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EPI 0002 Instructional Strategies: APA Citation Style-7th Edition

This guide is for students in the Educators Preparation Institute.

Are you new to APA Style? Start here.

The American Psychological Association (APA) Style is a method for formatting research papers and giving appropriate credit to the resources you use. APA also establishes writing standards and helps you prepare your work for possible publication. Following a common structure makes it easier for your readers to follow the ideas expressed in your paper. 

Font

  • Use the same font throughout your paper.
  • A variety of font options are permitted. 

Margins

  • 1-inch margins on all sides (top, bottom, left, and right).

Line spacing

  • Double-space the entire paper. 

Page numbers

  • Insert page numbers in the top right corner of every page.  

Order of pages

  • Title page (page 1)
  • Text (starts on a new page after the title page)
  • References (start on a new page after the end of the text)
  • Check with your professor for additional requirements, such as tables, figures, or appendices. 

APA Style uses the author-date citation system. A brief in-text citation directs readers to your references page.

You should use an in-text citation for any ideas or information that is not your own or not common knowledge. You can:

  • paraphrase - put information in your own words
  • quote - copy/paste directly from a source 

In-text citations can be:

The References page provides full citations for all the sources you cited in your paper. 

The format of the citation will vary. In general, every citation includes:

Book

Additional Resources

Citation Builder

Use cautiously. Double-check results. You may need to make corrections.

ZoteroBib is a free, web-based tool that helps create in-text citations and reference page citations.

Are you transitioning from 6th to 7th Edition? Start here.

Word Template

Handouts

Additional handouts on avoiding plagiarism, abbreviations, numbers, and more: APA Handouts. 

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