APA Style (7th edition, Purdue OWL) — General paper format

guide • 7th edition

APA Style 7th Edition (Purdue OWL General Format)
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Overview

This page summarizes the main layout rules from the official formatting guideline, including page size, margins, spacing, headings, fonts and reference list formatting.

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Source: Official formatting guideline

Paper, margins, and spacing

  • Use 8.5" × 11" paper with 1-inch margins on all sides.
  • Double-space the entire paper, including the title page, abstract, body, headings, tables, figures, and references.
  • Choose an accessible, readable font; APA 7 permits 11-pt Calibri, 11-pt Arial, 10-pt Lucida Sans Unicode, 12-pt Times New Roman, 11-pt Georgia, or 10-pt Computer Modern (for LaTeX).

Page header and page numbers

  • Place page numbers in the header, flush right, beginning with page 1 on the title page.
  • Student papers usually include only the page number in the header.
  • Professional papers add a running head: a shortened version of the paper title in all caps on the left, plus the page number on the right.

Title page

  • APA 7 distinguishes between student and professional title pages, but both use double spacing, the same font as the body, and centered elements.
  • A typical student title page contains, in order:

1. Paper title (bold, centered, title case).

2. Author name.

3. Institutional affiliation.

4. Course number and name.

5. Instructor name.

6. Assignment due date.

  • Professional title pages list author names and affiliations and may include an author note in the lower half of the page with ORCID iDs, disclosure statements, acknowledgments, and contact details.

Abstract and keywords

  • Begin the abstract on a new page; center and bold the heading “Abstract” at the top.
  • Write the abstract as a single, non-indented paragraph, typically 150–250 words, summarizing the key aspects of the work.
  • If keywords are required, indent the next line, italicize the label “Keywords:”, and follow it with a list of keywords separated by commas.

Body text and headings

  • Start the body of the paper on a new page with the paper title (bold, centered) at the top.
  • Indent the first line of each paragraph 0.5 inch from the left margin.
  • Use the APA 7 heading levels to organize sections; each level has specific alignment, boldface, and capitalization rules.
  • Maintain double spacing before and after headings; do not insert additional blank lines.

Block quotations

  • For quotations of 40 or more words, format them as block quotations:

- Begin on a new line.

- Indent the entire block 0.5 inch from the left margin.

- Double-space the block.

- Omit quotation marks and place the citation after the final punctuation.

Reference list layout

  • Place the reference list on a new page with the heading “References” in bold and centered at the top.
  • Double-space all reference entries.
  • Use a hanging indent of 0.5 inch for each reference.
  • Arrange entries alphabetically by the surnames of the first authors.

Tables and figures

  • APA 7 allows tables and figures to be embedded in the text near their first mention or collected at the end of the paper; follow instructions from your instructor or journal.
  • Label tables above the table (e.g., “Table 1”) with an italicized title in title case; label figures below the figure (e.g., “Figure 1”) with a caption that explains the content.

Practical notes

  • Purdue OWL’s APA 7 general format guidance is aimed at students and instructors; for advanced work, consult the official APA Publication Manual (7th ed.) and any local style sheets.
  • Many institutions adopt specific variants of APA 7 for theses and dissertations; always confirm local requirements before finalizing formatting.