How to format your paper in APA style in 2025, by Smart Student on YouTube. 11 min 55 s.
- Video length
- 11 min 55 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Open a new document and set all four margins to 1 inch (2.54 cm) on every side.
Choose a readable font such as 12 pt Times New Roman, 11 pt Calibri or 11 pt Arial, and use it throughout.
Set line spacing to double and remove extra space before and after paragraphs.
Add page numbers in the top right corner of every page using the header tool.
Build the title page: paper title in bold, centred in the upper half, then your name, affiliation, course, instructor and due date, each on its own double spaced line.
Start the main body on a new page and repeat the paper title in bold and centred at the top.
Format section headings by level: Level 1 centred and bold, Level 2 flush left and bold, Level 3 flush left, bold and italic.
Begin the reference list on a new page with the word References centred and bold at the top.
List sources alphabetically by author surname, double spaced, with a hanging indent of 0.5 inch on each entry.
Check grammar and style: use past tense for your own actions, active voice where possible, and the Oxford comma in lists.
Tips and common mistakes
Set the hanging indent with the paragraph ruler or the Format Paragraph menu rather than pressing Tab, so it stays fixed.
Use the built-in heading styles in your word processor so headings stay consistent if you add sections later.
Double check that every in-text citation has a matching entry in the reference list and vice versa.
Questions
Do I need a running head in APA 7th edition?
No. APA 7th edition only requires the page number in the header for student papers. A running head is only needed for professional manuscripts submitted for publication.
What font should I use?
APA 7th edition accepts several fonts, including 12 pt Times New Roman, 11 pt Calibri, 11 pt Arial and 11 pt Georgia. Pick one and keep it the same throughout the paper.
Where does the reference list go?
It starts on a new page after the main body, with the heading References centred and bold. Entries are alphabetical and double spaced with a hanging indent.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
