How to Format a Paper

APA Formatting: The Basics

Papers constructed according to APA guidelines should adhere to the following elements:

• Double-space all of the text of your paper, and use a clear font, such as Times New Roman 12 pt. font or Calibri 11 pt. font.
• Use one-inch margins on all sides, and indent the first line of a paragraph one half-inch from the left margin.
• There is a title page. Include the title centered and bold. Also include the author, the name of the department and university, the course name and number, the instructor’s name, and the assignment due date. See a title page example on the APA example page.
• Insert a header in the upper right-hand corner with a page number. This is called a running header. There are no additional requirements for student papers unless requested by an instructor.
• Provide in-text citations for all quoted, paraphrased, and summarized information in your paper.
• Include a References page at the end of your paper that gives full bibliographic information for each item cited in your paper. For more information review the References page.
• Your References page at the end of your project should match with the in-text citations in the body of your essay, except for personal communications (which are listed in the body of the paper only).

The information in this section follows the APA Manual, 7th edition.

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