The American Psychological Association (APA) Style Guide provides standards and guidelines for formatting papers written for academic and professional publication. One key element of APA format is the proper spacing and formatting of text elements. This article will discuss APA requirements for single and double spacing, spacing between elements, spacing in block quotes and figures/tables, and other spacing considerations.
Single vs. Double Spacing
APA papers are generally double spaced throughout the document, including the title page, abstract, body text, citations, and reference list. Some elements should be single spaced to preserve readability. Single spacing is used for block quotes, footnotes/endnotes, table and figure titles and notes, and references running together on the same line. Long direct quotes that are over 40 words should be indented as a block quote and single spaced. Footnotes and endnotes are also single spaced with a double space between each note.
Spacing Between Elements
There should be two spaces after periods that end sentences throughout the paper. This includes after the period ending the title, both in the running head and on the title page. One space should follow other punctuation like commas, semicolons, questions marks, etc. Leave one space after colons. The entire paper should be left-aligned (“flush left”). Do not justify or “rag” the right margin. Double space between paragraphs and other elements like the title and text, headings and text, tables/figures and text, reference list and text.
Block Quotes
Block quotes are direct quotes of 40 words or more that are displayed as a freestanding block of text without quotation marks. They should be indented half an inch from the left margin and single spaced throughout with double spacing above and below. Block quotes can also be used for long direct quotes with citation included at the end rather than parenthetically in the text.
Tables and Figures
Tables are formatted with the caption above the table aligned left. Leave two spaces above and one below the table. For tables that extend to a second page, continue the table numbers but include the words “Table X–1 Continued” centered above the table on the second page. Figures are formatted with the caption below the figure, left aligned. Leave two spaces above the figure and one below the caption.
Page Margins and Headers
Use one-inch margins on all sides of every page. Include a page header at the top of every page that gives a brief truncated version of your paper’s title in all capital letters and a page number flush right. The running head should be no more than 50 characters including spaces. Place page numbers flush right in the upper right corner one half inch from the top. Do not put your name or other identifying information on the paper.
Reference Citations and Reference List
In-text citations should use the author’s last name and year of publication in parentheses. For direct quotes use the page number as well. The reference list should appear at the end of the paper on a new page with the centered heading “References” without formatting like bold or italics. Entries should be in alphabetical order, hanging indentation, and double spaced with a blank line between entries. Book and periodical titles should be in sentence case, not all caps.
Other Spacing Considerations
Do not space between section headings and text or between tables/figures and captions. When typing, space once, not twice, after commas, colons, semicolons, periods that end sentences. Leave two spaces after periods that end the title and headings. Any text you want to emphasis can be made italic, but avoid underlining, bold, or ALL CAPS text. All text should left-aligned (“flush left”) and avoid right aligning or justifying text. Maintain margins of 1″ on all sides. Do not add or remove spaces within or between citations when typing.
Proper APA formatting and spacing is important for academic writing to maintain consistency, readability, and credibility. Double check your paper meets APA standards for spacing between paragraphs, lists, headings, figures, and other elements. Leave one space after periods within sentences and two after ending punctuation of headings and titles. This guide covered key aspects of APA spacing requirements, but the official APA Style Guide provides more details as needed. Proper APA style should be followed to submit assignment-worthy papers.