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APA 7: Headings

What are Headings?

There are five levels of heading in APA Style. Level 1 is the highest or main level of heading, Level 2 is a subheading of Level 1, Level 3 is a subheading of Level 2, and so on through Levels 4 and 5.

The number of headings to use in a paper depends on the length and complexity of the work.

  • If only one level of heading is needed, use Level 1.
  • If two levels of heading are needed, use Levels 1 and 2.
  • If three levels of heading are needed, use Levels 1, 2, and 3 (and so on).

Student Paper Heading Level Example

Levels of Headings

Level Format
1 Center, Bold, Title Case Heading
2 Flush Left, Bold, Title Case Heading
3 Flush Left, Bold, Italic Title Case Heading
4            Indented, Bold, Title Case Heading, Ending With a Period. First sentence begins afterwards.
5            Indented, Bold Italic, Title Case Heading, Ending With a Period. First sentence begins afterwards.