This guide explains APA format (7th edition) from the title page to the reference list, with correct, ready-to-copy examples. APA format is the citation and layout style published by the American Psychological Association, and it is the standard for psychology, education, nursing, business, and many social sciences. You can also build entries automatically with our APA citation generator.
What APA format covers
APA format is not only about citations. It sets rules for how the whole paper looks: the title page, page headers, headings, fonts, margins, in-text citations, and the reference list. Following these rules consistently makes your work easier to read and shows that you used your sources responsibly. This guide reflects the 7th edition, published in 2020, which is the current version most instructors require.
There are two slightly different APA setups: the student paper and the professional paper. Most coursework uses the student version, which is simpler. Differences are noted below where they matter.
Paper layout: fonts, margins, and spacing
Start with the page setup before you write. These settings apply to the entire document.
- Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all four sides.
- Line spacing: double-space the whole paper, including the title page, block quotations, and the reference list.
- Font: use one accessible, legible font throughout. Acceptable options include 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, or 11-point Georgia.
- Alignment: align text to the left and leave the right edge ragged (not justified).
- Indentation: indent the first line of every paragraph 0.5 inches.
- Page numbers: place a page number in the top right corner of every page, starting with 1 on the title page.
The title page
A student title page is centered in the upper half of the page and includes, on separate double-spaced lines:
- The paper title in bold (with one blank double-spaced line above it).
- Your name (the author).
- Your department and university.
- The course number and name.
- The instructor’s name.
- The assignment due date.
A professional title page differs: it adds an author note and uses a running head. Students do not need an author note unless their instructor asks for one.
The running head
In the 7th edition, the running head changed. Student papers do not need a running head at all, just the page number. Professional papers include a running head: a shortened version of the title in all capital letters, 50 characters or fewer, aligned to the left in the page header, with the page number on the right. The words “Running head:” are no longer used.
Headings: the five levels
APA uses up to five heading levels to organize a paper. Use them in order, and do not skip a level. Short papers often use only Level 1 and Level 2.
- Level 1: Centered, Bold, Title Case. Text starts on a new paragraph below.
- Level 2: Flush Left, Bold, Title Case. Text starts on a new paragraph below.
- Level 3: Flush Left, Bold Italic, Title Case. Text starts on a new paragraph below.
- Level 4: Indented, Bold, Title Case, Ending With a Period. Text begins on the same line.
- Level 5: Indented, Bold Italic, Title Case, Ending With a Period. Text begins on the same line.
Note that the title of your paper acts as a de facto heading at the top of the body, so you do not need a heading labeled “Introduction.”
In-text citations
APA uses an author-date system. Every source you cite in the text must also appear in the reference list, and vice versa. There are two forms: parenthetical and narrative. If you are unsure which to use, see our guide on parenthetical vs narrative citations.
Parenthetical: both the author and year sit inside parentheses, for example (Smith, 2020). Narrative: the author appears in the sentence and the year follows in parentheses, for example Smith (2020) found that.
When you quote directly, add a page number with the abbreviation “p.” for one page or “pp.” for a range, as in (Smith, 2020, p. 15) or (Smith, 2020, pp. 15–16). For a deeper walkthrough, see our guide on how to cite a quote, or create both short forms with the APA in-text citation generator.
How many authors?
- One author: (Smith, 2020).
- Two authors: name both every time, joined by an ampersand inside parentheses: (Smith & Jones, 2020). In narrative text, use “and”: Smith and Jones (2020).
- Three or more authors: name only the first author followed by “et al.” from the first citation: (Smith et al., 2020).
For more detail on group and corporate authors, see our guide on how to cite multiple authors and the overview of in-text citations.
The reference list
The reference list starts on a new page after the body. Center the word References in bold at the top. List entries alphabetically by the first author’s last name, double-spaced, with a hanging indent of 0.5 inches (the first line is flush left and later lines are indented). Below are correct examples for the most common source types.
Journal article
Smith, J. A., & Jones, R. B. (2020). The structure of attention in young readers. Journal of Educational Psychology, 112(3), 145–162. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000123
In-text: (Smith & Jones, 2020).
The article title is in sentence case (only the first word and proper nouns capitalized). The journal name and volume number are in italics; the issue number, in parentheses, is not. End with the DOI as a full URL. See how to cite a journal article for variations, or paste the identifier into the DOI to APA citation converter.
Book
Smith, J. A. (2019). Learning and memory in the classroom (2nd ed.). Academic Press.
In-text: (Smith, 2019).
The book title is in italics and sentence case. The publisher comes last, with no location in the 7th edition. For chapters and edited volumes, see how to cite a book. If you have the ISBN, use the ISBN to APA citation generator to retrieve the matching edition for review.
Website
Smith, J. A. (2021, March 15). How sleep affects learning. Wellness Institute. https://www.example.com/sleep-learning
In-text: (Smith, 2021).
Include the full date when available. The page title is italicized, and the site name follows in plain text. If the author and site name are the same, omit the site name. Our how to cite a website guide covers no-author and no-date cases. You can also paste the page URL into the APA website citation generator.
Quotations and paraphrasing
Quote sparingly and paraphrase most of the time. A quotation of fewer than 40 words goes in the running text inside double quotation marks. A quotation of 40 words or more becomes a block quotation: start it on a new line, indent the whole block 0.5 inches, and do not add quotation marks. Place the citation after the closing punctuation of a block quote. Citing your sources correctly is the main way to avoid plagiarism.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using “et al.” for only two authors. With exactly two, always name both.
- Capitalizing article and book titles in title case. APA uses sentence case for these.
- Forgetting the hanging indent on reference entries.
- Including a source in the text but not in the reference list (or the reverse).
- Adding a publisher location for books, which the 7th edition removed.
- Writing “Running head:” on a student paper, which no longer applies.
If you are comparing styles for a class, our APA vs MLA comparison shows where the two differ, and the main citation generator supports many formats at once.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between APA 6th and 7th edition?
The 7th edition simplified several rules. Student papers no longer use a running head, publisher locations were dropped for books, “et al.” now applies to three or more authors (instead of six or more), and DOIs are written as full URLs. Always confirm which edition your instructor requires, since the 7th edition is current.
Do I need a running head on a student paper?
No. In APA 7th edition, student papers only need a page number in the top right corner of each page. The running head with a shortened title is required for professional papers submitted for publication, not for typical coursework.
What font and spacing does APA format require?
Use a single legible font such as 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, or 11-point Georgia. Double-space the entire paper, including the title page and reference list, and use 1-inch margins on all sides.
Should book and article titles be in title case or sentence case?
In the reference list, book and article titles use sentence case, so you capitalize only the first word, the first word after a colon, and any proper nouns. Journal names, however, are written in title case and italicized.