Page setup
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides.
- Font: one accessible font used throughout, such as 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, 11-point Georgia, or 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode.
- Spacing: double-space everything, including the title page and reference list. No extra space between paragraphs.
- Paragraphs: indent the first line 0.5 inch and align text to the left (ragged right edge).
- Page numbers: top right corner of every page, starting with 1 on the title page.
- Running head: not required for student papers unless your instructor asks for one.
The student title page
Place the title in bold, centered, three or four lines down from the top. After one blank line, add these lines, each centered:
- Your name
- Department and university (for example, Department of Psychology, Arizona State University)
- Course number and name (for example, PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology)
- Instructor's name
- Assignment due date (for example, October 24, 2026)
An abstract is not usually required for a student paper. Add one only if your instructor asks.
APA headings
| Level | Format |
|---|---|
| 1 | Centered, Bold, Title Case Heading |
| 2 | Flush Left, Bold, Title Case Heading |
| 3 | Flush Left, Bold Italic, Title Case Heading |
| 4 | Indented, Bold, Title Case Heading, Ending With a Period. Text begins on the same line. |
| 5 | Indented, Bold Italic, Title Case Heading, Ending With a Period. Text begins on the same line. |
Do not use the heading "Introduction" at the start of the paper; the paper title, repeated in bold and centered at the top of the first page of text, serves that purpose.
In-text citations
APA uses the author-date system. Every source cited in the text must appear in the reference list.
| Situation | Parenthetical | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| One author | (Nguyen, 2021) | Nguyen (2021) |
| Two authors | (Nguyen & Patel, 2021) | Nguyen and Patel (2021) |
| Three or more authors | (Nguyen et al., 2021) | Nguyen et al. (2021) |
| Group author | (American Heart Association, 2023) | American Heart Association (2023) |
| Direct quotation | (Nguyen, 2021, p. 14) | Nguyen (2021) wrote that "..." (p. 14). |
Use "et al." from the first citation for works with three or more authors. Quotations of 40 or more words go in an indented block quotation without quotation marks.
The reference list
- Start on a new page with the label References, bold and centered.
- List entries alphabetically by the first author's last name.
- Use a 0.5-inch hanging indent and double spacing.
- Include up to 20 authors in an entry.
- Italicize book titles and journal names with volume numbers; use sentence case for article and book titles.
Nguyen, T. L., & Patel, R. (2021). Sleep quality and academic performance in first-year students. Journal of American College Health, 69(4), 412–420. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx
Brown, P. C., Roediger, H. L., III, & McDaniel, M. A. (2014). Make it stick: The science of successful learning. Belknap Press.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, March 5). Title of the page in sentence case. https://www.cdc.gov/...
The journal article and web page entries above are formatting illustrations with placeholder details. Always copy the real authors, title, DOI, or URL from your source.
Common APA mistakes
- Using "&" in narrative citations (write "and" in the sentence, "&" only inside parentheses).
- Listing the publisher's location for books (not required in the 7th edition).
- Writing "Retrieved from" before URLs (only needed for content designed to change, with a retrieval date).
- Title case for article titles in the reference list (use sentence case).
- Missing page or paragraph numbers for direct quotations.
Frequently asked questions
What font should I use for APA 7th edition?
Any accessible font your instructor allows, used consistently. Common choices are 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Calibri or Arial, and 11-point Georgia.
Do student papers need a running head in APA 7?
No. The 7th edition removed the running head for student papers unless your instructor or institution requires it. Page numbers are still required.
Is an abstract required for an APA student paper?
Not usually. Include an abstract only when your instructor asks for one.