This site is intended for users of the APA style. We also provide the tutorial that is same either MLA or CMS style.
Introduction
Formatting your essay in accordance with the APA guidelines (6th ed.) can be very tricky. Fortunately, this guide will help you score high marks for professionalism. And, even if you’re not planning to read it, do scroll down to download our free APA essay template.
Note: All detailed instructions refer to Microsoft Word. You may have to look for an equivalent setting if you’re using a different word processor.
The Basic Principles
Essay Components
An APA paper has four parts:
- The Title Page
- The Abstract
- The Essay
- The Reference List
It’s best to split up each section with a page break (Insert > Page Break).
The default font is Times New Roman, size 12 (a smaller size is fine for footnotes). In the event that you select just about any font, make sure it is a serif font. You might, however, use a sans-serif font for captions and descriptions in figures and tables.
All around since 2007, the default margin for any Word document has been 1 inch. Fortunately, APA format has got the requirement that is same. If for some good reason you will need to fix the margins, go to Page Layout > Margins > Normal.
All of the text in your essay should really be double-spaced. Which will make this change quickly, first press Ctrl + A to highlight all text and then press Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing (symbol) > 2.0. Make sure you also click on “Remove Space After Paragraph.”
Let’s look in the layout that is basic of APA title page:
Let’s break down what goes in making a great title page. The thing that is first wish to accomplish is make sure that your first page is formatted independently through the other countries in the paper. To do so click on Page Layout > Page Setup > Layout > Different First Page.
Then add a full page number (Insert > Page Number > Plain # 3) and add a Running head. The head that is running your essay title in 50 characters best buy papers cheap or less (that includes spaces and punctuation). In the event the full title is just too long, provide a shorter version. Once you’ve typed the title, press Tab once or twice to help make the Running head flush aided by the margin that is left. Don’t forget to make use of the right font.
Once you add your title, make sure that you capitalize important words, not prepositions and articles.
Optional: you could add an note that is author’s the bottom of your title page. To learn more, please see pp. 24-25 for the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). The author’s note is more common for published papers, and most students can safely ignore it.
The abstract receives its own page:
This time leave out the words “Running head” and give simply the title (or even the shortened version). Insert a full page number (Insert > Page Number > Plain # 3), and then make sure your header is in the right font (Times New Roman, size 12). Each subsequent page should currently have the correct header.
Centre the phrase Abstract and left-align the summary that is actual. Usually do not indent this paragraph.
Essay Start Page
Your essay really begins from the third page:
Finally, don’t forget to cite your sources:
For more details, please visit our page on formatting the reference list.
APA papers tend to be divided in to sections. If you’d like to organize your material with headings, you can pick from a number of different headers. Begin by using first level headers and employ the others for sub-headers:
First Level Header (Bold, Centered, as well as in Title Case)
Second Level Header (Bold, Left Aligned, plus in Title Case)
Third level header (indented, bold, and lowercase), ending with a period.
Fourth level header (just like the third level, nevertheless now in italics!).
Fifth level header (just like the fourth level, although not in bold).
You don’t have to use some complex numbering system (e.g., 3.2.1b) to organize your ideas as you can see. The formatting regarding the trick is done by the header.