A paper in APA format will have the following:
Your instructor may modify the above (e.g., not have an abstract page) or add other things like a Table of Content, List of Figures, and a List of Tables.
Top, bottom, left and right margins should be 1 inch or 2.54 centimeters which is the default setting in Microsoft Word. Often you will not have to change the margin size.
However, margin sizes may be different if the paper you are writing is to be printed and bound.
See margins in APA format if you want to check the margin size, or change the margin size.
The current APA guidelines (seventh edition) allows for a range of font types and sizes.
Note: This is different to the previous sixth edition which recommended Times New Roman size 12 as the font.
Often your instructor will specify a font to use because there is a standard for your school or faculty, or that they prefer a particular font.
So, first check the assignment guidelines.
Also, the APA seventh edition suggests various font types and sizes (opens in new window).
There are two possible types of headers for a paper in APA format. They are:
Your instructor may vary these guidelines. Ask if in doubt.
For a student paper in APA format, align the page number against the right margin beginning with 1 on the title page (see Figure 1).
If required, see page number on every page for instructions on how to insert a page number on every page.
Vary the APA format for page numbers by not displaying the page number on the title page (see Figure 2).
See page number not displayed on title page for instructions on how to display a page number on every page after the title page.
Vary the APA format for page numbers by starting page number at 1 on the page following the title page (se Figure 3).
See title page without a page number for instructions on how to begin page numbering after the title page.
A common variation to the APA style for page numbers is to have Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv ...) for the preliminaries such as the Table of Contents, and Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4) for the main text (see Figure 4).
See table of contents in APA format for instructions on how to use both Arabic numerals and Roman numerals for page numbers.
The header for a professional paper in APA format contains the:
See Figure 5 for an example of a header in APA format for a professional paper.
See how to create a Running Head in APA format using Microsoft Word.
There are two different formats for a paper in APA format. They are:
Your instructor may vary these guidelines. Ask if in doubt.
An abstract page is not normally required for a student paper (not to be published, normally undergraduate papers) but is for a professional paper (for example a thesis).
However, your instructor may vary this requirement, for example, for a longer student paper.
Ask if you are not sure if an abstract is required.
See how to make an abstract page in APA format using Microsoft Word.
Your paper in APA format will possibly contain several headings, and hierarchies of headings, that is, subheadings of headings.
APA style identifies five possible levels of headings:
Figure 6 gives an example of three levels of headings.
See headings in APA format on how to create your headings in APA format using Microsoft Word.
To format a paragraph in APA format, you should:
See paragraphs in APA format on how to create your paragraphs in APA format using Microsoft Word.
Quotations shorter than 40 words are written in the sentence in the text. There is no special formatting apart from enclosing the quotation in double quotation marks.
Quotations 40 or more words written as a separate block of text with the following format:
See quotations in APA format on how to format your quotation using Microsoft Word.
Footnotes are not used for citations but can be used to provide extra information or copyright attribution.
See how to organize footnotes in APA format.
The minimum requirements for a paper in APA format are:
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