Learn how to format your APA paper in minutes!
Formatting is an everyday thing when you're a study consultant. This is why mastering this knowledge is essential. Following the next steps, you'll be able to format your APA paper like the pro you are!
Now, before you start writing your essay or assignment, you should keep in mind the following aspects:
- Your paper should be double spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5 “x 11″) and have 1” margins on all sides.
- APA suggests 12p. Times New Roman font.
- The first word in every paragraph should be indented one-half inch.
- Double space your whole paper.
- Add page numbers
Watch this video to know how to follow these basic aspects of APA format with Word's help
You also need to consider the paper's sections:
- Title Page
- Abstract (IF the professor indicates it)
- Main Body
- References
Your specific paper may not have all the sections, but these are the most common. The sections of your paper will depend on the requirements of your assignment. However, it is common to find that in more informal assignments, you only have a Title Page, Main Body, and Reference section.
Title Page
- Title of your paper
- Client/Studen name
- The Institution/School’s name
- Course name and code
- Essay due date
It should look like this:
PRO TIP: Every title and subtitle in APA format needs to be properly capitalized. To make this task easier, we recommend using this site. Make sure to select the correct format and paste your title so the site can make the necessary changes.
In-Text Citations
Citations are the most important part of your format. If you don't cite, your arguements wont be credible, making your paper look unprofessional. To properly cite, you first need to understand a couple terms:
1. In-text citations: When you copy and paste another author's words into your paper. Also, when you paraphrase someone else's ideas or arguments. You need to credit the author of those ideas by citing within the text.
2. Quotations: Extracts from a source.
3. Direct Quotes: Using the exact same words from a source.
4. Paraphrasing: Using your own words to explain an idea/argument from a source.
Now that you know this, let me knoe you how to properly cite your paper.
When paraphrasing, quoting, or using someone else’s ideas, the last name of the author and the year of the publication must be cited as follows:
(Mancini, 2013).
- For direct quotes from sources, include the page number as well. For example:
(Mancini, 2013, p. 123)
- For multiple works separate each work with semi-colons:
(White & Coetzer, 2007; Mears & Beck, 2003).
- When citing multiple authors:
If you are referring to several authors within parentheses use “&” to separate the names.
One author: (Latessa, 2005)
Two authors: (Latessa & Hubbard, 2013)
Three to five authors:
First citation: (Latessa, Hubbard & Matthews, 2009).
Subsequent citations: (Latessa et al., 2009).
Short Quotations
Short quotations are less than forty words. This type of quotation is incorporated into the text, and quotation marks are used to indicate specific information.
Here we use a phrase to indicate the author’s last name and date of publication in parentheses to introduce the author’s quote:
According to Mancini (2013), “Many researchers think that public opinion should not be considered when conducting empirical research” (p. 33).
If you do not indicate the author before the quote, state the author’s last name, year of publication and the page number in parentheses after the closing quotation marks.
The professor affirmed that “Many researchers think that public opinion should not be considered when conducting empirical research” (Mancini, 2013, p. 33).
The punctuation for the sentence goes AFTER the parenthesis.
Long Quotations
If your quotation has forty words or more, indent your whole quotation half an inch and start writing in a new line without quotation marks. After the final punctuation mark, state your source.
Criminal offenses of a sexual nature are undoubtedly a contentious issue in the United States due, in part, to the tremendous impact on the victim (especially child victims), the often violent nature of the crime as well as the distinctive sense of fear emanating from the release of the seemingly incurable sex offender post-incarceration. Thus, to say sex offending is a polarizing topic is an understatement, as it seems everyone, from laypeople to academics alike, formulates robust opinions on the subject (often to the contrary) and frequently rooted in sensationalism and myth (Mancini, 2013, p 133).
Citing Web Pages
Citing web pages work exactly like any other type of source.
- Web page with an author:
Louis Sullivan believed that the exterior of a tall office building should reflect its internal functions (Craven, 2018).
- If you do not know the author’s name, use the title of the article and the publication date to make the in-text citation.
People with a borderline personality disorder may experience mood swings and display uncertainty about how they see themselves and their role in the world (“Border Line Personality Disorder,” 2017).
- If the title of the article is too long, use only the first two words.
- If the web page does not have a publication date, use d. (no date) in place of the year.
Leaders help themselves and others to do the right things. They set direction, build an inspiring vision, and create something new (“Mind Tools Content Team,” n.d.).
Reference Section
Congratulations! Finally, you have reached the final part of your assignment. Many people are afraid of references, yet there are many online tools that can help you.
We recommend MyBib (Please check our "How to Use MyBib" article to know more about this tool).
- Start the references page on the last blank of your essay
- Write the word ‘References’ at the top center of the page, Dot not bold or italicize
- Your references must be in alphabetical order by author
- Your reference list must be double spaced
- Indent one-half inch with each reference
Here’s an example of a reference page:
Watch this video to know how to follow these basic aspects of APA format referencing with Word's help