APA format is one of three citation that is main you’re more likely to encounter at some time during your education.
Specifically in psychology, education, plus the sciences, APA format could be the citation that is preferred over other popular style guides, like MLA format, which can be widely used into the humanities.
APA format definition
APA format is an academic style guide developed by the American Psychological Association. It is most commonly employed for scientific papers, especially research-based content.
APA format is recommended among many disciplines due to its clarity and emphasis on highlighting newer source material (i.e. date-focused citations with a preference for ‘recent’ source content). Here are instructions and examples for formatting general the different parts of an APA formatted paper, including how to write a cover page, running head (header), an in-text citation, and a Reference section.
Note: there are several aspects of this style guide that overlap with MLA format. Thus, you could find that element of these records is restated through the MLA guide; however, there are lots of components unique to APA alone and neither guide can sufficiently substitute one other.
General guidelines that are formatting APA
- Your document should be typed in double-space, 12 pt. font. The standard font is Times New Roman, many scholars prefer Arial.
- Your document’s margins should really be one inch on all sides.
- You need to include a cover page (aka title page) unless otherwise specified.
- You need to include a running head (i.e. a page header) that sits at the top of every page of the document.
- To produce the head that is running use the “Insert Header” function in your word processor.
- Each page should really be numbered regarding the right hand region of the page inside of the header that is auto-created. You will also insert the title left that is flush all caps.
- The title should really be in title case; every word should not be capitalized.
- Your first and subsequent paragraphs should be indented one half inch through the left of the document. You should utilize the TAB button function to indent in the place of the area bar.
- There should only be one space best buy essays all things considered marks of punctuation. Because word processing software already accounts for the space after a punctuation mark, adding two spaces is inaccurate and antiquated.
Running head formatting is specific to APA and should not be utilized for other citation types. To create the head that is running ensure it turns up on every page of the document, utilize the “Insert Header” function on your own word processor and then type the title of one’s paper flush left using all capital letters.
The head that is running a shortened type of your full paper title, and thus the running head should not exceed a lot more than 50 characters including punctuation marks and character spacing.
The above mentioned example is 49 characters long, including spaces and marks of punctuation (for the title).
Your cover page ought to include the information that is following title of the paper, author’s name, and institutional affiliation (in other words. the university, college, or academic/professional institution for which you are writing your paper). You have to also include a head that is running left using the pagination flush right at the very top of your document.
Note: On the cover page, your running head can look diverse from it will on all subsequent pages.
That it is the paper’s running head; on all other pages, you need not include these words in addition to your title as you can see, you must include the words “Running head” on your title page to indicate.
APA in-text citations are not determined by container (e.g. book, article). Citations should always be in parentheses and placed at the conclusion of a sentence ahead of the period, whether paraphrasing or citing a quote that is direct.
APA format follows the author-date style: (Last Name, Year) and uses a comma between your two elements. If referencing a spot that is specific the text, you might be encouraged to utilize exact page numbers using a lowercase p. + the page number into the parentheses after the year.
All citations, regardless of container, are formatted exactly the same for in-text citations in APA. There is no variance centered on container as it is true for MLA style.
Note: you will find different requirements that are formatting short vs. long quotations in APA.
General in-text citation rules:
- Titles of source material should be capitalized (that is not the case on the References page); all words four letters or longer also needs to be capitalized (exceptions for pronouns, adjectives, nouns, verbs, adverbs, etc.)
- Hyphenated compound words in a title are both capitalized, not merely the word that is first
- The first word directly after a colon or dash is capitalized
- All longer container titles (e.g. books, films, TV series, music albums) must certanly be italicized
Short quotations
Direct quotes (non-paraphrasing) require the name that is author’s year of publication, and page number in (p. #) format. You could either utilize the author’s last name in the sentence preceding the parenthetical citation or range from the author’s last name when you look at the parentheses directly.
Long quotations
Long, direct quotations (40 words or maybe more) should really be written in block format without quotation marks. The quotation has to start on a line that is new another half inch inward (where a unique paragraph would naturally begin. All subsequent lines should be indented as such. Long quotes should always be double-spaced such as the rest of the document, and the citation that is parenthetical after the final punctuation mark of the quotation.
General format for long quotations:
King (1986) noted:
A small boy in a yellow slicker and red galoshes ran cheerfully along next to the newspaper boat. The rain had not stopped, however it was finally slackening. It tapped regarding the yellow hood of this boy’s slicker, sounding to his ears just like the rain in the shed roof. (p. 3)
Your APA-formatted Reference page is when the extended, detailed versions of all references used throughout your research or essay paper are.
For every single container given just below, you will discover a formula that is general citing the foundation in your Reference page along with an illustration.
General Reference page rules:
- Use hanging indentations for each line that follows the first line (second and subsequent lines in a single reference must certanly be indented)
- Author names should really be in Last name format that is first initialfor up to six authors of one given work)
- All reference entries should really be in alphabetical order
- Any books or materials compiled by the same author(s) must be listen in chronological order from oldest to many recent
- Use whatever capitalization and punctuation can be used by an container that is original even though not ‘standard’