APA Title Page (Cover Page) Format, Example, & Templates
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In APA Style (7th edition), the cover page, or title page, should include:
- A running head (professional papers only) and page number
- The title of the paper
- The name of the author(s)
- The institutional affiliation
- An author note; optional (professional papers only)
- A student paper should also include course information
Note : APA 7 provides slightly different directions for formatting the title pages of professional papers (e.g., those intended for scholarly publication) and student papers (e.g., those turned in for credit in a high school or college course).
Professional paper APA title page
Student paper APA title page
Formatting an APA title page
Note : All text on the title page should be double-spaced and typed in either 12-point, Times New Roman font. In the 7th edition, APA increaded the flexibility regarding font options: which now include Calibri 11, Arial 11, Lucida Sans Unicode 10, Times New Roman 12, or Georgia 11. All words should be centered, and capitalize the first letter of important words.
Running Head
In the 7th edition of the APA style manual, running heads are only required for professional papers that are being submitted for publication (student papers do not require a running head, but still need a page number).
Your title page should contain a running head that is flush left at the top of the page and a page number that is flush right at the top of the page.
Place the running head in the page’s header:
- The running head is the abbreviated title of the paper (IN UPPERCASE LETTERS) aligned left on the page header of all pages, including the title page. APA (7th edition) guidelines require that running heads be a maximum of 50 characters (spaces count as characters).
- The “Running head:” label used in the APA sixth edition is no longer used.
- Place the page number in this same header, but align right, beginning with page number 1 on the title page.
- This header should be 1 inch from the top. Some instructors allow for 1/2 inch, too, but the default is 1 inch.
Paper Title
Position the title of the paper in the upper half of the page. The title should be centered and written in boldface, and important words should be capitalized.
The APA recommends that your title should be a maximum of 12 words and should not contain abbreviations or words that serve no purpose.
Author Name(s)
Institutional affiliation.
Position the school or university’s name below the author(s) name, centered.
A student paper should also include the course number and name, instructor name, and assignment due date.
Further Information
- APA Student Title Page Guide
- APA Referencing
- How to Write a Lab Report
- Essay Writing Guide for Psychology Students
- APA Style Citations & References
- Example of an APA Formatted Paper
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Last Updated: Nov 22, 2023 Views: 521155
In APA Style, the cover sheet is called a title page. Follow the guidelines of your instructor when determining the proper format for your title page. Unless instructed otherwise, include the following elements:
- Title of the paper in bold
- Author name
- University Affiliation
- Course number and name
- Instructor name
- Page number (top right).
For APA 7th edition, running heads are only required for professional papers that are being submitted for publication. Please see Section 2.3 for more information or review the APA Style blog’s Student Title Page Guide . The video below by Academic Support walks you through how to format your paper. Here is an example of a student title page in APA style:
More Information
- APA Guide (Shapiro Library)
- Title Page Setup This link opens in a new window (APA Style)
Further Help
This information is intended to be a guideline, not expert advice. Always speak to your instructor about citation styles and paper formats for your course.
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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / APA Format / Formatting an APA title page
Formatting an APA title page
The title page is a requirement for all APA papers. The primary role of the title page is to present just that: the title. But that’s only the beginning of what is actually required for a properly formatted APA title page. This is the first chance a writer has to truly engage with the reader.
For students, the title page also lets people know which class, professor, and institution the text was written for. For professional authors, the title page is an opportunity to share any affiliations or conflicts of interest that might be present.
APA Style recognizes two different ways to format a title page. One is for student papers and the other is for professional papers. This guide will examine the difference and provide real-life examples of both.
The information provided below comes from the 7 th edition of the APA’s Publication Manual . You can read more about title page elements in Sections 2.1 – 2.8.
Here’s a run-through of everything this page includes:
The difference between a professional title page and a student title page in APA
Elements of an apa style title page, apa formatting title page example, conclusion: formatting a title page in apa 7.
Both student and professional title pages require a title, author, and an affiliation. Both types of title page also require the same basic formatting, including 1-inch indentations on all sides and a page number in the top right corner.
The primary difference is that professional title pages also require an author note and a running head. However, some professors do ask that you provide some of these elements in student papers. It’s a good idea to know how to format them just in case.
Student title page APA
An APA title page for any paper being submitted for a class, degree, or thesis is all about the basics. Here are the elements that should be included in a student title page :
- Title of your paper
- Byline (author or authors)
- Affiliation (department and university)
- Course name and course number
- Instructor name
Page number
Your professor or institution might have their own formatting requirements. When writing a paper for a class, the first rule is to always pay attention to the instructions.
Professional title page APA
A professional title page skips the class info and due date, but it includes:
- Affiliation (division and/or organization)
- Author note
- Running head
The author note and running head are generally only required for professional papers. However, some professors might ask that you include one or both of them. Be sure to check the assignment instructions before submitting.
The title of your paper is really important. This is where the author needs to simultaneously inform and engage the reader without being overly wordy.
An effective title will:
- Engage the reader
- Concisely explain the main topic of research
- Concisely explain any relevant variables or theoretical issues
The paper title should be placed three or four lines down from the top margin of the page. It should be presented in bold, title case, and centered on the page.
Author/Byline
The correct way to display the author’s name is first name, middle initial, and last name. The most important thing is to prevent the possibility of mistaken identity. After all, there are a lot of papers published every year, and it’s possible that someone else has the same name as you do.
For all author bylines in APA, all licenses and degrees are omitted (e.g., Dr., Professor, PhD, RN, etc.).
If your paper has multiple authors, then they should all be listed in the same way, in order of their contributions. All authors should be on the same line, unless more lines are required.
Here’s an example of a properly formatted byline for a paper with two authors:
Cassandra M. Berkman and Wilhelm K. Jackson
Affiliation
The affiliation element is where you identify the place where the work was conducted or who it was conducted for. This is almost always a university or institution. In some cases, there are multiple affiliations for one author, or multiple authors with different affiliations.
Academic affiliations
Academic affiliations include schools, universities, and teaching hospitals. The affiliation line should include the specific department followed by the name of the institution. There is no need to include a location for academic affiliations.
Here is an example of what a basic academic affiliation line should look like:
Department of Psychology, Colorado State University
Non-academic affiliations
Non-academic affiliations are anything that isn’t a school or university, which could be a hospital, laboratory, or just about any type of organization. The affiliation line for a non-academic organization should include the department or division, followed by the name and location of the organization. All elements should be separated by commas.
Here’s how it looks when put to use:
Vidant Health, Greenville, NC, United States
Course number and name (Student only)
Use the course number and course name as they appear on official university materials. Examples:
- ENG 204: Modern English Literature
- PSYC 2301: Research Methodology
Instructor name (Student papers only)
It’s important that you display your instructor’s name in their preferred way. With academics who have multiple degrees and positions, this isn’t something that you should guess at.
It is generally safe to use the course syllabus to see how they prefer to be listed. For example, some use the word “Professor” as their prefix, and many will have PhD, RN, or other type of professional designation.
Due date (Student papers only)
The due date should be presented in the day, month, and year format that is standard to your country.
The page number goes at the top right-hand side of the paper. This is one of the only elements that appears on every single page.
You can add running page numbers to your paper by double-clicking the header portion of the document or clicking the “Insert” tab. It will automatically insert page numbers into the rest of the document.
Author note (Professional papers only)
The author note is usually only required for professional papers. This is where additional data, disclaimers, conflicts of interest, and statements about funding are placed. In some cases, the author statement can be several pages long.
The author note is generally split into four paragraphs, including:
- ORCID iD (a scientific/academic author ID)
- Changes of Affiliation
- Disclosures and Acknowledgments
- Contact Information
Section 2.7 of the Publication Manual has even more information on how to structure these elements for a professional paper.
Running Head (Professional papers only)
While some student papers might require a running head, this is something that is typically only for papers being submitted for publication. This is an abbreviated version of your title that appears at the top of every page to help readers identify it. The running title is particularly useful especially in print versions of journals and publications.
The running head does not have to use the same words as they appear in your title. Instead, try to re-work your paper’s main idea into a shortened form.
For example, if your paper’s title is:
“A Mystery of Style: Exploring the Formatting Mechanics of the Running Head According to APA Style 7th Edition”
Then your abbreviated title can be something like:
“RUNNING HEAD IN APA 7”
“FORMATTING THE RUNNING HEAD”
The idea is to convey only the most important aspects of your title. The running head should be entered in the page header, flush left against the margin, and presented in all-capital letters.
The APA suggests a maximum length of 50 characters (including spaces and punctuation) for a running head. If your title is already 50 characters and under, then you can use the whole thing as the running head.
Next, let’s have a look at an example of what a real APA title page looks like when it’s all put together.
Student title page formatting example
Professional title page formatting example
All papers written according to APA Style should have a properly formatted title page. Making sure that the title page elements are accurate and informative will help people access your work. It is also the first opportunity that you have as the author to establish credibility and engage the reader.
For more information on the basic elements of an APA paper, check out Chapter 2 of the Publication Manual or our guide on APA format .
Published October 28, 2020.
APA Formatting Guide
APA Formatting
- Annotated Bibliography
- Block Quotes
- et al Usage
- In-text Citations
- Multiple Authors
- Paraphrasing
- Page Numbers
- Parenthetical Citations
- Reference Page
- Sample Paper
- APA 7 Updates
- View APA Guide
Citation Examples
- Book Chapter
- Journal Article
- Magazine Article
- Newspaper Article
- Website (no author)
- View all APA Examples
An APA title page provides the details of the paper, such as the title of the paper, author name, and author affiliation. APA title pages have two formats—one for professional papers and one for student papers.
The elements to be added on the title page of a professional paper (in order of appearance) are:
- Page number and running head: These elements appear in the header section. The page number appears at the top-right corner, whereas the running head appears at the top-left corner. If the title is too long, the running head is shortened to less than 50 characters.
- Title of the paper: It provides information about the paper. It is aligned center and set in bold.
- Names of the authors: It gives the names of the contributors to the paper and is aligned center.
- Affiliations of the authors: It gives the department and university details of the authors.
- Author note: It gives extra information about the authors.
In a student paper, the following details are included on the title page:
- Page number: This appears in the top-right corner of the header section.
- Title of the paper: It gives the reader an idea of the information in the paper. It appears in title case and bold. It is center-aligned.
- Names of the authors: The names of the contributors are added here. This field is also called the by-line.
- Affiliations of the authors: It includes the names of the authors’ departments and universities.
- Name of the course: The name of the course for which the paper is written is included in this field.
- Name of the instructor: Unlike the professional paper, the instructor’s name is included in a student paper.
- Due date of the assignment: The due date of the assignment is added here. The format is “Month Day, Year” (e.g., August 22, 2017).
The title page information for APA is different for a professional paper and a student paper. As a student, you need to include the following details in the same order on the title page of your student paper.
- Page number: This appears in the header section. Set the page number in the top-right corner of the header.
- Title of the paper: Set it in title case and bold. Align it to the center.
- Names of the authors: Provide the names of the contributors. This field is also called the by-line.
- Affiliations of the authors: Include your department and university name.
- Name of the course: Provide the name of the course and course number for which the paper is written.
- Name of the instructor: Add the instructor’s name. There is no rigid rule on how to set the instructor’s name. You can set it according to the instructor’s preference.
- Due date of the assignment: Add the due date of the assignment. The format should be “Month Day, Year” (e.g., August 23, 2021).
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- The Complete Guide to APA Format in 2020
APA Title Page / Cover Page
- Headings and Subheadings
- Discussion Section
- Websites and Online Sources
- Journals and Periodicals
- Other Print Sources
- Other Non-Print Sources
- In-text Citations
- Footnotes and Endnotes
- Using MyBib Responsibly
- Miscellaneous Questions
Details to include
The title page (also known as the cover page) is the front page of your paper. It should contain:
- The running head , a header at the top of the page.
- The first page number .
- The title of the paper
- The institution for which you writing.
Running head
The running head should be in the top-left corner of the page in uppercase. It should include a shortened title of your paper. On the front page only, it should also be prepended with "Running head:".
First page number
The first page number -- generally page 1 -- should be in the top-right corner of the page. Both the page number and the running head should be a half inch from the top of the page.
The title of the paper can contain upper and lowercase letters, and ideally should be no more than 12 words in length. It should be direct, and should not contain abbreviations or other unnecessary words. It should not span longer than 2 lines. The first letter of each word should be uppercase, except for articles (a, an, the), and conjunctions (and, but, for, or, yet).
Underneath the title should be your name (or the author's name if you're not the author). It should be displayed as the first name , middle initial , and last name . Do not add titles (such as Dr.) to the beginning, or qualifications (such as PhD) to the end of an author's name.
Your institution
Finally, underneath the author's name, state the full name of the institution or school you're writing the paper for.
The font for all text on the title page should be Times New Roman, size 12pt, with double line-spacing.
A correct title page will look like the below image:
After completing your title page you will move on to writing an abstract of your paper.
APA Referencing Guide
- What is APA Referencing?
- Appropriate Level of Citation
- Paraphrasing
- Direct Quotes
- Two Authors
- Three or More Authors
- Organisations as Author
- Multiple Sources in a Citation
- Reference List Basics
- Journal Article
- Book or Ebook
- Software and Apps
- Legislation
- Figures and Tables Basics
- Figures - Alternatives
- Tables - Alternatives
- Notes - Alternatives
- Single Appendix
- Multiple Appendices
- Video Tutorials
- Cover/ Title Page
- Paragraph Alignment and Indentation
- Line Spacing
- Page Numbers
- Numbers and Symbols
- Tables and Figures
- Reference List
- Sample Papers
Always check your assignment outline for information to include on the cover/title page. Where no specific information is provided, you can follow the below instructions.
The assignment cover/ title page includes student number, your name, subject code, assignment name, word count, date of submission , centred on the page.
Align the text of an APA Style paper to the left margin. Leave the right margin uneven. Indent the first line of each paragraph in the body of your assignment.
Text Alignment
Note. From Student and Paper Setup Guide (p. 6), by the American Psychological Association, 2020b, ( https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/student-paper-setup-guide.pdf ). Copyright 2022 by the American Psychological Association.
For more information on alignment please visit the APA style website (APA, 2022g).
Headings identify the content within sections of a paper.
- Make your headings descriptive and concise.
- Use only the number of headings necessary to differentiate distinct sections in your paper; short student papers may not require any headings.
- Level 1 headings are used for distinct sections, while additional levels are used for sub-sections within sections (see below).
Headings Format
Note. From Headings , by the American Psychological Association, 2022d, ( https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/paper-format/headings ). Copyright 2022 by the American Psychological Association.
For more information on headings please visit the APA style website (APA, 2022d) or learn how to create headings with Microsoft Word (Microsoft, n.d.-a).
In general, double-space all parts of an APA Style paper, including: headings, section labels, paragraphs of text, block quotes, table/figure numbers/notes, and reference list. Do not add extra space before or after paragraphs.
Note. From Double-Space the Lines in a Document, by Microsoft., n.d.-d, ( https://bit.ly/3GRcExu ). Copyright 2022 by Microsoft.
Exceptions:
- Title page - see Title page tab for formatting advice.
- Tables - The table body (cells) may be single-spaced, one-and-a-half-spaced, or double-spaced, depending on which is the most effective layout for the information. Double-space the table number, title, and notes.
- Figures - Words within the image part of a figure may be single-spaced, one-and-a-half-spaced, or double-spaced, depending on which is the most effective layout for the information. Double-space the figure number, title, and notes.
For information on line spacing in Microsoft Word, see this example (Microsoft, n.d.-d).
- Use the page-numbering function of your word-processing program to insert page numbers.
- Insert page numbers in the top right corner. The page number should show on all pages.
- The title page carries page number 1.
Page Number Formatting
Note. From Title Page Setup , by the American Psychological Association, 2022k, ( https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/paper-format/title-page ). Copyright 2022 by the American Psychological Association.
In general, use words to express numbers zero through nine.
there were five nurses on duty
the study had three conditions
students were in the third, sixth, eighth, 10th, and 12th grades
There are some exceptions, such as numbers that begin a sentence, title, or heading (when possible, reword the sentence to avoid beginning with a number)
Fifty percent of the students received the intervention, and the other 50% were part of a control condition.
Twenty people enrolled in the class, but 15 dropped out.
See all exceptions here (APA, 2022f).
In general, use numerals to express numbers 10 and above.
there were 15 psychologists at the clinic
the study had 40 participants
There are some exceptions, such as percentiles and quartiles
5th percentile, the 95th percentile the 3rd quartile
See all exceptions here (APA, 2022e).
A variety of fonts are permitted in APA Style papers. Font options include the following:
- sans serif fonts (recommended for reading online) such as 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, or 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode
- serif fonts (recommended for reading in print) such as 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Georgia, or normal (10-point) Computer Modern
While not an APA rule, it is strongly suggested that all assessments are submitted with black text on a white/plain paper background . This form of formatting is not only associated with professional standard but is also accessible to those with visual impairments.
See the Tables and Figures tab for additional font options within any tables or figures in your paper.
For more information, please see the APA style website (APA, 2022c).
When to use Italics in a paper:
- First use of key terms or phrases, often accompanied by a definition: Mindfulness is defined as “the act of noticing new things, a process that promotes flexible responding to the demands of the environment” (Pagnini et al., 2016, p. 91).
- First use of words from another language when readers may not be familiar with them:
Botanical names: The latin name for lavender is lavandula Latin terms: The term tolle totum means to treat the whole person.
- Figure/Table Titles, and the word Note, when a note is included below the Figure/Table
Figure 1 Ying Yang Symbol [Insert Figure/Table here] Note.
When to use italics in your reference list:
Titles of books, reports, webpages, and other stand-alone works:
Hinrichsen, G. (2019). Assessment and treatment of older adults: A guide for mental health professionals. American Psychological Association.
Titles of periodicals and periodical volume numbers (but not the comma between them):
American Journal of Nursing , 119 (9), 47–53.
For more examples on when and when not to use italics, please see the APA style website (APA, 2022k).
Use 1-inch margins on every side of the page for an APA Style paper.
For instructions on changing margins, please visit the Microsoft Word website (Microsoft, n.d.-b).
Tables and Figures contain a Table/Figure Number, Title, Body (or image) and Note (optional if you created the table/figure yourself).
Table Elements
Notes are only optiona l when no copyright attribution is required. If you did not create the table yourself, you will need to acknowledge the source in the note, and in the reference list. See example tables and figures in the Reference Example box above.
Figure Font
Note. From Student Paper Setup Guide (p. 12), by the American Psychological Association, 2020b , ( https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/student-paper-setup-guide.pdf ). Copyright 2022 by the American Psychological Association.
For mor information please see the APA Style website (APA, 2021b).
You can embed tables and figures in the body of the paper, or at the end of the paper in an Appendix. Check your assignment outline for any specific instructions. See detailed examples in our Library FAQ The appendix label appears at the top of a new page, bold and centered.
If you only have one item in the appendix (see Appendix):
Appendix Appendix Title Here (describe the contents)
Normal text left-aligned, double-spaced and include a page number in the top right corner. If consists of only a single table or figure, the appendix label and title takes the place of the table or figure number and title.
If you have more than one appendix, label each appendix with A, B, C etc. on a new page in the order they are mentioned (See Appendix A).
Appendix Title Here (describe the contents)
When you have multiple tables/figures in a single appendix (most likely because they have similar content), then label each one with a number after the appendix letter (See Figure B1).
Appendix B Appendix Title Here (describe the contents)
Figure B1 Descriptive Title Figure B2 Descriptive Title
For more information on your appendix, please see Appendices .
The reference list label "References" appears at the top of a new page, bold and centered.
References are in alphabetical order and double-spaced with a 0.5" hanging indent.
Note. From Student Paper Setup Guide (p. 18), by the American Psychological Association, 2020b , ( https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/student-paper-setup-guide.pdf ). Copyright 2022 by the American Psychological Association.
See the Line Spacing tab for instructions on how to double space in Microsoft Word.
To see instructions on how to create a hanging indent please see the Microsoft website (Microsoft, n.d.-c).
Sample APA 7 papers can be a great way to see correct in-text citations, layout, formatting recommendations, and reference list examples.
Note. From Student Sample Paper with Annotations (p. 1), by the American Psychological Association, n.d.-b, ( https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/paper-format/student-annotated.pdf ). Copyright 2022 by the American Psychological Association.
We recommend the student sample paper with annotations available on the APA style website (APA, 2022j).
American Psychological Association. (n.d.-a). APA style . https://apastyle.apa.org /
American Psychological Association. (n.d.-b) . Student sample paper with annotations. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/paper-format/student-annotated.p d f
American Psychological Association. (2020a). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-0 0 0
American Psychological Association. (2020b, October 21). Student paper setup guide. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/student-paper-setup-guide.p d f
American Psychological Association. (2021a, December). Sample Tables. APA Style. h ttps://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/tables-figures/sample-table s
American Psychological Association. (2021b, December). Table setup. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/tables-figures/tabl e s
American Psychological Association. ( 2022a, July ). Appropriate level of citation. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/citations/appropriate-citati o n
American Psychological Association. ( 2022b, July ). Elements of reference list entries. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/elements-list-ent r y
American Psychological Association. ( 2022c, July ). Font. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/paper-format/fo n t
American Psychological Association. ( 2022d, July ). Headings. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/paper-format/headin g s
American Psychological Association. ( 2022e, July ). Numbers expressed in numerals. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/numbers/numera l s
American Psychological Association. ( 2022f, July ). Numbers expressed in words. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/numbers/wor d s
American Psychological Association. ( 2022g, July ). Paragraph alignment and indentation. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/paper-format/paragraph-form a t
American Psychological Association. ( 2022h, July ). Paraphrasing. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/citations/paraphrasing
American Psychological Association. (2022i, July). Quotations. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/citations/quotatio n s
American Psychological Association. (2022j, July). Sample papers. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/paper-format/sample-pape r s
American Psychological Association. (2022k, July). Use of italics. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/italics-quotations/itali c s
American Psychological Association. (2022l, August). Citing multiple works. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/citations/basic-principles/multiple-wor k s
American Psychological Association. (2023, March). About APA style . https://apastyle.apa.org/about-apa-sty l e
McAdoo, T. (2023, April 7). How to cite ChatGPT. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/how-to-cite-chatgpt
Microsoft. (n.d.-a). Add a heading. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-a-heading-3eb8b917-56dc-4a17-891a-a026b2c790 f 2
Microsoft. (n.d.-b). Change margins . https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/change-the-margins-in-your-word-document-c95c1ea1-70b1-4dde-a1da-f5aa2042c8 2 9
Microsoft. (n.d.-c). Create a hanging indent. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-a-hanging-indent-7bdfb86a-c714-41a8-ac7a-3782a91cca d 5
Microsoft. (n.d.-d). Double-space the lines in a document. https://bit.ly/3GRcEx u
PSI CHI. (2022, April 5). Webinar: So you need to write a literature review/key tasks & how to accomplish them 03/16/2022 [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/LWMf-FYOpJ 8
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Referencing and formatting with APA 7th ed. (STA): APA Formatting
- APA References
- APA In-Text Citations
- APA Formatting
Contents of this page
(regarding student assignments)
APA 7th formatting
APA 7th heading levels
APA 7th cover page format
Formatting changes from APA 6th to 7th
- APA tables and figures
APA preferred spelling
Hyphenation in APA
Alphabetization of A, And and The
About this page
This page provides information on the formatting of student papers according to APA 7th edition.
- Use the info on this page for regular assignments.
For Research Projects or Theses, please use the UWI Thesis Guide .
- Guidelines in the Thesis Guide override those recommended in the APA style manual.
For Professional papers for publications , the guidelines are slightly different. Check the Manual.
APA formatting and writing style
- Discussion phrases Guide
- Numbers expressed in words
- Numbers expressed in numerals
- LIsts - lettered, numbered and bulleted lists
- How to alphabetize "a," "an," and "the" in APA Style References
Sentence Style or Headline Style
Whereas titles of articles and books in references, table headings, and figure notes are written in sentence style, headline style is recommended for in-text titles, all heading levels, paper headlines, periodical titles, figure titles, and table titles (as well as journal titles in references).
Sentence style or sentence case is where most words are going to be lowercase except for:
- The first word in the title/heading/subtitle
- Proper nouns
- The first word after an em dash, semicolon, or end punctuation
- Any noun followed by letters or numbers
see APA Style - sentence case
Headline style (title case) is where major words are capitalized while minor words are lowercase.
- Major words are nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, adverbs, and basically any word four letters or longer.
- Minor words are conjunctions that are three letters or less, short prepositions, and all articles.
In addition, the following words should be capitalized under title case:
- First word of the title — including minor words.
- First word after any punctuation (semicolon, em dash, end punctuation, etc.) except for commas.
- Words four letters or longer (With, After, Then, etc.).
- All major words — including post-hyphen words (“Decision-Making” rather than “Decision-making”).
See APA style - title/headline case
Heading Levels (Table 2.3, page 48, APA Publication Manual)
Create or customise your headings style in MS Word
APA Tenses and Thesis and Projects
APA Formatting Guidelines
For example, Calibri or Arial, 11-point or Times New Roman or Georgia 12-point
Left align text, only
Do NOT divide words/hyphenate at end of line
Use only one space after a period at the end of a sentence
No running head in student papers
Short Quotes - < 40 words
Include quotation in the sentence using double quotation marks.
E.g., Internationally, the middle class could rise “from 1.8 billion people to 3.2 billion by 2020 and to 4.9 billion by 2030” (Kharas 2010, 27).
Long Quotes - > 40 words
E.g.,
Though many people rely on search engines to find information, Noble (2017) acknowledges that
online search can oversimplify complex phenomena. The results, ranked by algorithms treated as trade secrets by Google, are divorced from context and lack guidance on their veracity or reliability. Search results feign impartiality and objectivity, even as they fail to provide essential information and knowledge we need: knowledge traditionally acquired through teachers, professors, books, history, and experience. (para 3)
Quote within a Quotation
Use single quotation marks for the inner quote and double quotation marks for the main quote.
E.g., Harry said, "When you go home say 'hello' to your mom".
Student Assignment Cover Page
The following is an example of a cover page for a student assignment. Do find out if your lecturer has a specific format. If not you can use a similar format to the one below. Add elements not stated there if you wish. Use double-space and bold the title.
Changes from APA 6th to APA 7th edition
- No Running Head at the top of the page for student papers
- There are changes in Heading Levels 3 to 5
- Increased flexibility in font options
APA - Preferred spelling
Source: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/spelling-hyphenation/preferred-spellings
APA Hyphenation
Use hyphens to prevent temporary compounds from being misread. For example, if a compound adjective appears before a noun, use a hyphen (e.g., decision-making behavior, high-anxiety group). If the compound adjective appears after the noun, a hyphen is usually unnecessary (e.g., behavior related to decision making, group with high anxiety).
Source: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/spelling-hyphenation/hyphenation
Additional APA Style Resources
- APA Style Blog
- How to File A, An and The
- Numbers and Statistics in APA
- Spelling and Hyphenation
- Reducing Bias in Your Writing
Changing quotations
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- URL: https://libguides.uwi.edu/apa7
Generate accurate APA citations for free
- Knowledge Base
- APA Style 7th edition
- APA format for academic papers and essays
APA Formatting and Citation (7th Ed.) | Generator, Template, Examples
Published on November 6, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on January 17, 2024.
The 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual provides guidelines for clear communication , citing sources , and formatting documents. This article focuses on paper formatting.
Generate accurate APA citations with Scribbr
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.).
- Include a page number on every page.
Let an expert format your paper
Our APA formatting experts can help you to format your paper according to APA guidelines. They can help you with:
- Margins, line spacing, and indentation
- Font and headings
- Running head and page numbering
Table of contents
How to set up apa format (with template), apa alphabetization guidelines, apa format template [free download], page header, headings and subheadings, reference page, tables and figures, frequently asked questions about apa format.
Are your APA in-text citations flawless?
The AI-powered APA Citation Checker points out every error, tells you exactly what’s wrong, and explains how to fix it. Say goodbye to losing marks on your assignment!
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References are ordered alphabetically by the first author’s last name. If the author is unknown, order the reference entry by the first meaningful word of the title (ignoring articles: “the”, “a”, or “an”).
Why set up APA format from scratch if you can download Scribbr’s template for free?
Student papers and professional papers have slightly different guidelines regarding the title page, abstract, and running head. Our template is available in Word and Google Docs format for both versions.
- Student paper: Word | Google Docs
- Professional paper: Word | Google Docs
In an APA Style paper, every page has a page header. For student papers, the page header usually consists of just a page number in the page’s top-right corner. For professional papers intended for publication, it also includes a running head .
A running head is simply the paper’s title in all capital letters. It is left-aligned and can be up to 50 characters in length. Longer titles are abbreviated .
APA headings have five possible levels. Heading level 1 is used for main sections such as “ Methods ” or “ Results ”. Heading levels 2 to 5 are used for subheadings. Each heading level is formatted differently.
Want to know how many heading levels you should use, when to use which heading level, and how to set up heading styles in Word or Google Docs? Then check out our in-depth article on APA headings .
The title page is the first page of an APA Style paper. There are different guidelines for student and professional papers.
Both versions include the paper title and author’s name and affiliation. The student version includes the course number and name, instructor name, and due date of the assignment. The professional version includes an author note and running head .
For more information on writing a striking title, crediting multiple authors (with different affiliations), and writing the author note, check out our in-depth article on the APA title page .
The abstract is a 150–250 word summary of your paper. An abstract is usually required in professional papers, but it’s rare to include one in student papers (except for longer texts like theses and dissertations).
The abstract is placed on a separate page after the title page . At the top of the page, write the section label “Abstract” (bold and centered). The contents of the abstract appear directly under the label. Unlike regular paragraphs, the first line is not indented. Abstracts are usually written as a single paragraph without headings or blank lines.
Directly below the abstract, you may list three to five relevant keywords . On a new line, write the label “Keywords:” (italicized and indented), followed by the keywords in lowercase letters, separated by commas.
APA Style does not provide guidelines for formatting the table of contents . It’s also not a required paper element in either professional or student papers. If your instructor wants you to include a table of contents, it’s best to follow the general guidelines.
Place the table of contents on a separate page between the abstract and introduction. Write the section label “Contents” at the top (bold and centered), press “Enter” once, and list the important headings with corresponding page numbers.
The APA reference page is placed after the main body of your paper but before any appendices . Here you list all sources that you’ve cited in your paper (through APA in-text citations ). APA provides guidelines for formatting the references as well as the page itself.
Creating APA Style references
Play around with the Scribbr Citation Example Generator below to learn about the APA reference format of the most common source types or generate APA citations for free with Scribbr’s APA Citation Generator .
Formatting the reference page
Write the section label “References” at the top of a new page (bold and centered). Place the reference entries directly under the label in alphabetical order.
Finally, apply a hanging indent , meaning the first line of each reference is left-aligned, and all subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches.
Tables and figures are presented in a similar format. They’re preceded by a number and title and followed by explanatory notes (if necessary).
Use bold styling for the word “Table” or “Figure” and the number, and place the title on a separate line directly below it (in italics and title case). Try to keep tables clean; don’t use any vertical lines, use as few horizontal lines as possible, and keep row and column labels concise.
Keep the design of figures as simple as possible. Include labels and a legend if needed, and only use color when necessary (not to make it look more appealing).
Check out our in-depth article about table and figure notes to learn when to use notes and how to format them.
The easiest way to set up APA format in Word is to download Scribbr’s free APA format template for student papers or professional papers.
Alternatively, you can watch Scribbr’s 5-minute step-by-step tutorial or check out our APA format guide with examples.
APA Style papers should be written in a font that is legible and widely accessible. For example:
- Times New Roman (12pt.)
- Arial (11pt.)
- Calibri (11pt.)
- Georgia (11pt.)
The same font and font size is used throughout the document, including the running head , page numbers, headings , and the reference page . Text in footnotes and figure images may be smaller and use single line spacing.
You need an APA in-text citation and reference entry . Each source type has its own format; for example, a webpage citation is different from a book citation .
Use Scribbr’s free APA Citation Generator to generate flawless citations in seconds or take a look at our APA citation examples .
Yes, page numbers are included on all pages, including the title page , table of contents , and reference page . Page numbers should be right-aligned in the page header.
To insert page numbers in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, click ‘Insert’ and then ‘Page number’.
APA format is widely used by professionals, researchers, and students in the social and behavioral sciences, including fields like education, psychology, and business.
Be sure to check the guidelines of your university or the journal you want to be published in to double-check which style you should be using.
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.
Streefkerk, R. (2024, January 17). APA Formatting and Citation (7th Ed.) | Generator, Template, Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved February 15, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/format/
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The Perfect APA Cover Page
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Inhaltsverzeichnis
- 1 Definition: APA Cover Page
- 3 What to Include?
- 5 All Components
- 6 In a Nutshell
Definition: APA Cover Page
Also known as the title page, an APA cover page is the very front page of an essay. It entails crucial information of the work presented by the author as advised by the examiner. The core duty of the APA cover page is to let the reader identify different parts of your work without having to read the paper.
Also, it also ensures that your work looks professional and well presented. To the learners, the APA cover page helps them know the work that needs to be presented.
Students are mostly asked to write essays or complete their projects in APA Format. However, quite a number of them do not have a clear understanding of what APA format entails and how to use it for their projects. This piece tends to explore the details of an APA cover page to help learners.
This section aims at answering some of the common questions asked by students and scholars looking to have a deeper understanding of the APA Cover Page. Let’s take a look at the five common questions asked about APA Cover page.
What is the APA format?
APA formatting is a style that is mainly used for academic and scholarly journals and books. Mainly, the APA style is used in citing sources that fall within the field of social sciences and other related areas. A perfectly formatted APA thesis entails following the rules of the APA formatting method for APA citation , APA title pages and finally, using these rules for your cover page.
What is the importance of an APA cover page?
To the examiner, the APA cover page helps them get an idea of the academic work in a glance since it contains all of the necessary information about the author’s work. It also allows the writers to present their research paper in an orderly manner that appears more professional and presentable. The cover page is one of the first things a reader will see (after the title page of course).
What’s the difference between the APA cover page and other cover page styles?
Compared to other styles like MLA and Harvard , APA has more details presented on the center of the cover page and a running head that bears a section of the main title of the paper written in capital letters. This is the main difference that immediately becomes obvious when trying to distinguish APA formatting from the other styles.
What are the common mistakes made in the APA cover page?
Though most students and other writers tend to research styles before writing, they make different mistakes whilst trying to craft a perfect APA cover page. Some of the most common mistakes are the placing of the page number, while others do not put page numbers at all, some APA cover pages also lack the running head, or lack clear information. Note that all of the APA title page details must be clearly formatted as well, as this is the very first view that readers will have of your paper.
Do I still have to indicate the title in the actual paper after indicating it in the APA cover page?
Yes. The APA cover page will be one of the first pages of the essay, book, or any other academic writing work. The title should be on every page (due to the running header) as well as on the title page and cover page. The title should also appear once more on the first page of text, to remind the reader what they’re about to read.
What to Include?
If you are trying to write your piece in APA style, then you have to ensure that it entails a page number, a running head, the name of the author (your name), the title of the paper, and the institutional affiliation. These are the common components of a standard APA cover page, however, you can include more in case you are advised so by the examining body or even the editor if you are using one.
The above example of an APA Cover page depicts what a student or scholar would present in the final essay of a project. Note that what is indicated in the cover page might vary depending on what is requested by the examining body. Nevertheless, other than the details, that is what an APA cover page should look like.
All Components
Let’s take a close look at what the APA Cover page should contain.
The Running Head
Also known as the page header, a running head is a text that usually appears at the very top of the page and is always separated from the body text. It is identical in all pages when you are writing in APA Style. If it appears at the bottom of the page, it is called the page footer, but that is not recommended in APA style.
The Page Number
As mentioned above, the APA style helps the writers to make their work appears orderly. The page number helps them achieve this so that the readers can know how much of the work they have read. In APA, the page number should be made using 12 pt Times New Roman Font. The page number should appear on the top right corner of all pages.
The Title of the Page
Other than the running head, you need to clearly indicate the title of your work so that the readers know what you are writing about. The running head should only contain a section of the title of the entire piece. Make sure that the title is placed in the middle of the APA cover page.
Name of the Author (Your Name)
In APA Cover page, you must indicate your name as the name of the author. That way, the readers will know right away whose work they are reading. Normally, include your official name so that when the work is published, your name goes as the author of the piece. The name of the author usually appears beneath the title of the work.
Institutional Affiliation
If you are a student working on a project or essay, then the institutional affiliation is the name of your college. If you are working for an agency, then you will indicate the name of the organization in this section. It is crucial that you use an authentic institution so that you are recognized as a member, and that you worked on the project following their instructions.
Beneath the Institutional Affiliation, your work should have a date. The time is vital because it helps the examiners to know when the work was done. If it is a book you are writing, your readers will see when you have completed the work.
Importance of APA Cover page in Academic Writing
In academic writing , the APA cover page is essential in helping examiners identify your work easily. Being that it contains your name and the details of the work, they will have an easy time telling it from other files that they might have.
In a Nutshell
The APA style has many formats that can be used by learners and scholars to present their works. Therefore, before you get started, it is vital that to you do your homework well. Also, your institution will provide you with the latest APA cover page format that you need to use throughout your work.
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APA Citation Guide (APA 7th Edition): Welcome
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What is APA Citation Style?
APA Style is a set of guidelines for writing, formatting research papers and assignments, and referencing sources. When citing in APA, you need to cite all the sources that you have used within the body of your work (in-text citation), and in the References List at the end of your essay or assignment. Seneca Libraries citation support and resources are based on the latest edition of the APA Publication Manual (7th edition).
- See the citation examples tab for guidelines on how to cite a variety of sources in APA
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- Check out a video and infographic which highlights major changes in APA Style 7th edition
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- APA 7th ed. Sample Paper (Seneca example)
- APA 7th ed. Sample Paper - Group Assignment (Seneca example)
- APA 7th ed. Sample Paper - With Figures (Seneca Example)
- APA 7th ed. Sample Paper - With Appendix (Seneca Example)
- APA Checklist Finished your assignment? Use this checklist to ensure you haven't missed information needed for APA Style.
Tips for formatting your APA Style paper
Margins : Add 1 inch margins on all sides.
Header : Starting with your title page, add page numbers at the top right corner of the page.
Line Spacing : Double-space your text.
Paragraph Alignment & Indentation : Indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.5 inch. Align your paragraphs to the left margin.
Recommended Fonts: Unless specified by your instructor, APA recommends the following fonts:
- 11-point Calibri
- 11-point Arial
- 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode
- 12-point Times New Roman
- 11-point Georgia
- 10-point Computer Modern
- Heading Levels (APA Style) If your instructor requires you to use APA Style headings and sub-headings, this document will show you how they work.
- Annotated Bibliography Guide An overview to writing an annotated bibliography and APA annotated bibliography template.
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Note: This citation guide is based on the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). The contents are accurate to the best of our knowledge. Some examples illustrate Seneca Libraries' recommendations and are marked as modifications of the official APA guidelines.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License . It is used/adapted with the permission of Seneca Libraries. For information please contact [email protected] . When copying this guide, please retain this box.
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- Last Updated: Feb 14, 2024 3:49 PM
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The student title page includes the paper title, author names (the byline), author affiliation, course number and name for which the paper is being submitted, instructor name, assignment due date, and page number, as shown in this example. Learn more
Revised on January 17, 2024. This article reflects the APA 7th edition guidelines. Click here for APA 6th edition guidelines. APA provides different guidelines for student and professional papers. The student version of the APA title page should include the following information (double spaced and centered): Paper title Author name
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. Title Page Setup Title Page Elements The affiliation consists of the department of the course and the name of the university.
As long as students do not have any specific guidance from their instructors in regards to a cover page format, they should include the following elements on their cover page: Running head: only for APA 6th you write "Running head: TITLE" as a header. APA 7th does not require a running head.
In APA Style (7th edition), the cover page, or title page, should include: A running head (professional papers only) and page number The title of the paper The name of the author (s) The institutional affiliation An author note; optional (professional papers only) A student paper should also include course information
Specifically, a cover page is a requirement for papers written in APA format, which places the most emphasis on them. The APA format cover page is the most common and has the most thorough rules. On the other hand, the MLA format requires a cover page only for group projects with more than one author. Otherwise, they are optional.
In APA Style, the cover sheet is called a title page. Follow the guidelines of your instructor when determining the proper format for your title page. Unless instructed otherwise, include the following elements: Title of the paper in bold Author name University Affiliation Course number and name Instructor name Due date Page number (top right).
An APA title page provides the details of the paper, such as the title of the paper, author name, and author affiliation. APA title pages have two formats—one for professional papers and one for student papers. ... Due date of the assignment: The due date of the assignment is added here. The format is "Month Day, Year" (e.g., August 22 ...
1-in. margins on all sides placement: first page of the paper title, author name(s), university, course name and number, instructor name, assignment due date ° positioned in the upper-middle of the page (3 or 4 lines below the top of the page)
Details to include The title page (also known as the cover page) is the front page of your paper. It should contain: The running head, a header at the top of the page. The first page number. The title of the paper Your name The institution for which you writing. Running head
"Use 1 in. (2.54 cm) margins on all sides (top, bottom, left, and right) of the page." If your subject outline or lecturer has requested specific margins (for example, 3cm on the left side), use those. Alignment: "Align the text to the left and leave the right margin uneven ('ragged').
The assignment cover/ title page includes student number, your name, subject code, assignment name, word count, date of submission, centred on the page. Align the text of an APA Style paper to the left margin.
APA Formatting Guidelines Spacing: Double-space the paper throughout. Double-space references, quotations and footnotes Font: Using the same font throughout the paper For example, Calibri or Arial, 11-point or Times New Roman or Georgia 12-point Page numbering: Arabic numerals; top right corner Margins: 1-inch margin on each side of the page
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
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.).
Definition: APA Cover Page Also known as the title page, an APA cover page is the very front page of an essay. It entails crucial information of the work presented by the author as advised by the examiner. The core duty of the APA cover page is to let the reader identify different parts of your work without having to read the paper.
1. Title. Should be centered. Use bold font. Three to four lines down the title page. Title case capitalization. This means you'd only capitalize the first word of the title and any nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Optional: Add the subtitle (if applicable) on a separate, double-spaced line.
papers (a change from APA 6). Page numbers begin on the first page and follow on every subsequent page without interruption. No other information (e.g., authors' last names) is required. Note: your instructor may ask for a running head or your last name before the page number. You can look at the APA professional sample paper for guidelines on ...
For student papers written in APA format, the title page needs to include (1) the page number in the upper-right corner, as part of the running head, (2) the paper's title, (3) the author's name, (4) the author's affiliation (school or institution), (5) the course name, (6) the course instructor, (7) the due date.
This video walks students through formatting a cover page in Microsoft Word for the student version of APA 7th Edition.
APA Style is a set of guidelines for writing, formatting research papers and assignments, and referencing sources. When citing in APA, you need to cite all the sources that you have used within the body of your work (in-text citation), and in the References List at the end of your essay or assignment. Seneca Libraries citation support and ...
Basic guidelines for formatting the reference list at the end of a standard APA research paper Author/Authors Rules for handling works by a single author or multiple authors that apply to all APA-style references in your reference list, regardless of the type of work (book, article, electronic resource, etc.)
If you are setting the assignment, you are free to pick and choose which aspects of APA style you want students to follow. Your specific question: Note that APA style calls it a "Title Page" rather than a "Cover Page". Any manuscript submitted to a journal using APA style requires a title page (i.e., with title, author names, affiliations ...