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In Section 4.2 of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.), APA (2020) states that you should use verb tenses consistently throughout your work. See a chart of when and how to use past tense (Rodriguez found) and present perfect tense (Researchers have shown) at the APA Style website .
Author/Date Citation Method
APA publications use the author/date in text citation system to briefly identify sources to readers. Each in-text citation is listed alphabetically in the reference list. All in-text citations referenced in the body of work musr appear in the reference list and vice versa.
Variations of author/date within a sentence Here are some examples of how the author/date citation method are formatted within different parts of a sentence. Please note the author, publication date, and study are entirely fictional.
Citing works with more than one author
Journal articles
Sharifian, N., & Grühn, D. (2019). The differential impact of social participation and social support on psychological well-being: Evidence from the Wisconsin longitudinal study. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development , 88 (2), 107-126. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091415018757213
Shiraev, E. (2017). Personality theories: A global view. SAGE.
Chapter from a book
Ochs, E., & Schieffelin , B. B. (1984). Language acquisition and socialization: Three developmental stories and their implications. In R. A. Shweder & R. A. LeVine (Eds.), Culture theory: Essays on mind, self, and emotion (pp. 276 320). Cambridge University Press.
Webpage from a website
World Health Organization. (2020, June 15) . Elder abuse . https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/elder-abuse
View many more examples in the APA Style Manual or on the APA Style website .
Published on November 6, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on September 4, 2023.
In addition to guidelines for APA citations , there are format guidelines for academic papers and essays. They’re widely used by professionals, researchers and students.
The most important APA format guidelines in the 6th edition are:
Apa format template, running head, reference page, in-text citations and references, setting up the apa format.
Instead of applying the APA guidelines to your document you can simply download the APA format template for Word.
Download APA Format Template (.docx)
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In the header of each page you include the paper title and page number. If your paper title is longer than 50 characters you should use a shortened version as running head. The page number should be positioned in the top right-hand corner. On the title page the APA running head is preceded by the words “Running head:”.
Throughout your paper you use different heading levels. The levels ranging from one to five help structure the document. Major headings, or heading 1, are used for the titles of chapters such as “Methods” or “Results”. Heading levels two to five are used for subheadings. Each heading level is formatted differently. These are the APA heading guidelines :
Heading level | APA format |
---|---|
Heading 1 | |
Heading 2 | |
Heading 3 | The body text begins immediately after the period. |
Heading 4 | The body text begins immediately after the period. |
Heading 5 | The body text begins immediately after the point. |
Title case capitalization : Capitalize the first, last, and principal words. Sentence case capitalization : Capitalize only the first word and any proper nouns.
Note that you are not required to include a table of contents in APA style , but if you do choose to include one, all headings should be formatted as plain text, with an additional indent for each level.
The APA title page , also called cover page, is the first page of your paper. The regular formatting guidelines regarding font and margins apply. In addition, an APA formatted title page contains:
Note: APA style has specific guidelines for including more than one author or institutional affiliation on the title page .
An APA abstract is a one paragraph (± 250 words) summary of your paper. It introduces the objective or problem statement of the paper and includes information on the method, research results, and conclusions of your research. In a separate article we explain in-depth how to write an abstract .
Although most regular APA formatting guidelines apply, the abstract page also has specific requirements. The abstract starts with a centered heading “Abstract”. In contrast to regular APA headings, no styling is applied. The first line of the paragraph is, unlike regular paragraphs, not indented.
At the end of the abstract, keywords relevant to the research are included. These keywords improve the findability of your paper in databases. Indent the line with keywords and start with the italicized word “Keyword:”, followed by the keywords.
The APA reference page , also called reference list, is where all sources that are cited in the text are listed. The citations differs for each source type. Aside from the references itself the reference page as a whole also has specific APA formatting guidelines.
The APA reference page example below highlights those guidelines regarding page margins, hanging indent and the reference page title “References”. Furthermore, the reference list is sorted alphabetically . You can easily create APA references with Scribbr’s free APA Citation Generator .
APA format citations consist of parenthetical citation in the text ( APA 6 in-text citations ) and the full reference in the reference list. For each webpage, journal article, book or any other source specific citation guidelines apply.
To make things easier Scribbr created the free APA Citation Generator that cites every source perfectly. Just enter the URL, journal DOI or book ISBN and both the in-text citation and full reference are generated.
In addition, Scribbr has in-depth APA citation examples for every source type ranging from journal articles and books to YouTube videos and tweets .
This video will demonstrate how to set up the APA format in Google Docs.
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
Streefkerk, R. (2023, September 04). APA Format (6th ed.) for Academic Papers and Essays [Template]. Scribbr. Retrieved August 19, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/6th-edition/archived-format/
Scribbr apa citation checker.
An innovative new tool that checks your APA citations with AI software. Say goodbye to inaccurate citations!
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Student sample paper with annotations (PDF, 5MB) Professional sample paper with annotations (PDF, 2.7MB) We also offer these sample papers in Microsoft Word (.docx) format with the annotations as comments to the text. Student sample paper with annotations as comments (DOCX, 42KB) Professional sample paper with annotations as comments (DOCX, 103KB)
APA 7th ed. Fillable Word Template and Sample Paper. APA 7th ed. Template. Download this Word document, fill out the title page and get writing! Sample Paper APA 7th ed. Our APA sample paper shows you how to format the main parts of a basic research paper. APA 7th Sample Papers from Purdue Owl << Previous: Block Quotations;
rmatting Your DissertationPage and Text RequirementsPage SizeIt is recommended that Standard Letter. (8.5 x 11 inches) is used, unless otherwise specified.Margins1 inch for all ma. p, bottom, left, right) throughou. the entire document.SpacingAll text should b.
limit the abstract to one typed page; (b) maintain the scholarly language used throughout the. dissertation; (c) keep the abstract concise, accurate, and readable; (d) use correct English; (e) ensure each sentence adds value to the reader's understanding of the research; and (f) use the full.
Throughout your paper, you need to apply the following APA format guidelines: Set page margins to 1 inch on all sides. Double-space all text, including headings. Indent the first line of every paragraph 0.5 inches. Use an accessible font (e.g., Times New Roman 12pt., Arial 11pt., or Georgia 11pt.).
Media Files: APA Sample Student Paper , APA Sample Professional Paper This resource is enhanced by Acrobat PDF files. Download the free Acrobat Reader. Note: The APA Publication Manual, 7 th Edition specifies different formatting conventions for student and professional papers (i.e., papers written for credit in a course and papers intended for scholarly publication).
A guide to educating single mothers about early gang intervention and prevention (Unpublished master's thesis). Pacific Oaks College. Pacific Oaks College. See Ch. 10 pp. 313-352 of APA Manual for more examples and formatting rules
This free template includes all five core sections typically required for a student paper formatted using APA 7th edition. Here's an overview of the template structure: The perfectly formatted MS Word document (DOCX format) is fully editable, so you can use it for your as is, copy over the contents to a fresh document, or convert to LaTeX.
Buy all four Word templates for only $2.99. $2.99 USD for four Word files and instructions on how to choose the one you need. You won't need all four files, but you'll have them in case something changes. Dissertators often have trouble formatting their documents to comply with the format and style requirements dictated by their institutions.
Centre-align your curson and create 4 empty lines. On a new line, type the title of your paper in boldface, using title case. On a new line, type the subtitle of your paper in boldface, using title case. Add one blank line, then write your full name on the next line.
Indent the first line of every paragraph of text 0.5 in. using the tab key or the paragraph-formatting function of your word-processing program. Page numbers: Put a page number in the top right corner of every page, including the title page or cover page, which is page 1. Student papers do not require a running head on any page.
The authority on APA Style and the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual. Find tutorials, the APA Style Blog, how to format papers in APA Style, and other resources to help you improve your writing, master APA Style, and learn the conventions of scholarly publishing.
Headings and subheadings provide structure to a document. They signal what each section. is about and allow for easy navigation of the document. APA headings have five possible levels. Each heading level is formatted differently. Note: Title case simply means that you should capitalize the first word, words with four or more letters, and all ...
Basic guidelines for formatting the reference list at the end of a standard APA research paper Author/Authors Rules for handling works by a single author or multiple authors that apply to all APA-style references in your reference list, regardless of the type of work (book, article, electronic resource, etc.)
te.Style ManualIt is recommended that APA Style Seventh. is used. It should be in 12-point type using Times. ew Roman font.SpacingThe test in the manuscript should be double-spaced. The right margin of the text should not be justified, but. -aligned, also known as ragged right, like the test in this guide.
well to ensure your thesis is compliant. The APA formatting rules Page Layout Ensure every page in your document is US Letter size 8.5" x 11" with margins of at least 1" on all sides. Most dissertations require a larger binding margin, this is not specified by APA but will often be part of specific University Guidelines.
Citing a thesis or dissertation published online but not from a database. Structure: Author's last name, F. M. (Year Published). Title in sentence case [Degree type thesis or dissertation, Name of institution]. Name of archive or collection. URL. Examples: Kim, O. (2019).
To cite an unpublished dissertation (one you got directly from the author or university in print form), add "Unpublished" to the bracketed description, and list the university at the end of the reference, outside the square brackets. APA format. Author last name, Initials. ( Year ).
University Thesis and Dissertation Templates. Theses and dissertations are already intensive, long-term projects that require a lot of effort and time from their authors. Formatting for submission to the university is often the last thing that graduate students do, and may delay earning the relevant degree if done incorrectly.
The 7th edition of Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association was created by the American Psychological Assocation (APA), and contains the complete guidelines on how to format material for publication and cite your research.It is a set of style rules that codifies the components of scientific writing in order to deliver concise and bias free information to the reader.
APA citation examples Citing sources ... we've created a full thesis or dissertation template in Word or Google Docs format. It's easy adapt it to your own requirements. ... Tip Remember that it's usually considered best practice to use Roman numerals in your formatting (e.g., I, II, III rather than 1, 2, 3), ...
To format a paper in APA Style, writers can typically use the default settings and automatic formatting tools of their word-processing program or make only minor adjustments. The guidelines for paper format apply to both student assignments and manuscripts being submitted for publication to a journal. If you are using APA Style to create ...
Generate accurate APA citations with Scribbr. The most important APA format guidelines in the 6th edition are: Use 12 pt Times New Roman. Set 1 inch page margins. Apply double line spacing. Insert a running head on every page. Indent every new paragraph ½ inch.
University Dissertation and Thesis Services does not have parameters for document length or word count; that aspect is left entirely to the judgment of students and their committees. Margins All material in the document must remain within the margins, which are set as follows: Portrait-Oriented Pages Top: 1.25" Bottom: 1.25" Left: 1.5"
The same format can be adapted for other published theses, including undergraduate theses, by changing the wording of the bracketed description as appropriate (e.g., "Undergraduate honors thesis"). Include a URL for the dissertation or thesis if the URL will resolve for readers (as shown in the Miranda and Zambrano-Vazquez examples).
These sample tables illustrate how to set up tables in APA Style. When possible, use a canonical, or standard, format for a table rather than inventing your own format. The use of standard formats helps readers know where to look for information.
to find the examples in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). More information on references and reference examples are in Chapters 9 and 10 of the Publication Manual as well as the Concise Guide to APA Style (7th ed.). Also see the Reference Examples pages on the APA Style website.