LESSON 76 - APA STYLE OF REFERENCING || HOW TO FORMAT ACADEMIC PAPERS USING APA 7TH EDITION

APA 7th edition formatting for academic papers hinges on getting the manuscript’s physical layout right first—then layering in the required front matter (title page and abstract), a properly structured main body with APA heading levels, and a reference list that matches APA citation rules. The practical payoff is straightforward: journals expect consistent formatting, and APA’s author-date system depends on clean, predictable placement of citations and bibliographic entries.

The baseline formatting rules are universal across the paper. Margins should be set to one inch on all sides (about 2.54 cm), and the entire manuscript must be double-spaced, including the abstract. Paragraphs use indentation on the first line—0.5 inches (1.27 cm)—with the key exception that the abstract’s first paragraph is not indented. An accessible font and font style (covered in earlier lessons) should be used throughout. Every page needs a header that includes the running head (a shortened, capitalized title) and the page number.

Structurally, the title page is mandatory. It must include the paper’s title (no more than 50 characters), centered about three or four lines below the top margin, and bold only for the title itself. The page also lists the author(s) and the university or institution affiliation connected to where the work was conducted or written. Additional author notes may appear, but only the title is bolded; other details such as affiliation statements, disclosures (including “no furthering” as stated in the transcript), and correspondence information should be included as appropriate. The running head on the title page uses a shortened version of the title.

Next comes the abstract, also required. It should be a single paragraph of 150–250 words, double-spaced like the rest of the document. The word “Abstract” is centered and bolded, and the first paragraph of the abstract is not indented. After the abstract, keywords are listed; the label “Keywords” is italicized, indented, and followed by comma-separated terms that are not capitalized unless they are proper nouns.

The main body must follow APA heading conventions. The paper’s title serves as the introduction—there is no separate “Introduction” heading needed. Heading levels can go up to level five, but level one and two are preferred when possible. Level 1 headings are bold and centered and typically represent major sections such as literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusions/recommendations. Level 2 headings are bold but left-aligned; level 3 headings are bold and italicized; level 4 is indented and not italicized; and level 5 is italicized. The transcript also stresses paragraph indentation in the main text.

Beyond headings, number usage follows a style rule: numerals are used for numbers above 10, for grouped comparisons (e.g., “5 of the 15 responses”), and for time/date/age (e.g., “three hours and 15 minutes”). Words are used for numbers below 10, for numbers at the start of sentences/titles, and in most non-precise contexts. Lists can use numbering or bullets; bullets avoid implying hierarchy, and numbered items typically use a period and are not placed in parentheses.

Finally, the reference list is mandatory. The heading “References” is level one (bold, capitalized, centered). Entries are double-spaced, with subsequent lines indented; spacing between references remains double-spaced. Optional elements—footnotes, tables, figures, and appendices—are available but deferred to later lessons. The overall message is that APA 7th formatting is not cosmetic: it standardizes how readers locate sections, interpret headings, and verify sources.