APA 7 paper format: title page, headings and references
Updated 19 October 2026
APA style (7th edition) is the standard in psychology, education, nursing and many social-science courses. Its main features are author-date citations, a title page, double spacing and a reference list with hanging indents.
At a glance
- Page layout
- One column, 1-inch margins on all sides, page number top right
- Font
- For example Times New Roman 12 pt, Calibri 11 pt or Arial 11 pt
- Spacing
- Double spacing throughout, first line of each paragraph indented 0.5 inch
- In-text citation
- Author and year: (Smith, 2021) or Smith (2021)
- Reference list
- Titled References, alphabetical, hanging indent
- Headings
- Five levels; level 1 is centred, bold, in title case
The title page
A student paper has a title page with the paper title in bold, then the author name, the department and university, the course number and name, the instructor and the due date. A professional paper (for a journal) adds an author note and, if the journal asks for it, a running head. Ask your instructor which version they want.
Abstract and headings
- An abstract is not always required for student papers. When it is, it goes on its own page, is a single paragraph without an indent, and is commonly 150 to 250 words. Keywords can follow it.
- Level 1 headings are centred, bold and in title case. Level 2 are flush left, bold, title case. Level 3 are flush left, bold italic.
- The first heading of the main text is normally not "Introduction": the paper title is repeated at the top of the first page instead.
Citations in the text
APA uses the author and the year. For one or two authors give both names: (Smith & Jones, 2021). For three or more authors give the first author and "et al.": (Smith et al., 2021). For a direct quotation add the page: (Smith, 2021, p. 14). When the author is part of the sentence, put only the year in brackets: Smith (2021) found that...
The reference list
The list is titled References, centred and bold, on a new page. Entries are in alphabetical order by the first author's surname and use a hanging indent (the first line at the margin, later lines indented 0.5 inch). Article titles use sentence case; journal names use title case and are written in italics together with the volume number. Add the DOI as a link.
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (2021). Title of the article in sentence case. Journal Name in Title Case, 12(3), 100-115. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx
Quick checklist
- Every in-text citation has an entry in References, and every entry is cited.
- Names and years in the text match the list exactly.
- Double spacing, 1-inch margins, page numbers and one approved font throughout.
- You have followed any extra rule from your instructor or your department.
Common questions
Does APA 7 need a running head?
Student papers usually need only a page number. Professional papers submitted to a journal may need a running head; follow the journal or your instructor.
How do I cite a source with three or more authors in APA 7?
Give the first author followed by "et al." from the first citation: (Smith et al., 2021). In the reference list, list up to 20 authors.
Should the reference list be double spaced?
Yes. APA 7 asks for double spacing in the reference list as well, with a hanging indent.
See your own idea in this style
Write your research idea and choose the format. You get a free preview with your title, a real opening paragraph and a real page of the layout before you pay for anything.
ResearchBerry is a drafting aid. You are the author: check every source and follow your institution's rules on AI tools.