APA Formatting and Citation (7th Ed.) | Generator, Template, Examples
Introduction to APA Formatting
The APA 7th edition provides comprehensive guidelines for clear communication, citation, and document formatting. This article focuses on the essential aspects of paper formatting in APA Style.
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APA Formatting Guidelines
- Page Margins: Set to 1 inch on all sides.
- Text Spacing: Double-space all text, including headings.
- Paragraph Indentation: The first line of every paragraph should be indented 0.5 inches.
- Font: Use an accessible font such as Times New Roman 12pt., Arial 11pt., or Georgia 11pt.
- Page Numbers: Include a page number on every page.
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Page Header and Running Head
Every APA Style paper includes a page header:
- Student Papers: Typically consist of just a page number in the top-right corner.
- Professional Papers: Include both a page number and a running head. The running head is a shortened version of the paper’s title (up to 50 characters), formatted in all capital letters and left-aligned.
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Headings and Subheadings
APA Style uses five heading levels to organize content:
- Level 1: Main sections (e.g., “Methods,” “Results”).
- Levels 2-5: Subheadings, formatted differently for each level.
For detailed formatting instructions and how to set up headings in Word or Google Docs, check out our in-depth APA headings article.
Title Page
The title page is the first page of an APA Style paper:
- Student Papers: Include the title, author’s name, affiliation, course number, instructor name, and due date.
- Professional Papers: Include the title, author’s name, affiliation, and a running head.
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Abstract
The abstract is a 150–250 word summary of your paper, typically required for professional papers but occasionally included in student papers. It appears on a separate page after the title page and is written as a single paragraph without indentation. Include 3-5 relevant keywords below the abstract.
For more information on writing an effective abstract, refer to our APA abstract guide.
Table of Contents
Although APA Style does not provide specific guidelines for formatting a table of contents, it can be included if required. Place it on a separate page between the abstract and introduction, listing the important headings with corresponding page numbers.
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Reference Page
The reference page is placed after the main body of the paper but before any appendices. Format it with the section label “References” at the top of a new page (bold and centered). List all sources alphabetically and apply a hanging indent (0.5 inches).
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Example of APA Book Reference
Smith, T. (2020). The citation manual for students: A quick guide (2nd ed.). Wiley.
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Tables and Figures
- Tables: Should have a number and title, with the title in italics and title case. Keep tables simple; avoid vertical lines and use minimal horizontal lines.
- Figures: Use bold styling for the word “Figure” and number, with the title in italics and title case. Include labels and legends if necessary.
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