{"id":3952,"date":"2026-05-25T06:34:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T01:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/cheat-sheet-american-psychological-association-apa-manual-of-style\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T10:26:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T04:56:41","slug":"cheat-sheet-american-psychological-association-manual-of-style","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/cheat-sheet-american-psychological-association-manual-of-style","title":{"rendered":"Formatting in American Psychological Association (APA) 7th Edition Style: Guidelines, Template, Citation Generator"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In this article, you\u2019ll learn about<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161309\">Page Setup &amp; General Formatting<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161310\">Which font can I use in APA style?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161311\">APA 7 formatting template<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161312\">How to format a title page in APA style<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161313\">Student vs. Professional Title Pages<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161314\">Title Page Formatting Rules<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161315\">How to format the abstract and keywords in APA style<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161316\">Abstract Requirements<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161317\">What to Include in the Abstract<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161318\">How to format keywords in APA style<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161319\">How to format headings and structure a paper in APA style<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161320\">The 5 Heading Levels at a Glance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161321\">Visual Reference for Heading Levels<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161322\">Key Heading Rules<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161323\">How to format the body text in APA style<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161324\">Paragraph Formatting<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161325\">How to format numbers in APA style<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161326\">What does APA style require in terms of bias-free language?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161327\">How to format in-text citations in APA style?<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161328\">Basic Citation Formats + Free Citation Generator<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161329\">How to format secondary sources in APA style?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161330\">How to format quotations in APA style?<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161331\">Short vs. Block Quotations<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161332\">Examples of quotations in APA style<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161333\">How to format tables and figures in APA style<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161334\">Tables<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161335\">Table Label \/ Title Format<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161336\">Figures<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161337\">Figure Caption Format<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161338\">Table vs. Figure: When to Use Which<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161339\">How to format the reference list in APA style<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161340\">Reference List Formatting Rules<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161341\">Author Name Formatting<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161342\">Common Reference Types<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161343\">Quick Reference: Source Type Cheat Sheet<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161344\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161345\">Where can I get a template and sample papers for APA 7 formatting?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161346\">What if my journal guidelines ask for APA 7 formatting but also have their own requirements?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#_Toc230161347\">How long should a paper be in APA 7 style?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"_Toc230161309\"><\/a>Page Setup &amp; General Formatting<\/h2>\n<p>Before writing a single word, configure your document to meet APA 7 standards. These settings apply to\u00a0<strong>every page<\/strong>\u00a0of the manuscript.<\/p>\n<table width=\"510\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Setting<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"336\"><strong>APA 7th Edition Requirement<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Paper Size<\/td>\n<td width=\"336\">8.5 \u00d7 11 inches (US Letter)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Margins<\/td>\n<td width=\"336\">1 inch on all sides (top, bottom, left, right)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Font<\/td>\n<td width=\"336\">One consistent font throughout (see options below)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Font Size<\/td>\n<td width=\"336\">12 pt for body text; some elements may use 10\u201311 pt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Line Spacing<\/td>\n<td width=\"336\">Double-spaced throughout, including references<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Paragraph Indent<\/td>\n<td width=\"336\">0.5 inch (first line of every paragraph)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Alignment<\/td>\n<td width=\"336\">Left-aligned (flush left, ragged right)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Page Numbers<\/td>\n<td width=\"336\">Top-right corner, starting with page 1 on title page<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Running Head<\/td>\n<td width=\"336\">Required for manuscripts submitted for publication only<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161310\"><\/a>Which font can I use in APA style?<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/apastyle.apa.org\/style-grammar-guidelines\/paper-format\/font\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">APA 7 allows several fonts<\/a>. Choose one and use it consistently throughout the entire paper:<\/p>\n<table width=\"520\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Font Family<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Recommended Size<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"167\"><strong>Notes<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Times New Roman<\/td>\n<td>12 pt<\/td>\n<td width=\"167\">Most traditional choice; widely accepted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Arial<\/td>\n<td>11 pt<\/td>\n<td width=\"167\">Clean sans-serif option<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Calibri<\/td>\n<td>11 pt<\/td>\n<td width=\"167\">Default in Microsoft Word; acceptable<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Georgia<\/td>\n<td>11 pt<\/td>\n<td width=\"167\">Readable serif; good for screen reading<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Lucida Sans Unicode<\/td>\n<td>10 pt<\/td>\n<td width=\"167\">Compact but clear<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Computer Modern<\/td>\n<td>10 pt<\/td>\n<td width=\"167\">Common in LaTeX documents<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u26a0\ufe0f Key Change from APA 6:<\/strong>\u00a0APA 7 no longer requires only Times New Roman. It also eliminates the running head for student papers, requiring it only for manuscripts submitted for publication.<\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161311\"><\/a>APA 7 formatting template<\/h3>\n<p>Here\u2019s a free template for APA 7<sup>th<\/sup> edition formatting, for a research paper meant to be submitted to a journal:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/APA7_Journal_Article_Template-1.docx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">APA7_Journal_Article_Template<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"_Toc230161312\"><\/a>How to format a title page in APA style<\/h2>\n<p>APA 7 distinguishes between two types of title pages. Ensure you are using the correct format for your context.<\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161313\"><\/a>Student vs. Professional Title Pages<\/h3>\n<p>The requirements for a title page differ if you are a student writing a thesis\/dissertation\/essay or a researcher\/professional writing a research paper meant for a journal. Check the table below.<\/p>\n<table width=\"491\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"132\"><strong>Element<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"142\"><strong>Student Paper<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"217\"><strong>Professional \/ Manuscript<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"132\">Paper Title<\/td>\n<td width=\"142\">\u2705 Required<\/td>\n<td width=\"217\">\u2705 Required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"132\">Author Name(s)<\/td>\n<td width=\"142\">\u2705 Required<\/td>\n<td width=\"217\">\u2705 Required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"132\">Institutional Affiliation<\/td>\n<td width=\"142\">\u2705 Required<\/td>\n<td width=\"217\">\u2705 Required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"132\">Course Number &amp; Name<\/td>\n<td width=\"142\">\u2705 Required<\/td>\n<td width=\"217\">\u274c Not included<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"132\">Instructor Name<\/td>\n<td width=\"142\">\u2705 Required<\/td>\n<td width=\"217\">\u274c Not included<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"132\">Assignment Due Date<\/td>\n<td width=\"142\">\u2705 Required<\/td>\n<td width=\"217\">\u274c Not included<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"132\">Running Head<\/td>\n<td width=\"142\">\u274c Not required<\/td>\n<td width=\"217\">\u2705 Required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"132\">Author Note<\/td>\n<td width=\"142\">Optional<\/td>\n<td width=\"217\">\u2705 Required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"132\">ORCID iD<\/td>\n<td width=\"142\">Optional<\/td>\n<td width=\"217\">Recommended<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161314\"><\/a>Title Page Formatting Rules<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The\u00a0<strong>paper title<\/strong>\u00a0appears approximately 3\u20134 lines down from the top of the page, centered and in\u00a0<strong>bold<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Titles should be\u00a0<strong>12\u201315 words maximum<\/strong>; capitalize all major words (title case).<\/li>\n<li>The author&#8217;s name appears one double-spaced line below the title, centered, in standard (non-bold) text.<\/li>\n<li>Institutional affiliation appears one double-spaced line below the author name.<\/li>\n<li>All title page content is\u00a0<strong>centered and double-spaced<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Do not use &#8220;by&#8221; before the author&#8217;s name.<\/li>\n<li>Multiple authors are listed in the order of their contribution; separate with commas and &#8220;and&#8221; before the last author.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_47481\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-47481\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-47481\" src=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/APA-style-title-page-300x332.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/APA-style-title-page-300x332.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/APA-style-title-page.jpg 472w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-47481\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sample title page in APA style<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><a name=\"_Toc230161315\"><\/a>How to format the abstract and keywords in APA style<\/h2>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161316\"><\/a>Abstract Requirements<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The abstract appears on\u00a0<strong>page 2<\/strong>, on its own page.<\/li>\n<li>The word\u00a0<strong>&#8220;Abstract&#8221;<\/strong>\u00a0is centered, bolded, and appears at the top of the page \u2014 do not italicize or underline it.<\/li>\n<li>The abstract body is a single,\u00a0<strong>non-indented paragraph<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Word limit:\u00a0<strong>150\u2013250 words<\/strong>\u00a0(check with your journal or instructor).<\/li>\n<li>It must be\u00a0<strong>self-contained<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 fully understandable without reading the paper.<\/li>\n<li>Write in\u00a0<strong>third person<\/strong>\u00a0and use\u00a0<strong>past tense<\/strong>\u00a0for completed work.<\/li>\n<li>Do not cite references in the abstract unless absolutely necessary.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161317\"><\/a>What to Include in the Abstract<\/h3>\n<table width=\"482\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Component<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"272\"><strong>Description<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Research Problem<\/td>\n<td width=\"272\">What question or problem the study addresses<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Participants \/ Materials<\/td>\n<td width=\"272\">Who or what was studied (sample size, characteristics)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Method<\/td>\n<td width=\"272\">Key methodological approach used<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Results<\/td>\n<td width=\"272\">Main findings of the study<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Conclusions<\/td>\n<td width=\"272\">Implications or significance of the findings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161318\"><\/a>How to format keywords in APA style<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Keywords appear\u00a0<strong>below the abstract<\/strong>, on the same page.<\/li>\n<li>Start with the label\u00a0<em>Keywords:<\/em>\u00a0in italics, followed by a colon.<\/li>\n<li>List 3\u20135 keywords,\u00a0<strong>lowercase<\/strong>, separated by commas.<\/li>\n<li>Keywords are\u00a0<strong>not<\/strong>\u00a0bolded and not followed by a period.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Example<\/h4>\n<p><em>Keywords:<\/em>\u00a0cognitive load, working memory, educational psychology, metacognition<\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"_Toc230161319\"><\/a>How to format headings and structure a paper in APA style<\/h2>\n<p>APA 7 uses a 5-level heading system. Use only as many levels as needed \u2014 start with Level 1 and work downward. Do not skip levels.<\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161320\"><\/a>The 5 Heading Levels at a Glance<\/h3>\n<table width=\"660\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Level<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Format<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Example<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>1<\/td>\n<td>Centered, Bold, Title Case<\/td>\n<td><strong>Method<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2<\/td>\n<td>Left-aligned, Bold, Title Case<\/td>\n<td><strong>Participants<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3<\/td>\n<td>Left-aligned, Bold, Italic, Title Case<\/td>\n<td><strong><em>Inclusion Criteria<\/em><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>4<\/td>\n<td>Indented, Bold, Title Case, ends with period. Text begins on same line.<\/td>\n<td><strong>Age and Gender.<\/strong>\u00a0Participants ranged\u2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>5<\/td>\n<td>Indented, Bold, Italic, Title Case, ends with period. Text begins on same line.<\/td>\n<td><strong><em>Recruitment Procedure.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Volunteers were\u2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161321\"><\/a>Visual Reference for Heading Levels<\/h3>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161322\"><\/a>Key Heading Rules<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The section label\u00a0<strong>&#8220;Introduction&#8221;<\/strong>\u00a0is\u00a0<em>never<\/em>\u00a0used as a heading. The paper&#8217;s title at the top of page 3 implies the introduction.<\/li>\n<li><strong>&#8220;References&#8221;<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>&#8220;Abstract&#8221;<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong>&#8220;Appendix&#8221;<\/strong>\u00a0are centered and bolded. They follow Level 1 style.<\/li>\n<li>Do not number or letter your headings (e.g., avoid &#8220;1. Method&#8221; or &#8220;A. Participants&#8221;).<\/li>\n<li>Each heading level must appear at least twice; if only one subsection is needed, integrate it into the parent section.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udca1Tip:<\/strong>\u00a0Most research papers only need Levels 1\u20133. Reserve Levels 4 and 5 for complex, multi-layered manuscripts.<\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"_Toc230161323\"><\/a>How to format the body text in APA style<\/h2>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161324\"><\/a>Paragraph Formatting<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Indent the\u00a0<strong>first line of every paragraph<\/strong>\u00a0by 0.5 inch using the paragraph settings (not the Tab key).<\/li>\n<li>All text is\u00a0<strong>double-spaced<\/strong>. There is no line break or extra spacing between paragraphs.<\/li>\n<li>Write in\u00a0<strong>active voice<\/strong>\u00a0where possible (&#8220;The researchers analyzed\u2026&#8221; rather than &#8220;The data were analyzed\u2026&#8221;).<\/li>\n<li>Use the\u00a0<strong>past tense<\/strong>\u00a0for describing your study and completed research; use the\u00a0<strong>present tense<\/strong>\u00a0for established findings and your own conclusions.<\/li>\n<li>Avoid contractions, colloquialisms, and jargon not defined for your audience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161325\"><\/a>How to format numbers in APA style<\/h3>\n<p>APA style has the following rules about using numbers:<\/p>\n<table width=\"660\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Use Words For\u2026<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Use Numerals For\u2026<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Numbers zero through nine<\/td>\n<td>Numbers 10 and above<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Numbers beginning a sentence<\/td>\n<td>Numbers before a unit of measurement<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Common fractions (one-third)<\/td>\n<td>Exact statistical values (p = .03)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Rounded large numbers in text (approximately four million)<\/td>\n<td>Scores and scale points (scored 7 on a 10-point scale)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161326\"><\/a>What does APA style require in terms of bias-free language?<\/h3>\n<p>APA 7 places strong emphasis on precise, respectful language. Key principles include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use\u00a0<strong>person-first language<\/strong>\u00a0unless the individual or group prefers identity-first (&#8220;person with a disability&#8221; vs. &#8220;disabled person&#8221; [follow community preference]).<\/li>\n<li>Use\u00a0<strong>singular &#8220;they&#8221;<\/strong>\u00a0for gender-neutral references to a single person.<\/li>\n<li>Specify group characteristics only when relevant to the research.<\/li>\n<li>Avoid outdated or offensive terminology; consult the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/about\/apa\/equity-diversity-inclusion\/language-guidelines\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">APA Inclusive Language Guide<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a name=\"_Toc230161327\"><\/a>How to format in-text citations in APA style?<\/h2>\n<p>APA 7 uses an\u00a0<strong>author-date citation format<\/strong>. Every citation in the text must have a corresponding entry in the Reference List, and vice versa.<\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161328\"><\/a>Basic Citation Formats + Free Citation Generator<\/h3>\n<p>The table below gives an overview of how to format in-text citations in APA style. If you\u2019re short on time, you can use <a href=\"https:\/\/paperpal.com\/tools\/citation-generator\/apa-citation-generator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Paperpal\u2019s free APA citation generator<\/a> to format your citations and reference list too.<\/p>\n<table width=\"586\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Scenario<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Format<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"185\"><strong>Example<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>1 author \u2014 parenthetical<\/td>\n<td>(Surname, Year)<\/td>\n<td width=\"185\">(Miller, 2021)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 author \u2014 narrative<\/td>\n<td>Surname (Year)<\/td>\n<td width=\"185\">Miller (2021) found\u2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2 authors<\/td>\n<td>(Surname &amp; Surname, Year)<\/td>\n<td width=\"185\">(Chen &amp; Park, 2020)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3 or more authors<\/td>\n<td>(First Surname et al., Year)<\/td>\n<td width=\"185\">(Brown et al., 2019)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Group \/ organization<\/td>\n<td>(Full Name, Year) \u2192 abbreviate after first use<\/td>\n<td width=\"185\">(World Health Organization [WHO], 2023); then (WHO, 2023)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>No author<\/td>\n<td>(&#8220;Title,&#8221; Year)<\/td>\n<td width=\"185\">(&#8220;Annual Report,&#8221; 2022)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>No date<\/td>\n<td>(Surname, n.d.)<\/td>\n<td width=\"185\">(Garcia, n.d.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Multiple works (same parentheses)<\/td>\n<td>Alphabetical order, separated by semicolons<\/td>\n<td width=\"185\">(Adams, 2018; Liu, 2020; Wang, 2022)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161329\"><\/a>How to format secondary sources in APA style?<\/h3>\n<p>Cite the original work in your text, then attribute it to the source you actually read:<\/p>\n<h4>Example<\/h4>\n<p>Bandura&#8217;s social learning theory (as cited in Johnson, 2022) emphasizes observational learning.<\/p>\n<p>Only the secondary source (Johnson, 2022) appears in your Reference List \u2014 not Bandura&#8217;s original work.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u26a0\ufe0f Key Change from APA 6:<\/strong>\u00a0APA 7 uses\u00a0<em>et al.<\/em>\u00a0from the first citation for works with three or more authors. APA 6 required writing all author names the first time for works with up to five authors.<\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"_Toc230161330\"><\/a>How to format quotations in APA style?<\/h2>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161331\"><\/a>Short vs. Block Quotations<\/h3>\n<table width=\"595\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><strong>Short Quotation (&lt; 40 words)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"218\"><strong>Block Quotation (\u2265 40 words)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Formatting<\/td>\n<td>Inline within paragraph, enclosed in double quotation marks<\/td>\n<td width=\"218\">New paragraph, indented 0.5 inch from left margin, no quotation marks<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Citation placement<\/td>\n<td>After closing quotation mark, before period<\/td>\n<td width=\"218\">After the final punctuation mark of the quotation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Line spacing<\/td>\n<td>Double-spaced (same as body text)<\/td>\n<td width=\"218\">Double-spaced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Page number<\/td>\n<td>Required<\/td>\n<td width=\"218\">Required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161332\"><\/a>Examples of quotations in APA style<\/h3>\n<h4>Short Quotation Example<\/h4>\n<p>As Vygotsky argued, &#8220;learning is a fundamentally social process&#8221; (Kozulin, 2003, p. 15).<\/p>\n<h4>Block Quotation Example<\/h4>\n<p>Block quotes are fully indented 0.5 inches from the margin, and the page number is given at the end. See the image below:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_47483\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-47483\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-47483\" src=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/APA-style-block-quote-300x201.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/APA-style-block-quote-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/APA-style-block-quote-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/APA-style-block-quote.jpg 835w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-47483\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sample of block quotation in APA style<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h4>How to modify quotations in APA style<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Use\u00a0<strong>[brackets]<\/strong>\u00a0to add words or clarify meaning within a quotation.<\/li>\n<li>Use an\u00a0<strong>ellipsis (\u2026)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 three spaced periods \u2014 to omit words from the middle of a quotation.<\/li>\n<li>Use\u00a0<strong>[sic]<\/strong>\u00a0in italics after an error in the original to indicate it was not your mistake.<\/li>\n<li>Use\u00a0<strong><em>italics<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0for emphasis you have added, followed by [italics added] in brackets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a name=\"_Toc230161333\"><\/a>How to format tables and figures in APA style<\/h2>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161334\"><\/a>Tables<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Tables are numbered consecutively:\u00a0<strong>Table 1, Table 2<\/strong>, etc. (in bold).<\/li>\n<li>The\u00a0<strong>title<\/strong>\u00a0appears one double-spaced line below the label, in italic title case, flush left, not bold.<\/li>\n<li>The table itself follows one double-spaced line below the title.<\/li>\n<li>Use horizontal borders only (above and below column headings, and at the bottom of the table); avoid vertical lines and heavy borders.<\/li>\n<li>A\u00a0<em>Note<\/em>\u00a0below the table explains abbreviations, special characters, or copyright attributions. Start with &#8220;Note.&#8221; in italics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161335\"><\/a>Table Label \/ Title Format<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Table 1<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>Demographic Characteristics of Study Participants (N = 120)<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161336\"><\/a>Figures<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Figures are numbered consecutively:\u00a0<strong>Figure 1, Figure 2<\/strong>, etc. (in bold).<\/li>\n<li>The\u00a0<strong>caption<\/strong>\u00a0appears\u00a0<em>below<\/em>\u00a0the figure (unlike tables, where the title is above).<\/li>\n<li>Captions include a brief descriptive title in italic, followed by additional detail in non-italic text if needed.<\/li>\n<li>All figures must be referenced in the text before they appear (e.g., &#8220;As shown in Figure 2\u2026&#8221;).<\/li>\n<li>Images must be high resolution (minimum 300 dpi for print).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161337\"><\/a>Figure Caption Format<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Figure 1<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>Mean Response Times by Condition Across Four Time Points<\/em><br \/>\nNote. Error bars represent \u00b11 SD. *p &lt; .05.<\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161338\"><\/a>Table vs. Figure: When to Use Which<\/h3>\n<table width=\"510\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"236\"><strong>Use a Table When\u2026<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"274\"><strong>Use a Figure When\u2026<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"236\">Presenting exact numerical values<\/td>\n<td width=\"274\">Showing trends or patterns over time<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"236\">Comparing multiple attributes across groups<\/td>\n<td width=\"274\">Illustrating relationships between variables<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"236\">Displaying structured text data<\/td>\n<td width=\"274\">Displaying photographs, diagrams, or maps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"236\">The reader needs to look up specific values<\/td>\n<td width=\"274\">The overall shape of the data matters most<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"_Toc230161339\"><\/a>How to format the reference list in APA style<\/h2>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161340\"><\/a>Reference List Formatting Rules<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The reference list begins on a\u00a0<strong>new page<\/strong>\u00a0after the body of the paper.<\/li>\n<li>The heading\u00a0<strong>&#8220;References&#8221;<\/strong>\u00a0is centered and bold at the top of the page.<\/li>\n<li>All references are\u00a0<strong>double-spaced<\/strong>\u00a0with no extra space between entries.<\/li>\n<li>Use a\u00a0<strong>hanging indent<\/strong>: the first line of each entry is flush left; subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inch.<\/li>\n<li>References are listed in\u00a0<strong>alphabetical order<\/strong>\u00a0by the first author&#8217;s surname.<\/li>\n<li>Include a\u00a0<strong>DOI or URL<\/strong>\u00a0for all works that have one \u2014 format as a hyperlink.<\/li>\n<li>Do\u00a0<strong>not<\/strong>\u00a0include a retrieval date unless the source content changes over time (e.g., wikis).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161341\"><\/a>Author Name Formatting<\/h3>\n<table width=\"463\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Scenario<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"250\"><strong>Format<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>1 author<\/td>\n<td width=\"250\">Surname, I. (no &#8220;and&#8221;)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2\u201320 authors<\/td>\n<td width=\"250\">List all: Surname, I., Surname, I., &amp; Surname, I.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>21+ authors<\/td>\n<td width=\"250\">List first 19 authors, insert an ellipsis (\u2026), then add the final author&#8217;s name<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Group \/ organization as author<\/td>\n<td width=\"250\">Write out the full name (no abbreviation)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>No author<\/td>\n<td width=\"250\">Move the title to the author position<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Editor instead of author<\/td>\n<td width=\"250\">Surname, I. (Ed.) or (Eds.) after names<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>\u26a0\ufe0f Key Change from APA 6:<\/strong>\u00a0APA 7 lists up to 20 authors before truncating. APA 6 stopped at 6. Also, the place of publication is no longer required for books.<\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161342\"><\/a>Common Reference Types<\/h3>\n<p>The four key elements of any APA reference are:\u00a0Who\u00a0When\u00a0What\u00a0Where<\/p>\n<h4>Journal Articles<\/h4>\n<p><strong>Format<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Surname, I. I., &amp; Surname, I. I. (Year). Title of article in sentence case.\u00a0<em>Journal Title in Title Case and Italics, Volume<\/em>(Issue), Page\u2013Page. https:\/\/doi.org\/xxxxx<\/p>\n<p><strong>Example<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Nolen-Hoeksema, S., &amp; Watkins, E. R. (2011). A heuristic for developing transdiagnostic models of psychopathology.\u00a0<em>Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6<\/em>(6), 589\u2013609. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/1745691611419672<\/p>\n<h4>Books<\/h4>\n<p><strong>Format<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Surname, I. I. (Year).\u00a0<em>Title of book in sentence case and italics<\/em>. Publisher.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Example<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Kahneman, D. (2011).\u00a0<em>Thinking, fast and slow<\/em>. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.<\/p>\n<h4>Edited Book Chapters<\/h4>\n<p><strong>Format<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Chapter Author, I. I. (Year). Title of chapter. In I. I. Editor &amp; I. I. Editor (Eds.),\u00a0<em>Title of book<\/em>\u00a0(pp. xx\u2013xx). Publisher. https:\/\/doi.org\/xxxxx<\/p>\n<h4>Websites &amp; Webpages<\/h4>\n<p><strong>Format<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Surname, I. I. (Year, Month Day).\u00a0<em>Title of webpage<\/em>. Site Name. URL<\/p>\n<p><strong>Example<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, March 15).\u00a0<em>Understanding COVID-19 vaccines<\/em>. https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/vaccines\/covid-19\/index.html<\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161343\"><\/a>Quick Reference: Source Type Cheat Sheet<\/h3>\n<table width=\"526\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"116\"><strong>Source Type<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"97\"><strong>Italicize<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"80\"><strong>Volume\/Issue<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Publisher<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>DOI\/URL<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"116\">Journal article<\/td>\n<td width=\"97\">Journal name + volume<\/td>\n<td width=\"80\">Yes<\/td>\n<td>No<\/td>\n<td>If available<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"116\">Book<\/td>\n<td width=\"97\">Book title<\/td>\n<td width=\"80\">N\/A<\/td>\n<td>Yes<\/td>\n<td>If available<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"116\">Edited book chapter<\/td>\n<td width=\"97\">Book title only<\/td>\n<td width=\"80\">N\/A<\/td>\n<td>Yes<\/td>\n<td>If available<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"116\">Website<\/td>\n<td width=\"97\">Webpage title<\/td>\n<td width=\"80\">N\/A<\/td>\n<td>No (use site name)<\/td>\n<td>Always<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"116\">Report<\/td>\n<td width=\"97\">Report title<\/td>\n<td width=\"80\">N\/A<\/td>\n<td>Yes<\/td>\n<td>If available<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"116\">Dissertation \/ Thesis<\/td>\n<td width=\"97\">Title<\/td>\n<td width=\"80\">N\/A<\/td>\n<td>Database name<\/td>\n<td>If available<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"116\">Podcast episode<\/td>\n<td width=\"97\">Episode title<\/td>\n<td width=\"80\">N\/A<\/td>\n<td>No<\/td>\n<td>Always<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"116\">YouTube video<\/td>\n<td width=\"97\">Video title<\/td>\n<td width=\"80\">N\/A<\/td>\n<td>No<\/td>\n<td>Always<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"_Toc230161344\"><\/a>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161345\"><\/a>Where can I get a template and sample papers for APA 7 formatting?<\/h3>\n<p>We have a free template to format a journal article as per APA 7<sup>th<\/sup> edition, which you can download here. You can also <a href=\"https:\/\/apastyle.apa.org\/style-grammar-guidelines\/paper-format\/sample-papers\">download sample papers directly from APA<\/a>, with or without annotations.<\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161346\"><\/a>What if my journal guidelines ask for APA 7 formatting but also have their own requirements?<\/h3>\n<p>If there\u2019s any conflict between the journal guidelines and APA 7 guidelines, <strong>follow the journal guidelines<\/strong>. Use APA 7 for any aspects that are not covered in the journal guidelines.<\/p>\n<p>For example, your journal may ask for APA 7 formatting but also ask for the \u201cIntroduction\u201d heading to be used. In that case, use the \u201cIntroduction\u201d heading.<\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc230161347\"><\/a>How long should a paper be in APA 7 style?<\/h3>\n<p>APA style doesn\u2019t have strict limits for paper length. You should check the guidelines of your target journal and shorten or lengthen your paper accordingly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this article, you\u2019ll learn about Page Setup &amp; General Formatting Which font can I use in APA style? APA 7 formatting template How to format a title page in APA style Student vs. Professional Title Pages Title Page Formatting Rules How to format the abstract and keywords in APA style Abstract Requirements What to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":47142,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_ayudawp_aiss_exclude":false,"_ayudawp_aiss_summary":"","_ayudawp_aiss_summary_provider":"","_ayudawp_aiss_summary_hash":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2427],"tags":[2469,874,770,2643,2611],"new_categories":[],"new_tags":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-3952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-style-format","tag-apa-style","tag-citation-style","tag-formatting-tables","tag-formatting-tips","tag-manuscript-formatting"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>APA 7 Style: Formatting Guidelines, Template, Citation Generator | Editage Insights<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn key formatting requirements of the American Psychological Association style manual (7th edition) + free template &amp; citation generator\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/cheat-sheet-american-psychological-association-manual-of-style\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cheat sheet: American Psychological Association (APA) Manual of Style\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Adhering to the guidelines prescribed by an exhaustive manual such as the American Psychological Association Manual (APA) of Style can be daunting. 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