Cite Your Sources: APA

Margins

• Use 1" margins for the entire document.
• Use a 1/2" indent for every paragraph and footnote.
• Indent set-off quotations 1/2" from the left margin.

Text Formatting

• Use 12 pt Times New Roman font.
• Do not justify the text or use hyphenation.
• Double-space the text, title, headings, footnotes, quotations, references and captions.
• Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks.

Page Header (Running Head)

• Include a running head on every page.
• Page number should be flush right.
• Type the entire title in capital letters. Title should be flush left.
• Shorten the title if necessary. It cannot exceed more than 50 characters.

Abstract

• Begin the abstract on a new page.
• Identify it with the running head or abbreviated title and the page number 2.
• Label the page "Abstract" in upper and lower case letters, centered, at the top of the page.
• The summary itself should be single spaced without indentation.

Introduction

• Begin introduction on a new page.
• Identify it with the running head or abbreviated title and the page number 3.
• Type the title of the manuscript in upper and lower case letters, centered, at the top of the page.
• The summary itself should be single spaced without indentation.

Footnotes

• Number all footnotes consecutively in the order in which they appear in the manuscript with superscript numerals.
• Place the footnote at the bottom of the page on which it is discussed.
• Alternatively, footnotes can be placed on a separate page after the references.

Appendices

• Begin each appendix on a new page.
• Center the word Appendix and the identifying capital letter (A, B, etc.) at the top of the page.
• Center the title of the appendix, and use upper and lower case letters.
• Begin the text of the appendix flush left, followed by indented paragraphs.

In-text citations in the body of your manuscript point the reader to specific sources listed in your References. They usually include:

• author’s last name
• title (if no author is given)
• publication date
• page numbers

Examples

Author's name in text
Author has expressed this concern (1995, p.128).

Author's name in parenthetical reference
This concern has been expressed (Baily & Sage, 1988, p.128).

How to use the paper:

• Read through the paper and notice each major formatting element of APA writing style is discussed and illustrated within the paper. 
• Both a sample and explanation of the formatting element are included.
• Additional help with APA formatting can be found in the links and information boxes on this page.
• A highlight of this paper is the examples of in-text formatting and uses of paraphrases and direct quotes used to support your research.