The molecular weight distributions of the free-radical polymerization of acrylamide in solution and in inverse emulsion are examined as a function of concentrations of initiator and of amount of added chain transfer agent (sodium formate). When these distributions are displayed as Ln(number molecular weight distribution), readily obtained from the GPC trace (essentially by dividing by the square of molecular weight), the results can be semi-quantitatively interpreted in terms of the amounts of chain stoppage by transfer and by termination.