Bibliography

APA format (7th edition)

The APA 7 student paper, from the title page to the reference list, following the Publication Manual (7th ed.). Professional papers for journals add a running head and abstract.

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Source details
Source type
Authors (or an organisation)
Publication date (leave blank if none)

Reference list entry · APA 7th edition

Your citation appears here as you type, set exactly as it will look in your paper.

In-text citation

Fill in the author and date to see the in-text version.

Page setup

  • Margins: 1 inch all round. Spacing: double, including the reference list.
  • Font: any accessible font used consistently: Times New Roman 12 pt, Calibri 11 pt, Arial 11 pt or Georgia 11 pt.
  • Page numbers: top right on every page, starting with the title page. Student papers don’t need a running head.
  • Paragraphs: indent the first line 0.5 inch; align left (ragged right, no justification).

Title page (student)

Three or four lines down, centred and bold: the paper title in title case. After one blank line: your name, then your department and university, course number and name, instructor, and due date, each on its own line.

Headings

  1. Level 1: centred, bold, title case.
  2. Level 2: flush left, bold, title case.
  3. Level 3: flush left, bold italic, title case.
  4. Level 4: indented, bold, title case, ending with a full stop. Text continues on the same line.
  5. Level 5: indented, bold italic, title case, full stop, text continues.

Don’t label the introduction “Introduction”: the paper title at the top of page 2 does that job.

Reference list

New page; “References” centred and bold. Alphabetical by first author, double-spaced, 0.5-inch hanging indent. Every in-text citation must match one entry, and every entry must be cited.

APA 7th edition

Mueller, P. A., & Oppenheimer, D. M. (2014). The pen is mightier than the keyboard: Advantages of longhand over laptop note taking. Psychological Science, 25(6), 1159–1168. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614524581

In-text: (Mueller & Oppenheimer, 2014, p. 1160) or Mueller and Oppenheimer (2014, p. 1160)

Questions students ask

Do students need an abstract in APA 7?

Only if the instructor asks. Abstracts and running heads are required for professional (journal) papers.

Is APA double-spaced?

Yes, everything, including the title page, block quotes and references. Tables and figures may use single spacing.