APA Format: How to Write a Paper in APA Style
Written by Elena BrooksLast updated: August 12, 20266 min read
APA stands for the American Psychological Association. APA format is the document, citation, and presentation system defined by APA Style. This guide follows the current seventh edition and focuses on student papers commonly assigned in psychology, education, nursing, business, and other social and behavioral sciences. A typical student paper includes a title page, main text, in-text citations, and a References page; an abstract is included only when required.
Before formatting your paper, check the assignment instructions. An instructor, university, department, or journal may impose requirements that supplement or override general APA guidance.
Use this as the main APA 7 paper-format guide. For source attribution rules and source-specific entries, continue to the APA Citation Guide. For a copyable student-paper structure or an APA 6-to-7 conversion, use the APA 7 template and migration checklist.
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Element | Basic APA guidance |
|---|---|
Margins | Use 1-inch margins on all sides. |
Line spacing | Double-space the title page, main text, and reference list. Limited exceptions may apply to tables, figures, footnotes, or equations. |
Page numbers | Place the page number in the upper-right corner of every page, beginning with the title page. |
Paragraph indent | Indent the first line of most body paragraphs by 0.5 inch. |
Alignment | Align body text left and leave the right margin uneven. |
Font | Use one readable APA-permitted font consistently, such as 11-point Calibri or Arial, 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Georgia, 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode, or 10-point Computer Modern. |
Student title page | Include the title, author, department and institution, course, instructor, due date, and page number. |
Abstract | Usually not required for a student paper unless the instructor requests one. |
In-text citations | Use the author-date system. Add a locator for direct quotations. |
References | Begin on a new page, alphabetize entries, double-space, and apply a 0.5-inch hanging indent. |
What Does APA Mean?
APA is the abbreviation for the American Psychological Association, the organization that publishes APA Style.
Definition: APA Style is a system for presenting scholarly work consistently. It covers paper organization, headings, tables and figures, language, author-date citations, reference entries, and manuscript formatting.
APA format and APA citation are related but not identical. Paper formatting controls the document's appearance and organization; citation format controls how sources are credited in the text and reference list.
How to Write in APA Format
1. Confirm that APA Style is required
Read the assignment sheet, course rubric, department handbook, or journal instructions. Confirm the edition, paper type, required sections, and submission format.
2. Identify the paper type
Most coursework uses the student-paper format. Professional manuscripts use different title-page elements and normally include a running head. Do not add a running head or author note to every student assignment.
3. Set the page layout
Set 1-inch margins, double spacing, an approved readable font, left alignment, 0.5-inch first-line indents, and page numbers in the upper-right corner. Use paragraph styles rather than repeated spaces or tabs.
4. Create the student title page
Include the paper title, author, department and institution, course number and name, instructor, due date, and page number. Center and double-space the elements. Make the title bold and place it about three to four lines below the top margin.
5. Organize the main text
Start the body on a new page and repeat the paper title, centered and bold. Do not automatically add an Introduction heading. Use sections that fit the actual assignment.
6. Apply heading levels consistently
Level | Format |
|---|---|
1 | Centered, Bold, Title Case |
2 | Flush Left, Bold, Title Case |
3 | Flush Left, Bold Italic, Title Case |
4 | Indented, Bold, Title Case, Ending With a Period. Text continues on the same line. |
5 | Indented, Bold Italic, Title Case, Ending With a Period. Text continues on the same line. |
7. Connect citations to the dedicated citation workflow
APA papers use the author–date system, and every in-text citation must match a verified reference entry. Detailed rules for parenthetical and narrative citations, quotations, paraphrases, author counts, webpages, journal articles, books, DOI handling, and reference management belong in the APA Citation Guide.
8. Build and format the References page
Start References on a new page, center and bold the heading, alphabetize entries, double-space the list, and apply a 0.5-inch hanging indent. Verify every entry against the original source rather than copying unverified metadata.
Student Paper vs. Professional Paper
Feature | Student paper | Professional paper |
|---|---|---|
Context | Coursework | Publication or professional dissemination |
Title page | Course, instructor, and due date | Professional affiliations and author information |
Running head | Usually not required | Required in the standard professional format |
Author note | Usually omitted | Included when applicable |
Abstract | Only when required | Commonly required |
Keywords | Usually omitted | Commonly included with the abstract |
Common APA Format Mistakes
Treating APA only as a citation system.
Following outdated APA 6 running-head rules.
Assuming Times New Roman is the only permitted font.
Omitting page numbers.
Using headings decoratively instead of hierarchically.
Omitting a locator from a direct quotation.
Failing to match citations and references.
Writing a DOI as
doi:
rather than
https://doi.org/...
.
Omitting hanging indents.
Trusting a citation generator without checking the source.
APA Format Checklist
Confirm the required edition and paper type.
Check margins, font, spacing, alignment, indents, and page numbers.
Verify title-page information.
Use heading levels in order.
Cite paraphrases and quotations.
Add locators to direct quotations.
Match every in-text citation to a reference entry.
Alphabetize and double-space References and apply hanging indents.
Resolve every DOI and URL.
Follow any additional instructor, university, or journal requirement.
How Acade Can Help With APA Citations and Academic Writing
Acade can support academic drafting, literature-based writing, citation organization, reference formatting, and academic polishing. Its Citation Generator can produce a draft citation from source metadata for human review.
Users must still verify author names, publication dates, titles, source types, volume and issue details, page ranges, DOIs, URLs, and institutional requirements. Acade does not replace the APA Publication Manual and does not guarantee that an automatically generated citation is error-free.
Generate and check APA citations with Acade, then compare each result with the original source. Final verification and submission responsibility remain with the author.
FAQ
Is APA 7th edition still current?
As of August 11, 2026, the seventh edition is the current APA Publication Manual. Check APA Style for later changes.
Does an APA student paper need an abstract?
Usually not, unless the instructor or institution requires one.
Does a student paper need a running head?
Normally no. An APA 7 student paper generally uses only the page number in the header.
Can I use a citation generator?
Yes, as a drafting aid. Verify the result against the original source and current APA guidance.
Should I include a DOI or URL?
Include a DOI when one is assigned and APA calls for it, formatted as an active https://doi.org/ link. Include a URL for applicable online sources when needed for retrieval.
About the author
Elena Brooks
Academic Research Content Editor at Acade
Elena Brooks is an Academic Research Content Editor at Acade. She creates practical, evidence-informed content about literature research, research design, academic writing, and the responsible use of AI in scholarly work. She works with Acade’s product team to evaluate research workflows, verify product capabilities, and translate complex academic processes into clear guidance for students and researchers.
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