APA Style Guide (7th Edition)

All papers, including student papers, generally include a title page, text, and references. They may include additional elements such as tables and figures depending on the assignment or instructor's requirements. Student papers generally do not include an abstract unless requested.

In general, arrange the pages of an APA Style paper in the following order:

• title page
• abstract
• text
• references
• footnotes
• tables
• figures
• appendices

Typically, start each section on a new page. However, the order of pages is flexible for tables and figures and footnotes.

To learn more visit the APA Style website: Order of Pages section

NOTE: Papers such as theses may require additional elements not listed here. Check with your supervisor and follow your departmental guidelines to order the pages of a thesis.

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Title page formatting: 

• Place the title three to four lines down from the top of the title page. Center it and type it in bold font. Capitalize major words of the title. 
  • If the title is longer than one line, separate the title and subtitle on double-spaced lines if desired
• Place one double-spaced blank line between the paper title and the author names. Center author names on their own line. 
• Center the affiliation on the next double-spaced line after the author name(s).
• Center the course number and name on the next double-spaced line after the author affiliation. Provide the course number, followed by a colon and the course name. 
• Center the instructor name on the next double-spaced line after the course number and name.
• Center the due date on the next double-spaced line after the instructor name. Provide the due date for the assignment. Use the date format commonly used in your country.
• Use the page number 1 on the title page. Use the automatic page-numbering function of your word processing program to insert page numbers in the top right corner of the page header.

Title page sample: 

NOTE: To learn more about title page, visit APA Page Setup

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Student paper should follow the following requirements:

• Font: Calibri 11, Arial 11, or Times New Roman 12
• Line spacing: Double-space the entire paper.
• Margins: Use 1-in margins on all sides of the page.
• Paragraph indentation: Indent the first line of every paragraph 0.5 inch. For consistency, use the tab key.
• Page number: All pages should be numbered in a continuous way.

NOTE: To learn more about paper format, visit APA style website

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Headings identify the content within sections of a paper. There are five levels of headings in APA style. They are used to effectively organize ideas within a study or manuscript. By creating concise headings, the reader can anticipate key points and track the development of your argument. The heading levels establish the hierarchy of each section and are designated by their formatting.

NOTE: To learn more about headings, visit the APA Style website: Headings section 

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