How to Write a Paper in APA Format, apa paper writing.

If you’ve never written an APA paper before, the formatting rules and guidelines can seem daunting and difficult at first. You might be used to writing papers in another format such as MLA or Chicago style, so it might take some time to get the hang of writing in APA format. Familiarizing yourself with some of the basics is a great place to start.

The APA also offers accessibility guidelines for students who need accommodations for a disability. This includes changes to aspects of a paper including typography, headings, URLs, and the use of color.

The title page is the cover page of your APA format paper. As its name suggests, the goal of the title page is to present the title. This is where you can inform and engage your reader without being too wordy.

The seventh edition of the APA publication manual was published in October of 2019. In addition to following any specific requirements of a publisher or instructor, you should always consult the latest edition of the publication manual if you have any questions about formatting or style.

APA Format Guidelines

Most professional papers that are submitted for publication require an abstract, but abstracts are usually not required for student papers. If you are not sure, please ask your instructor if an abstract is required for your paper.

The APA format is a set of citation and formatting guidelines developed by the American Psychological Association, or APA. These guidelines are documented in the "Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association" and are used by students and professionals in a variety of disciplines, including business, economics, nursing, and, of course, psychology.

APA format has changed over the years, so there are different iterations found in earlier editions of the official publication manual. While online sites can offer helpful tips, always consult the most recent version of the publication manual if you have questions.

The following tips offer some useful guidelines that will help you prepare your paper and ensure that it is formatted properly.

After you have prepared a rough draft of your essay, it is time to revise, review, and prepare your final draft. In addition to making sure that your writing is cohesive and supported by your sources, you should also watch carefully for typos, grammar errors, and possible formatting mistakes.

While it might seem like something you can just gloss over, most instructors, as well as publication editors, have strict guidelines when it comes to how your format your writing. Not only does adhering to APA format allow readers to know what to expect from your paper, but it also means that your work will not lose critical points over minor formatting errors.

Whether you’re taking an introductory or a graduate-level psychology class, chances are strong that you will have to write at least one paper during the course of the semester. In almost every case, you will need to write your paper in APA format, the official publication style of the American Psychological Association.

What Is APA Format?

In addition to ensuring that you cite your sources properly and present information according to the rules of APA style, there are a number of things you can do to make the writing process a little bit easier.

Emily is a fact checker, editor, and writer who has expertise in psychology content.

Remember, any source used in your essay must be included in your reference section. Conversely, any source listed in your references must be cited somewhere in the body of your paper.

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.

The title page is the first page of an APA Style paper. There are different guidelines for student and professional papers.

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 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual provides guidelines for clear communication, citing sources, and formatting documents. This article focuses on paper formatting.

Are your APA in-text citations flawless?

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).

This article reflects the APA 7th edition guidelines. Click here for APA 6th edition guidelines.

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!

Did you find the perfect quote or piece of information to include in your project? Way to go! It’s always a nice feeling when we find that magical piece of data or info to include in our writing. You probably already know that you can’t just copy and paste it into your project, or type it in, without also providing credit to the original author.

Parenthetical citations are the more commonly seen form of in-text citations for academic work, in which both required reference elements are presented at the end of the sentence in parentheses. Example:

Empirical studies take data from observations and experiments to generate research reports. It is different from other types of studies in that it isn’t based on theories or ideas, but on actual data.

Before getting into the nitty-gritty details related to APA research paper format, first determine the type of paper you’re about to embark on creating:

One space after most punctuation marks

• Only include information about an individual’s orientation or characteristic if it is important to the topic or study. Do not include information about individuals or labels if it is not necessary.
• If writing about an individual’s characteristic or orientation, for essay APA format, make sure to put the person first. Instead of saying, “Diabetic patients,” say, “Patients who are diabetic.”
• Instead of using narrow terms such as, “adolescents,” or “the elderly,” try to use broader terms such as, “participants,” and “subjects.”
• “They” or “their” are acceptable gender-neutral pronouns to use.
• Be mindful when using terms that end with “man” or “men” if they involve subjects who are female. For example, instead of using “Firemen,” use the term, “Firefighter.” In general, avoid ambiguity.
• When referring to someone’s racial or ethnic identity, use the census category terms and capitalize the first letter. Also, avoid using the word, “minority,” as it can be interpreted as meaning less than or deficient. Instead, say “people of color” or “underrepresented groups.”
• When describing subjects in APA format, use the words “girls” and “boys” for children who are under the age of 12. The terms, “young woman,” “young man,” “female adolescent,” and “male adolescent” are appropriate for subjects between 13-17 years old

  APA stands for the American Psychological Association. In this guide, you’ll find information related to “What is APA format?” in relation to writing and organizing your paper according to the American Psychological Association’s standards. Information on how to cite sources can be found on our APA citation page. The official American Psychological Association handbook was used as a reference for our guide and we’ve included page numbers from the manual throughout. However, this page is not associated with the association.

  Even though there isn’t a required or recommended APA format for an outline, we encourage writers to make use of one. Who wouldn’t want to put together a rough outline of their project? We promise you, an outline will help you stay on track.

  Photographs found through Google Images, social media, stock photos made available from subscription sites, and tons of other various online sources make obtaining photographs a breeze. We can even pull out our cell phones, and in just a few seconds, take pictures with our cameras.

  

  • Start with a Running Head and type the title of your paper (APA essay heading) on the first line.
  • Write an Introduction, indenting the first line of a paragraph. Present some details about the problem.
  • Write Literature Review and use these words as a subtitle. Bold and centre this subtitle just like any subtitles in a paper.
  • In the Methodology section, explain the methods used for data collection and data analysis.
  • Write the Results section, summarizing the key findings. Display data using graphs and charts.
  • In the Discussion section, analyze research results and interpret them. Draw conclusions and outline steps for future studies.

  Before we start discussing how to write in APA format, let’s say a few words about APA citation style in general.

  If it’s a direct quote from a source, you need to include the author’s name, date of publication, and the page number starting with p.

  Writing your first paper can be intimidating, but using APA format essay example can be really helpful. You can use it as a model for learning the intricacies of APA style and of creating your own projects.

  Specifics of APA citation style

  

  The Abstract is placed on a separate page. It allows readers to review key ideas quickly. Include the running head as it was described above and centre the word “Abstract” on the first line.

  Smith’s (1996) study revealed the following:
  College students often experience difficulties with using APA style, especially when they have to cite sources in their academic works for the first time. This typically happens because many young people fail to get adequate help from their teachers. (p.30)

  
  Each paper should be appropriately formatted, according to the requirements of a specific style guide.