APA Format for Students & Researchers

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Published October 31, 2011. Updated February 3, 2022.

In this guide, students and researchers can learn the basics of creating a properly formatted research newspaper according to APA guidelines.

It includes data on how to conceptualize, outline, and format the basic structure of your paper, too as applied tips on spelling, abbreviation, punctuation, and more. The guide concludes with a complete sample paper every bit well as a final checklist that writers can apply to prepare their piece of work for submission.

APA Paper Formatting Basics

  • All text should be double-spaced
  • Use 1-inch margins on all sides
  • All paragraphs in the torso are indented
  • Brand sure that the title is centered on the page with your proper name and school/institution underneath
  • Use 12-point font throughout
  • All pages should exist numbered in the upper right manus corner
  • The manual recommends using one space later well-nigh punctuation marks
  • A shortened version of the title ("running caput") should be placed in the upper left manus corner

Table of Contents

Here's a quick rundown of the contents of this guide on how to do APA format.

Information related to writing and organizing your paper:

  • Paper and essay categories
  • General paper length
  • Margin sizes
  • Title pages
  • Running Heads
  • APA Outline
  • APA Abstract
  • The body of papers
  • APA headings and subheadings
  • Use of graphics (tables and figures)

Writing style tips:

  • Verb usage
  • Proper tone
  • Reducing bias and labels
  • Spelling
  • Abbreviation exercise's and don'ts
  • Spacing
  • Punctuation
  • Number rules

Citing Your Sources:

  • Citing Sources
  • In-text Citations
  • Reference Page

Proofing Your Paper:

  • Final checklist
  • Submitting your project

APA Information:

  • What is APA
  • APA 7 Updates

What you won't find in this guide: This guide provides information related to the formatting of your newspaper, as in guidelines related to spacing, margins, give-and-take choice, etc. While information technology provides a full general overview of APA references, it does not provide instructions for how to cite in APA format.

For step-by-step instructions for citing books, journals, how to cite a website in APA format, information on an APA format bibliography, and more, refer to these other EasyBib guides:

  • APA citation (general reference guide)
  • APA In-text citation
  • APA article citation
  • APA book citation
  • APA commendation website

Or, you can apply our automatic generator. Our APA formatter helps to build your references for you. Yep, yous read that correctly.

Writing and Organizing Your APA Paper in an Constructive Way

This section of our guide focuses on proper paper length, how to format headings, spacing, and more! This information tin be institute in Chapter two of the official manual (American Psychological Clan, 2020, pp. 29-67).

Categories of papers

Before getting into the nitty-gritty details related to APA research paper format, first determine the type of paper y'all're about to commence on creating:

Empirical studies

Empirical studies take data from observations and experiments to generate research reports. It is different from other types of studies in that it isn't based on theories or ideas, but on actual information.

Literature reviews

These papers clarify some other individual's piece of work or a grouping of works. The purpose is to gather information nearly a current issue or problem and to communicate where nosotros are today. It sheds light on issues and attempts to fill those gaps with suggestions for future research and methods.

Theoretical articles

These papers are somewhat similar to a literature reviews in that the author collects, examines, and shares information about a current issue or problem, by using others' research. It is dissimilar from literature reviews in that information technology attempts to explain or solve a trouble by coming upwards with a new theory. This theory is justified with valid prove.

Methodological articles

These articles showcase new advances, or modifications to an existing practice, in a scientific method or procedure. The author has data or documentation to prove that their new method, or improvement to a method, is valid. Plenty of evidence is included in this type of article. In add-on, the author explains the current method being used in add-on to their ain findings, in order to permit the reader to understand and modify their own current practices.

Case studies

Case studies nowadays data related an private, group, or larger set of individuals. These subjects are analyzed for a specific reason and the writer reports on the method and conclusions from their study. The author may too make suggestions for hereafter research, create possible theories, and/or determine a solution to a trouble.

General newspaper length

Since APA style format is used frequently in science fields, the belief is "less is more." Make sure you're able to get your points beyond in a articulate and brief fashion. Be direct, clear, and professional person. Endeavour non to add fluff and unnecessary details into your paper or writing.  This volition keep the paper length shorter and more concise.

Margin sizes in APA Format

When it comes to margins, go along them consistent across the left, right, top, and lesser of the folio. All four sides should be the same distance from the edge of the paper. It's recommended to use at least one-inch margins effectually each side. It'due south acceptable to employ larger margins, but the margins should never be smaller than an inch.

Title pages in APA Format

The title page, or APA format cover folio, is the get-go page of a newspaper or essay. Some teachers and professors practice not require a title folio, but some practice. If you're not certain if you should include i or non, ask your instructor. Some appreciate the folio, which clearly displays the writer's proper noun and the championship of the paper.

The APA format title folio for student papers includes six primary components:

  • the title of the APA format newspaper
  • names of all authors
  • institutional affiliation
  • course number and championship
  • instructor'south name
  • due engagement

Title pages for professional papersalso crave a running head; student papers practice not.

Some instructors and professional publications besides ask for an author's annotation. If you're required or would like to include an author's note, place it below the institutional affiliation. Examples of information included in an author's annotation include an ORCID iD number, a disclosure, and an acknowledgement.

Hither are key guidelines to developing your title page:

  • The title of the paper should capture the main idea of the essay, but should not contain abbreviations or words that serve no purpose. For example, instead of using the title "A Look at Amphibians From the Past," championship the paper "Amphibians From the By." Delete the unnecessary fluff!
  • Center the title on the page and place it nigh three-4 lines from the top.
  • The title should be bolded, in championship case, and the same font size every bit your other folio text. Practise not underline or italicize the title. Other text on the page should be apparently (not bolded, underlined, or italicized).
  • All text on the title page should exist double-spaced. The APA format examples paper beneath displays proper spacing, so get take a look!
  • Practice non include whatsoever titles in the writer's name such as Dr. or Ms. In dissimilarity, for your instructor'south name, use the class they prefer (e.g., Sagar Parekh, PhD; Dr. Minako Asato; Professor Nathan Ian Brown; etc.).
  • The institutional amalgamation is the schoolhouse the author attends or the location where the author conducted the research.

In a bustle? Attempt theEasyBib title page maker to easily create a title folio for gratis.

Sample of an APA format title folio for a educatee paper:

APA-format-student-title-page

Sample of title page for a professional paper:

APA-format-professional-title-page

View our in-depth APA Title Page Guide

Running heads in APA Format

The 7th edition of the American Psychological Association Publication Transmission (p. 37) states that running heads are not required for pupil papers unless requested by the instructor. Student papers yet need a page number included in the upper right-manus corner of every page. The 6th edition required a running caput for student papers, so exist sure to confirm with your instructor which edition you should follow. Of note, this guide follows the 7th edition.

Running heads are required for professional papers (e.g., manuscripts submitted for publication). Read on for instructions on how to create them.

Are you wondering what is a "running caput"? Information technology's basically a page header at the top of every page. To make this procedure easier, gear up your word processor to automatically add these components onto each page. Yous may want to look for "Header" in the features.

A running head/page header includes two pieces:

  1. the title of the paper
  2. page numbers.

Insert folio numbers justified to the right-hand side of the APA format newspaper (do not put p. or pg. in forepart of the page numbers).

For all pages of the paper, including the APA format championship page, include the "TITLE OF YOUR PAPER" justified to the left in capital letters (i.e., the running head). If your full championship is long (over 50 characters), the running head championship should exist a shortened version.

APA format running head

Preparing outlines in APA Format

Outlines are extremely beneficial equally they help writers stay organized, decide the scope of the research that needs to exist included, and establish headings and subheadings.

In that location isn't an official or recommended "APA format for outline" structure. Information technology is up to the writer (if they cull to brand use of an outline) to determine how to organize it and the characters to include. Some writers use a mix of roman numerals, numbers, and majuscule and lowercase letters.

Even though in that location isn't a required or recommended APA format for an outline, we encourage writers to make use of 1. Who wouldn't want to put together a rough outline of their project? Nosotros promise you, an outline will help yous stay on track.

Hither's our version of how APA format for outlines could expect:

Don't forget, if you're looking for information on APA commendation format and other related topics, check out our other comprehensive guides.

How to form an abstract in APA

An APA format abstract (p. 38) is a summary of a scholarly article or scientific written report. Scholarly articles and studies are rather lengthy documents, and abstracts allow readers to get-go determine if they'd like to read an commodity in its entirety or not.

You may come across abstracts while researching a topic. Many databases display abstracts in the search results and oftentimes display them before showing the full text of an article or scientific written report. It is of import to create a loftier quality abstruse that accurately communicates the purpose and goal of your paper, as readers volition determine if it is worthy to keep reading or not.

Are you wondering if you demand to create an abstract for your assignment?Normally, student papers do not require an abstract. Abstracts are not typically seen in class assignments, and are usually only included when submitting a newspaper for publication. Unless your teacher or professor asked for it, you lot probably don't need to have ane for your form assignment.

If you're planning on submitting your paper to a journal for publication, outset check the journal's website to learn nigh abstract and APA paper format requirements.

Here are some helpful suggestions to create a dynamic abstract:

  1. Abstracts are found on their own page, directly after the championship or encompass page.
  2. Professional papers only (not student papers): Include the running head on the summit of the folio.
  3. On the start line of the folio, center the give-and-take "Abstract" (but practise not include quotation marks).
  4. On the following line, write a summary of the key points of your inquiry. Your abstract summary is a way to introduce readers to your research topic, the questions that will be answered, the procedure you lot took, and whatever findings or conclusions yous drew. Utilize concise, brief, informative language. You merely take a few sentences to share the summary of your entire certificate, so be directly with your wording.
  5. This summary should not exist indented, but should exist double-spaced and less than 250 words.
  6. If applicable, help researchers find your work in databases past listing keywords from your newspaper afterward your summary. To exercise this, indent and type Keywords: in italics.  Then listing your keywords that stand out in your inquiry. You lot tin can too include keyword strings that y'all think readers will type into the search box.
  7. Use an active vocalization, not a passive voice. When writing with an active voice, the subject field performs the action. When writing with a passive voice, the subject receives the action.
    1. Active phonation: The subjects reacted to the medication.
    2. Passive voice: There was a reaction from the subjects taking the medication.
  8. Instead of evaluating your project in the abstruse, simply study what it contains.
  9. If a large portion of your work includes the extension of someone else's research, share this in the abstract and include the author'south concluding name and the yr their work was released.

APA format case page:

Example APA abstract

Here's an example of an abstract:

Visual pattern is a critical aspect of whatsoever web folio or user interface, and its impact on a user'due south experience has been studied extensively. Research has shown a positive correlation between a user'south perceived usability and a user'south assessment of visual design. Additionally, perceived web quality, which encompasses visual blueprint, has a positive relationship with both initial and continued consumer purchase intention. Yet, visual design is often assessed using cocky-report calibration, which are vulnerable to a few pitfalls. Because self-report questionnaires are often reliant on introspection and honesty, it is hard to confidently rely on self-report questionnaires to brand of import decisions. This written report aims to ensure the validity of a visual design assessment instrument (Visual Aesthetics of Websites Inventory: Short version) by examining its relationship with biometric (variables), similar galvanic peel response, pupillometry, and fixation data. Our study looked at participants assessment of a webpage's visual blueprint, and compared it to their biometric responses while viewing the webpage. Overall, we constitute that both average fixation duration and educatee dilation differed when participants viewed web pages with lower visual blueprint ratings compared to web pages with a college visual design rating.

Keywords: usability, visual design, websites, eye tracking, pupillometry, self-report, VisAWI

View our in-depth APA Abstract guide

The torso of an APA paper

On the page afterward the title folio (if a student paper) or the abstract (if a professional paper), begin with the trunk of the paper.

Well-nigh papers follow this format:

  1. At the height of the page, add the folio number in the upper right corner of all pages, including the title page.
  2. On the next line write the title in assuming font and centre it. Do not underline or italicize it.
  3. Brainstorm with the introduction and indent the first line of the paragraph. All paragraphs in the body are indented.

Sample body for a educatee paper:

example APA paper body

Almost scientific or professional papers accept additional sections and guidelines:

  1. Start with the running head (championship + folio number). The heading title should be in capital letters. The abstract folio should be folio 2.
  2. The introduction presents the problem and premise upon which the research was based. It goes into more item about this problem than the abstruse.
  3. Brainstorm a new department with the Method and utilise this give-and-take equally the subtitle. Bold and middle this subtitle. The Method department shows how the study was run and conducted. Exist sure to describe the methods through which information was collected.
  4. Brainstorm a new section with the Results. Bold and middle this subtitle. The Results department summarizes your information. Employ charts and graphs to display this information.
  5. Begin a new section with the Discussion. Bold and center this subtitle. This Give-and-take section is a chance to analyze and interpret your results.
    1. Depict conclusions and support how your information led to these conclusions.
    2. Discuss whether or not your hypothesis was confirmed or not supported by your results.
    3. Determine the limitations of the report and next steps to improve enquiry for hereafter studies.

Sample body for a professional paper:

example apa format professional paper body

View our APA Sample Paper

Go along in mind, APA citation format is much easier than you call up, thanks to EasyBib.com. Try our automatic generator and watch how we create APA commendation format references for you in only a few clicks. While yous're at information technology, take a peek at our other helpful guides, such as our APA reference folio guide, to brand certain yous're on track with your research papers.

Proper usage of headings & subheadings in APA Format

Headings (p. 47) serve an important purpose in research papers — they organize your paper and brand it simple to locate dissimilar pieces of information. In improver, headings provide readers with a glimpse to the primary idea, or content, they are about to read.

In APA format, there are five levels of headings, each with a different formatting:

  • Level one:
    • This is the title of your paper
    • The title should exist centered in the middle of the folio
    • The title should exist bolded
    • Employ upper-case letter and lowercase messages where necessary (called title capitalization)
  • Level 2:
    • Identify this heading against the left margin
    • Use bold letters
    • Use majuscule and lowercase messages where necessary
  • Level 3:
    • Place this heading against the left side margin
    • Utilize bold letters
    • Use uppercase and lowercase letters where necessary
    • Terminate the heading with a period
  • Level 4:
    • Indented in from the left margin
    • Bolded
    • Apply capital and lowercase messages where necessary
    • Stop the heading with a menses
  • Level 5:
    • Indented
    • Bolded
    • Italicized
    • Apply capital letter and lowercase letters where necessary
    • End the heading with a period

Following general formatting rules, all headings are double spaced and there are no extra lines or spaces between sections.

Here is a visual APA format template for levels of headings:

example apa format headings

Use of graphics (tables and figures) in APA Format

If you're looking to jazz upward your projection with any charts, tables, drawings, or images, in that location are certain APA format rules (pp. 195-250) to follow.

Kickoff and foremost, the merely reason why any graphics should be added is to provide the reader with an easier way to run across or read information, rather than typing it all out in the text.

Lots of numbers to discuss? Endeavour organizing your data into a chart or table. Pie charts, bar graphs, coordinate planes, and line graphs are just a few ways to show numerical data, relationships between numbers, and many other types of information.

Instead of typing out long, drawn out descriptions, create a drawing or image. Many visual learners would appreciate the power to expect at an image to make sense of information.

Before you get ahead and place that graphic in your newspaper, here are a few key guidelines:

  1. All graphics, whether they're tables, photographs, or drawings must be numbered. The first graphic, labeled equally 1, should be the first one mentioned in the text.
    1. Follow them in the advisable numerical club in which they appear in the text of your paper. Example: Figure one, Figure 2, Tabular array 1, Figure iii.
    2. Instance: Figure ane, Figure 2, Table i, Figure 3
  2. But utilize graphics if they will supplement the material in your text. If they reinstate what y'all already take in your text, then it is not necessary to include a graphic.
  3. Include plenty wording in the graphic so that the reader is able to understand its meaning, even if it is isolated from the corresponding text. All the same, exercise non become overboard with adding a ton of wording in your graphic.
  4. Left align tables and figures

In our APA format sample newspaper, you'll detect examples of tables after the references. You may also place tables and figures within the text only after information technology is mentioned.

Tables:

Is at that place anything ameliorate than seeing a neatly organized data table? We call up non! If you have tons of numbers or data to share, consider creating a table instead of typing out a wordy paragraph. Tables are pretty easy to whip up on Google Docs or Microsoft Word.

General format of a table should be:

  1. Table number
  2. Title
  3. Table
  4. Note
  • Here are a few pointers to go along in heed:
    1. Cull to blazon out your information OR create a table. As stated above, in APA format, you shouldn't take the information typed out in your paper and also have a table showing the same exact information. Choose one or the other.
    2. If you cull to create a tabular array, discuss it very briefly in the text. Say something along the lines of, "Table 1 displays the amount of coin used towards fighting Malaria." Or, "Stomach cancer rates are displayed in Table four."
    3. If yous're submitting your projection for a grade, place your table close to the text where it's mentioned. If you're submitting it to be published in a journal, most publishers prefer tables to exist placed in the dorsum. If you're unsure where to identify your tables, ask!
  • Numbers & Championship:
    1. Include the table number first and at the superlative. Table 1 is the first table discussed in the paper. Table two is the next tabular array mentioned, and then on. This should exist in assuming.
    2. Add a title under the number. Create a cursory, descriptive championship. Capitalize the first letter of the alphabet for each of import word. Italicize the title and place it under the table number.
  • Formatting:
    1. Only use horizontal lines.
    2. Limit apply of cell shading.
    3. Go along the font at 12-point size and use unmarried or double spacing. If y'all use single spacing in one table, brand sure all of the others apply single spaces as well. Keep information technology consistent.
    4. All headings should be centered.
    5. In the outset column (called the stub), center the heading, left-align the information underneath information technology (indent 0.15 inches if info is more than one line).
    6. Information in other columns should be centered.
  • Note: If y'all need to further explain something, or include an APA format citation, place it in a note below the tabular array. There are 3 types:
    1. General. Data about the whole table.
    2. Specific. Information targeted for a specific column, row, or jail cell.
    3. Probability. Explains what certain tabular array symbols mean. For example, asterisks,p values, etc.

Here's an APA format example of a table:

example apa format table

We know putting together a tabular array is pretty tricky. That'southward why we've included not one, merely a few tables on this page. Scroll downward and look at the additional tables in the essay in APA format case constitute below.

Figures:

Figures represent information in a visual mode. They differ from tables in that they are visually highly-seasoned. Certain, tables, similar the ane to a higher place, can be visually appealing, only information technology's the colour, circles, arrows, boxes, or icons included that make a effigy a "effigy."

There are many commonly used figures in papers. Examples APA Format:

  • Pie charts
  • Photographs
  • Maps
  • Hierarchy charts
  • Drawings

General format of a figure is the same as tables. This means each should include:

  1. Figure number
  2. Title
  3. Figure
  4. Note

Use the same formatting tables use for the number, championship, and note.

Here are some pointers to go along in mind when information technology comes to APA format for figures:

  1. Only include a figure if information technology adds value to your paper. If it volition truly help with understanding, include information technology!
  2. Either include a figure OR write information technology all out in the text. Do not include the same data twice.
  3. If a note is added, information technology should clearly explain the content of the figure. Include any reference data if it'due south reproduced or adapted.

APA format sample of a figure:

example apa format figure

Photographs:

Nosotros live in a world where we have tons of photographs available at our fingertips.

Photographs institute through Google Images, social media, stock photos made available from subscription sites, and tons of other various online sources make obtaining photographs a breeze. Nosotros tin fifty-fifty pull out our cell phones, and in just a few seconds, take pictures with our cameras.

Photographs are elementary to find, and because of this, many students enjoy using them in their papers.

If you have a photograph you would similar to include in your project, here are some guidelines from the American Psychological Association.

  1. Create a reference for the photograph. Follow the guidelines under the table and effigy sections above.
  2. Do non use color photos. It is recommended to employ blackness and white. Colors tin can change depending on the reader'due south screen resolution. Using blackness and white ensures the reader volition be able to view the image clearly. The only time it is recommended to use color photos is if you lot're writing nigh color-specific things. For case, if you're discussing the various shades of leaf coloration, y'all may want to include a few photographs of colorful leaves.
  3. If there are sections of the photo that are not related to your work, information technology is acceptable to crop them out. Cropping is also beneficial in that it helps the reader focus on the principal item you're discussing.
  4. If yous choose to include an image of a person you know, it would be respectful if you enquire their permission before automatically including their photo in your paper.  Some schools and universities post research papers online and some people prefer that their photos and information stay off the Net.

B. Writing Style Tips

Writing a paper for scientific topics is much unlike than writing for English, literature, and other limerick classes. Science papers are much more direct, clear, and concise. This section includes key suggestions, explains how to write in APA format, and includes other tidbits to keep in mind while formulating your inquiry newspaper.

Verb usage in APA

Inquiry experiments and observations rely on the creation and analysis of data to test hypotheses and come to conclusions. While sharing and explaining the methods and results of studies, science writers often use verbs.

When using verbs in writing, make certain that you continue to use them in the aforementioned tense throughout the section you're writing. Further details are in the publication transmission (p. 117).

Here's an APA format example:

We tested the solution to identify the possible contaminants.

It wouldn't make sense to add this sentence after the one in a higher place:

We tested the solution to place the possible contaminants. Researchers often test solutions by placing them under a microscope.

Notice that the start judgement is in the past tense while the second sentence is in the nowadays tense. This can exist confusing for readers.

For verbs in scientific papers, the APA transmission recommends using:

  • Past tense or present perfect tense for the explantation of the procedure
  • Past tense for the explanation of the results
  • Present tense for the caption of the determination and future implications

If this is all a bit much, and you're simply looking for help with your references, try the EasyBib.com APA format generator. Our APA formatter creates your references in just a few clicks. APA citation format is easier than you think thank you to our innovative, automatic tool.

Proper tone

Even though your writing will non accept the same fluff and particular equally other forms of writing, it should not exist boring or ho-hum to read. The Publication Manual suggests thinking about who will exist the primary reader of your work and to write in a way that educates them.

How to reduce bias & labels

The American Psychological Clan strongly objects to whatsoever bias towards gender, racial groups, ages of individuals or subjects, disabilities, and sexual orientation (pp. 131-149). If yous're unsure whether your writing is free of bias and labels or not, have a few individuals read your piece of work to make up one's mind if information technology's adequate.

Here are a few guidelines that the American Psychological Association suggests:

  • Only include information about an private's orientation or characteristic if information technology is important to the topic or report. Practice not include data about individuals or labels if information technology is not necessary.
  • If writing virtually an individual'south feature or orientation, for essay APA format, brand sure to put the person beginning. Instead of saying, "Diabetic patients," say, "Patients who are diabetic."
  • Instead of using narrow terms such as, "adolescents," or "the elderly," try to utilise broader terms such as, "participants," and "subjects."
  • "They" or "their" are adequate gender-neutral pronouns to utilise.
  • Be mindful when using terms that end with "man" or "men" if they involve subjects who are female. For case, instead of using "Firemen," utilize the term, "Firefighter." In general, avoid ambiguity.
  • When referring to someone'southward racial or ethnic identity, apply the census category terms and capitalize the get-go letter of the alphabet. Also, avert using the word, "minority," as information technology tin can be interpreted as significant less than or deficient. Instead, say "people of color" or "underrepresented groups."
  • When describing subjects in APA format, employ the words "girls" and "boys" for children who are under the age of 12. The terms, "young woman," "young man," "female boyish," and "male person adolescent" are appropriate for subjects between thirteen-17 years old; "Men," and "women," for those older than 18. Use the term, "older adults." for individuals who are older. "Elderly," and "senior," are not acceptable if used only as nouns. It is adequate to use these terms if they're used every bit adjectives.

Read through our instance essay in APA format, found in section D, to see how we've reduced bias and labels.

Spelling in APA Format

  • In APA formatting, utilize the same spelling as words found in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Lexicon (American English) (p. 161).
  • If the word you're trying to spell is not found in Webster'southward Collegiate Dictionary, a second resource is Webster'due south Third New International Dictionary.
  • If attempting to properly spell words in the psychology field, consult the American Psychological Association's Dictionary of Psychology

Thanks to helpful tools and features, such as the spell checker, in give-and-take processing programs, almost of us think we have everything we need right in our document. However, quite a few helpful features are found elsewhere.

Where can you notice a full grammer editor? Right here, on EasyBib.com. The EasyBib Plus paper checker scans your paper for spelling, merely also for any conjunction, determiner, or adverb out of identify. Attempt it out and unlock the magic of an edited paper.

Abbreviation do'due south and don'ts in APA Format

Abbreviations tin be catchy. You may be asking yourself, "Do I include periods between the letters?" "Are all letters capitalized?" "Practice I need to write out the full name each and every time?" Not to worry, we're breaking down the publication manual's abbreviations (p. 172) for you hither.

First and foremost, use abbreviations sparingly.

Too many and you lot're left with a paper littered with majuscule letters mashed together. Plus, they don't lend themselves to smooth and piece of cake reading. Readers need to pause and comprehend the meaning of abbreviations and quite often stumble over them.

  • If the abridgement is used less than three times in the paper, type it out each time. It would be pretty difficult to retrieve what an abridgement or acronym stands for if you're writing a lengthy newspaper.
  • If you decide to sprinkle in abbreviations,  it is not necessary to include periods betwixt the letters.
  • Prior to using an unfamiliar abbreviation, you must blazon it out in text and place the abridgement immediately following information technology in parentheses. Any usage of the abbreviation after the initial description, can be used without the description.
    • Instance: While information technology may not impact a patient's short-term memory (STM), it may affect their ability to comprehend new terms. Patients who experience STM loss while using the medication should discuss it with their doctor.
  • If an abbreviation is featured in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary equally is, then it is not necessary to spell it out.
    • Example: AIDS
  • For units of measurement, include the abbreviation if it sits with a number. If the unit of measurement stands alone, type it out.
    • Examples APA format:
      • iv lbs.
      • The weight in pounds exceeded what we previously thought.

Punctuation in APA Format

One infinite after nearly punctuation marks

The manual recommends using i space after nearly punctuation marks, including punctuation at the stop of a sentence (p. 154). Information technology doesn't hurt to double bank check with your teacher or professor to enquire their preference since this rule was inverse recently (in 2020).

The official APA format book was primarily created to aid individuals with submitting their paper for publication in a professional journal. Many schools prefer certain parts of the handbook and modify sections to match their preference. To see an example of an APA format research paper, with the spacing we believe is most unremarkably and adequate to utilize, scroll down and see department D.

For more information related to the handbook, including ofttimes asked questions, and more, hither's further reading on the manner

Commas

It'south often a heated debate amidst writers whether or not to use an Oxford comma (p. 155), but for this way, always utilise an Oxford comma. This type of comma is placed before the words AND and OR or in a serial of three items.

Example of APA format for commas:
The medication acquired drowsiness, upset stomach, and fatigue.

Here's another example:
The subjects chose betwixt cold, room temperature, or warm h2o.

Apostrophes

When writing a possessive atypical noun, you should place the apostrophe earlier the southward. For possessive plural nouns, the apostrophe is placed after the due south.

    • Singular: Linda Morris's jacket
    • Plural: The Morris' house

Dashes

Em dashes (long nuance) are used to bring focus to a particular bespeak or an bated. There are no spaces after these dashes (p. 157).

Use en dashes (short dash) in compound adjectives. Do non place a infinite earlier or later the dash. Here are a few examples:

  • custom-congenital
  • 12-twelvemonth-erstwhile
  • pp. 90-108

Number rules in APA Format

Science papers often include the utilize of numbers, commonly displayed in data, tables, and experiment information. The golden dominion to continue in mind is that numbers less than 10 are written out in text. If the number is more than than x, use numerals.

APA format examples:

  • 14 kilograms
  • seven individuals
  • 83 years old
  • Fourth grade

The golden rule for numbers has exceptions.

In APA formatting, use numerals if y'all are:

    • Showing numbers in a tabular array or graph
    • Referring to information in a table or graph
      • Table seven
    • Including a unit of measurement of measurement directly later on it. Examples APA format:
      • eight lbs.
      • 5 cm
    • Displaying a math equation
      • iv divided by ii
    • Showing a time, age, or appointment
      • 8:08 a.m.
      • 6-calendar month-olds

Use numbers written out as words if you are:

    • Starting the sentence with a number (but try to rearrange the judgement to avoid this!)
      • Ninety-ii percent of teachers experience every bit though….
    • Writing out a commonly used discussion or saying
      • Hundred Years' War
    • Including a fraction
      • I-sixth of the students
    • Showing a time, age, or date
      • viii:08 a.m.
      • half dozen-month-olds

Other APA formatting number rules to keep in heed:

    • Always include a zero earlier a decimal point
      • 0.thirteen chiliad
    • Go on Roman numerals as is. Exercise non translate them into Arabic numerals. Examples APA format:
      • Earth War II
      • Super Basin LII
    • If y'all're including plurals, do not include an apostrophe!
      • It'south 1980s, non 1980's!

Additional number rules tin be found in the publication manual (p. 178)

Need help with other writing topics? Our plagiarism checker is a corking resource for anyone looking for writing help. Say bye to an out of identify substantive, preposition, or adjective, and hello to a fully edited paper.

Overview of APA references

While writing a research newspaper, it is always important to give credit and cite your sources; this lets y'all acknowledge others' ideas and research you've used in your own work. Not doing so can be considered plagiarism, possibly leading to a failed class or loss of a task.

APA way is one of the most commonly used citation styles used to foreclose plagiarism. Hither's more on crediting sources.
Allow's get this statement out of the way earlier you become confused: An APA format reference and an APA format citation are two dissimilar things! We understand that many teachers and professors utilise the terms every bit if they're synonyms, but according to this specific style, they are two separate things, with different purposes, and styled differently.

A reference displays all of the data almost the source — the title, the author'due south name, the year it was published, the URL, all of it! References are placed on the terminal page of a enquiry project.

Here'south an example of a reference:

Wynne-Jones, T. (2015). The emperor of any place. Candlewick Press.

An APA format citation is an APA format in-text citation. These are found inside your paper, someday a quote or paraphrase is included. They commonly only include the name of the author and the date the source was published.

Hither'southward an instance of one:

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is even discussed in the book, The Emperor of Any Identify. The main character, Evan, finds a mysterious diary on his father's desk (the same desk his father died on, afterward suffering from a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy set on). Evan unlocks the truth to his father and grandfather's past (Wynne-Jones, 2015).

Both of the means to credit another individual'southward work — in the text of a paper and also on the final page — are key to preventing plagiarism. A writer must use both types in a paper. If yous cite something in the text, it must take a full reference on the concluding folio of the project. Where in that location is ane, at that place must be the other!

Now that you understand that, here's some basic info regarding APA format references (pp. 281-309).

  1. Each reference is organized, or structured, differently. Information technology all depends on the source type. A book reference is structured one way, an APA journal is structured a different way, a newspaper commodity is some other way. Yeah, it'south probably frustrating that not all references are created equal and set up the aforementioned way. MLA works cited pages are unique in that every source type is formatted the aforementioned way. Unfortunately, this style is quite different.
  2. Most references follow this general format:

Writer'due south Last name, First initial. Heart initial. (Twelvemonth published). Title of source. URL.

Again, as stated in the in a higher place paragraph, you must expect up the specific source blazon yous're using to observe out the placement of the title, writer's proper noun, year published, etc.

For more information on APA format for sources and how to reference specific types of sources, use the other guides on EasyBib.com. Here's another useful site.

Looking for a total visual of a page of references? Curlicue down and take a peek at our APA format essay example towards the bottom of this folio. You'll see a listing of references and you tin can gain a sense of how they look.

Bonus: here's a link to more virtually the fundamentals related to this item manner. If you lot want to castor up or catch upwards on the Modernistic Language Association'southward style, here'south a bang-up resource on how to cite websites in MLA.

View our in-depth guide on APA Citations

In-text APA commendation format

Did you observe the perfect quote or piece of information to include in your projection? Style to go! It'due south always a squeamish feeling when we observe that magical slice of data or info to include in our writing. Yous probably already know that y'all tin't just copy and paste it into your project, or type it in, without also providing credit to the original author.

Displaying where the original information came from is much easier than yous recall.Directly adjacent to the quote or information you included, place the author'southward name and the year nearby. This allows the reader of your piece of work to come across where the data originated.

APA allows for the use of two different forms of in-text citation, parenthetical and narrative Both forms of citation require two elements:

  1. writer's name
  2. twelvemonth of publication

The only divergence is the way that this data is presented to the reader.

Parenthetical citations are the more commonly seen form of in-text citations for academic piece of work, in which both required reference elements are presented at the cease of the sentence in parentheses. Example:

Harlem had many artists and musicians in the late 1920s (Belafonte, 2008).

Narrative citations permit the author to present one or both of the required reference elements inside of the running sentence, which prevents the text from existence too repetitive or burdensome. When just one of the two reference elements is included in the sentence, the other is provided parenthetically. Example:

According to Belafonte (2008), Harlem was full of artists and musicians in the late 1920s.

If in that location are ii authors listed in the source entry, then the parenthetical reference must listing them both:

(Smith & Belafonte, 2008)

If in that location are iii or more than authors listed in the source entry, and then the parenthetical reference can abbreviate with "et al.", the latin abridgement for "and others":

(Smith et al., 2008)

The writer's names are structured differently if there is more i author. Things will also look different if there isn't an writer at all (which is sometimes the case with website pages). For more information on APA citation format, cheque out this folio on the topic: APA parenthetical commendation and APA in-text citation. There is also more information in the official transmission in affiliate viii.

If information technology'southward MLA in-text and parenthetical citations you're looking for, nosotros've got your covered there too! Y'all might want to also check out his guide on parenthetical citing.

Would you benefit from having a tool that helps you easily generate citations that are in the text? Bank check out EasyBib Plus!

View our in-depth APA In-text Citations guide

References folio in APA Format

An APA format reference page is easier to create than you probably call back. Nosotros go into detail on how to create this page on our APA reference page. If you're simply looking for a brief overview of the reference page, nosotros've got you lot covered hither.

Here are some pointers to go on in heed when it comes to the references page in APA format:

  • This VIP page has its very own page. Start on a fresh, make clean document (p. 303).
  • Centre and bold the title "References" (do not include quotation marks, underline, or italicize this title).
  • Alphabetize and double-infinite ALL entries.
  • Use a readable font, such equally Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, or Lucida (p. 44).
  • Every quote or piece of outside information included in the newspaper should be referenced and have an entry.
  • Even though it'due south called a "reference folio," it can be longer than one page. If your references menses onto the side by side page, and then that's a-okay.
  • Only include the running head if it is required by your teacher or you're writing a professional newspaper.

Sample reference folio for a student paper:

apa example student reference page

Here'south another friendly reminder to use the EasyBib APA format generator (that comes with EasyBib Plus) to quickly and easily develop every single ane of your references for yous. Try it out! Our APA formatter is piece of cake to use and set up to use 24/seven.

View our in-depth guide on APA Reference Pages

Concluding APA Format Checklist

Prior to submitting your paper, check to brand certain you accept everything you lot need and everything in its place:

  1. Did you credit all of the information and quotes you used in the trunk of your paper and show a matching total reference at the end of the newspaper? Think, you need both! Need more information on how to credit other authors and sources? Check out our other guides, or use the EasyBib APA format generator to credit your sources chop-chop and easily. EasyBib.com also has more than styles than just the 1 this page focuses on.
  2. Is your title page properly formatted? Yous may feel tempted to make the championship in a larger font size or add graphics to jazz it upwards a bit. Go along it professional looking and brand everything 12 pt size font and double spaced. Here are recommended font sizes:
        1. 12-pt. Times New Roman
        2. 11-pt. Calibri, Arial, Georgia
        3. 10-pt. Lucida, Sans Unicode, Estimator Modern
  3. If you lot created an abstract, is it direct after the championship folio? Some teachers and professors practice not require an abstract, so before you go ahead and include it, brand sure it'south something he or she is expecting.
  4. Is this a professional person paper or a student paper?
    1. Professional person paper — Did you include a running caput on every single page of your project?
    2. Pupil paper — Did you lot include folio numbers in the upper right-mitt corner of all your pages?
  5. Are all headings, equally in department or chapter titles, properly formatted? If y'all're not sure, check section number nine.
  6. Are all tables and figures aligned properly? Did you include notes and other important information direct below the table or figure? Include any data that will assist the reader completely empathise everything in the table or figure if information technology were to stand lonely.
  7. Are abbreviations used sparingly? Did y'all format them properly?
  8. Is the entire document double spaced?
  9. Are all numbers formatted properly? Check department 17, which is APA writing format for numbers.
  10. Did you glance at the sample paper? Is your consignment structured similarly? Are all of the margins uniform?

Check your newspaper for plagiarism & grammer errors

Submitting Your APA Newspaper

Congratulations for making it this far! Yous've put a lot of effort into writing your paper and making sure the t'due south are crossed and the i's are dotted. If you're planning to submit your newspaper for a school assignment, brand sure yous review your teacher or professor's procedures.

If you're submitting your paper to a journal, y'all probably need to include a cover letter.

Most encompass letters enquire you to include:

  1. The author's contact information.
  2. A statement to the editor that the paper is original.
  3. If a similar paper exists elsewhere, notify the editor in the cover alphabetic character.

Once over again, review the specific periodical's website for verbal specifications for submission.

Okay, so yous're probably thinking you lot're prepare to hit send or impress and submit your consignment. Can we offer one concluding proposition? Nosotros promise it will only take a minute.

Consider running your paper through our handy slap-up paper checker. Information technology's pretty simple.

Re-create and paste or upload your paper into our checker. Within a infinitesimal, we'll provide feedback on your spelling and grammer. If there's a pronoun, interjection, or verb out of place, nosotros'll highlight information technology and offer suggestions for comeback. We'll even accept it a step further and point out whatever instances of possible plagiarism.

If it sounds besides expert to be true, then head on over to our innovative tool and give it a whirl. Nosotros promise yous won't be disappointed.

Cheque your newspaper for plagiarism & grammar errors

What is APA Format?

APA stands for the American Psychological Association. In this guide, yous'll find information related to "What is APA format?" in relation to writing and organizing your paper according to the American Psychological Association'south standards. Information on how to cite sources can be constitute on our APA citation page. The official American Psychological Association handbook was used as a reference for our guide and we've included folio numbers from the manual throughout. Nonetheless, this folio is non associated with the clan.

You lot'll most likely employ APA format if your paper is on a scientific topic. Many behavioral and social sciences use this organization'due south standards and guidelines.

What are behavioral sciences? Behavioral sciences written report human and brute behavior. They can include:

  • Psychology
  • Cognitive Scientific discipline
  • Neuroscience

What are social sciences? Social sciences focus on one specific aspect of human being behavior, specifically social and cultural relationships. Social sciences tin can include:

  • Folklore
  • Anthropology
  • Economics
  • Political Science
  • Human Geography
  • Archaeology
  • Linguistics

What's New in the 7th Edition?

This commendation style was created by the American Psychological Association. Its rules and guidelines can be found in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. The information provided in the guide above follows the 6th edition (2009) of the manual. The 7th edition was published in 2020 and is the almost recent version.

The 7th edition of the Publication Manual is in full color and includes 12 sections (compared to 8 sections in the 6th edition). In full general, this new edition differentiates betwixt professional and student papers, includes guidance with accessibility in mind, provides new examples to follow, and has updated guidelines.We've selected a few notable updates below, but for a full view of all of the 7th edition changes visit the manner'south website linked hither.

  • Comprehend folio. For student papers, the encompass folio should include all of the following details:
    • Paper championship
    • Student name
    • Amalgamation (eastward.grand., school, section, etc.)
    • Form number and title
    • Form instructor
    • Due appointment
  • Font. Recommended fonts include:
    • 12-pt. Times New Roman
    • 11-pt. Calibri, Arial, Georgia
    • 10-pt. Lucida, Sans Unicode, Computer Mod
  • Running heads. These are no longer required for student papers. When included on professional papers, exercise not include the words "Running head:" before the newspaper title/caput. For example:
    • 6th edition – Running caput: SMARTPHONE Effects ON ADOLESCENT SOCIALIZATION
    • 7th edition – SMARTPHONE EFFECTS ON Boyish SOCIALIZATION
  • Pronouns. "They" can exist used as a gender-neutral pronoun.
  • Bias-free language guidelines. At that place are updated and new sections on guidelines for this section. New sections address participation in research, socioeconomic status, and intersectionality.
  • Spacing after sentences. Add together only a single space later on cease punctuation.
  • Tables and figures. The citing format is at present streamlined and then that both tables and figures should include a name and number above the table/figure, and a note underneath the table/effigy.
  • In-text citations. If there are 3 or more source authors, you can shorten the reference past using "eg al." afterward the first name.
    • sixth ed. – (Ikemoto, Richardson, Murphy, Yoshida 2016)
    • seventh ed. – (Ikemoto et al., 2016)
  • Citing books. The location of the publisher can be omitted. Besides, e-books no longer need to mention the format (due east.g., Kindle, etc.)
  • Using DOIs. DOI numbers should formatted equally a URL.
    • Case: https://doi.org/x.1038/s42255-019-0153-5
  • Using URLs. URLs no longer need to be prefaced by the words "Retrieved from."

New citing data. There is new guidance on citing classroom or intranet resources, and oral traditions or traditional knowledge of ethnic peoples.

View Additional APA 7 Changes

Visit our EasyBib Twitter feed to discover more citing tips, fun grammar facts, and the latest product updates.

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication transmission of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.) (2020). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

apa format

Published October 31, 2011. Updated May 14, 2020.

Written and edited by Michele Kirschenbaum and Elise Barbeau. Michele Kirschenbaum is a schoolhouse library media specialist and the in-house librarian at EasyBib.com. Elise Barbeau is the Citation Specialist at Chegg. She has worked in digital marketing, libraries, and publishing.

APA Formatting Guide

When should I employ "et al." in my APA reference list entry?

We should not apply "et al." in APA reference list entries. If the number of authors in the source is up to and including 20, listing all author names and employ an ampersand (&) before the final author'due south name. If the number of authors is more 20, listing the first 19 authors' names followed by an ellipsis (but no ampersand), and and then add the final author's proper noun. An example of author names in a reference entry having more than twenty authors is given below:

Author Surname1, F. 1000., Author Surname2, F. G., Author Surname3, F. M., Author Surname4, F. 1000., Author Surname5, F. Chiliad., Author Surname6, F. Thousand., Author Surname7, F. M., Writer Surname8, F. M., Author Surname9, F. Yard., Author Surname10, F. Thousand., Author Surname11, F. G., Author Surname12, F. M., Author Surname13, F. G., Author Surname14, F. M., Author Surname15, F. M., Author Surname16, F. One thousand., Author Surname17, F. 1000., Author Surname18, F. Grand., Author Surname19, F. Yard., . . .  Last Author Surname, F. Yard. (Publication Year).

Alvarez, Fifty. D., Peach, J. L., Rodriguez, J. F., Donald, L., Thomas, M., Aruck, A., Samy, 1000., Anthony, M., Ajey, M., Rodriguez, Thousand. L., Katherine, Yard., Vincent, A., Pater, F., Somu, P., Pander, L., Berd, R., Pull a fast one on, L., Anders, A., Kamala, Westward., . . . Nicole Jones, K. (2019).

Notation that, unlike references with 2 to xx author names, the symbol "&" is not used here before the last author's proper noun.

What is new in APA 7?

APA 7, released in Oct 2019, has some new updates. Here is a brief description of the updates fabricated in APA 7.

Unlike types of papers and best practices are given in detail in Chapter 1.

How to format a educatee title page is explained in Chapter ii. Examples of a professional person paper and a student paper are included.

Chapter 3 provides additional information on qualitative and mixed methods of enquiry.

An update on writing style is included in Chapter 4.

In chapter 5, some best practices for writing with bias-costless language are included.

Chapter half dozen gives some updates on fashion elements including using a single infinite after a period, including a citation with an abbreviation, the treatment of numbers in abstracts, treatment for dissimilar types of lists, and the formatting of cistron and protein names.

In Chapter 7, boosted examples are given for tables and figures for different types of publications.

In Affiliate 8, how to format quotations and how to paraphrase text are covered with additional examples. A simplified version of in-text citations is clearly illustrated.

Chapter 9 has many updates: listing all author names up to twenty authors, standardizing DOIs and URLs, and the formatting of an annotated bibliography.

Chapter ten includes many examples with templates for all reference types. New rules covering the inclusion of the outcome number for journals and the omission of publisher location from volume references are provided. Explanations of how to cite YouTube videos, ability bespeak slides, and TED talks are included.

Chapter 11 includes many legal references for easy understanding.

Chapter 12 provides advice for authors on how to promote their papers.

For more than data on some of the changes found in APA seven, check out this EasyBib article.