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13.1 Formatting a Research Paper
Learning objectives.
- Identify the major components of a research paper written using American Psychological Association (APA) style.
- Apply general APA style and formatting conventions in a research paper.
In this chapter, you will learn how to use APA style , the documentation and formatting style followed by the American Psychological Association, as well as MLA style , from the Modern Language Association. There are a few major formatting styles used in academic texts, including AMA, Chicago, and Turabian:
- AMA (American Medical Association) for medicine, health, and biological sciences
- APA (American Psychological Association) for education, psychology, and the social sciences
- Chicago—a common style used in everyday publications like magazines, newspapers, and books
- MLA (Modern Language Association) for English, literature, arts, and humanities
- Turabian—another common style designed for its universal application across all subjects and disciplines
While all the formatting and citation styles have their own use and applications, in this chapter we focus our attention on the two styles you are most likely to use in your academic studies: APA and MLA.
If you find that the rules of proper source documentation are difficult to keep straight, you are not alone. Writing a good research paper is, in and of itself, a major intellectual challenge. Having to follow detailed citation and formatting guidelines as well may seem like just one more task to add to an already-too-long list of requirements.
Following these guidelines, however, serves several important purposes. First, it signals to your readers that your paper should be taken seriously as a student’s contribution to a given academic or professional field; it is the literary equivalent of wearing a tailored suit to a job interview. Second, it shows that you respect other people’s work enough to give them proper credit for it. Finally, it helps your reader find additional materials if he or she wishes to learn more about your topic.
Furthermore, producing a letter-perfect APA-style paper need not be burdensome. Yes, it requires careful attention to detail. However, you can simplify the process if you keep these broad guidelines in mind:
- Work ahead whenever you can. Chapter 11 “Writing from Research: What Will I Learn?” includes tips for keeping track of your sources early in the research process, which will save time later on.
- Get it right the first time. Apply APA guidelines as you write, so you will not have much to correct during the editing stage. Again, putting in a little extra time early on can save time later.
- Use the resources available to you. In addition to the guidelines provided in this chapter, you may wish to consult the APA website at http://www.apa.org or the Purdue University Online Writing lab at http://owl.english.purdue.edu , which regularly updates its online style guidelines.
General Formatting Guidelines
This chapter provides detailed guidelines for using the citation and formatting conventions developed by the American Psychological Association, or APA. Writers in disciplines as diverse as astrophysics, biology, psychology, and education follow APA style. The major components of a paper written in APA style are listed in the following box.
These are the major components of an APA-style paper:
Body, which includes the following:
- Headings and, if necessary, subheadings to organize the content
- In-text citations of research sources
- References page
All these components must be saved in one document, not as separate documents.
The title page of your paper includes the following information:
- Title of the paper
- Author’s name
- Name of the institution with which the author is affiliated
- Header at the top of the page with the paper title (in capital letters) and the page number (If the title is lengthy, you may use a shortened form of it in the header.)
List the first three elements in the order given in the previous list, centered about one third of the way down from the top of the page. Use the headers and footers tool of your word-processing program to add the header, with the title text at the left and the page number in the upper-right corner. Your title page should look like the following example.
The next page of your paper provides an abstract , or brief summary of your findings. An abstract does not need to be provided in every paper, but an abstract should be used in papers that include a hypothesis. A good abstract is concise—about one hundred fifty to two hundred fifty words—and is written in an objective, impersonal style. Your writing voice will not be as apparent here as in the body of your paper. When writing the abstract, take a just-the-facts approach, and summarize your research question and your findings in a few sentences.
In Chapter 12 “Writing a Research Paper” , you read a paper written by a student named Jorge, who researched the effectiveness of low-carbohydrate diets. Read Jorge’s abstract. Note how it sums up the major ideas in his paper without going into excessive detail.
Write an abstract summarizing your paper. Briefly introduce the topic, state your findings, and sum up what conclusions you can draw from your research. Use the word count feature of your word-processing program to make sure your abstract does not exceed one hundred fifty words.
Depending on your field of study, you may sometimes write research papers that present extensive primary research, such as your own experiment or survey. In your abstract, summarize your research question and your findings, and briefly indicate how your study relates to prior research in the field.
Margins, Pagination, and Headings
APA style requirements also address specific formatting concerns, such as margins, pagination, and heading styles, within the body of the paper. Review the following APA guidelines.
Use these general guidelines to format the paper:
- Set the top, bottom, and side margins of your paper at 1 inch.
- Use double-spaced text throughout your paper.
- Use a standard font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, in a legible size (10- to 12-point).
- Use continuous pagination throughout the paper, including the title page and the references section. Page numbers appear flush right within your header.
- Section headings and subsection headings within the body of your paper use different types of formatting depending on the level of information you are presenting. Additional details from Jorge’s paper are provided.
Begin formatting the final draft of your paper according to APA guidelines. You may work with an existing document or set up a new document if you choose. Include the following:
- Your title page
- The abstract you created in Note 13.8 “Exercise 1”
- Correct headers and page numbers for your title page and abstract
APA style uses section headings to organize information, making it easy for the reader to follow the writer’s train of thought and to know immediately what major topics are covered. Depending on the length and complexity of the paper, its major sections may also be divided into subsections, sub-subsections, and so on. These smaller sections, in turn, use different heading styles to indicate different levels of information. In essence, you are using headings to create a hierarchy of information.
The following heading styles used in APA formatting are listed in order of greatest to least importance:
- Section headings use centered, boldface type. Headings use title case, with important words in the heading capitalized.
- Subsection headings use left-aligned, boldface type. Headings use title case.
- The third level uses left-aligned, indented, boldface type. Headings use a capital letter only for the first word, and they end in a period.
- The fourth level follows the same style used for the previous level, but the headings are boldfaced and italicized.
- The fifth level follows the same style used for the previous level, but the headings are italicized and not boldfaced.
Visually, the hierarchy of information is organized as indicated in Table 13.1 “Section Headings” .
Table 13.1 Section Headings
A college research paper may not use all the heading levels shown in Table 13.1 “Section Headings” , but you are likely to encounter them in academic journal articles that use APA style. For a brief paper, you may find that level 1 headings suffice. Longer or more complex papers may need level 2 headings or other lower-level headings to organize information clearly. Use your outline to craft your major section headings and determine whether any subtopics are substantial enough to require additional levels of headings.
Working with the document you developed in Note 13.11 “Exercise 2” , begin setting up the heading structure of the final draft of your research paper according to APA guidelines. Include your title and at least two to three major section headings, and follow the formatting guidelines provided above. If your major sections should be broken into subsections, add those headings as well. Use your outline to help you.
Because Jorge used only level 1 headings, his Exercise 3 would look like the following:
Citation Guidelines
In-text citations.
Throughout the body of your paper, include a citation whenever you quote or paraphrase material from your research sources. As you learned in Chapter 11 “Writing from Research: What Will I Learn?” , the purpose of citations is twofold: to give credit to others for their ideas and to allow your reader to follow up and learn more about the topic if desired. Your in-text citations provide basic information about your source; each source you cite will have a longer entry in the references section that provides more detailed information.
In-text citations must provide the name of the author or authors and the year the source was published. (When a given source does not list an individual author, you may provide the source title or the name of the organization that published the material instead.) When directly quoting a source, it is also required that you include the page number where the quote appears in your citation.
This information may be included within the sentence or in a parenthetical reference at the end of the sentence, as in these examples.
Epstein (2010) points out that “junk food cannot be considered addictive in the same way that we think of psychoactive drugs as addictive” (p. 137).
Here, the writer names the source author when introducing the quote and provides the publication date in parentheses after the author’s name. The page number appears in parentheses after the closing quotation marks and before the period that ends the sentence.
Addiction researchers caution that “junk food cannot be considered addictive in the same way that we think of psychoactive drugs as addictive” (Epstein, 2010, p. 137).
Here, the writer provides a parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence that includes the author’s name, the year of publication, and the page number separated by commas. Again, the parenthetical citation is placed after the closing quotation marks and before the period at the end of the sentence.
As noted in the book Junk Food, Junk Science (Epstein, 2010, p. 137), “junk food cannot be considered addictive in the same way that we think of psychoactive drugs as addictive.”
Here, the writer chose to mention the source title in the sentence (an optional piece of information to include) and followed the title with a parenthetical citation. Note that the parenthetical citation is placed before the comma that signals the end of the introductory phrase.
David Epstein’s book Junk Food, Junk Science (2010) pointed out that “junk food cannot be considered addictive in the same way that we think of psychoactive drugs as addictive” (p. 137).
Another variation is to introduce the author and the source title in your sentence and include the publication date and page number in parentheses within the sentence or at the end of the sentence. As long as you have included the essential information, you can choose the option that works best for that particular sentence and source.
Citing a book with a single author is usually a straightforward task. Of course, your research may require that you cite many other types of sources, such as books or articles with more than one author or sources with no individual author listed. You may also need to cite sources available in both print and online and nonprint sources, such as websites and personal interviews. Chapter 13 “APA and MLA Documentation and Formatting” , Section 13.2 “Citing and Referencing Techniques” and Section 13.3 “Creating a References Section” provide extensive guidelines for citing a variety of source types.
Writing at Work
APA is just one of several different styles with its own guidelines for documentation, formatting, and language usage. Depending on your field of interest, you may be exposed to additional styles, such as the following:
- MLA style. Determined by the Modern Languages Association and used for papers in literature, languages, and other disciplines in the humanities.
- Chicago style. Outlined in the Chicago Manual of Style and sometimes used for papers in the humanities and the sciences; many professional organizations use this style for publications as well.
- Associated Press (AP) style. Used by professional journalists.
References List
The brief citations included in the body of your paper correspond to the more detailed citations provided at the end of the paper in the references section. In-text citations provide basic information—the author’s name, the publication date, and the page number if necessary—while the references section provides more extensive bibliographical information. Again, this information allows your reader to follow up on the sources you cited and do additional reading about the topic if desired.
The specific format of entries in the list of references varies slightly for different source types, but the entries generally include the following information:
- The name(s) of the author(s) or institution that wrote the source
- The year of publication and, where applicable, the exact date of publication
- The full title of the source
- For books, the city of publication
- For articles or essays, the name of the periodical or book in which the article or essay appears
- For magazine and journal articles, the volume number, issue number, and pages where the article appears
- For sources on the web, the URL where the source is located
The references page is double spaced and lists entries in alphabetical order by the author’s last name. If an entry continues for more than one line, the second line and each subsequent line are indented five spaces. Review the following example. ( Chapter 13 “APA and MLA Documentation and Formatting” , Section 13.3 “Creating a References Section” provides extensive guidelines for formatting reference entries for different types of sources.)
In APA style, book and article titles are formatted in sentence case, not title case. Sentence case means that only the first word is capitalized, along with any proper nouns.
Key Takeaways
- Following proper citation and formatting guidelines helps writers ensure that their work will be taken seriously, give proper credit to other authors for their work, and provide valuable information to readers.
- Working ahead and taking care to cite sources correctly the first time are ways writers can save time during the editing stage of writing a research paper.
- APA papers usually include an abstract that concisely summarizes the paper.
- APA papers use a specific headings structure to provide a clear hierarchy of information.
- In APA papers, in-text citations usually include the name(s) of the author(s) and the year of publication.
- In-text citations correspond to entries in the references section, which provide detailed bibliographical information about a source.
Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
- MJC Library & Learning Center
- Research Guides
Ready, Set, Cite (APA, 7th)
Formatting your paper, headings organize your paper (2.27), video tutorials.
- How to Avoid Plagiarism
- Reference List
- In-Text Citations
For help on all aspects of formatting your paper in APA Style, see The Essentials page on the APA Style website.
- sans serif fonts such as 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, or 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode, or
- serif fonts such as 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Georgia, or normal (10-point) Computer Modern (the default font for LaTeX)
- There are exceptions for the title page , tables , figures , footnotes , and displayed equations .
- Margins : Use 1-in. margins on every side of the page.
- Align the text of an APA Style paper to the left margin . Leave the right margin uneven, or “ragged.”
- Do not use full justification for student papers.
- Do not insert hyphens (manual breaks) in words at the end of line. However, it is acceptable if your word-processing program automatically inserts breaks in long hyperlinks (such as in a DOI or URL in a reference list entry).
- Indent the first line of each paragraph of text 0.5 in . from the left margin. Use the tab key or the automatic paragraph-formatting function of your word-processing program to achieve the indentation (the default setting is likely already 0.5 in.). Do not use the space bar to create indentation.
- There are exceptions for the title page , section labels , abstract , block quotations , headings , tables and figures , reference list , and appendices .
Paper Elements
Student papers generally include, at a minimum:
- Title Page (2.3)
- Text (2.11)
- References (2.12)
Student papers may include additional elements such as tables and figures depending on the assignment. So, please check with your teacher!
Student papers generally DO NOT include the following unless your teacher specifically requests it:
- Running head
- Author note
For complete information on the order of pages , see the APA Style website.
Number your pages consecutively starting with page 1. Each section begins on a new page. Put the pages in the following order:
- Page 1: Title page
- Page 2: Abstract (if your teacher requires an abstract)
- Page 3: Text
- References begin on a new page after the last page of text
- Footnotes begin on a new page after the references (if your teacher requires footnotes)
- Tables begin each on a new page after the footnotes (if your teacher requires tables)
- Figures begin on a new page after the tables (if your teacher requires figures)
- Appendices begin on a new page after the tables and/or figures (if your teacher requires appendices)
Sample Papers With Built-In Instructions
To see what your paper should look like, check out these sample papers with built-in instructions.
APA Style uses five (5) levels of headings to help you organize your paper and allow your audience to identify its key points easily. Levels of headings establish the hierarchy of your sections just like you did in your paper outline.
APA tells us to use "only the number of headings necessary to differentiate distinct section in your paper." Therefore, the number of heading levels you create depends on the length and complexity of your paper.
See the chart below for instructions on formatting your headings:
Use Word to Format Your Paper:
Use Google Docs to Format Your Paper:
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- MLA Page Format
- Finding and Evaluating Sources (Critical Analysis)
- Synthesizing Information from Sources
- MLA In-Text Citations
- MLA Works Cited
- APA Documentation
- Writing a Research Paper
- Sample Essay - Modern Technology
Important Note: Unless your instructor gives you a template, don't use an MLA template or tool since there are commonly errors.
- Times New Roman 12 black font
- Header in upper right with name and page number: Jones 1
- Line Spacing – double throughout
- Tab in the first line of a paragraph ½” or .5
- Heading in upper left
- Title centered after heading
- Works Cited, if any, on a new page
- 1” margins – top, bottom, left, right. Some defaults are 1.25″ left and right.
- Margins are not set in the Paragraph box. In Word or Works, margins are set in Page Layout or in File/Page Setup/Margins.
- Times New Roman 12 black font.
- Do not use bold or underlining.
- Do not use all caps except for an abbreviations such as NATO, AIDS.
- Do not use italics unless there is a rule that says to use italics.
- Check default and reset default if necessary. Your instructor may accept a different font style: however, Times New Roman 12 Black is a standard setting in school and business.
- Left align – this is the usual default setting.
- Do not block or justify where the right margin is even.
- Alignment can be set in the Paragraph box if the icon is not visible.
See Related Documents on right sidebar for an image of alignment settings.
Line Spacing
- Double space – and only double space throughout, even after the heading and around the title, if any.
- Check default settings in the Paragraph box and reset per instructions under Paragraph Settings below.
Paragraph Settings
Some programs such have defaults in the Paragraph box which interfere with proper double spacing.
The settings in the Paragraph dialogue box should be as follows to have proper double spacing.
- Indentation (on top) should be set at 0 left and 0 right.
- Spacing (on the lower left) should be set to 0 Before and 0 After.
- Line Spacing (on the lower right) should be set to double.
- Check the box that says “Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same style .”
- Click Default (at the bottom) and select Yes to change defaults.
In Google docs , you can change Paragraph settings under Spacing to 0 next to Before and 0 next to After by going into the double spacing tool and clicking Custom Settings. You will have to select (highlight) the entire paper including the heading in the upper left before making the change once the paper is typed.
In Pages , you can change the Paragraph settings by clicking on Format on the top navigation bar and then Paragraph. Remember that you have to highlight (select) the entire paper including the heading in the upper left before making change in Paragraph once the paper is typed.
First Line of a Paragraph
- Tab in the first line of a paragraph 1/2″ or .5 from the left margin.
- The Tab default is usually at this setting. If not, reset defaults.
Spacing after a period or other end punctuation
Unless your instructor advises otherwise, you may use one or two spaces after a period as long as the use is consistent.
- If the instructor asks for a title page, prepare the title page as per the assignment instructions.
- Do not use a head ing on the first page if a title page is required.
Create a header in the upper right corner using the Header tool with your last name and page number.
- In Word 2007 or higher, click Insert/Header/Blank. Do not choose any option with lines, boxes, or other font or color.
- Delete Type text
- Click Home and align right. Your cursor should be on the right side.
- Type in your last name only. Then hit the space bar once. This will put a space between your last name and page number.
- After you hit the space bar, hit Insert/Page # to insert pages. Do not manually type in the page number.
- Do not use the word page or any abbreviation of the word such a pg. or p. between your last name and the actual page number: Jones 2.
- While MLA format calls for the header to appear on the first page, some instructors may ask that there be no header on the first page since your name is already there. To remove the header from the first page, check Different first page in the Header tool.
- These instructions may work for higher versions of Works.
- For lower versions of Word or Works, click View/Header and Footer to get into the Header tool.
- If you are unable to follow on your computer, your program should have a Help button to give directions on how to insert a header.
Instructions for Creating Header in Office 365:
- Click Insert/Header.
- Tab over to the third box on the right.
- Under Home, click the align right button so that your cursor is all the way on the right side.
- Hit the space bar and then click Insert Page # and click the box with the number in the upper right.
- Click on the body of the paper to get out of the Header box.
- You will not see your header in the default view which is the edit view.
- You can click View and then Reading View on the left.
- Type a heading in the upper left corner of the first page unless your instructor asks for a title page. Do not use the Header tool to create a heading.
- Type the heading as follows: your name, your instructor’s name, the course, and the date (in military style – day month year – no commas) double spaced on separate lines.
- Do not use commas in the date. Months should be abbreviated if longer than four letters: Sept., Oct., and so on. Here is an example: 14 Oct. 2009
- Do not indent the heading.
- Your instructor may request different information to be typed into the heading.
After the heading, center the title of the paper or name of assignment.
- Do not use bold, underlining, or a different font style or size for the title.
- Do not use quotation marks or italics unless the title of the paper includes the title of a published work since short, published works must be in quotation marks, and long, published works must be in italics.
- Remember that in MLA format, the requirement is to double space and only double space throughout.
- There should not be any more than a double space before or after the title or name of assignment.
Works Cited
If a Works Cited page is required for your assignment, at the end of the body of the paper, click Insert/Page Break or Insert/Break/Page Break – however your computer gives options – to get to the top of a new page to do the Works Cited.
- Do not use the Enter key to get to the next page.
- Use the same settings including double spacing throughout except that the first line of each source must start at the left margin and the second and any subsequent lines must be indented ½”.
- This is called a hanging indent.
- To create a hanging indent, make sure to type your sources one under the other hitting Enter at the end of each source.
- Then, highlight the Works Cited list and go into the Paragraph dialogue box.
- Under Special, select Hanging from the drop-down menu. Once selected, the default under By should be .5″.
- Remember that your list has to be alphabetized and the page must have the words Works Cited centered on top.
Troubleshooting Common Page Setup Problems
- The whole page is tabbed in. There is an error in settings in the Indentation Box in Paragraph. Highlight paper and change to 0 in both Left and Right under Indentation in the Paragraph dialogue box.
- There is no top margin even though you set top margin for 1”. You’ve accidentally hidden your white space. Position your cursor at the top of the page until you see a double line. Then, double click.
- The same page number is appearing on every page in the header in the upper right. You have typed in a page number instead of using Insert Page #.
- I can’t get my header over to the right without using the tab key. Click to Home, position your cursor at the beginning of your last name, then click the align right button.
- The spacing between lines seems larger than double space. You have not reset the setting in Paragraph under Spacing on lower left to 0 before Before and 0 before After. You have to highlight the whole page before changing settings for them to take place on the page.
- There’s an extra line between paragraphs or every time I hit the Enter key. You have not checked the box which says “Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same style. You have to highlight the whole page before changing settings for them to take place on the page.
Other Resources for Your Setup Problems
- Help tool in your program. Generally, there’s a tool or a link to a tool. Just Search your problem.
- Online at website of your program. Word and other programs have help pages on their site.
- The PHSC Technical Support link: See Resource Links on the right side page for Technical Support or call 727 816-3732.
- Just Google? Maybe. However, just searching around on the Internet open files and here and there is one way to pick up a virus, and you don’t know how reliable the source is. You are better of getting help with the first listed methods. Never download a help program.
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APA Writing Guide: Formatting for Graduate Students
- Formatting for Undergraduates
- Formatting for Graduate Students
- In-text Citations
- Books and Ebooks
- Journal Articles
- Misc.Citations
Writing Center
The Liberty University Writing Center is available to provide writing coaching to students. Residential students should contact the On-Campus Writing Center for assistance. Online students should contact the Online Writing Center for assistance.
General Rules
Liberty University has determined that graduate students will use APA 7’s formatting guidelines for professional papers. To assist you, Liberty University's Writing Center provides a template paper and a sample paper .
For professional papers, the following four sections are required:
- Title Page with Running Head
- Abstract with Keywords
- Reference List
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you format your paper:
- Fonts - LU recommends that papers be typed in 12-point Times New Roman or 11-point Calibri fonts.
- Use only one space at the end of each sentence in the body of your paper.
- In general, APA papers should be double spaced throughout. A list of exceptions can be found here.
- To make sure that your paper is double spaced throughout, select the text , right click , select ' Paragraph ,' and look under the section ' Line Spacing ' as shown below:
- Margins/Alignment - Your paper should use 1-inch margins on standard-sized paper (8.5' X 11'). Make sure that you use Align Left (CTRL + L) on the paper, except for the title page.
- Indentation – The first sentence in each new paragraph in the body of the paper should be indented a half inch. The abstract, however, should not be indented. References use hanging indentation .
- Headings: Please note that all headings are in title case. Level 1 headings should be centered (and in bold), and Level 2 and 3 headings should be left-aligned (and in bold or bold italic, respectively). Level 4 and 5 headings are indented like regular paragraphs. An example of formatting headings in a paper is available here
Title Page: When setting up the professional title page, please note the following elements should be present on the page:
- There is no limit to the number of words in the title.
- Add an extra blank double-spaced line between the title and author’s name.
- Name of each author (centered)
- Name of department and institution/affiliation (centered)
- Place the author note in the bottom half of the title page. Center and bold the label “Author Note.” Align the paragraphs of the author note to the left. For an example, see the LU Writing Center template for graduate students here .
- Page number in top right corner of the header, starting with page 1 on the title page
- The running head is an abbreviated version of the title of your paper (or the full title if the title is already short).
- Type the running head in all-capital letters.
- Ensure the running head is no more than 50 characters, including spaces and punctuation.
- The running head appears in the same format on every page, including the first page.
- Do not use the label “Running head:” before the running head.
- Align the running head to the left margin of the page header, across from the right-aligned page number.
Abstract Page: The abstract page includes the abstract and related keywords.
The abstract is a brief but comprehensive summary of your paper. Here are guidelines for formatting the abstract:
- It should be the second page of a professional (graduate level) paper.
- The first line should say “Abstract” centered and in bold.
- The abstract should start one line below the section label.
- It should be a single paragraph and should not be indented.
- It should not exceed 250 words.
Keywords are used for indexing in databases and as search terms. Your keywords should capture the most important aspects of your paper in three to five words, phrases, or acronyms. Here are formatting guidelines:
- Label “ Keywords ” one line below the abstract, indented and in italics (not bolded).
- The keywords should be written on the same line as and one space after the label “ Keywords ”.
- The keywords should be lowercase (but capitalize proper nouns) and not italic or bold.
- Each keyword should be separated by a comma and a space and followed by a colon.
- There should be no ending punctuation.
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- Last Updated: Aug 29, 2023 11:29 AM
- URL: https://libguides.liberty.edu/APAguide
APA Style Guide: Formatting Your Paper
- About In-text Citations
- In-text Examples
- How to Paraphrase
- What to Include
- Volume/Issue
- Non-Routine Information
- Place of Publication
- Retrieval Statement
- 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
- Journal Article
- Magazine Article
- Multi-Volume Works
- Newspaper Article
- Patents & Laws
- Physicians' Desk Reference
- Social Media
- Technical/Company Reports
- Unpublished Manuscripts/Informal Publications (i.e. course packets)
- Formatting Your Paper
- Formatting Your References
- Annotated Bibliography
- Avoid Plagiarism
APA recommends using 12-point Times New Roman font. If not using Times New Roman, then another serif typeface should be used for its readability. Only use different typeface in figure descriptions to add style to the paper (section 8.03).
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 .
Put two spaces after the period for each sentence in the body of the paper (Note, use only one space after a period in your references at the end of the paper) . Microsoft Word does not have a setting to automatically put in two spaces at the end of a sentence, but you can set-up the grammar check to alert you when only one space is used. In Word 2007, click on File, then click Options. Next, click on Proofing. Under When correcting spelling and grammar in Word , click on Settings. Next to Spaces required between sentences , change the setting to 2. Click OK to exit. This setting will alert you to single spaces after a period with the green squiggle that shows when there is a grammar error in your paper.
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.
Video How-To for Other Popular Applications
Sample Paper
The title page of an APA paper includes a shortened version of your title in the header, with the words: Running head: before it. The shortened title needs to make sense, it is not simply the first 50 characters of the longer title. The running head is on the left, on the right is the page number, starting with 1. Centered on the page is the full title of the paper, the author's name is on the next line, and the institutional affiliation (your school) is on the third line.
If your professor requires an abstract, you will include a summary of your paper on the second page. Start the abstract on a new page. Type the word Abstract on the center top of the page. Include page number and shortened title in the header. You no longer need to type the words
Running head:
before the title. The abstract is typed without any indentation.
Finally, we begin to type the paper! The full title starts it off at the top center of a new page. For the rest of the paper, you only need the title and page numbers in the header. Remember to cite!
APA Research Paper Template
Below 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. Microsoft Word 2013 will allow you to save personal templates. Once you have the template opened in Word
Click "Save as"
Give the file a name
Under "Save as type", select Word Template
Then when you open Word 2013, you will be able to choose a template rather than a blank document. You might have to select Personal to find your template.
Number of Spaces after a Period
APA style recommends placing two spaces after a period that ends a sentence. This rule is often not enforced by professors. The reasoning behind it is to aid in proofreading. You can read more about it in the APA Style Handbook on pages 87-88. Microsoft Word 2010 and later editions does not allow the user to put in two spaces after a period in any automatic way. You can set-up your grammar check to alert you when you have failed to place two spaces after a period. To do this, go to File-Options-Proofing-Writing Style-Grammar-Settings. In Spaces Required Between Sentences, select 2. Now when you type your paper and insert only one space after a period, you will see a small green squiggly where you fail to put in two spaces, once you do a grammar check of your paper. Keep in mind that APA does not call for two spaces after any period (such as for abbreviations or in the reference list) ONLY when a period ends a sentence do you need two spaces.
Step by Step Instructions for Formatting your APA Style Research Paper
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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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AMA Citation Guide: Format Your Paper
- Format Your Paper
- In-text Citations
- Audio/Visual
- Gray Literature
- For Authors
Setting Up Your Paper
Margins : Use one inch margins on all pages.
Line Spacing :
- All sections of the paper are single-spaced.
- Double-space between paragraphs and sections.
- A serif (e.g., Times New Roman ) 10pt - 12pt font is used for all sections of the paper.
- In diagrams and charts, a sans serif font is used (e.g., Arial ).
Indents : Use a 1/2 inch indent.
Page Numbering :
- Each page, beginning with the title page, should be numbered consecutively.
- Page numbers are usually placed in the upper, right corner.
Page Headers : Short title headers are placed at the top of the page, aligned with the page number.
Reference List :
- Number the references in the order that they were cited in the text .
- Single-space within the citation and double-space between citations .
- There are no hanging indents as seen in other citation styles.
Be sure to ask your instructor or the publisher to whom you're submitting the paper for more specific formatting rules.
Structured Abstracts
Some publishers require a structured abstract depending on the type of research paper submitted. Be sure to check what the publisher's requirements are.
Basic format for structured abstracts can be seen in PubMed: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/policy/structured_abstracts.html .
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MLA Style, 8th Edition: Formatting Your MLA Paper
- Works Cited entries: What to Include
- Title of source
- Title of container
- Other contributors
- Publication date
- Optional Elements
- Book with Personal Author(s)
- Book with Editor(s)
- Book with Organization as Author
- Parts of Books
- Government Publication
- Journal Article
- Magazine Article
- Multivolume Works
- Newspaper Article
- Other Formats
- Websites, Social Media, and Email
- Works Cited Practice
- About In-text Citations
- In-text Examples
- How to Paraphrase and Quote
- Formatting Your MLA Paper
- Formatting Your Works Cited List
- MLA Annotated Bibliography
- MLA 8th Edition Quick Guide
- How to Paraphrase
MLA recommends using 12-point Times New Roman font or another readable typeface (e.g. serif ).
Line Spacing & Margins
Use double-spacing throughout the entire paper.
Leave 1 inch margins on the top, bottom, and each side.
Indent the first line of each paragraph half an inch from the left margin.
Quotes longer than 4 lines should be written as a block of text a half an inch from the left margin.
Heading and Title
An MLA research paper does not need a title page, but your instructor may require one. If no instructions are given, follow the MLA guidelines below:
Type the following one inch from the top of the first page, flush with the left margin (double spacing throughout).
Your Instructor's Name
Course Number or Name
Center the title on the next line. Follow the rules for capitalization. Do not italicize, underline, or bold the title. An exception is when your title includes a title. Example: The Attitude toward Violence in A Clockwork Orange
Indent the next line and begin typing your text.
Include your last name and page numbers in the upper right-hand corner of every page. The page numbers will be one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. If your instructor prefers no page number on the first page, begin numbering from 2 on the second page.
Sample Papers from MLA
There are three sample papers available in the MLA Style Center. Check them out to see the correct formatting.
Sample MLA Paper
- MLA Research Paper Template Properly formatted MLA Style research paper. Download and save to your computer so that you will always have the correct format for writing.
MLA Format Setup in Word 2013
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Formatting your Thesis and Dissertation:Tools,Tips and Troubleshooting
- I am a new Graduate Student at Florida Tech!
- Thesis and Dissertation Templates
- Learn About Zotero
- Formatting Landscape Pages
- Line Spacing
- Page Numbers
- Page Break and Section Breaks
- Table of Contents or Figures
- Figures Turning Black
- Margin issues with Tables
- Page numbers not appearing
- PDF to PDF/A
- Section Breaks
- Landscape Page Numbers
- Troubleshoot LaTeX formatting issues
- Copyright and Creative Commons Licenses Primer
- Do I need to embargo my thesis or dissertation?
- I'm ready to submit my electronic copy - now what do I do?
- What is the process for obtaining print copies of my thesis or dissertation?
Adjust Spacing Between Lines
Spacing Issues on Signature Page
Highlight the text you are wanting to change then on the Home Ribbon, choose the line spacing symbol, select the desired spacing typically 1.5 for Thesis and 2.0 for Dissertations. Using the Add Space or Remove Space options as needed.
For the Signature page copying and pasting one of the signature lines is usually the easiest method.
Then removing any excess lines so the pages stays single paged.
If issues persist there are some alternative layouts in the Thesis Manual and Style Guide
Page 79 (OGP Manual)
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TAFT COLLEGE
MLA Style Guide, 9th Edition: Formatting Your MLA Paper
- Works Cited entries: What to Include
- Title of source
- Title of container
- Other contributors
- Publication date
- Optional Elements
- Book with Personal Author(s)
- Book with Editor(s)
- Book with Organization as Author
- Parts of Books
- Government Publication
- Journal Article
- Magazine Article
- Multivolume Works
- Newspaper Article
- Other Formats
- Websites, Social Media, and Email
- Works Cited Practice
- About In-text Citations
- In-text Examples
- How to Paraphrase and Quote
- Formatting Your MLA Paper
- Formatting Your Works Cited List
- MLA Annotated Bibliography
MLA recommends using 12-point Times New Roman font or another readable typeface (e.g. serif ).
Use double-spacing throughout the entire paper.
Leave 1 inch margins on the top, bottom, and each side.
Indent the first line of each paragraph half an inch from the left margin.
Quotes longer than 4 lines should be written as a block of text a half an inch from the left margin.
Heading and Title
An MLA research paper does not need a title page, but your instructor may require one. If no instructions are given, follow the MLA guidelines below:
Type the following one inch from the top of the first page, flush with the left margin (double spacing throughout).
Your Instructor's Name
Course Number or Name
Center the title on the next line. Follow the rules for capitalization. Do not italicize, underline, or bold the title. An exception is when your title includes a title. Example: The Attitude toward Violence in A Clockwork Orange
Indent the next line and begin typing your text.
Include your last name and page numbers in the upper right-hand corner of every page. The page numbers will be one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. If your instructor prefers no page number on the first page, begin numbering from 2 on the second page.
Formatting first page MLA MS Word using a MAC
Formatting first page mla goggle.dox, formatting first page mla ms word using pc, mla format setup in word 2013.
The links below provide step by step instructions on setting up your paper using MLA Style guidelines.
- Formatting Your Paper using MS Word - PC
- Formatting Your Paper using MS Word - MAC
Sample MLA Paper
- MLA Research Paper Template Properly formatted MLA Style research paper. Download and save to your computer so that you will always have the correct format for writing.
There are three sample papers available in the MLA Style Center. Check them out to see the correct formatting.
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IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Set the top, bottom, and side margins of your paper at 1 inch. Use double-spaced text throughout your paper. Use a standard font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, in a legible size (10- to 12-point). Use continuous pagination throughout the paper, including the title page and the references section.
Line Spacing. In general, double-space all parts of an APA Style paper, including the abstract; text; block quotations; table and figure numbers, titles, and notes; and reference list (including between and within entries). Do not add extra space before or after paragraphs. Exceptions to double line spacing are as follows:
This table describes how to format your research paper using either the MLA or APA guidelines. Be sure to follow any additional instructions that your teacher provides. 12-pt. Times Roman or Courier. For figures, however, use a sans serif font such as Arial. Leave one space after a period unless your teacher prefers two. Leave one space after a ...
Indent the first line of every paragraph of text 0.5 in. using the tab key or the paragraph-formatting function of your word-processing program. Page numbers: Put a page number in the top right corner of every page, including the title page or cover page, which is page 1. Student papers do not require a running head on any page.
The main guidelines for formatting a paper in APA Style are as follows: Use a standard font like 12 pt Times New Roman or 11 pt Arial. Set 1 inch page margins. Apply double line spacing. If submitting for publication, insert a APA running head on every page. Indent every new paragraph ½ inch.
Text Formatting. Heading and Title. Running Head with Page Numbers. Placement of the List of Works Cited. Tables and Illustrations. Paper and Printing. Corrections and Insertions on Printouts. Binding a Printed Paper. Electronic Submission.
To format a paper in APA Style, writers can typically use the default settings and automatic formatting tools of their word-processing program or make only minor adjustments. The guidelines for paper format apply to both student assignments and manuscripts being submitted for publication to a journal. If you are using APA Style to create ...
For a research paper written collaboratively by several students, such as for a group project, create a title page instead of listing all authors in the header on page 1 of the essay. On the title page, list each student's full name, placing one name on each double-spaced line. After the final student name, enter the professor's name.
Line Spacing: In general, double-space all parts of an APA Style paper, including the abstract, text, block quotations, table and figure numbers, titles, and notes, and reference list (including between and within entries). Do not add extra space before or after paragraphs.
Click Insert/Header. Tab over to the third box on the right. Under Home, click the align right button so that your cursor is all the way on the right side. Hit the space bar and then click Insert Page # and click the box with the number in the upper right. Click on the body of the paper to get out of the Header box.
This article walks through the formatting steps needed to create an APA Style student paper, starting with a basic setup that applies to the entire paper (margins, font, line spacing, paragraph alignment and indentation, and page headers). It then covers formatting for the major sections of a student paper: the title page, the text, tables and ...
To make sure that your paper is double spaced throughout, select the text, right click, select 'Paragraph,' and look under the section 'Line Spacing' as shown below: Margins/Alignment - Your paper should use 1-inch margins on standard-sized paper (8.5' X 11'). Make sure that you use Align Left (CTRL + L) on the paper, except for the title page.
Under Spacing, Line Spacing, select Double and then click OK. Put two spaces after the period for each sentence in the body of the paper (Note, ... Below 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 ...
APA recommends using 12 pt. Times New Roman font. Use a sans serif typeface, like Arial, for labeling any charts, graphs, pictures, or figures that might be included in your paper. Margins: You should have a one inch margin around your paper and indent five spaces at the beginning of each new paragraph. Line Spacing: Your entire paper should be ...
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.
Cite your MLA source. Start by applying these MLA format guidelines to your document: Use an easily readable font like 12 pt Times New Roman. Set 1 inch page margins. Use double line spacing. Include a ½" indent for new paragraphs. Include a four-line MLA heading on the first page. Center the paper's title.
Throughout your paper, you need to apply the following APA format guidelines: Set page margins to 1 inch on all sides. Double-space all text, including headings. Indent the first line of every paragraph 0.5 inches. Use an accessible font (e.g., Times New Roman 12pt., Arial 11pt., or Georgia 11pt.).
Line Spacing: All sections of the paper are single-spaced. Double-space between paragraphs and sections. Fonts: A serif ... Some publishers require a structured abstract depending on the type of research paper submitted. Be sure to check what the publisher's requirements are.
Use double-spacing throughout the entire paper. Leave 1 inch margins on the top, bottom, and each side. Indent the first line of each paragraph half an inch from the left margin. Quotes longer than 4 lines should be written as a block of text a half an inch from the left margin.
Revised on February 20, 2019. The layout requirements for a dissertation are often determined by your supervisor or department. However, there are certain guidelines that are common to almost every program, such as including page numbers and a table of contents. If you are writing a paper in the MLA citation style, you can use our MLA format guide.
Spacing Issues on Signature Page . Highlight the text you are wanting to change then on the Home Ribbon, choose the line spacing symbol, select the desired spacing typically 1.5 for Thesis and 2.0 for Dissertations. Using the Add Space or Remove Space options as needed.
Heading and Title. An MLA research paper does not need a title page, but your instructor may require one. If no instructions are given, follow the MLA guidelines below: Type the following one inch from the top of the first page, flush with the left margin (double spacing throughout). Your Name. Your Instructor's Name. Course Number or Name. Date.
IEEE provides guidelines for formatting your paper. These guidelines must be followed when you're submitting a manuscript for publication in an IEEE journal. Some of the key guidelines are: Formatting the text as two columns, in Times New Roman, 10 pt. Including a byline, an abstract, and a set of keywords at the start of the research paper.