apa dissertation margins

APA 7th Edition Formatting

A Simple, Step-by-Step Guide + Free Template

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Reviewer: Eunice Rautenbach (DTech) | June 2023

Formatting your paper in APA 7th edition can feel like a pretty daunting task , and understandably so. In this post, we’ll walk you through the APA 7 requirements, step by step. We’ll also share our free APA template , which you can use to fast-track your writing.

Student vs Professional Papers

First things first, it’s important to clarify that APA 7th edition has slightly different requirements for two different types of papers: student papers and professional papers . In this post, we’ll focus on the requirements for student papers. This will cover pretty much any paper you’ll need to submit as part of a degree program, including a dissertation or thesis (although those can require some small tweaks – more on that later).

Overview: APA 7th Edition Formatting

• APA structure and layout
• General page setup
• The title page
• The abstract
• The main body
• The reference list
• The appendices
• Free APA template

Structure and Layout

Let’s start by looking at the overall structure of a student paper formatted for APA 7th edition, before diving into the details of each section. APA requires that your paper follows a very specific, standardised structure , consisting of the following parts:

The title page : this will include the title of your paper, as well as a subtitle (if required by your university). It will also contain some information about yourself, your department and the course you’re writing the paper for.

The abstract : depending on the length of your paper and the requirements of your university, you may be required to present a brief abstract, summarising the core takeaways from your paper.

The main body : this section is the “heart” of your paper, containing the bulk of your word count. This is where you’ll present your A-grade writing!

The reference list : this section is where you’ll detail all the reference information corresponding to the in-text citations in the main body of your paper (the previous section).

Tables and figures: in the vast majority of cases, universities require that tables and figures are included in the main body of the paper, but if that’s not the case, the alternative is to have a dedicated section for the tables and figures. This is uncommon though, but we’ve mentioned it just in case.

The appendices : depending on the length of your paper and the specific requirements of your university, you may be required to include an appendix or a set of appendices containing supplementary information, such as data sets or evidence of some sort of fieldwork.

These core sections form the standard structure and order of a student paper using APA 7th edition. As we mentioned, not all of these sections are always required (specifically, the abstract, tables and figures section, and the appendix are less common), so be sure to check what your university expects from you before submitting.

Now that we’ve got a big-picture view, let’s look at the specific formatting requirements for each of these sections, step by step.

Generic Page Setup

Before you jump into writing up your paper, you’ll need first set up your document to align with APA 7th edition’s generic page requirements. Alternatively, you download our APA template (which comes fully preformatted) to fast-track your writing.

APA 7th edition requires a 1-inch margin on all sides of your document, for all pages. That said, if you’re writing a dissertation, thesis or any document that will ultimately be bound, your university will likely require a larger left margin to accommodate for binding.

Fonts & sizing

You’ll need to use a specific font and font size consistently throughout your student paper. The approved options for APA 7th edition are as follows:

• Sans serif fonts: 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, or 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode
• Serif fonts: 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Georgia, or normal (10-point) Computer Modern (the default font for LaTeX)

Within figures , you will need to use a sans serif font, typically between 8 and 12 points in size. It’s best to check with your university what their preference is in this regard. For footnotes , you can use whatever the default settings are in your word processor.

In general, all text other than headings needs to be left-aligned and should not be justified . We’ll cover the formatting of headings a little later.

Line spacing

APA 7th edition requires double line spacing throughout the document . There should also be no extra space before and after paragraphs . One exception to this rule is that text within figures or tables can utilise single or 1.5-line spacing. Again, it’s a good idea to check with your university what their specific preference is.

Running header

Last but not least, you’ll need to set up a running header for your document. This should contain the page number and should be positioned in the top right corner of all pages (including the first page). There is no need for footer content unless your university specifically requests it.

With these generic formatting considerations out of the way, let’s dive into the specific requirements for each section of your paper.

The Title Page

The title page is the shop window of your paper; it’s where you make the all-important first impression to your reader. Therefore, it’s really important to make sure your format this exactly as required for APA 7th edition.

Here’s the process you can follow to set up your title page for success.

• Centre-align your curson and create 4 empty lines
• On a new line, type the title of your paper in boldface, using title case
• On a new line, type the subtitle of your paper in boldface, using title case
• Add one blank line, then write your full name on the next line
• On a new line, type your affiliation (your department and university or school name)
• On a new line, type your course code and course name (match the format used by the institution)
• On a new line, type your professor or course instructor’s name
• On a new line, type the due date for your paper

Remember to centre align all of this text and do not use justification . If you’re unsure about how to write using title case, here’s a useful title case converter . To make it all a little more tangible, below is an example of a title page formatted according to APA 7th edition specifications.

The Abstract

As we mentioned earlier, an abstract is not always required for student papers, but if your university has indicated that they require one, you’ll need to follow a specific format for APA 7th edition. Here’s how you can set it up:

• Start your abstract on a new page
• On the first line, type “Abstract”. This should be boldface and centred
• On a new line, write the abstract. This should be aligned flush left (no indentation) and is typically 150 – 250 words in length.
• On a new line, type “Keywords:”. This should be indented a half inch and italicized
• On the same line, include 3 – 5 relevant keywords. These should all be written in lowercase and should not be italicised. They should be separated by commas and there should be no period after the final keyword.

Here’s an example of an abstract page formatted according to APA 7th edition specifications.

The Main Body

Now we can move on to the important stuff – the body section of your paper. There are quite a few things you need to know about formatting this section for APA 7th edition – let’s unpack it step by step.

Initial set-up

To kick things off, insert a page break and start your main body on a new page . You can then copy and paste the title (and subtitle, if you have one) from your title page onto the first line of your body page.

With your title (and subtitle) in place, you can start your write-up on a new line . This should be left-aligned and the first line of each paragraph should have a half-inch indent . As with the rest of your paper, this section should use double-line spacing.

The first paragraph of your main body does not require a heading as it’s generally assumed that the first paragraph will be introductory in nature. For the rest of the body, you can use headings as you see fit. However, it’s important to understand the specific formatting requirements for APA headings . Here’s a quick overview:

Level 1: Centered, boldface, title case (paragraph text starts on a new line) Level 2: Flush left, boldface, title case (paragraph text starts on a new line) Level 3: Flush left, boldface, italic, title case (paragraph text starts on a new line) Level 4: Indented, boldface, title case, end the heading with a period (paragraph text starts on the same line) Level 5: Indented, boldface, italic, end the heading with a period (paragraph text starts on the same line)

It’s also important to note that headings shouldn’t be labelled with any numbers or letters. For example, “1. Potential Causes”, “2. Consequences”, etc. Instead, you can stick to purely descriptive headings.

Related to this, you should avoid using an excessing number of headings – less is more when it comes to headings. Don’t feel the need to use multiple headings or heading levels, especially for shorter papers. Just keep it simple 🙂

Text styling and punctuation

APA 7th edition has specific requirements with regard to text styling and punctuation. Here are some of the most important requirements you’ll need to follow:

• Use a single space (as opposed to a double space) at the end of each sentence (i.e., after the period)
• Use an Oxford comma when listing out 3 or more items
• Use words to write any number less than 10 , as well as when starting a sentence
• Write out all fractions in text format (e.g., two-thirds, three-quarters, etc.)
• Use numerals for any numbers that represent time , dates , age or money

There are a few important rules to follow in terms of language use when writing your paper using APA format. Most importantly, you’ll need to:

• Use active voice (as opposed to passive voice) as much as possible
• Stick to one verb tense throughout the same and adjacent paragraphs
• Avoid using contractions , colloquial language or excessive jargon
• Use bias-free language – you can learn more about this here

In-text citations

APA 7th edition has a very specific set of requirements regarding how to reference resources within your paper. Here are some of the most important things you need to be aware of:

Author-date system: in-text citations consist of (at a minimum) the lead author’s last name, followed by the date of publication. APA does not use numbers or footnotes to denote citations.

Types of citations: APA allows two types of in-text citations – parenthetical (non-integrative) and narrative (integrative). Parenthetical citations feature the author and date in parentheses (brackets) at the end of the respective sentence. Here’s an example:

APA 7th edition is easy to grasp if you visit the Grad Coach blog (Jansen, 2023).

Narrative citations weave the author into the flow of the sentence and only include the date in parentheses at the end of the sentence. Here’s an example:

Jansen states that APA 7th edition is easy for students to grasp if they visit the Grad Coach blog (2023).

Both of these citation formats are acceptable and, in general, it’s a good idea to utilise a mix of both in your writing.

Quotations: when quoting text verbatim from a source, you’ll need to include the page number of the original text in your citation. This number needs to be placed after the date portion of the citation, whether it’s a narrative or parenthetical citation. Here’s an example:

APA 7th edition is easy to grasp if you visit the Grad Coach blog (Jansen, 2023, p.45).

Multiple authors: when citing resources that were created by three or more authors, you only need to state the lead author’s last name, followed by “et al.”. Here’s an example:

APA 7th edition is easy to grasp if you visit the Grad Coach blog (Jansen et al., 2023).

As we mentioned, APA has an extensive set of requirements regarding how to format and structure in-text citations and references, so please keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list. If you’d like to learn more, you can visit the referencing section of the APA site here . Below you can find an example of a portion of body content from our free template , which demonstrates the different types of citations.

The Reference List

With your body content taken care of, the next item on the agenda is the reference list. Again, APA has a notably large set of requirements regarding the content and formatting of the reference list. Nevertheless, we’ll cover the basics here to help you get started.

Basic setup

As with all sections, your reference list needs to start on a new page and should be titled “References”. The title should be boldfaced and centred . The reference list should then start on the next line. As with the rest of the document, the reference list should have double line spacing throughout.

The list itself

The reference list should comprise the following:

• All sources cited in the body of your document should feature in the reference list. Make sure that every citation is accounted for in your reference list.
• The references should be ordered alphabetically , according to the lead author’s last name .
• Each entry must include (at a minimum) information regarding the author (s), publication date , the title of the article and the source (e.g., an academic journal).
• All references should be left-aligned and should use a hanging indent – in other words, the second line of any given reference (if it has one) should be indented a half inch.

We have to stress that these are just the basics. APA 7th edition requires that all of your references must be structured and formatted in a very specific way , depending on the type of resource. For example, the content and formatting requirements for a journal article will be significantly different from that of a blog post or magazine article (you can see some examples in our template ).

Simply put, if you plan to draft your reference list manually, it’s important to consult your university’s style guide or the APA manual itself. This leads us to our next point…

In general, it is a terrible idea to try to write up your reference list manually . Given the incredibly high level of detail required, it’s highly likely that you’ll make mistakes if you try to write this section yourself. A much better solution is to use reference management software such as Mendeley or Zotero. Either of these will take care of the formatting and content for you, and they’ll do a much more accurate job of it too. Best of all, they’re both completely free.

If you’re not familiar with any sort of reference management software, be sure to check out our easy-to-follow explainer videos for both Mendeley and Zotero .

The Appendix

Last but not least, we’ve got the appendix (or appendices). The appendix is where you’ll showcase any supporting data for your student paper. This section is not always required , especially for shorter papers, so don’t worry if it sounds unfamiliar. If you’re unsure, check with your university if they require (or even allow) appendices.

If an appendix is required, here’s how you’ll set it up:

• Start the appendix on a new page
• Title the page “Appendix” if there is only one appendix , or “Appendix A”, “Appendix B”, etc. if there are multiple appendices . This title should be boldfaced and centred.
• On a new line, write the title of the appendix . Again, this should be boldfaced and centred.
• On a new line, start your appendix content . As with the body content, the first line of each paragraph should be indented.

An important point to remember is that you need to refer to your appendix within your main body section . This typically means including a line that reads something like “(see Appendix A for more information)”. In other words, your appendix should never be an orphan.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that appendices don’t typically earn marks (at least not directly). To be clear, your appendix can help support the claims you make in your body content (which would have a positive impact on its mark-earning potential), but, in most cases, markers will not award marks to the appendix content itself. If you’re unsure, check with your university what their policy is.

Wrapping Up

In this post, we’ve provided a primer covering the core requirements for student papers using APA 7th edition . To recap, we’ve looked at the following:

One last thing to point out; it might be obvious but it’s important to mention it – if your university has specified anything that contrasts what we’ve discussed here, do follow their guidance . Some universities and/or programmes will have slight variations on the standard APA requirements, and you want to make sure you follow them.

Psst… there’s more (for free)

This post is part of our dissertation mini-course, which covers everything you need to get started with your dissertation, thesis or research project. 

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• How to cite a dissertation in APA Style

How to Cite a Dissertation in APA Style | Format & Examples

Published on December 16, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on December 27, 2023.

The format for citing someone else’s dissertation or thesis in APA Style depends on whether the thesis is available from a database, published somewhere else (e.g. on a university archive or personal website), or unpublished (only available in print form directly from the author or university).

To cite a dissertation or thesis from a database, use the following format. In the square brackets, specify the type of dissertation or thesis and the university. As with other database sources, no URL or DOI is included.

Table of contents

Citing a dissertation published elsewhere, citing an unpublished dissertation in apa style.

To cite a dissertation or thesis published in a university archive (often in PDF form ) or on a personal website, the format differs in that no publication number is included, and you do list a URL.

Are your APA in-text citations flawless?

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To cite an unpublished dissertation (one you got directly from the author or university in print form), add “Unpublished” to the bracketed description, and list the university at the end of the reference, outside the square brackets.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, December 27). How to Cite a Dissertation in APA Style | Format & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved March 25, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-examples/dissertation/

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APA 7th Edition Style Guide: Formatting Your Paper

• About In-text Citations
• In-Text Examples
• What to Include
• Volume/Issue
• Bracketed Descriptions
• URLs and DOIs
• Book with Editor(s)
• Book with No Author
• Book with Organization as Author
• Book with Personal Author(s)
• Chapters and Parts of Books
• Classical Works
• Course Materials
• Journal Article
• Magazine Article
• Multi-Volume Works
• Newspaper Article
• Patents & Laws
• Personal Communication
• Physicians' Desk Reference
• Social Media
• Unpublished Manuscripts/Informal Publications (i.e. course packets and dissertations)
• Formatting Your Paper
• Formatting Your References
• Annotated Bibliography
• Headings in APA
• APA Quick Guide
• NEW!* Submit your Paper for APA Review

APA recommends using the same font throughout your paper. IRSC Librarians recommend using 12-point Times New Roman font. If not using Times New Roman, then another serif  or  sans serif typeface should be used for its readability. Only use different typeface in figure descriptions, in that case, use a font between 8 and 14 points.

Line Spacing & Margins

Use double-spacing throughout the entire paper.To add double-spacing in Microsoft Word, highlight all the text you want double-spaced, then click on Page Layout . Next to the word Paragraph click on the arrow. Under Spacing , Line Spacing , select Double and then click OK .

Leave 1 in. margins from top to bottom and side to side. Microsoft Word usually is set to 1 in. margins. You can check this by clicking on Page Layout , then click on Margins. The margin you are using is highlighted, select Normal if it is not already selected. 

Number of Spaces after a Period

APA style recommends placing one space  after a period

• that ends a sentence, 
• when the period separates parts of a reference entry, 
• and after author name abbreviations (i.e. Lander, F. K.).

Do not put a space after a period

• for internal abbreviations (i.e., U.S., p.m.).

Video How-To Set-Up an APA Paper for a Mac

APA Research Paper Template

• APA Research Paper Template for Word 2016 This template was created and saved as a Word template for Microsoft Word 2016.

You can save this template in Microsoft Word (IRSC students, download Office for free, see a librarian if you need help). Above is a template you can use every time you need to set-up a research paper using APA style format. Simply open the template and type your own information every time you need to write an APA style research paper. 

• APA Research Paper Template with an Abstract

The newest edition of APA, 7th edition does not require the use of an abstract for student papers; however, your instructor may wish you to include one. This template has the abstract included.

Sample Paper

The new APA 7th edition has a format for writing a professional paper as well as one for a student paper. These directions are a set-up for student papers. In the header, on the right, is the page number, starting with 1. Centered on the page is the full title of the paper in boldface type. Place one extra space after the title of the paper. Following is the author (or authors if this is a group paper), the department and institution to which the paper is affiliated, the course number and course name, the professor's name, and the due date of the paper.

The text of your paper begins on the second page. The full title starts it off at the top center of a new page, in boldface font. For the rest of the paper, you only need page numbers in the header. Remember to cite!

Your References start on its own page and goes at the end of your paper. Title it References, centered, and bold-faced at the top. The references are alphabetized and have a hanging indent.

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• Next: Formatting Your References >>
• Last Updated: Feb 13, 2024 6:21 PM
• URL: https://irsc.libguides.com/APA

APA Style 7th Edition: Citing Your Sources

• Basics of APA Formatting
• In Text Quick View
• Block Quotes
• Books & eBooks
• Thesis/Dissertation

Standard Format

Formatting rules, various examples.

• Audiovisual
• Conference Presentations
• Social Media
• Legal References
• Reports and Gray Literature
• Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
• Additional Resources
• Reference Page

Adapted from American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed).  https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

Formatting:

• Italicize the title
• Identify whether source is doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis in parentheses after the title

See Ch. 10 pp. 313-352 of APA Manual for more examples and formatting rules

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• Last Updated: Nov 1, 2023 3:17 PM
• URL: https://libguides.usc.edu/APA7th

APA Style, 7th edition - Citing Sources

• Getting Started
• Formatting the Paper

Dissertation & SPP Format Pieces

Creating a toc in apa, dnp spp toc examples, edd toc examples, important: signature page, the abstract & keywords.

• Student vs. Professional
• Writing Style
• All about the DOI
• OVERVIEW - READ FIRST!
• Dictionary Entry
• Government Report
• Journal Article
• Lecture Notes
• Legal Resources
• Lexicomp via UpToDate
• Magazine Article
• Newsletter Article
• Newspaper Article
• Online Course or MOOC
• Organization Report
• Social Media
• Tables & Figures
• Video: Films on Demand
• Video: Online
• Video: Psychotherapy.net
• Video: YouTube
• Want Your Paper Reviewed for APA?

If you are on this tab, you have probably been asked to format a dissertation or Scholarly Practice Project paper using APA format. Use the below information to help you format the different pieces of your paper.  Please check with your academic department to see if they have an official dissertation/SPP format template for your program.

A note on Table of Contents: Most APA papers do not require a Table of Contents (TOC). If you are writing a Dissertation or Scholarly Practice Project, you may be asked to include one. Please note: the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association does not have an official stance on formatting a Table of Contents page .

Below, you will find some general information and examples of Table of Contents (TOC), Abstracts and Keywords, and the Signature page that you may find helpful.

• Scribbr Creating an APA-style Table of Contents This tutorial from Scribbr is extremely helpful in formatting your APA Table of Contents.

Use the below examples as a reference point for forming your Table of Contents. These should be used as a baseline for formatting-- yours will be more specific to your headings and subject-matter.

• DNP SPP TOC Example 1
• DNP SPP TOC Example 2
• EdD Dissertation TOC Example 1
• EdD Dissertation TOC Example 2

Your signature page is one of the most important pieces of your final product. It proves that you completed the dissertation!  Below is an example of what your signature page should look like (names blanked out for privacy).

If you have any questions about the signature page or how to get it signed, please contact your program director.

ABSTRACT : An abstract is required for your Dissertation or Scholarly Practice Project and must be included before submitting your final copy to Proquest.  An abstract is a brief, comprehensive overview of your paper. Generally, it should not exceed 250 words.

KEYWORDS : You should also include keywords. Keywords are descriptive terms that encompass the themes of your paper. Think about what terms you used when searching for your topic in the databases. This is what researchers will use to find your paper!

• APA Style Abstract and Keywords Handout For more information on creating an Abstract and Keywords, please use this handout from the APA Style site.
• Professional Paper sample with Abstract Example See page one of this document for an example of an Abstract and Keywords, with annotations on where to find more information in APA Manual. From the APA Style site.
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• Last Updated: Feb 21, 2024 12:05 PM
• URL: https://libguides.regiscollege.edu/APA7

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• Subject Guides

EDK 850 Research Design & Proposal Development

• Formatting your Dissertation in APA Style
• Getting Started
• Journal Articles/Databases
• Books/Reference Materials
• How to Request Books and Articles from Other Libraries (ILL)
• Literature Reviews
• Citation Management Tools
• Research Methods Resources for Graduate Students
• Formatting using Microsoft Word
• Education Websites
• Info about UM-Dearborn Doctoral Requirements & Deadlines

APA Style Resources

Here are some general APA Style resources. Scroll down further to see more details about citations and paper formatting. 

• APA Style Website The APA Style Website is the official website for APA 7th edition, and includes formatting guidelines for formatting your overall paper including title page setup, tables and figures, as well as guidelines for formatting reference citations. Sample papers are included.
• Excelsior Online Writing Lab: APA Style The Excelsior OWL is an excellent resource for how to write and cite your academic work in APA Style. This is a recommended starting point if you're not sure how to use APA style in your work, and includes helpful multimedia elements.

Several print copies of the APA 7th edition Publication Manual are available for checkout at the Mardigian Library.

(Sorry, APA does not provide an eBook version of this for libraries at the present time.)

APA Style 7th edition Citations (References and In-Text Citations)

If you're new to citation, this brief video will cover an introduction to in-text citations and reference lists in APA 7th edition. Scroll down for more recommended resources about citations. 

More information including examples and sample papers can be found at the recommended websites below: 

• APA Style Website: Reference Examples Guidelines about references from the official APA Style website.
• APA Style Website: In-text Citations Guidelines for in-text citations from the official APA Style website.
• APA 7th edition quick reference handout This quick reference guide to APA 7th edition citations is handy and includes many commonly cited source types and corresponding in-text citations.
• APA In-text Citation Checklist APA's official In-text citation checklist for the 7th edition.

APA Style 7th edition Formatting for Professional Papers (including Dissertations)

• APA Style Website: Sample Annotated Professional Paper This is the official sample professional paper from the APA Style website, and includes annotations illustrating the usage of each element.
• APA Style Website: Paper Format The APA Style website's paper format page includes all of the elements of paper format that you need to follow, including information about the title page, margins and spacing, fonts and headings. Sample papers are included.

CEHHS Formatting Requirements for Ed.D. Dissertations

CEHHS uses the current version of the APA Publication Manual (7th edition) for all matters of format with the exception of some particular requirements for the Title page, pagination (especially of front matter) and top margins. Unless otherwise stated in the CEHHS Ed.D. Dissertation Guide below, defer to APA 7th edition. 

Some formatting aspects to be sure you are following correctly include: 

• Tables and Figures, including labeling thereof
• CEHHS Ed.D. Dissertation Guide
• UM-Ann Arbor Scholarspace Microsoft for Dissertations Guide
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• Next: Formatting using Microsoft Word >>
• Last Updated: Mar 10, 2024 2:54 PM
• URL: https://guides.umd.umich.edu/educationresources

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APA 7th ed. Style Guide

• Formatting Your Paper
• In-text Citations
• Textual Works
• Data Sets, Software, Tests
• Audiovisual Media
• Online Media

Formatting guidelines and sample papers are found in chapter 2 of the APA 7th edition Publication Manual

Sample papers.

You can find sample papers from Purdue OWL's website, APA 7th edition Publication Manual, or APA style website.

• APA Style Student Paper with Annotations in the Comments A Word Document featuring an APA 7th edition Style Student Paper that includes annotations as comments.
• APA Style Professional Paper with Annotations in Comments A Word Document featuring an APA 7th edition Style Professional Paper that includes annotations as comments.
• Purdue OWL Sample Papers

General Formatting Guidelines

Follow these guidelines throughout your paper:

• Double space text
• Header for student and professional papers includes the page number in the upper right hand corner
• Single space after ending punctuation
• Font size and style: Times New Roman 12 pt, Arial 11 pt, Calibri 11 pt, or Georgia 11 pt
• Use the same font type and size throughout the paper (exceptions for figure images, computer code, and footnotes - see 2.19 in APA Manual)
• Margins: 1 inch on all sides
• Left align paragraphs and leave ragged (uneven) margins on the right
• Indention: use 0.5 inch indention for the first line of every paragraph (use tab key for consistency)

Formatting Title Page

The 7th edition Publication Manual for APA introduced the student and professional papers. The major difference between these two types of papers is found on the title page. Please, see the guidelines below for formatting the title page of your document. Also note, follow your professors' guidelines for formatting the title page.

General Title Page Guidelines:

• Double space
• The title should summarize the main idea and be focused/succinct (avoid unnecessary words)
• Title written in title case (the first letter of each word is capitalized), bold, centered, and positioned in the upper half of the title page
• Use the author(s) first name, middle initial, and last name as the author's byline

Student Papers:

• title of the paper
• name of the author(s)
• author affiliation (department and institution name)
• course number and name 
• instructor name
• assignment due date (i.e. November 4, 2020)
• page number (in the header)

Professional Papers:

• author affiliation
• author note
• running head (abbreviated title) - Flush with left margin and written in all capital letters

Formatting Headings

Follow this format for headings (see 2.27 of the Publication Manual for additional details):

Level 1 headings are written in bold title case and aligned to the center. The text begins as a new paragraph.

Level 2 headings are written in bold title case and aligned flush to the left. The text begins as a new paragraph.

Level 3 headings are written in bold, italicized title case, and aligned flush to the left. The text begins as a new paragraph.

Level 4 headings are written in bold title case, indented from the left, and end with a period. The text begins after the period and continues like a regular paragraph.

Level 5 headings are written in bold, italicized title case, indented from the left, and end with a period. The text begins after the period and continues like a regular paragraph.

Formatting Reference List

The following are guidelines for formatting your reference list:

• Start on a new page after the last page of text
• Label the page Reference(s) with a capitalized R, written in bold and centered
• Double space all entries
• Use hanging indent for reference entries (first line of the reference is flush with left margin, subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches)
• Order alphabetically (see chapter 9 section 44-49 for additional instructions on entry order)
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Dissertation Submission Requirements & Procedures

• Submitting Your Electronic Dissertation to ProQuest
• Dissertation Formatting Requirements
• APA 7th Ed This link opens in a new window
• Finding Dissertations

Sample Pages

• Copyright Page
• Education Title Page
• Health Professions Education Title Page
• Human Sexuality Title page
• Nursing DNP Title Page
• Nursing PhD Title Page
• Psychology Title Page
• Social Work Title Page
• Table of Contents
• Table of Contents for Health Professions Education
• List of Tables, Figures & Appendixes

APA Style 7th Edition: Professional Paper Formatting

Headings & Table of Contents Formatting

• How to Set Up an APA Table of Contents in MS Word

APA Style 7th Ed: Tables

• Tables & Figures

Need Help with Your Writing?

Formatting Your Dissertation:

Your dissertation MUST conform to the following formatting:

• 1 inch top and left
• 1 inch bottom and right
• Text must be double spaced.
• References must be double spaced.
• References must conform to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (Check with your school for guidance on whether is it the 6th ed. or 7th ed.) and the dissertation guide from your school.
• Courier, Times Roman, or similar font
• 12 point font size

Pagination:

• Running headers are not permitted.
• All pages of the dissertation must be counted and assigned a number, including prefatory material, graphs, figures, tables, illustrations, references list, and appendixes.
• Pages preliminary to the text are paginated with lower case Roman numerals, except the title page, sign-off page, and copyright page. The location is in the middle of the page, 3/4 of an inch from the bottom.
• Page numbers for the main text are located in the upper right-hand corner of the page 3/4 of an inch from the top of the page.
• How to get a page number on a page with landscape orientation

Page Sequence:

• Sign-off Page (This page is obtained from the secretary of the Dean for your School or Division after your defense. It is signed by the committee members. The library does not have this sheet. If you have any questions be sure to check with your advisor.)
• Dedication Page (Begin with Roman Numeral iv)
• Acknowledgments
• List of Tables
• List of Figures
• List of Appendixes
• Body of Text (Begin Chapter 1 with Page Number 1)

Headings: 

NOTE: You will need to modify the preset Word heading styles. 

MS Word Formatting

• Word for Mac
• Word for PC

Section Breaks & Page Orientation

How to Combine PDFs Using Mac

• LinkedIN Learning: Word for Mac Essential Training
• MS Word for Mac: Styles, Section Breaks & Pagination

Adding Page Numbers

Creating Landscape Pages

How to Combine PDFs 

• Rotate Landscape Page Numbers to Match Portrait Layout
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Ed.D. Dissertation Guide: Formatting

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APA and formatting guidelines

Please note that the APA Publication Manual is primarily intended for submitting papers for journal publication. It lacks guidelines specific to dissertations and doctoral projects.  To fill this gap, this research guide provides  general formatting guidelines for you to follow. Please check with your department for any specific requirements.

General formatting guidelines

• for electronic submissions: 1" margins on all sides
• for hard copy submissions to the bindery: 1,5" on the left-hand margin to accommodate binding and 1" on all other sides

Exception: allow more than 1" at the bottom of a page to avoid “widow” and “orphan” lines

Typeface  

• Times New Roman

Exceptions : special characters, math signs, symbols, and words in foreign languages

• 12-point font

Exception : use 10-point font for texts in figures/tables, footnotes, footnote numbers, and captions for figures 

• double-space between all text lines, including references and block quotes
• no extra spacing between paragraphs or before or after text headings

Exceptions : text in figures/tables and captions for figures and tables must be single-spaced

Line length

• maximum of 6.5 inches
• no hyphenation to break words at the end of a line

Indentation

• the first line of every paragraph, ½ inch, left justified

Exceptions : titles and headings; the abstract; block quotations; table titles and notes; figure captions

• no justification of right margins  

Page numbers

         Front matter: lower case Roman numerals (i, ii, iii)

Note:  The title page is unnumbered but presumed to be “i,” so the page following it is “ii.” 

Main text and back matter: numbered consecutively using Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3)

Page number placement

• at the top right of each page, including the title page 
• on the same line as the header
• numbers under 10 are written out
• numbers 10 and above are presented numerically
• numbers are always written out if they begin a sentence
• percentages are listed numerically (10%), unless the percent is the beginning of a sentence 
• first word of each paragraph, 5 spaces (1/2"inch) from left margin
• hanging indents for references

Running heads

• Title page: no running head
• All other pages: a short capitalized TITLE of your dissertation (no longer than 50 characters, including spacing and punctuation) in the top left corner of each page​

Note:  The running head should be placed within the 1” margin, not below it, on the same line as the page number,  approximately 1⁄2 - 3⁄4” from the top edge of the paper.

• double-space after all punctuation at the end of a sentence 
• punctuation is placed inside quotation marks
• punctuation is placed outside of parentheses

Footnotes and endnotes

Please note that APA does not recommend the use of footnotes and endnotes because they require special formatting and are often expensive for publishers to reproduce.

Major sections

• all text centered top-to-bottom on page
• Copyright page (optional)
• contains a running head and page number
• not listed in the Table of Contents
• centered, bottom third of page
• includes the copyright symbol (©),year, your full name, and “All Rights Reserved” below the copyright line

 ©2018 Victoria Martin  All Rights Reserved

• Dedication (optional)
• on a separate page
• the word Dedication : centered, in bold
• text: indented
• Acknowledgements (optional)
• the word Acknowledgements : centered, in bold
• On a separate page
• the word Abstract : top of the page, centered, in bold
• text:  no indentation, single block of text, up to 350 words
• indent 5 spaces from left margin
• type the word Keywords (italicized), followed by a colon
• list your keywords separated by a semicolon
• Table of contents
• on a separate page or pages
• the words Table of Contents: top of the page, centered, in bold 
• list the titles of all front matter, body matter, and back matter titles

Exception: do not list the copyright page in the table of contents

Tables and figures 

• inserted immediately after they are first mentioned in the text
• alignment of tables and figures is not specified by APA
• On a separate page or pages
• The word References : top of the page, centered, in bold
• cited according to APA Style (6 th edition)
• double spaced
• hanging indents
• running heads continue and appear in the upper left-hand corner
• page numbers continue and appear in the upper right-hand corner
• each appendix on a separate page or pages
• each appendix is preceded by a title page that lists the appendix with the title of the appendix underneath it in bold, centered on the page
• for a single appendix, center the word Appendix (not in bold)
• for multiple appendixes, label them Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C, etc.
• appendices should be cited in the text and sequenced following the order in which they are mentioned in the text
• when using copyrighted material, permission should be acknowledged in the appendix
• Biographical sketch (optional)
• the word Biographical sketch: top of the page, centered, not in bold
• text: one paragraph, left indentation

Curriculum vitae (optional)

• may follow your own format
• may be single spaced

Copyright permissions

APA requires a formal permission from the copyright holder when you quote more than 500 words from a source. 

The copyright permission note must be included at the bottom of the page where the quote appears.

APA heading levels

(Adapted from Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab))

Order of pages

• List of tables (if applicable)
• List of figures (if applicable)
• Appendices (if applicable)
• CV (optional)

Creating the running head

• Select the Insert tab from the top menu 
• On the toolbar, select Header
• Select Edit Header
• Check the box Different First Page
• Leave the first page header blank
• Scroll to the second page of your manuscript
• On the toolbar, select Header
• In the header, type a shortened version of your title in all capital letters

Don't forget to change the font size nd style of your running head to 12pt. Times New Roman font.

Creating page numbers

• Place your cursor to the right of the running head and press the Tab button on your keyboard twice
• Select the Insert tab from the top menu
• On the toolbar, select Page Number
• Select Current Position and choose Plain Number

The page number will appear with a consecutive number in every page in the header.        

• at least 25% rag content (a.k.a. cotton or high quality bond) paper
• 8.5 x 11 inches
• On one side only

Quick answers from APA Style Central

• Quick answers - APA formatting
• Quick answers - APA references
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APA Sample Paper

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Note:  This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019. The equivalent resource for the older APA 6 style  can be found here .

Media Files: APA Sample Student Paper  ,  APA Sample Professional Paper

This resource is enhanced by Acrobat PDF files. Download the free Acrobat Reader

Note: The APA Publication Manual, 7 th Edition specifies different formatting conventions for student  and  professional  papers (i.e., papers written for credit in a course and papers intended for scholarly publication). These differences mostly extend to the title page and running head. Crucially, citation practices do not differ between the two styles of paper.

However, for your convenience, we have provided two versions of our APA 7 sample paper below: one in  student style and one in  professional  style.

Note: For accessibility purposes, we have used "Track Changes" to make comments along the margins of these samples. Those authored by [AF] denote explanations of formatting and [AWC] denote directions for writing and citing in APA 7. 

APA 7 Student Paper:

Apa 7 professional paper:.

• Page number
• Running head
• Table of Contents
• Academic Success

Margins in APA Format

Margins in APA format should be set at 1 inch (2.54 centimeters).

This is the default setting for Microsoft Word.

You should not have to do anything.

However, the default setting may have been changed previously.

It is worth checking the margins the first time you open the new document.

See Figure 1 on how to check that the top, bottom, left and right margins are 1 inch (2.54 centimeters).

See Figure 2 if you must change the existing setting.

If your paper is to be printed and bound (e.g., dissertation, thesis), different margins to allow for binding may be necessary (see Figure 3).

Check for Margins in APA Format.

The margin setting is highlighted amongst a list of available margin settings in the gallery.

The shaded box means that those margin settings are the default. Every time you open a new document, those margin settings will apply.

If the default is the margins in APA format, then click away - you are set to go.

But, if the default is not the margins in APA format, then just select the Normal set of margins to get your margins in APA format.

However, the default is not changed. The default margins will again be used in the next new document you create.

Set Margins in APA Format as the Default

If the default margins are not in APA format, select "Custom Margins" (see Figure 1), and follow Figure 2.

Change Margins for Printing

If you are going to print and bind your academic paper, you should make the inner most margin (the one through which the binding goes) wider.

Single-Sided Printing

If you are printing on one side of the paper only, then increase the left margin as follows:

• Select "Custom Margins" (see Figure 1).
• Increase the left margin by the amount you want (see Figure 3).

Double-Sided Printing

If you are printing double-sided, then the inner margin of the page should be larger to accommodate the binding.

This is achieved by:

• increasing the left-hand margins on odd-numbered pages
• increasing the right-hand margins on even-numbered pages

Selecting the Mirrored option (see Figure 4) is all that you need to do.

Use the following steps for a value other than 1.25 inches for the inside margin:

• Select "Mirrored" (see Figure 4).
• Select Margins then select "Custom Margins".
• Change the inside margin to your desired value (e.g., 1.5 inches).
• Select "OK".

Most of the time, your margins in APA format will occur automatically because the Microsoft Word default option is 1 inch for top, bottom, left and right margins.

Just check (see Figure 1) and you should be set.

If the default has been changed, then change it back so that your margins are in APA format (see Figure 2).

If you are printing and binding your paper, then you need some extra space to allow for the binding (see Figures 3 and 4).

Official APA Style Guide

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Note : The version of Microsoft Word used is the latest Word for Microsoft 365. The functions should also work in the 2021, 2019, 2016 and 2013 versions .

© Copyright www.apaword.com    Privacy Policy     About Me Microsoft Word screenshots used with permission from Microsoft. APA style has been developed and maintained by the American Psychological Association.