Running Head
The running head is an abbreviated version of the paper title that appears at the top of every page. Running heads are required only for manuscripts being submitted for publication. Running heads are not required for student papers. See section 2.8 in the Publication Manual for more information.
Formatting Your Paper
See Chapter 2 in the Publication Manual for more information. Here is an example with notes from the Purdue OWL.
Font - APA recommends using a font that is accessible to all users. Check with your instructor for any requirements regarding font. Options include:
- a sans serif font such as 11 point Calibri or Arial
- a serif font such as 12 point Times New Roman
Line Spacing - Use double spacing throughout the paper - even on your reference page. See below for Title page spacing.
Margins - Your paper should have 1" (2.54 cm) margins all around.
Page Numbers - Page numbers should be located in upper right corner.
Title Page
Student Paper
- Titles should be in title case, bold, centered, and positioned in the upper half of the title page
- Add an additional double-space between the title and byline
- Name of University
- Course number and name for which the paper is being submitted
- Instructor name
- Assignment due date
- Titles should be in title case, bold, centered, and positioned in the upper half of the title page
- Name of each author of the paper
- Affiliation for each author
- Author note
- Running head - included on all pages
Reference List
Your reference list is a separate list at the end of your paper. It provides the reader with the retrieval information for all the sources you cited in the body of your paper.
- Start the reference list on a new page after the text and before any tables, figures, or appendices.
- Label this page "References" capitalized, in bold, and centered.
- Double space the entire list - both between and within entries.
- Arrange entries alphabetically by the last name of the first author of each work. If no author is given, start with the first significant word in the title.
- In titles of articles and books - but not journal titles - capitalize only the first word of the title, the first word of the subtitle, and proper names.
- Each entry starts at the left margin. If there is more than one line, each subsequent line should be indented on half inch. - use "hanging indent" in the paragraph menu of Microsoft Word.
