APA (American Psychological Association) style is commonly used for citing references in student papers in science, medical, health, and business professions, as well as social sciences. The APA style guidelines ensure scholarly writing is coherent and credible. Following the basic structure, content, and citation guidelines of APA essays can seem daunting at first but becomes easier with practice. This guide will provide key information on writing an APA format essay or research paper including the basic layout, level headings, in-text citations, and reference list guidelines.
Basic Layout
The basic structure of any APA style paper includes four key sections: the title page, abstract, main body, and reference list. Page layout should use 1-inch page margins, double spaced 12-point Times New Roman font, and page numbers in the header on each page. Each section begins on a new page in the following order:
Title Page – Contains a running head (a shortened version of the title) flush left at the top of each page, a page number, title of the paper centered, authors name and institution name centered.
Abstract – Begins on page 2. The abstract is a short 150- to 250-word summary of the key points in the paper. It precedes the introduction section and describes the focus, purpose, results, and conclusions of the research. The heading Abstract is centered and boldfaced on page 2 without indentation.
Body – Begins on page 3. The main body contains the actual content of the paper organized logically with section headings as needed. The introduction presents the topic, hypotheses, and an overview of the paper. Methods, results, and discussion sections follow as needed. The conclusion restates key points and implications of the findings. Each new main section begins on a new page.
Reference List – Begins on a new page after the body ends. References should immediately follow the body with the centered heading References without boldface or italics. Only references cited in the body should be included in the reference list. References are single spaced and have a hanging indent of 0.5 inches for the second and subsequent lines.
Level Format Headings
APA uses a five-level system of headings to separate and clarify sections of written work. Each level of heading has its own format to help organize the logical flow of ideas. Level one is the highest or broadest type of heading and introduces the reader to the main theme. Lower levels provide detail under each subsequent heading.
Level 1 Heading
Centered, Boldface, Title Case Heading
Level 2 Heading
Left-aligned, Boldface, Title Case Heading
Level 3 Heading
Left-aligned, Boldface Italic, Title Case Heading
Level 4 Heading
Indented, boldface, title case heading ending with a period.
Level 5 Heading
Indented, italicized, title case heading ending with a period.
In-Text Citations
Any source used in a paper should be attributed to the author through an in-text citation. A basic in-text citation includes the author(s) last name(s) and year of publication within the text. For direct quotes, include the page number as well. When paraphrasing or summarizing in your own words, no page number is needed but the author and year must be present in the body.
According to Jones (1998), APA style is a difficult citation format for first-time learners.
Jones (1998) stated “students often had difficulty using APA style” (p. 199).
Reference List Entries
The reference list must appear at the end of the paper on its own page. All references cited in the text must appear in the reference list alphabetically by the authors last name. Entries include the author, date, title, and publication information formatted consistently. Reference page entries have a hanging indent and double spacing between entries.
For periodicals, include the following:
Author, A. (Date of publication). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume(issue), pages. https://doi.org/xx.xxxxxxxxxxx
For books/ebooks, include the following:
Author, A.A. (Year of publication). Title of work. Publisher.
https://doi.org/xx.xxxxxxxx or URL if no DOI
For website content with no date, include date accessed:
Author, A. (n.d.). Title of page. Retrieved date, from URL
Other reference types follow similar structure and conventions. Using proper APA references and citations ensures credibility and avoids plagiarism. Maintaining consistent in-text citations and reference entries allows readers to easily follow up on sources.
Following the basic structure and formatting guidelines of APA style shows scholarly writing that is methodical and credible. With practice, the use of headings, in-text citations, and constructing reference lists will become intuitive. Mastering APA style demonstrates strong research and writing skills that are valuable for many academic disciplines as well as professional endeavors.