Crafting academic papers in APA (American Psychological Association) 7th edition format can initially seem daunting. However, understanding the core guidelines and leveraging readily available online resources can streamline the process significantly. This guide breaks down the essential elements of APA 7th edition formatting, ensuring your papers are both academically rigorous and professionally presented, with a focus on resources you can access online.
Essential APA 7th Edition General Formatting
Adhering to general formatting standards is the first step in APA 7th edition compliance. Consistency and clarity are paramount, enhancing readability and demonstrating academic professionalism.
Your document should be typed and double-spaced throughout, maintaining a standard-sized paper dimension (8.5″ x 11″) and 1-inch margins on all sides. A page header, or running head, is required on every page. For professional papers, this includes a concise version of your paper title and the page number. For student papers, only the page number is necessary. To implement this, insert page numbers aligned to the right in the header. For professional papers, also include a shortened, all-caps title to the left, ensuring it’s under 50 characters, including spaces and punctuation.
Font Guidelines for APA 7th Edition Online Readability
APA 7th edition emphasizes accessibility and legibility in font choices. The manual allows for flexibility, recommending fonts that are widely accessible and consistently used throughout your paper. When choosing a font, consider how it appears both on screen and in print, especially if your work will be submitted or reviewed online.
While not prescriptive, APA suggests several excellent font options. Sans serif fonts like 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, and 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode offer clean lines and excellent on-screen readability, making them ideal for online submissions and reviews. Serif fonts such as 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Georgia, and 10-point Computer Modern are also acceptable and provide a more traditional academic look, suitable for printed documents and equally legible online. Always prioritize consistent font usage throughout your document.
Key Sections of an APA 7th Edition Paper: Structure for Online Submission
An APA 7th edition paper is typically structured into four main sections, each serving a distinct purpose in presenting your research or academic work. Understanding these sections is crucial for organizing your paper logically and ensuring all required elements are included for online submission.
Title Page: Essential Information at Your Fingertips
The title page is the first impression of your work and requires specific information presented in a clear format. APA 7th edition provides slightly different guidelines for professional papers (intended for publication) and student papers (for course credit).
Regardless of the paper type, the title page must include the title of the paper, the author’s name, and the institutional affiliation. Professional papers also require an author note, while student papers need to include the course number and name, instructor name, and assignment due date.
The title should be centered in the upper half of the page, in upper and lowercase letters, and boldface. It should be concise, focused, and avoid abbreviations or unnecessary words. Keep it to one or two lines. All text on the title page and throughout the paper should be double-spaced.
Below the title, include the author’s name: first name, middle initial(s), and last name, without titles or degrees.
Next, specify the institutional affiliation, indicating where the research was conducted.
Professional papers include an author note in the bottom half of the title page, divided into paragraphs for ORCID iD, changes in affiliation/author deaths, disclosures/acknowledgements (study registration, data sharing, conflicts of interest, funding), and contact information for the corresponding author. Student papers omit the author note.
Remember, page headers and page numbers are also included on the title page, as described earlier.
Student APA title page example, demonstrating required elements and formatting for academic submissions.
Professional APA title page example, highlighting the inclusion of the author note and running head.
Abstract: A Concise Online Summary
The abstract begins on a new page and serves as a concise summary of your paper, crucial for online databases and quick reviews. Start the page with the page header. On the first line, center and bold the word “Abstract”.
From the next line, write a single paragraph, double-spaced, without indentation, summarizing your research’s key points. Include your research topic, questions, participants, methods, results, data analysis, and conclusions. You can also add implications and future work. The abstract is typically limited to 250 words.
Optionally, include keywords to aid online discoverability in databases. Indent as for a new paragraph, type Keywords: (italicized), and list your keywords.
Abstracts are common in scholarly articles but may not be required for student papers unless instructed. Consult your instructor if unsure.
APA Abstract page example, demonstrating the layout and keyword section for online scholarly articles.
For further examples and a complete APA paper, refer to the Sample APA Paper and Additional Resources available online, often provided by resources like the Purdue OWL.
Citing Online Resources: The Purdue OWL and APA 7th Edition
Proper citation is critical in academic writing, and APA 7th edition provides clear guidelines for citing online resources. The Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab) is an invaluable online resource for APA formatting and citation guidance.
When citing individual resources from the Purdue OWL, note that the new site template may not always include contributor names or last edited dates. In such cases, treat the page as a source with a group author (“Purdue Online Writing Lab”) and use “n.d.” (no date).
For example:
Purdue Online Writing Lab. (n.d.). General Writing FAQs. Purdue Online Writing Lab. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/general_writing_faqs.html
When contributor and date information are available, use this format:
Contributors’ names. (Last edited date). Title of resource. Site Name. http://Web address for OWL resource
This guide reflects the latest APA 7th edition guidelines, updated in October 2019. For resources on the older APA 6th edition, refer to the archived content, often available online from sources like Purdue OWL.
By mastering these 7 key online accessible aspects of APA 7th edition formatting and utilizing online resources like the Purdue OWL, you can confidently prepare your academic papers to meet the highest standards of scholarly communication.
