How to Format an APA Paper: 7th Edition Guide

Start by configuring the basic layout of your document. Use 1-inch margins on the top, bottom, left, and right sides of every page. Set your entire document to double-spacing, including the title page and the reference list. Do not add extra space before or after paragraphs. This uniform spacing ensures readability and provides room for instructor comments. If you are using Microsoft Word or Google Docs, these settings are found in the 'Layout' or 'Format' menus respectively.

Select a highly legible font. While 12-point Times New Roman is the traditional choice, APA 7th edition also accepts 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, or 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode. Use the same font throughout the entire paper, including page numbers and image captions. Align your text to the left margin, leaving the right margin 'ragged' or uneven. Do not use full justification, as it creates irregular spacing between words that can hinder reading.

The title page is the first page of your paper. Center the following elements in the upper half of the page: the paper title (in bold, title case), your name, your academic department and university, the course name and number, the instructor's name, and the assignment due date. Place a page number in the top right header. Note that student papers do not require a 'running head' unless your professor explicitly asks for one. Leave three to four blank lines between the title and your name.

Indent the first line of every paragraph by 0.5 inches using the Tab key. Use APA heading levels to organize your content. Level 1 headings should be centered and bold in title case. Level 2 headings should be flush left and bold in title case. Ensure that your in-text citations follow the author-date format, such as (Smith, 2020). If you are quoting directly, you must include a page number, such as (Smith, 2020, p. 15).

Begin your reference list on a new page at the end of the paper. Center the label References in bold at the top. List all sources alphabetically by the author's last name. Apply a hanging indent of 0.5 inches to every entry, meaning the first line is flush left and all subsequent lines are indented. Double-space the entire list. Ensure every source cited in your text appears in the reference list, and every source in the list is cited in your text.