Contents:
1-3 General Format
2-3: Microsoft Word Settings
4 Title Page
5 Abstract
6-8 Body
7: Headings, Citations with
Multiple Authors
8: How Citations and
References Work
9-14 References
9: Hanging Indents, Multiple
Authors
11-14: Reference Examples
15
16
17
18
Plagiarism
Checklist
More Help
Basic changes from 6th Edition
Orlando Campus Writing Studio
APA 7th ed. Style Guidelines
General Format
Your entire paper should:
be typed, double-spaced, with a single space
after punctuation between sentences (see
page 2)
be on standard-sized paper (8.5”x11”)
have 1” margins on all sides (Normal in MS Word) (see page 2)
be in a san serif font (11 pt. Cali
i, 11 pt. Arial, 10 pt. Lucida Sans
Unicode) or serif font (12 pt. Times New Roman, 11 pt. Georgia).
Be consistent throughout paper (see page 2)
include a page number in the upper right-hand side of
every page header (see page 3)
Your Paper should include 4 sections (unless instructed
otherwise).
Title Page
(see page 4)
Abstract
(see page 5)
Body
(see pages 6 - 8)
(Headings:
see page 7)
(In-text citations:
see page 7)
(How Citations &
References Work
Together:
see page 8)
Rev. 10/2019
1
References
(see pages 9 - 14)
Microsoft Word Settings - May vary depending on version of Word
Margins:
Page Layout tab
Margins
1” left, right, top and bottom
(Choose Custom Margins if
you need to, but should be
Normal)
Font:
Home tab
Open the Font Dialog Box
Select Font of choice
Size 10, 11, or 12 depending
on font choice
Choose Default
Your Font style and size are
now set, however you may
have to reformat text that
you copy and paste from
other documents.
Spacing and Indenting:
Home tab
Paragraph dialog box
Indention Special: First
Line By: .5”
Spacing: 0 pt Before 0 pt
After Line spacing:
Double
OK
2
3
Microsoft Word Settings (cont’d)
Header:
Insert ta
Header - Edit Header
Page Number Top of Page
Plain Number 1
Press tab key once or twice until
page number is aligned on the right.
Your header should now be automated and MS Word will continue to add the header for each new page that
you type.
Note: Check the font style and size in your header. If it is not the same as what you have chosen for the rest of
your paper, you will need to change it.
4
Title Page:
Remember that
the margins are
set at 1“ for top,
ottom, and both
sides (p. 2).
1
Page number is
aligned on the
ight in the
page header.
Title page information is centered
in the upper half of the page.
Double-spaced, and upper and
lower case as shown.
TIP!
Select Insert and
Page Break after
typing date. You
will automatically
e taken to the
start of a new
page.
Title of Paper
Your M. Name
Keiser University
XYZ123 Generic Course Name
Prof. Name
May 2, 2019
Include:
The full title of the
paper (bold)
Blank line
Your full name
Keiser University
Course numbe
name
Instructor name
Due date
Sample Title Page
(Not to scale)
Everything on the Title page should be in the same font as remainder of paper.
Double-check the header to be sure that it is also same font.
No underlining, no italics anywhere. Only the title is bold.
Double-space between each line. There should be a blank line between the title and student’s name.
In the page header, the page number should be at the right margin.
For more information about setting the page header, see page 3.
5
Abstract:
Only the page
number should
appear in the page
header.
Page number is
aligned on the right
in the page header.
2
The word Abstract is centered on
Abstract
the first line, bold font.
The Abstract is a
single paragraph
summary of your
paper. The first line
is not indented.
The abstract is a 1 paragraph summary of the paper. It is
double-spaced, as is the entire paper. The first line of the
abstract is not indented and the total length is between 150
and 250 words. Any numbers mentioned in the abstract are
typed as numerals unless they begin a sentence.
TIP!
Select Insert a
Page Break after
typing your
paragraph. You will
automatically be
taken to the start
of a new page.
Sample Abstract
Page (Not to scale)
The Abstract is a single paragraph summary of your paper. It is between 150 and 250 words long.
The word Abstract is centered at the top of the page, bold font.
Everything on the Abstract page should be the same font as remainder of page.
Double-check the header to be sure that it is also the same font.
No underlining, no italics anywhere. Only the title is bold.
Double-space between each line.
Do not indent this paragraph.
Body:
6
Only the page
number should
appear in the page
header.
Page number is
aligned on the right
in the page header.
3
The Title of the Paper i s
Title of Paper centered on the first line,
olded.
All text is double-
spaced and all
paragraphs follow
each other without a
eak.
Indent each new
paragraph (5 spaces
or Tab key)
Use in-text citations
for each paraphrase
and for each direct
(word for word)
quotation (see page
The body of the paper will begin on page three and
that number should also appear in the header in the upper
ight-hand corner of the page. The title is centered on the
first line. Below the title is a one- or two- paragraph
introduction to your paper. Note that the introduction is
not labeled.
Throughout the body of the paper, every paragraph is
indented five spaces. There are in-text citations for direct
quotes and paraphrases. There are also in-text citations for
each usage of another person’s idea, opinion, or theory and
for each fact, statistic, graph or other information that is
not common knowledge (Jones, XXXXXXXXXXThe general form
for in-text citations is the last name of the author and the
year of publication.
Direct quotations that are fewer than forty words in
Begin with a one- or
two-paragraph
introduction (do not
label it “Introduction,”
it goes without
saying).
Enclose direct
quotations shorter
than 40 words in
double-quotation
marks (“ “).
Direct quotations
longer than 40 words
are block indented
(instead of enclosed
in quotes).
7).
length are “enclosed in double quotation marks” and
Sample Body Page
(Not to scale)
APA writing style emphasizes accuracy and clarity. Here are some writing style tips:
Use the active voice: “They conducted the survey” instead of “The survey was conducted.”
Use the third person point of view ("The study showed ...)
Use simple, descriptive adjectives and plain language that does not risk confusing your meaning.
Do not use colloquial expressions, slang, or contractions in your APA paper.
Be concise. If a sentence can be written with fewer words, do it.
Make it clear where your information came from through co
ect citations (see pages 7-8).
7
Body (cont’d):
Headings and any subheadings: if you use headings in your paper, follow the APA 7th edition
guidelines:
1st Level: Bold Centered Upper and Lower Case (same as title)
2nd Level: Bold, Flush Left, Upper and Lower Case. Text begins as new paragraph
3rd Level: Bold, Flush Left, Italicized, Upper and Lower Case. Text begins as new paragraph
4th Level: XXXXXXXXXXIndented, Bold, Upper and Lowercase ending with a period. Text on same line
5th Level: XXXXXXXXXXIndented, Bold, Italicized, Upper and Lower Case ending with a period. Text on same line
In-text/Parenthetical citations:
Include a citation for every source you drew from in writing your paper. Use the chart below to format your in-
text and parenthetical citations. Also include page numbers for direct quotations (see example on page 8). A
paper without co
ect citations is considered plagiarism!
In-text