How to Do Research: A Step-By-Step Guide: 5e. APA Formatting

Margins

• Use 1" margins for the entire document.
• Use a 1/2" indent for every paragraph and footnote.
• Indent set-off quotations 1/2" from the left margin.

Text Formatting

• Use 12 pt Times New Roman font.
• Do not justify the text or use hyphenation.
• Double-space the text, title, headings, footnotes, quotations, references and captions.
• Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks.

Page Header (Running Head)

• Include a running head on every page.
• Page number should be flush right.
• Type the entire title in capital letters. Title should be flush left.
• Shorten the title if necessary. It cannot exceed more than 50 characters.

Title Page

• Title should not include abbreviations or exceed more than 12 words.
• Title should be typed using upper and lower case letters.
• Center the title and position in the upper half of the page.
• Center the author's name directly under the title.
• Format the name omitting titles (dr, prof, etc.) and degrees: First name, middle initial, last name.
• Center the insitutional affliliation directly under the author's name.
• Author's notes are not required for dissertations and theses.

Abstract

• Begin the abstract on a new page.
• Identify it with the running head or abbreviated title and the page number 2.
• Label the page "Abstract" in upper and lower case letters, centered, at the top of the page.
• The summary itself should be single spaced without indentation.

Introduction

• Begin introduction on a new page.
• Identify it with the running head or abbreviated title and the page number 3.
• Type the title of the manuscript in upper and lower case letters, centered, at the top of the page.
• The summary itself should be single spaced without indentation.

Manuscript Content

• The remaining sections of the manuscript follow each other without a page break; do not start a new page with a new heading.
• Each manuscript page should carry the running head and a page number.

Footnotes

• Number all footnotes consecutively in the order in which they appear in the manuscript with superscript numerals.
• Place the footnote at the bottom of the page on which it is discussed.
• Alternatively, footnotes can be placed on a separate page after the references.

Appendices

• Begin each appendix on a new page.
• Center the word Appendix and the identifying capital letter (A, B, etc.) at the top of the page.
• Center the title of the appendix, and use upper and lower case letters.
• Begin the text of the appendix flush left, followed by indented paragraphs.

 See the sample APA Style paper at the Purdue OWL.

NOTE: EasyBib, RefMe, and Zotero will help you format your entire paper in APA style.

In-text citations in the body of your manuscript point the reader to specific sources listed in your References. They usually include:

• author’s last name
• title (if no author is given)
• publication date
• page numbers

Examples

Author's name in text
Author has expressed this concern (1995, p.128).

Author's name in parenthetical reference
This concern has been expressed (Baily & Sage, 1988, p.128).

References provide bibliographic information for the sources you used, thereby allowing your reader to identify and locate those materials. To format the page:

• Begin the list on a new page at the end of your paper
• Use 1" margins
• Include the Running Head
• Center the References title
• List sources alphabetically
• Double space within and between entries
• Indent entries longer than one line by 1/2"