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APA Title Page (Cover Page) Format, Example, & Templates

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In APA Style (7th edition), the cover page, or title page, should include:

• A running head (professional papers only) and page number
• The title of the paper
• The name of the author(s)
• The institutional affiliation
• An author note; optional (professional papers only)
• A student paper should also include course information

Note : APA 7 provides slightly different directions for formatting the title pages of professional papers (e.g., those intended for scholarly publication) and student papers (e.g., those turned in for credit in a high school or college course).

Professional paper APA title page

Student paper APA title page

Formatting an APA title page

Note : All text on the title page should be double-spaced and typed in either 12-point, Times New Roman font. In the 7th edition, APA increaded the flexibility regarding font options: which now include Calibri 11, Arial 11, Lucida Sans Unicode 10, Times New Roman 12, or Georgia 11. All words should be centered, and capitalize the first letter of important words.

Running Head

In the 7th edition of the APA style manual, running heads are only required for professional papers that are being submitted for publication (student papers do not require a running head, but still need a page number).

Your title page should contain a running head that is flush left at the top of the page and a page number that is flush right at the top of the page.

Place the running head in the page’s header:

• The running head is the abbreviated title of the paper (IN UPPERCASE LETTERS) aligned left on the page header of all pages, including the title page. APA (7th edition) guidelines require that running heads be a maximum of 50 characters (spaces count as characters).
• The “Running head:” label used in the APA sixth edition is no longer used.
• Place the page number in this same header, but align right, beginning with page number 1 on the title page.
• This header should be 1 inch from the top. Some instructors allow for 1/2 inch, too, but the default is 1 inch.

Paper Title

Position the title of the paper in the upper half of the page. The title should be centered and written in boldface, and important words should be capitalized.

The APA recommends that your title should be a maximum of 12 words and should not contain abbreviations or words that serve no purpose.

Author Name(s)

Institutional affiliation.

Position the school or university’s name below the author(s) name, centered.

A student paper should also include the course number and name, instructor name, and assignment due date.

Further Information

• APA Student Title Page Guide
• APA Referencing
• How to Write a Lab Report
• Essay Writing Guide for Psychology Students
• APA Style Citations & References
• Example of an APA Formatted Paper

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APA cover (title) page: format and templates

There are two types of title page required for APA style papers, a professional and a student version.

Student APA cover page

As long as students do not have any specific guidance from their instructors in regards to a cover page format, they should include the following elements on their cover page:

• Running head : only for APA 6th you write "Running head: TITLE" as a header. APA 7th does not require a running head.
• Title of the paper : three to four lines down from the top of the title page, centered and in bold for APA 7 (APA 6 does not have a title in bold).
• Name of author(s) : include a double-spaced blank line between the paper title and the author name(s).
• Affiliation for each author (the university attended, including department)
• Course number and name
• Name of instructor
• Due date of the assignment (date format used in your location)
• Page number (included on all pages), cover page is number 1.
• Times New Roman is the preferred font, 12-point .
• Double spacing
• 1 inch margins

We created a a student APA cover page template of both 6th & 7th edition, which you can download:

Professional APA cover page

A professional APA cover page should include the following elements:

• Name of each author : include a double-spaced blank line between the paper title and the author names.
• Affiliation for each author: give the name of the institution at which the research was carried out.
• Author note : see the specific instructions below.
• Running head (included on all pages): for APA 6th you write "Running head: TITLE" and for APA 7th only the title in caps is required (omitting the phrase running head).
• Page number (included on all pages): page 1 is the cover page.
• Times New Roman is the preferred font, 12 -point.

Since there are a few slight differences between the professional cover page in APA 6th and 7th edition, we created a template for each version, which you can download.

APA cover page: Author note format

An author note in a professional paper can be found at the bottom of the cover page. It is usually composed of four paragraphs.

• In the first paragraph : for APA 6, give the name of the author and their affiliation. For APA 7, give the authors' ORCID iDs. Omit this part if the authors don't have ORCID iDs.
• Second paragraph : Specify any changes of affiliation (for both APA 6 & 7). Use the following format: “[Author’s name] is now at [affiliation].” This paragraph may also clarify the death of an author.
• Third paragraph : give any confidentiality disclosures and/or acknowledgments.
• Fourth paragraph : give the contact information of the author(s).

Format : start this section in the bottom half of the title page, below the affiliations. Leave a minimum of one blank line between the affiliation and the author note title. Center the title “Author Note” in bold. The first line of each paragraph should be indented and all aligned to the left.

Further reading

For more details not covered in this guide, take a look at the following sources:

📝 Student and Professional APA cover page (7th ed.)

🌐 APA 6th cover page tutorial

Frequently Asked Questions about APA cover (title) page

The title page of a student paper serves as a representation of the author. It is a mere formality, as it makes your paper appear more academic. As a student, the title page helps your instructor identify on a glance who wrote the paper, what the topic is, and for what course. In sum, a student should add a title page when indicated.

The title page of a professional paper serves as a representation of the author. For professionals, the function of a title page is to introduce the reader to the main facts of the paper, such as the author, the topic, the year of publication, and contact information. In sum, a professional should add a title page to comply with academic standards.

No. According to APA style, the title's font of a title page should not include any type of Word Art or "fun" fonts of any kind. APA style indicates titles should be written in the same font as the rest of the text, it should centered and in bold (for APA 7).

Yes, APA style's title page should be formated as page 1 of the paper, followed by the abstract page as page 2.

If you learn better by watching than by reading, here are two YouTube tutorials that will help you create a title page: APA Style 7th Edition: Student Paper Formatting and APA Style 7th Edition: Professional Paper Formatting by Samuel Forlenza, PhD.

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APA Title Page / Cover Page

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Details to include

The title page (also known as the cover page) is the front page of your paper. It should contain:

• The running head , a header at the top of the page.
• The first page number .
• The title of the paper
• The institution for which you writing.

Running head

The running head should be in the top-left corner of the page in uppercase. It should include a shortened title of your paper. On the front page only, it should also be prepended with "Running head:".

First page number

The first page number -- generally page 1 -- should be in the top-right corner of the page. Both the page number and the running head should be a half inch from the top of the page.

The title of the paper can contain upper and lowercase letters, and ideally should be no more than 12 words in length. It should be direct, and should not contain abbreviations or other unnecessary words. It should not span longer than 2 lines. The first letter of each word should be uppercase, except for articles (a, an, the), and conjunctions (and, but, for, or, yet).

Underneath the title should be your name (or the author's name if you're not the author). It should be displayed as the first name , middle initial , and last name . Do not add titles (such as Dr.) to the beginning, or qualifications (such as PhD) to the end of an author's name.

Your institution

Finally, underneath the author's name, state the full name of the institution or school you're writing the paper for.

The font for all text on the title page should be Times New Roman, size 12pt, with double line-spacing.

A correct title page will look like the below image:

After completing your title page you will move on to writing an abstract of your paper.

Home / Guides / Citation Guides / APA Format / Formatting an APA title page

Formatting an APA title page

The title page is a requirement for all APA papers. The primary role of the title page is to present just that: the title. But that’s only the beginning of what is actually required for a properly formatted APA title page. This is the first chance a writer has to truly engage with the reader.

For students, the title page also lets people know which class, professor, and institution the text was written for. For professional authors, the title page is an opportunity to share any affiliations or conflicts of interest that might be present.

APA Style recognizes two different ways to format a title page. One is for student papers and the other is for professional papers. This guide will examine the difference and provide real-life examples of both.

The information provided below comes from the 7 th edition of the APA’s Publication Manual . You can read more about title page elements in Sections 2.1 – 2.8.

Here’s a run-through of everything this page includes:

The difference between a professional title page and a student title page in APA

Elements of an apa style title page, apa formatting title page example, conclusion: formatting a title page in apa 7.

Both student and professional title pages require a title, author, and an affiliation. Both types of title page also require the same basic formatting, including 1-inch indentations on all sides and a page number in the top right corner.

The primary difference is that professional title pages also require an author note and a running head. However, some professors do ask that you provide some of these elements in student papers. It’s a good idea to know how to format them just in case.

Student title page APA

An APA title page for any paper being submitted for a class, degree, or thesis is all about the basics. Here are the elements that should be included in a student title page :

• Title of your paper
• Byline (author or authors)
• Affiliation (department and university)
• Course name and course number
• Instructor name

Page number

Your professor or institution might have their own formatting requirements. When writing a paper for a class, the first rule is to always pay attention to the instructions.

Professional title page APA

A professional title page skips the class info and due date, but it includes:

• Affiliation (division and/or organization)
• Author note
• Running head

The author note and running head are generally only required for professional papers. However, some professors might ask that you include one or both of them. Be sure to check the assignment instructions before submitting.

The title of your paper is really important. This is where the author needs to simultaneously inform and engage the reader without being overly wordy.

An effective title will:

• Engage the reader
• Concisely explain the main topic of research
• Concisely explain any relevant variables or theoretical issues

The paper title should be placed three or four lines down from the top margin of the page. It should be presented in bold, title case, and centered on the page.

Author/Byline

The correct way to display the author’s name is first name, middle initial, and last name. The most important thing is to prevent the possibility of mistaken identity. After all, there are a lot of papers published every year, and it’s possible that someone else has the same name as you do.

For all author bylines in APA, all licenses and degrees are omitted (e.g., Dr., Professor, PhD, RN, etc.).

If your paper has multiple authors, then they should all be listed in the same way, in order of their contributions. All authors should be on the same line, unless more lines are required.

Here’s an example of a properly formatted byline for a paper with two authors:

Cassandra M. Berkman and Wilhelm K. Jackson

Affiliation

The affiliation element is where you identify the place where the work was conducted or who it was conducted for. This is almost always a university or institution. In some cases, there are multiple affiliations for one author, or multiple authors with different affiliations.

Academic affiliations

Academic affiliations include schools, universities, and teaching hospitals. The affiliation line should include the specific department followed by the name of the institution. There is no need to include a location for academic affiliations.

Here is an example of what a basic academic affiliation line should look like:

Department of Psychology, Colorado State University

Non-academic affiliations

Non-academic affiliations are anything that isn’t a school or university, which could be a hospital, laboratory, or just about any type of organization. The affiliation line for a non-academic organization should include the department or division, followed by the name and location of the organization. All elements should be separated by commas.

Here’s how it looks when put to use:

Vidant Health, Greenville, NC, United States

Course number and name (Student only)

Use the course number and course name as they appear on official university materials. Examples:

• ENG 204: Modern English Literature
• PSYC 2301: Research Methodology

Instructor name (Student papers only)

It’s important that you display your instructor’s name in their preferred way. With academics who have multiple degrees and positions, this isn’t something that you should guess at.

It is generally safe to use the course syllabus to see how they prefer to be listed. For example, some use the word “Professor” as their prefix, and many will have PhD, RN, or other type of professional designation.

Due date (Student papers only)

The due date should be presented in the day, month, and year format that is standard to your country.

The page number goes at the top right-hand side of the paper. This is one of the only elements that appears on every single page.

You can add running page numbers to your paper by double-clicking the header portion of the document or clicking the “Insert” tab. It will automatically insert page numbers into the rest of the document.

Author note (Professional papers only)

The author note is usually only required for professional papers. This is where additional data, disclaimers, conflicts of interest, and statements about funding are placed. In some cases, the author statement can be several pages long.

The author note is generally split into four paragraphs, including:

• ORCID iD (a scientific/academic author ID)
• Changes of Affiliation
• Disclosures and Acknowledgments
• Contact Information

Section 2.7 of the Publication Manual has even more information on how to structure these elements for a professional paper.

Running Head (Professional papers only)

While some student papers might require a running head, this is something that is typically only for papers being submitted for publication. This is an abbreviated version of your title that appears at the top of every page to help readers identify it. The running title is particularly useful especially in print versions of journals and publications.

The running head does not have to use the same words as they appear in your title. Instead, try to re-work your paper’s main idea into a shortened form.

For example, if your paper’s title is:

“A Mystery of Style: Exploring the Formatting Mechanics of the Running Head According  to APA Style 7th Edition”

Then your abbreviated title can be something like:

“RUNNING HEAD IN APA 7”

“FORMATTING THE RUNNING HEAD”

The idea is to convey only the most important aspects of your title. The running head should be entered in the page header, flush left against the margin, and presented in all-capital letters.

The APA suggests a maximum length of 50 characters (including spaces and punctuation) for a running head. If your title is already 50 characters and under, then you can use the whole thing as the running head.

Next, let’s have a look at an example of what a real APA title page looks like when it’s all put together.

Student title page formatting example

Professional title page formatting example

All papers written according to APA Style should have a properly formatted title page. Making sure that the title page elements are accurate and informative will help people access your work. It is also the first opportunity that you have as the author to establish credibility and engage the reader.

For more information on the basic elements of an APA paper, check out Chapter 2 of the Publication Manual or our guide on APA format .

Published October 28, 2020.

APA Formatting Guide

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• View all APA Examples

An APA title page provides the details of the paper, such as the title of the paper, author name, and author affiliation. APA title pages have two formats—one for professional papers and one for student papers.

The elements to be added on the title page of a professional paper (in order of appearance) are:

• Page number and running head: These elements appear in the header section. The page number appears at the top-right corner, whereas the running head appears at the top-left corner. If the title is too long, the running head is shortened to less than 50 characters.
• Title of the paper: It provides information about the paper. It is aligned center and set in bold.
• Names of the authors: It gives the names of the contributors to the paper and is aligned center.
• Affiliations of the authors: It gives the department and university details of the authors.
• Author note: It gives extra information about the authors.

In a student paper, the following details are included on the title page:

• Page number: This appears in the top-right corner of the header section.
• Title of the paper: It gives the reader an idea of the information in the paper. It appears in title case and bold. It is center-aligned.
• Names of the authors: The names of the contributors are added here. This field is also called the by-line.
• Affiliations of the authors: It includes the names of the authors’ departments and universities.
• Name of the course: The name of the course for which the paper is written is included in this field.
• Name of the instructor: Unlike the professional paper, the instructor’s name is included in a student paper.
• Due date of the assignment: The due date of the assignment is added here. The format is “Month Day, Year” (e.g., August 22, 2017).

The title page information for APA is different for a professional paper and a student paper. As a student, you need to include the following details in the same order on the title page of your student paper.

• Page number: This appears in the header section. Set the page number in the top-right corner of the header.
• Title of the paper: Set it in title case and bold. Align it to the center.
• Names of the authors: Provide the names of the contributors. This field is also called the by-line.
• Affiliations of the authors: Include your department and university name.
• Name of the course: Provide the name of the course and course number for which the paper is written.
• Name of the instructor: Add the instructor’s name. There is no rigid rule on how to set the instructor’s name. You can set it according to the instructor’s preference.
• Due date of the assignment: Add the due date of the assignment. The format should be “Month Day, Year” (e.g., August 23, 2021).

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APA Title Page (6th edition) | Guidelines, Example, Template

Published on November 6, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk .

An APA title page must include:

• A running head (including page number)
• The title of your paper (one or two lines long)
• The full name of the author(s)
• Your university or institution

Additional information, such as a course number or an author’s note, should be placed on a separate line below the institution.

APA title page template

Table of contents

Apa title page example, general formatting guidelines, running head, paper title, author name(s), setting up the title page.

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The APA cover page adheres to the  general APA formatting guidelines :

• 12 pt Times New Roman
• Double line spacing
• 1 inch (2.54 cm) margins

The formatting requirements for each element on the APA title page are listed below.

Write “Running head:” followed by a (shortened) version of your paper’s title. It must be:

• Left aligned
• Capitalized
• Maximum 50 characters (not including the words “running head:”)

Read more on how to  insert and format a running head .

Use an informative, striking title that summarizes the main idea of your paper.

• Apply title case ( capitalize the first letter of each word, except small words such as articles and short prepositions )
• Keep it shorter than 12 words
• Don’t use abbreviations or contractions
• Place the title in the center of the page

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The names of the authors are written in full (first name, initial of middle name(s), last name). Include the names of all authors in order of contribution. Don’t include titles (Dr., Prof.) or degrees (PhD, MSc).

APA title page with multiple authors

There are specific guidelines for multiple authors. The formatting guidelines depend on whether the authors have the same affiliation.

This video will demonstrate how to set up the title page in Google Docs.

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• Tags: Academic Writing , APA , APA Style , Formatting Guidel

The 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual provides important formatting guidelines that you need to follow. In this article, we’ll tell you how to properly format an APA header, cover page, abstract, and reference page in your research paper.

Note that we’ll be looking at the formatting guidelines provided by the 7th edition of the APA Style guide, commonly referred to as APA 7. This edition came out in October 2019, replacing the 6th edition that dated back to 2009.

Make sure your APA-style paper is perfectly formatted. Learn more

What is APA formatting? 

The APA format is used while writing academic literature such as research papers, essays, and theses. It is provided by the American Psychological Association (APA) as a style guide and is used commonly in the fields of behavioral and social sciences.

The APA formatting guidelines are described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association , APA’s official style guide. It is widely used by other scientific journals in its entirety or with some variations to publish research articles and papers.

Universities and colleges also use the APA format, so students need to adhere to the formatting guidelines while writing a college paper or essay. As we’ll see in an update given by the APA 7 format, the style guidelines are often a bit relaxed for college students.

Why do we use APA formatting when writing research papers?

The APA Manual lays down a standard set of guidelines that remove colloquial usage and bias from academic writing. Since all researchers follow common rules of writing and formatting, it becomes easy for everyone to read and understand scientific papers.

Plus, the APA formatting style is primarily known for its directness and simplicity. By ensuring a logical flow in a research paper or journal article, the APA format helps the reader focus on the content of the document.

So the simple answer to this question is, we use APA formatting for research papers because it reduces confusion and improves clarity. It brings uniformity to scientific writing and enables the reader to comprehend academic documents with ease.

What is APA formatting used for?

The APA Style format is used by researchers and students to write research papers, journal articles, college papers, and dissertations. You can also use the APA Style in textbooks, websites, PowerPoint presentations, or conference posters.

While the style guide can be used to write academic papers in any discipline, it is mostly used in the following disciplines:

• Social sciences (Sociology, Economics, Political Science)
• Behavioral sciences (Psychology)

General APA formatting guidelines: 

There are some general APA formatting rules you need to follow throughout your paper. Here are the most important style guidelines from the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual:

• Use a standard-sized paper (8.5″ x 11″).
• Set margins of 1 inch on all sides.
• Add a page header (“running head”) at the top of every page.
• Keep the running head short (50 characters).
• Mention the page number on every page.
• Indent your paragraphs 0.5 inches.
• Double-space all your text, including headings.
• Use a font that is easy to read.

APA recommends the following fonts:

• 11-point Calibri
• 11-point Arial
• 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode
• 12-point Times New Roman
• 11-point Georgia
• 10-point Computer Modern

Page formatting under APA 7

Guidelines regarding page formatting appear in the second chapter of the APA Publication Manual. The general structure for research papers under the APA format includes a title page, abstract, text, and references.

College students don’t have the compulsion to add an abstract in their paper, but the particular university guidelines provide the final say on this matter. An APA Style paper usually follows this order:

Aside from these major sections of your paper, we’ll also take a look at how to format APA headers, headings, and subheadings.

1. APA cover page format

The cover page, also called the title page, is the first page in an APA Style paper or essay. This page isn’t absolutely necessary for college students, but some universities may ask their students to include it. Ask your instructor for clarification on whether you should include the cover page in your paper.

The APA 7 cover page has slight variations for student papers and professional papers. Student papers should include details of their course and college, while professional papers include an author note.

The title page in an APA Style student paper should include the following elements:

• Paper title
• Name of the student
• Name of the department and university
• Number and name of the course
• Name of the instructor
• Due date of the paper

The APA cover page in a professional paper includes:

Running head

• Name of the author
• Affiliation
• Author note

APA cover page formatting guidelines 

According to the APA 7th edition, the title page should be formatted as follows:

• Double-space all text on the cover page.
• At the top of the page, add a running head (only for professional papers) that is flush left and a page number (for all papers) that is flush right. 
• Don’t use the words “Running head:” before your running head.
• Place the title three to four lines down from the top of the page, aligned center. Use the title case for it (capitalize all words except articles and prepositions) and the same font as the rest of the text, but bold it.
• If the title has a subtitle, you may place the title and subtitle in separate lines.
• Leave a double-spaced line and then add the author’s name, aligned center. In the case of two authors, place the word “and” between them. In case of more than two authors, separate the names with commas and add “and” before the final name.
• Don’t use titles or degree info (such as Dr. or M.Phil.) before and after the authors’ names.

Cover page formatting tips for student papers

• On the line under the author’s name, add the name of the department followed by the college or university, separated by a comma and aligned center.
• On the next line, include the course number and name, separated by a colon and aligned center.
• Mention the course instructor’s name on the next line, aligned center.
• Add the due date for the assignment on the line below, in the format commonly used in your country and aligned center.

Cover page formatting tips for professional papers

• Under the author’s name, mention the name of the institution at which the research was conducted. Mention the department name before the institution name, separated by a comma and aligned center.
• In case of multiple authors with different affiliations, center the institute names in individual lines.
• Use superscript numerals to distinguish between various authors’ affiliations. For  example, if an author’s name is written as Amber Davis 1 , the first affiliation mentioned should relate to her.
• Place the author note in the bottom half of the page. Bold and center the words “Author Note”.
• Align the contents of the author note to the left.

There are no strict rules regarding the length of titles under the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual. But the style guide does recommend that the title shouldn’t be more than 12 words in length.

It’s also recommended to keep the title concise and to the point, so you should remove any extra words. Here’s an example of an ideal APA title:

A Focused Analysis of the Patterns of Migration Between England and Colombia

Migration Patterns Between England and Colombia

So, make sure you keep the title short and focused, and ensure that it includes the main search term for your paper. Keywords are important!

2. APA header

The APA page header appears within the top margin of the page. It consists of a page number and a running head, but student papers don’t have to include the running head.

So, the APA header for a student paper only contains the page number. For professional papers, the header consists of both the running head and page number.

A running head is a shortened version of your title. If the title is already short, you can place the whole title in the running head. But if your title is long, you need to cut out the extra words and use only the most important words in the running head.

Title: Examining the Wealth of Religious Figures: A Global Study of How Economics, Faith, and Language Intersect

Running head: WEALTH OF RELIGIOUS FIGURES

While the APA running head isn’t a compulsion for student papers, some course instructors or universities may ask you to include it. So it’s always a good idea to get clarity on the paper format from your course instructor.

These are the formatting guidelines for an APA header:

• Page number appears at the top right corner of every page.
• The cover page is your page number 1.
• Align the running head to the left margin of your page.
• Type the running head in capital letters.
• Keep the running head under 50 characters, including spaces and punctuation.
• Avoid abbreviations in the running head, but the word “and” may be replaced with ampersand “&”.

Any word processing program like Google Docs or Word has the header feature that allows you to customize your header. Use this feature to create the running head and page number for your APA header.

Apply the same formatting to all pages in your APA Style paper, as the header appears on every page.

3. APA headings and subheadings

APA headings and subheadings are important to organize your text and improve your paper’s readability. An APA style paper has five possible levels of headings. You can use them to order your content into relevant sections.

These are the APA format guidelines for headings and subheadings in your paper:

• Level 1: Bold, center, and in the title case. Text begins on the next line with a new indented paragraph.
• Level 2: Bold, left-aligned, and in the title case. Text begins on the next line with a new indented paragraph.
• Level 3: Bold, italic, left-aligned, and in the title case. Text begins on the next line with a new indented paragraph.
• Level 4: Indented, bold, in the title case, and ends with a period. Text begins on the same line.
• Level 5: Indented, bold, italic, in the title case, and ends with a period. Text begins on the same line.

4. APA abstract

An abstract is a one-paragraph summary of a research paper, about 150–250 words in length. It contains the objective or problem statement of the paper and includes information on the research methods, results, and conclusions of your research.

An abstract tells the reader what they’ll find in the paper and helps them decide whether or not they should read it. So, your abstract should be well-written. But more importantly, it needs to be formatted according to the APA format guidelines.

The APA abstract page must adhere to specific formatting requirements for indentation, spacing, section label, page margins, font type, and running head. The APA abstract must be formatted as follows:

• Add the APA header at the top of the page. 
• Bold and center the section label “Abstract”.
• Double-space all text. 
• Don’t indent the first paragraph.
• Mention three to five keywords under the abstract, separated by commas.
• Indent and italicize the label “Keywords:”.
• Aside from the first word, use lowercase letters for keywords.

An APA abstract isn’t required in student papers, but it is necessary in professional papers. 

5. Text 

Aside from the general guidelines we saw above, there aren’t any specific APA format guidelines for the body of your paper. In case of an essay, the body will be your essay itself. If you’re writing a lab report, then the main body will be divided into different sections.

In a research paper, the body is divided into introduction, method, results, discussion, and references. Each of these sections begin on a new page, with a section label that is in bold and center. 

These are the APA formatting guidelines for your text:

• Add the APA header on every page.
• Double-space all your text.
• Indent all paragraphs (except the abstract).
• Begin a new section on a new page, with the section label in bold and center.

6. APA reference page

Also called the reference list, this is where all the cited sources in the paper are listed. The citations differ for each source type. The APA reference page as a whole also has specific APA formatting guidelines.

Mention the section label “References” in bold and center at the top of the page. Start the entries in the next line, flush left. Here are the formatting guidelines for an APA reference page:

• Add the references one below the other in alphabetical order without numbering.
• Each reference should have a hanging indentation: the first line flush left and each subsequent line in the same entry with a margin of 0.5 inches.
• References begin with the last name of the author, followed by the first and second names.
• Italicize the names of major works such as books and journals.

The APA provides different format guidelines for specific document types such as articles, journals, and websites. For a detailed study of how to cite sources and include them in the APA reference page, visit this article .

7. APA formatted tables and figures

Using graphics is a great way to communicate important data in your paper. But in an APA Style paper, there are certain rules you need to follow for inserting tables and figures. 

Although they present information differently, the APA style guide has similar formatting rules for them. Tables and figures under the 7th edition of the Publication Manual are labeled with numbers followed by titles. Under the graphic, you may also add a note.

APA formatting guidelines help you create clean and clear graphics with no unnecessary flourish. So keep in mind that you should include graphical elements only when they are necessary for better comprehension.

APA format guidelines for tables

Here is how you can create a properly formatted table under the APA guidelines:

• Put the table number in bold, aligned left (e.g. Table 1 ).
• In the next line, add a brief title in italics and title case.
• Don’t add any vertical lines for table columns.
• Add horizontal lines only when absolutely necessary.
• Use concise and clear labels for row and column headings and center them.
• Left-align the entries in the leftmost column, but center the heading.
• Use the same formatting for all numbers in the table.
• Italicize the word “Note” and add a period after it (e.g. Note. ).
• Begin the note text in the same line as the label “ Note.

Rather than using the spacebar to type your data, use the table feature of Google Docs or Word to create an APA Style table in your paper.

Formatting guidelines for figures

For an APA formatted paper, any graphical representation aside from a table is classified as a figure. This includes charts, graphs, pie charts, drawings, maps, or any other visual infographics.

Follow these rules to properly format your APA figures:

• Mention the figure number in bold, aligned left (e.g. Figure 1 ).
• In the line below, add a brief title in italics and title case.
• Use sans serif fonts for any text within the image.
• Provide figure legends to explain any symbols used in the figure.
• Arrange the legends properly within the borders of the figure.

Number your tables and figures in the order they appear in your APA Style paper. You can add three types of notes under your table or figure to explain a point not covered in the graphic itself.

Hopefully, this article will help you format your APA Style paper perfectly. After formatting your research paper, if you still have doubts, you can consider taking our research paper editing services . We not only ensure proper formatting but also correct any grammatical, word choice, and sentence errors. 

Here are some other articles that you might find interesting: 

• APA Headings & Subheadings | Formatting Guidelines & Examples
• How to Create an APA Title Page | Free Template & Examples
• APA Citation Examples: The Bible, TED Talk, PPT & More
• How to Create In-Text Citations and Reference Page in APA 7
• APA Website Citation (7th Edition) Guide | Format & Examples

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of apa formatting, what does et. al. mean in apa formatting, what is the difference between mla and apa formatting, should i add the apa header on the cover page, what are the changes in apa 7.

Found this article helpful?

2 comments on “ A Step-by-Step Guide to APA Formatting Style (7th Edition) ”

Two or three things would finish up the basic formatting: 1. The Cover Page header needs the words Running head: before the title. Also, the cover page should be in the same Times New Roman (or Arial) 12pt font. (I’ve seen some pretty fancy cover pages LOL). 2. The abstract cannot be more than 250 words (no less than 150 words) 3. Information in the main body should be broken down by layers of headings to tell the reader what they will find in each section.

Overall good advice in succinct bullet points, however. I appreciate you doing this. APA is a thorn in the side of my students (I teach Psychology).

Hey, Kathryn! Thanks for your words of encouragement. The points you have mentioned are indeed crucial to finishing up the basic APA formatting. We hope our blog continues to help you and your students. Keep coming back for more!

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APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition)

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Apa style: formatting & example paper.

This page will give you examples of how to format a paper in APA Style 7th edition. Formatting includes the rules for where to include your name, the title, page numbers, margins, references, etc.  For those who prefer video, we also have a short video on how to format a paper in APA Style.

Basic APA Format Rules:

• Use size 12 letters
• Use a font like Times New Roman
• Everything should be double spaced
• Margins should be 1 inch (this is the default in Word)
• Use clear professional language in APA writing. No slang or metaphors.  Also, you generally don’t talk about your own experiences in an APA research paper unless asked to do so by your professor.  The focus should be on information gathered from research and arguments.
• All APA Style Papers begin with a cover page.

Here is an example of an APA Style Cover Page. The Cover Page begins with the page number in the upper right.  In the center of the paper is the title in bold.  Below that is the writer’s name, the name of the college, the name of the class, the name of the professor, and finally the date the paper is due.

Use this APA Style sample paper to see the rest of the format for an APA Paper.

Student Formatting APA Sample Paper (7th Edition)

APA Style allows for two slightly different ways to format a paper.  Student paper formatting and professional formatting.  Most instructors will accept the simpler student formatting in the example above but if your professor requires professional formatting here is an example of how to do that.

Professional Formatting APA Sample Paper (7th Edition)

If you have more detailed questions about APA Style formatting consult the APA website formatting guide , read the APA Style Publication Manual in the Library collection, or contact [email protected]

•   [email protected]

APA Style: Basics

Guidelines: paper format.

The APA Style website includes a great section on Paper Format This link opens in a new window . The 7th edition of APA Style has two types of papers: student papers and professional papers. Please consult your assignment or reach out to your professor or instructor to determine which paper format you should use.

For more information see the above page or the sections linked below:

• Order of pages This link opens in a new window
• Title page This link opens in a new window
• Font This link opens in a new window
• Page header This link opens in a new window
• Line spacing This link opens in a new window
• Margins This link opens in a new window
• Paragraph alignment & indentation This link opens in a new window
• Tables setup This link opens in a new window
• Figures setup This link opens in a new window
• Headings This link opens in a new window
• Accessibility This link opens in a new window
• Numbers and Statistics Guide This link opens in a new window

Sample Papers

The APA Style website also includes Sample Papers This link opens in a new window . 

APA Style Sample Papers

• Annotated Student Sample Paper [links to PDF] This link opens in a new window
• Student Sample Paper [links to DOCX] This link opens in a new window
• Annotated Professional Sample Paper [links to PDF] This link opens in a new window
• Professional Sample Paper [links to DOCX] This link opens in a new window

SNHU OWC Sample Papers

• APA 7th Edition Sample Paper (SNHU OWC) [pdf] This link opens in a new window APA 7th Edition Sample Paper from the Academic Support Center
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Does APA style require a cover page for short student papers?

My students are required to use APA style. I'm familiar with the research paper format, which requires a separate title page (like a cover page). This makes sense for longer papers, but how should students format the first page of a one- or two-page assignment?

My question is: What do students do if the paper is one to two pages? How do they format their name and information w/o a title page?

In the style guides, I can only find information for research papers.

• 4 I'm surprised that you aren't in complete control here. What is the external force requiring this? –  Buffy Commented Feb 19, 2020 at 20:37

3 Answers 3

General points : APA style is principally designed for submitting manuscripts to academic journals.

When it is used as a style guide for student assessments at universities, it is common for the requirements to be adapted. So for example, many people completing honours, masters, or PhD theses in the behavioural sciences will use APA style for referencing. But their university may have other requirements for the formatting of title pages, heading formats, line spacing, paragraph indentation and so on. Or these details may be left up to the student.

If you are setting the assignment, you are free to pick and choose which aspects of APA style you want students to follow.

Your specific question: Note that APA style calls it a "Title Page" rather than a "Cover Page". Any manuscript submitted to a journal using APA style requires a title page (i.e., with title, author names, affiliations, author note, etc.). Those who create a university assignment based on APA style are free to adopt or not adopt aspects of APA style when it pertains to APA style. In some respects it doesn't even make sense to fully adopt APA style for Title pages on student assignments. For example, you wouldn't require them to provide a "corresponding author address" (a key requirement of APA style title pages), but you would require them to include their student number.

Well, that's really what APA style is there for: Research papers. If you're using it for a different purpose, then it presumably doesn't have much to say about these other cases.

But: I assume you are requiring your students to use APA style because you want them to learn how to write research papers in APA style. In that case, it makes sense to let your students pretend that their short papers are research papers. So then, if APA requires a cover page for research papers, you should also require a cover page for student papers.

The APA style guide has specific instructions for how to format the title page for "student papers", i.e. course essays etc. It provides specific instructions of where to put things like the name of the courses and instructor.

Rule number 1 is that any rules set by the instructor (you) or University trump those of the style guide.

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