Title page for a professional paper in APA 7 style.
Remember to double-space the text and set one-inch margins. Many people overlook these APA basics for their student paper, but they make a big difference!
APA style requires that your essay be double-spaced throughout. This means that there should be one blank line between each line of text. Double-spacing makes your essay easier to read and understand and provides plenty of room for your instructor or professor to make comments and suggestions. APA style requires that your essay be written in a 12-point font, such as Times New Roman. This font size is easy to read and provides a consistent look and feel throughout your document. An abstract in APA format is a concise summary of your paper, located on a separate page right after the title page. Start by placing the word "Abstract" at the top, centred and in bold. Below this, without indenting, begin writing a clear and concise summary of your paper's key points, including the problem investigated, the methods used, the main results, and the conclusions. The abstract should be a single paragraph, typically between 150-250 words, double-spaced, and should not include any citations or overly detailed statistical information. Besides margins, font, and spacing, APA style also mandates the use of headers and running heads to improve the organization and navigation of your essay. Headings are used to indicate the main sections and subsections of your essay, and they include the title of your essay and the page number. On the other hand, running heads are placed at the top of each page and indicate the title of your essay. In the following section, we will share some tips on creating headers and running heads that conform to APA style guidelines. Following APA citation rules carefully ensures accurate information and proper credit. This is important for academic and professional papers, as it allows readers to locate your sources easily. Following the author's name, add the institutional affiliation which identifies the location where the research was conducted. This should be centred and double-spaced from the author's name. If there are multiple authors with different affiliations, use superscript numerals next to each author's name to link them to their respective affiliations listed below. Finally, ensure that the page includes a page number in the top right corner, starting from the title page. This setup not only adheres to APA guidelines but also enhances the readability and professional appearance of your document.
For additional information on APA, check out .
Using headings and subheadings effectively organises an APA essay and guides the reader through the content. APA style includes five levels of headings, each with specific formatting rules. Level 1 headings are centred, bold, and use title case; they introduce major sections like "Methods" or "Results". Level 2 headings are left-aligned, bold, and also use title case, designed for subsections under level 1 headings. As you structure your essay, ensure each major section features at least two subheadings or none at all to maintain a balanced structure.
A sample APA essay is available at this .
In the results section, present what you found. Then, analyze these findings in the discussion section. Use APA’s heading styles to keep everything organized and clear.
Follow these five steps to format your abstract in APA Style:
To create a header in APA style, you should use the "Insert" tab in your word processing software. Select "Header," then choose "Blank." Type your title in all capital letters, and then insert the page number using the "Page Number" feature.
Resources to help with citation in APA, Chicago, CSE, MLA, and more.
Headers and running heads are essential parts of an essay written in APA style. They not only help to make your essay look professional, but they also make it easier for readers to navigate through your work. In this section, we'll provide tips on creating headers and running heads that adhere to APA style guidelines.
Resources to help with citation in APA, Chicago, CSE, MLA, and more.
Headers are used to indicate the title of your essay, as well as the page number. To create a header in APA style, you should use the "Insert" tab in your word processing software. Select "Header," then choose "Blank." Type your title in all capital letters, and then insert the page number using the "Page Number" feature.
Sample of an APA format title page for a student paper:
Setting up your document in APA style is an essential step in writing an essay that adheres to the formatting guidelines set out by the American Psychological Association. Proper margins, font, and spacing ensure that your essay looks professional and make it easier to read and understand. This section will walk you through setting up your document according to APA style guidelines.