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APA 7th ed. Highlights

This guide is to assist you in navigating the new 7th edition of the American Psychological Association (APA) Publication Manual.

APA Paper Format

Different paper format guidelines for professional and student papers. 

  1. Increased flexibility regarding fonts:

7th ed.  

 Options now include: 
Calibri 11, Arial 11, Lucida Sans Unicode 10, Times New Roman 12, and Georgia 11.
  1. The running head is omitted in student papers but may be requested by an instructor.  If used, the running head is identical on all pages including the title page.  No ‘Running head:’ notation on the title page.
6th ed. (Title page) Running head: THE EFFECT OF GOOGLE ON THE INTERNET

7th ed.  

 (Title page) THE EFFECT OF GOOGLE ON THE INTERNET
  1. An extra space between the title and author’s name; no student number; the department is added to the school; the date is added.
6th ed.

Nursing Student Paper Title

Student Name

Student Number

Red River College

Course Name

Instructor: Instructor Name

 

7th ed.  

Nursing Student Paper Title

 

Student Name

Nursing Department, Red River College

Course Name

Instructor Name

Date

 
  1. Title of paper and references headings (known as Section Labels) are both first level (bold, centered, title case).                         
6th ed.

 Title of Paper

(Introduction here)

 

References

(Reference list here)

 

7th ed.  

  Title of Paper

(Introduction here)

 

References

(Reference list here)

 
  1. Heading levels 1-3 are usually sufficient for the length and depth of student papers. Updated format for level 3. (see tables at end of the document)
  1. Tables and figures have standardized formatting.  Above the table or figure, place a bold table/figure number (ie. Table 1 or Figure 1) with a title under it (italicized, title case).  A note can be added below the table or figure.

7th ed.  

Table 1 / Figure 1

Example of a Proper Table or Figure

(Actual Table or Figure Here)

Note. Provide any necessary information about the table here

Mechanics of style

  1.  Use only one space after a period at the end of a sentence.
  1.  Use double quotation marks to refer to linguistic examples (e.g. APA  endorses the use of the singular pronoun “they”) instead of italics.
6th ed. APA endorses the use of the singular pronoun they

7th ed.  

 APA endorses the use of the singular pronoun “they”
  1. Headings

Image source: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, p. 48

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