you introduce it. Regardless of how your professor’s guidelines address the business you’re researching, the first time you mention it should be its full title. If there are any additional descriptions, it’s better to include them too. However, you only need to include the exact location of the company if it matters in the context of your paper or if there are multiple similar companies in the area.
- If there’s an abbreviation or a shortened version that’s recognized around the world, you can use it after the first mention. However, you need to make sure your professor is alright with this approach. Check the advertisements made by the business you’re writing about and see if they use the short version you want to utilize. The general advice here is to keep mentioning the brand in a formal and respectful way.
These general guidelines may seem a bit confusing for someone who is about to write their first or second essay that mentions famous brands. Let’s look at the myths many students believe when they first arrive on campus. After all, those misleading thoughts may well cost you your time if you try to follow them when writing.
How to Write a Company Name in an Essay without Believing Common Myths
Formatting is the most confusing part of writing academic essays, so it’s no wonder that there are quite a few myths to dispel. There are two misconceptions students ask about most often, so we’ll focus on those.
You don’t need any special formatting for the names of businesses. The first myth states you need to underline company names or italicize them. In reality, all you need to do is capitalize those words according to how the organization in question does it. All you need to do is write brand names exactly how they look on their logos and websites, and you’ll be good.
If you’re just mentioning the company name, you don’t need to cite it. The second myth is that you need to create a separate reference for each company name you mention. In fact, the only thing you need to do is ensure correct capitalization and check how the brand name writes all words. For example, the abbreviation “OK” used in a brand name can be fully capitalized, or this may affect only the first letter.
However, you need to cite company documents or the research if you use it. For example, you need to mention the authors of a scientific article or a journalistic investigation about any specific company. In other words, cite all the information you’ve found but remember you’re referencing the article about the brand and not its name. You might need to write a quick essay of top quality, but researching large organizations can take hours if not days. Since it’s not something students can do quickly, it’s a good idea to ask for professional assistance from a trustworthy online service like FastEssay.
Company Names in APA Essays: Are There Differences with MLA?
A short answer to this question is, not really. Like MLA essays, the APA papers are about precision and clarity. This means that both formatting styles adhere to the general rules of mentioning your brand’s most formal name the first time it appears in your paper and optionally using a common and recognizable abbreviation as you continue writing. However, there’s always a possibility that you’ll have to cite the website of that brand. So, what do you do in that situation?
First and foremost, citing the website of any organization in APA is no different from referencing any other website in that format. However, if you’re citing a document that’s used in a specific company, you’ll need a slightly different reference. If there aren’t any specific authors, you can go with this:
Name of organization. (Year) Title of the document you’ve found. Number of this document (if mentioned).
For the internal rules that weren’t officially presented, you’ll need to write “Unpublished internal company document” instead of the number. For an in-text citation, you can go with a simple format of “(Brand name, year).” Of course, you don’t have to reference company names if they aren’t attached to any quotes from the rules of those organizations or the research about them done by someone outside the company. Make sure to double-check all the information you’ve included in your reference, and you’re done!
Good Luck with Your Writing!
As you can see, it’s not that hard to write a company name in an essay correctly as long as you follow specific rules. Still, specific cases can bring about more questions, so it’s clear that creating actual papers always brings about more challenges. That\’s why you should always remember about the option of asking someone reliable for assistance.
Whether it’s your friend who understands formatting better, your professor, or a professional from an online service, you can reach out to the people who will assist you. If you’re stuck and can’t find any information, it’s best to save your time and effort by having someone more experienced guide you. With that said, good luck on your writing journey!