Creating papers in APA (American Psychological Association) format is a standard requirement across many academic disciplines. This guide, based on the 7th Edition of the APA Publication Manual and inspired by resources like the Purdue OWL, provides a comprehensive overview of general Apa Formatting Guidelines to help students and researchers alike.
General APA Paper Format
APA style emphasizes clarity and readability. Your document should adhere to these basic formatting rules:
- Paper Size: Use standard 8.5 x 11-inch paper.
- Margins: Set 1-inch margins on all sides of the page.
- Spacing: Double-space throughout the entire paper, including the title page, abstract, body, references, and appendices.
- Page Header (Running Head): Include a page header at the top of every page.
- Professional Paper: Left-align the title of your paper in all capital letters and right-align the page number. The running head should be a shortened version of your title, not exceeding 50 characters including spaces and punctuation.
- Student Paper: Right-align the page number only.
Font Guidelines in APA 7th Edition
APA 7th edition provides flexibility in font choice, focusing on accessibility and consistency. Choose a font that is legible for all readers and use it uniformly throughout your paper. While specific fonts are not mandated, APA recommends several options:
- Sans Serif Fonts:
- 11-point Calibri
- 11-point Arial
- 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode
- Serif Fonts:
- 12-point Times New Roman
- 11-point Georgia
- 10-point Computer Modern
Consult your instructor or institution guidelines if you are unsure which font to use.
Key Sections of an APA Paper
A typical APA paper includes four major sections:
- Title Page
- Abstract
- Main Body
- References
Title Page: Professional vs. Student Papers
The title page format differs slightly between professional papers (intended for publication) and student papers (for coursework).
Elements of a Title Page:
- Title: Centered in the upper half of the page, in boldface, and written in upper and lowercase letters. The title should be concise, focused, and avoid abbreviations or unnecessary words. It can span one or two lines.
- Author Name: Beneath the title, centered, include your first name, middle initial(s), and last name. Do not include titles (e.g., Dr.) or degrees (e.g., PhD).
- Institutional Affiliation: Centered below your name, indicate the institution where you conducted your research.
Additional Elements for Professional Papers:
- Author Note: Located in the bottom half of the title page, the author note is divided into paragraphs (omit irrelevant paragraphs):
- First Paragraph: Author’s name, ORCID iD symbol and URL (if applicable).
- Second Paragraph: Changes in affiliation or author deaths (if applicable).
- Third Paragraph: Disclosures, acknowledgements, study registration, data sharing, conflict of interest, and financial support.
- Fourth Paragraph: Contact information for the corresponding author.
Additional Elements for Student Papers:
- Course Number and Name: Below the institutional affiliation.
- Instructor Name: Below the course information.
- Assignment Due Date: Below the instructor’s name.
Remember to include the page header (running head and page number for professional papers, page number only for student papers) on the title page as well.
Student APA Title Page Example:
Professional APA Title Page Example:
Title page example for a professional paper in APA 7 style.
Abstract: Summarizing Your Paper
Begin the abstract on a new page. The abstract page should also include the page header.
- Heading: Center and bold the word “Abstract” at the top of the page.
- Content: Start on the next line (no indentation) and write a concise summary of your paper’s key points. Include your research topic, questions, participants, methods, results, data analysis, and conclusions. You may also add implications and future work suggestions.
- Length: The abstract should be a single paragraph, double-spaced, and typically no more than 250 words.
- Keywords (Optional): You can include keywords to help researchers find your work in databases. Indent as a new paragraph, type Keywords: (italicized), followed by your keywords.
Abstracts are usually required for scholarly journal articles but might be optional for student papers. Check with your instructor for specific requirements.
APA Abstract Page Example:
For a complete example of an APA paper, refer to resources like the Purdue OWL Sample APA Paper. You can also find further examples on their Additional Resources page.
Citing the Purdue OWL in APA Format
The Purdue OWL is an invaluable resource for APA style guidance. Here’s how to cite it in your reference list:
For Individual Resources (with no contributor or edit date):
Use “Purdue Online Writing Lab” as the group author and “n.d.” for “no date.”
Purdue Online Writing Lab. (n.d.). Title of resource. Purdue Online Writing Lab. http://Web address for OWL resource
Example:
Purdue Online Writing Lab. (n.d.). General Writing FAQs. Purdue Online Writing Lab. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/general_writing_faqs.html
Generic APA Citation for OWL Pages (with author/edit date):
Contributors’ names. (Last edited date). Title of resource. Site Name. http://Web address for OWL resource
This guide is based on the latest APA 7th Edition guidelines, updated in October 2019. For information on APA 6th edition, you can consult archived resources.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure your papers are professionally formatted in APA style, enhancing clarity and credibility in your academic and research work.
