APA 7 Format for Student Papers
Everything the APA Publication Manual (7th edition) asks of a student paper, in one place, plus a formatter that applies it to your Word file for you.
Try It Free on Your Paper →The Rules at a Glance
| Margins | 1 inch on all sides. |
|---|---|
| Font | One readable font used throughout, such as Times New Roman 12 pt, Calibri 11 pt, Arial 11 pt, Georgia 11 pt, or Lucida Sans Unicode 10 pt. |
| Spacing | Double-spaced everywhere, including the title page, block quotations, and References. No extra space between paragraphs. |
| Paragraphs | First line indented 0.5 inch, text aligned left with a ragged right edge. |
| Page Numbers | Top right on every page, starting with the title page as page 1. Student papers do not use a running head unless the instructor asks for one. |
| Title Page | Paper title in bold, centered, three or four lines down. Then your name, your department and university, the course number and name, your instructor, and the due date, each on its own centered line. |
| Abstract | Not required for student papers unless your instructor asks for one. |
| Block Quotations | Quotations of 40 words or more, indented 0.5 inch, double-spaced, without quotation marks. |
| Reference List | Titled References, bold and centered, on a new page. Entries double-spaced, alphabetized, with a 0.5 inch hanging indent. |
APA 7 Heading Levels
| Level 1 | Centered, Bold, Title Case Heading |
|---|---|
| Level 2 | Flush Left, Bold, Title Case Heading |
| Level 3 | Flush Left, Bold Italic, Title Case Heading |
| Level 4 | Indented, Bold, Title Case Heading, Ending With a Period. Text begins on the same line. |
| Level 5 | Indented, Bold Italic, Title Case Heading, Ending With a Period. Text begins on the same line. |
The paper title at the top of the first page of text is not a heading and is not labeled “Introduction.”
What Style Guide Pro Does for You
- Builds the APA student title page from your details.
- Sets 1 inch margins, double spacing, and page numbers top right.
- Styles every heading level the APA way and repeats your title on the first page of text.
- Formats block quotations and builds a References page with hanging indents.
- Flags footnotes and other things APA handles differently, so you can fix them.
- Formatting software only. It never writes or rewrites a word of your paper.
Format Your Paper in About a Minute
Pick your school, drop in your Word file or PDF, and see your own title page done to these rules before you pay. Your paper never leaves your computer.
Common Questions
What are the margins for an APA 7 paper?
One inch on all sides, on every page.
Where does the page number go in APA 7?
In the top right corner of every page, starting with page 1 on the title page. Student papers do not need a running head unless the instructor asks for one.
What goes on an APA 7 student title page?
The paper title in bold, then your name, your department and university, the course number and name, the instructor, and the due date, all centered and double-spaced.
Does an APA student paper need an abstract?
No. APA 7 does not require an abstract for student papers unless your instructor or program asks for one.
Based on the APA Publication Manual (7th edition) student paper format, as summarized by the Purdue Online Writing Lab. Your instructor’s instructions come first.