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APA 6: APA Formatting

Tips and information on using APA formatting and styling on your research

Manuscript Format

Margins

  • Use 1-inch margins for the entire document.
  • Use a 1/2-inch indent for every paragraph and footnote.
  • Indent block quotations 1/2-inch from the left margin.

Text Formatting

  • Use 12-point Times New Roman typeface.
  • Do not justify the text or use hyphenation.
  • Double-space the text, title, headings, footnotes, quotations, references and captions.
  • Leave only one space after all periods, commas, colons, and semicolons.
  • Use Oxford commas.

Page Header (Running Head)

  • Include a running head on every page.
  • Page number should be flush right.
  • Type the entire title in capital letters. Title should be flush left.
  • Shorten the title if necessary. It cannot exceed 50 characters.
  • The words "Running head" only appear on title page and are followed by a colon

Title Page

  • Title should not include abbreviations or exceed 12 words.
  • Title should be typed using upper and lower case letters.
  • Center the title and position in the upper half of the page.
  • The student's name is centered directly under the title.
  • Center "Pacific Oaks College" directly under the student's name.
  • Your professor may require an author note or modifications of the title page.
  • Author notes are not required for dissertations and theses.

Body of Paper

  • Begins on a new page.
  • Remove the words "Running head" from the running head.
  • Type the title of the manuscript in upper and lower case letters, centered, at the top of the page.
  • Use header levels as needed.
  • Use in-text citations for every idea or fact taken from a source (e.g., article, book, web page).

References (Reference List)

  • Begins on new page.
  • The word "References" (without quotation marks) should be centered at the top of the page.
  • Double-space all reference entries with no extra space between citations.
  • Use a hanging indent for reference The first line of each reference citation is flush with the left margin while subsequent lines are indented a 1/2 inch.

Appendices

  • Begin each appendix on a new page.
  • Center the word Appendix and the identifying capital letter (A, B, etc.) at the top of the page.
  • Center the title of the appendix, and use upper and lower case letters.
  • Begin the text of the appendix flush left, followed by indented paragraphs.

Adapted from American Psychological Association (2010) Publication manual (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association

References

References provide bibliographic information for sources used, thereby allowing readers to identify and locate them. To format the page:

  • Begin the list on a new page at the end of your paper
  • Use 1" margins
  • Include the running dead
  • Center the References title
  • List sources alphabetically
  • Double space within and between entries
  • Indent entries longer than one line by a 1/2"

APA 6 Helpful Guides