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APA Style Help & Tools

{{page_title}}, best bet: apa's academic writer.

Image of Academic Writer logo.  Click to access Academic Writer.

Academic Writer is the only authoritative and complete online environment for teaching, writing, and publishing in APA Style®, now updated to the 7th Edition. Designed to help users develop their writing and professional research skills, Academic Writer combines sophisticated learning and teaching tools, advanced writing and content management technology, and full integration of APA’s best-selling Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association® to create an unparalleled web-based suite of integrated services and tools.

Access Academic Writer anytime with this link:

library.purdueglobal.edu/academicwriter

Academic Writer Documentation & Tips

The below links lead to more information, tips, and training about the basics of using Academic Writer.

  • Library Guide to Academic Writer
  • Getting Started Guide (PDF)
  • Creating Academic Writer Accounts (PDF)
  • Accessing the Publication Manual (PDF)
  • Technical Requirements

Using Academic Writer's Writing Tools

Academic Writer contains a Writing section where you can create and write a full APA-formatted paper.  You can write the entire paper in Academic Writer or just use it to setup the title page, headings, and references.  Export your work at any time to a Microsoft Word document.  Below are documents from Academic Writer about the essential features of their Writing tools.  

  • Setting up the Title Page
  • Adding References to Papers (PDF)
  • Adding In-Text Citations (PDF)
  • Adding Tables (PDF)
  • Exporting Papers (PDF)

Featured Items from Academic Writer

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Basics of APA Style

Learn the basics of APA Style, including how to format a manuscript, understand the form and function of common manuscript parts, organize and express your thoughts clearly and precisely, employ the mechanics of style, use graphic elements effectively, credit sources and acknowledge the contributions of others, and construct a comprehensive and reliable reference list.

Academic Writer

© 2020 American Psychological Association.

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How to Avoid Plagiarism and Self-Plagiarism

Learn how to avoid plagiarism and self-plagiarism, including how to identify plagiarism, understand its risks and consequences, cite sources properly, and develop sound writing practices.

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Learn how to set up the title page of an APA Style paper, including the page header and running head, title, author name and affiliation, and author note.

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Paper Template: ("Merenda" Sample Student Paper)

This sample response paper presents a university student's personal reaction to an article about whether medication is prescribed too often to young children to treat psychological disorders. The title page demonstrates the simple default layout for a student paper. The paper has a simple setup with only a title page, body of text, and references. No "running head"! Response papers typically do not include author notes or abstracts, though this may vary by assignment.

Visit the Writing Center

Need writing help?  Visit the Writing Center to contact a tutor, submit your paper for review and feedback, or ask APA Style-related questions, as well as access dozens of writing tutorials, videos, webinars, and other instructional resources.

  • Writing Center

PG Writing Center's Top APA Links

  • Common Citations in APA Format
  • APA Title Page and Running Head Video
  • APA (7th Edition) Demystified in 5 Minutes Video
  • Formatting an APA Style (7th Edition) Reference List Video
  • Writing With Integrity (APA Style 7th Ed.)

eBook on APA Style 7th Edition

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Zotero: Free Reference Management Tool

Zotero [zoh-TAIR-oh] is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share your research sources. This tool is especially popular for heavy researchers at the grad level and above.

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APA 7th Edition - Citation Guide

  • Introduction to APA Style
  • Edition Note
  • What's New in the 7th Edition?
  • Paper Formatting
  • Reference Components
  • Book Examples
  • Article Examples
  • Media Examples
  • Internet Resources Examples
  • Other Examples
  • In-Text Citations

This guide was adapted from the APA 7th Edition guide created by Diana Matthews, Librarian at Santa Fe College . Thanks to Diana for permission to adapt her content!

The APA citation style is primarily used by disciplines in the business, social sciences, health, and education fields. The official guide is published by the American Psychological Association:

purdue owl apa 7th

There are several resources online to help you with APA 7th Edition:

  • Purdue OWL Guide to APA 7th Edition "These OWL resources will help you learn how to use the American Psychological Association (APA) citation and format style. This section contains resources on in-text citation and the References page, as well as APA sample papers, slide presentations, and the APA classroom poster."
  • APA Style and Grammar Guidelines
  • APA Style Blog The official blog for the 7th edition, answering and clarifying questions about APA.
  • APA Quick Reference Guide [PDF]

The main navigation links will show you how to set up your paper in APA format, and how to properly cite a variety of resources, both in your references list and within your paper using in-text citations.

  • APA Style APA Style is used by writers in many disciplines around the world for concise, powerful, and persuasive scholarly communication.

(*** Please view this What's Changed?   summary for differences from 6th to 7th edition)

  • Next: What's New in the 7th Edition? >>
  • Last Updated: Jun 3, 2021 9:44 AM
  • URL: https://libraryguides.csuniv.edu/apa7

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  • APA Citations - 7th Edition

APA Citations - 7th Edition — Home

Apa manual style guides.

  • APA 7th Edition
  • Purdue OWL APA Style Guide A very comprehensive guide to using the APA style.
  • APA Style Blog The Official APA Style Blog. Lots of good quick answers, especially for less common citation questions.

APA Manual 7th Edition

purdue owl apa 7th

Preparing the Reference List

The reference list is a list of sources used in the research paper.  Sources on the reference list must be cited in the paper's text.  References specifically support the paper and provide the infomation needed to identify and locate each source.  The reference list appears at the end of the paper.  References should begin on anew page separate from the text of the essay and be labeled "References" centered at the top of the page. All text should be double-spaced.

Basic Rules

  • All lines after the first line of each entry in your reference list should be indented one-half inch from the left margin. This is called hanging indentation.
  • Authors' names are inverted (last name first); give the last name and initials for all authors of a particular work for up to and including seven authors. If the work has more than seven authors, list the first six authors and then use ellipses after the sixth author's name. After the ellipses, list the last author's name of the work.
  • Reference list entries should be alphabetized by the last name of the first author of each work.
  • For multiple articles by the same author, or authors listed in the same order, list the entries in chronological order, from earliest to most recent.
  • Present the journal title in full.
  • For example: ReCALL not RECALL or Knowledge Management Research & Practice not Knowledge Management Research and Practice.
  • Capitalize all major words in journal titles.
  • When referring to books, chapters, articles, or webpages, capitalize only the first letter of the first word of a title and subtitle, the first word after a colon or a dash in the title, and proper nouns.
  • Italicize titles of longer works such as books and journals.
  • Do not italicize, underline, or put quotes around the titles of shorter works such as journal articles or essays in edited collections.

purdue owl apa 7th

Test your ability to use APA format in this quick, interactive exercise !

  • Last Updated: Aug 10, 2022 8:55 AM
  • URL: https://guides.lib.uconn.edu/apa7

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

APA Style (7th Edition)

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Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

In this section

Subsections.

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APA 7th Edition: Home

  • Elements of the Citation
  • References List
  • References examples
  • In-text Citations
  • Why Cite Your Sources?

PURDUE OWL APA PAGE

  • APA citation style @ Purdue OWL These OWL resources will help you learn how to use the American Psychological Association citation and format style.
  • APA Style Center Writing Sources from the American Psychological Association

Why a new edition?

The American Psychological Association's seventh edition of the Publication Manual published in 2019, is designed to rethink documentation for an era of digital publication. Rather than a list of required citation formulas, it recommends a universal set of guidelines that can be applied to any source (print, electronic, or physical) . This gives writers in all fields—from the sciences to the humanities—the tools to effectively document sources based on what a particular audience needs to know about the sources.

APA 7th edition

purdue owl apa 7th

  • APA Style Center Writing resources from the APA. Includes style and grammar guidelines, instructional aids, and a blog that answers questions.

The Handbook will cost you $54 or less, so go ahead and buy your own copy! Beside the information on citations, there is a section on APA style (e.g. quotations, abbreviations) that will help you write better papers.

  • Buy it from APA
  • Buy it from MU Bookstore
  • Buy it from Amazon
  • Buy it from Books a Million

Major Changes in the 7th edition

Omitted, deleted, done away with:

  • place of publication, for most items
  • date a webpage was accessed, for most items
  • the abbreviation n.p. (no place)
  • common terms in the works-cited list like editor , edited by , translator , and review of are no longer abbreviated.
  • et al. is used after the first author when there are three or more authors for the source (previously, this was an option when there were four or more authors)

Added or expanded:

  • number of authors included in reference entry has been expanded up to 20 before using ellipsis.
  • DOIs or URLs are presented as hyperlinks (also do not use the label DOI before the link).
  • New formatting guidance for annotated bibliographies
  • journal articles always include issue number
  • expanded coverage of audiovisual and social media sources

For a full list of changes see Guide to What’s New in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association , Seventh Edition

APA Publication Manual - Table of Contents

1. Scholarly Writing and Publishing Principles 2. Paper Elements and Format: 3. Journal Article Reporting Standards 4. Writing Style and Grammar 5. Bias-Free Language Guidelines 6. Mechanics of Style 7. Tables and Figures 8. Works Credited in the Text 9. Reference List 10. Reference Examples 11. Legal References 12. Publication Process

An expanded TOC can be found at the APA Style Center

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content note

Many of the examples, and some of the text, in this LibGuide are copied from the APA Publication Manual, 7th ed. for the sake of accuracy.

  • Next: Elements of the Citation >>
  • Last Updated: Jan 24, 2023 3:26 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.marshall.edu/citations_APA_7th_edition

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APA 7th ed. Style Guide

  • Formatting Your Paper
  • In-text Citations
  • Textual Works
  • Data Sets, Software, Tests
  • Audiovisual Media
  • Online Media

Formatting guidelines and sample papers are found in chapter 2 of the APA 7th edition Publication Manual

Sample papers.

You can find sample papers from Purdue OWL's website, APA 7th edition Publication Manual, or APA style website.

  • APA Style Student Paper with Annotations in the Comments A Word Document featuring an APA 7th edition Style Student Paper that includes annotations as comments.
  • APA Style Professional Paper with Annotations in Comments A Word Document featuring an APA 7th edition Style Professional Paper that includes annotations as comments.
  • Purdue OWL Sample Papers

General Formatting Guidelines

Follow these guidelines throughout your paper:

  • Double space text
  • Header for student and professional papers includes the page number in the upper right hand corner
  • Single space after ending punctuation
  • Font size and style: Times New Roman 12 pt, Arial 11 pt, Calibri 11 pt, or Georgia 11 pt
  • Use the same font type and size throughout the paper (exceptions for figure images, computer code, and footnotes - see 2.19 in APA Manual)
  • Margins: 1 inch on all sides
  • Left align paragraphs and leave ragged (uneven) margins on the right
  • Indention: use 0.5 inch indention for the first line of every paragraph (use tab key for consistency)

Formatting Title Page

The 7th edition Publication Manual for APA introduced the student and professional papers. The major difference between these two types of papers is found on the title page. Please, see the guidelines below for formatting the title page of your document. Also note, follow your professors' guidelines for formatting the title page.

General Title Page Guidelines:

  • Double space
  • The title should summarize the main idea and be focused/succinct (avoid unnecessary words)
  • Title written in title case (the first letter of each word is capitalized), bold, centered, and positioned in the upper half of the title page
  • Use the author(s) first name, middle initial, and last name as the author's byline

Student Papers:

  • title of the paper
  • name of the author(s)
  • author affiliation (department and institution name)
  • course number and name 
  • instructor name
  • assignment due date (i.e. November 4, 2020)
  • page number (in the header)

Professional Papers:

  • author affiliation
  • author note
  • running head (abbreviated title) - Flush with left margin and written in all capital letters

Formatting Headings

Follow this format for headings (see 2.27 of the Publication Manual for additional details):

Level 1 headings are written in bold title case and aligned to the center. The text begins as a new paragraph.

Level 2 headings are written in bold title case and aligned flush to the left. The text begins as a new paragraph.

Level 3 headings are written in bold, italicized title case, and aligned flush to the left. The text begins as a new paragraph.

Level 4 headings are written in bold title case, indented from the left, and end with a period. The text begins after the period and continues like a regular paragraph.

Level 5 headings are written in bold, italicized title case, indented from the left, and end with a period. The text begins after the period and continues like a regular paragraph.

Formatting Reference List

The following are guidelines for formatting your reference list:

  • Start on a new page after the last page of text
  • Label the page Reference(s) with a capitalized R, written in bold and centered
  • Double space all entries
  • Use hanging indent for reference entries (first line of the reference is flush with left margin, subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches)
  • Order alphabetically (see chapter 9 section 44-49 for additional instructions on entry order)
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  • Last Updated: Jan 3, 2024 1:45 PM
  • URL: https://guides.uu.edu/APA7

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PSYC 6020 Course Guide

  • Articles and Databases
  • Interlibrary Loan
  • Reference Management
  • Additional Resources
  • Contact the Library
  • Books on Writing and Researching in Psychology

APA Style from OWL Purdue

  • APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition) Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL) guide to APA gives a user friendly overview of APA style. The linked overview should help you better understand how to cite sources using APA 7th edition, including how to format the reference page and in-text citations.
  • APA General Format This webpage provides an overview of the format of an APA style paper.
  • Reference List: Basic Rules This webpage review the basic format of the APA style reference list.
  • Reference List: Articles in Periodicals This webpage describes how to cite articles from journals, magazines, and newspapers.
  • Reference List: Books This webpage shows how to cite books and book chapters in APA style.
  • APA Sample Paper This webpage has an annotated paper that show what an APA style looks like.

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association: 7th Edition

Cover Art

Table of Contents: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association

  • Scholarly Writing and Publishing Principles​
  • Paper Elements and Format​
  • Journal Articles Reporting Standards​
  • Writing Style and Grammar​
  • Bias-Free Language Guidelines​
  • Mechanics of Style​
  • Tables and Figures​
  • Works Credited in the Text​
  • Reference List​
  • Reference Examples​
  • Legal References​
  • Publication Process

APA Style Blog

  • APA Style Blog Stay up-to-date on the lastest in APA Style.

Sample articles from the blog

How to cite ChatGPT  (April 7, 2023)

How to capitalize medication names (June 15, 2022)

Introducing APA Style Journal Article Reporting Standards for Race, Ethnicity, and Culture  (November 2, 2023)

APA Style Overview

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  • Next: Reference Management >>
  • Last Updated: Feb 20, 2024 2:43 PM
  • URL: https://nmhu.libguides.com/psyc6020

Purdue University

  • Ask a Librarian
  • Education Reference Sources
  • Citation Searching
  • Dissertation Writing
  • Publication Style Guides
  • Tutorials for Searching Education Topics
  • ERIC Documents and Database
  • Other Relevant Databases
  • Online Journals
  • Dissertations and Conference Proceedings
  • K-12 Historic Textbooks
  • Open Access
  • Tests & Measurements
  • Video & Media
  • Education Awards
  • K-12 Outreach
  • Lesson Plans
  • Standards - Curriculum for US states
  • Teaching Degrees
  • Useful Library Guides

Subject Guide

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Purdue OWL APA 7th edition

Purdue's OWL (Online Writing Lab) is the "go to" for instruction on how to use APA 7th.  Below are a few of the topics OWL has.  Check out their website for more.  https://owl.purdue.edu/index.html 

  • APA Style Introduction APA 7th
  • APA Overview and Workshop APA 7th
  • General Formating APA 7th
  • In-Text Citation: Authors APA 7th
  • Foot Notes and Appendices APA 7th
  • Changes in the 7th Edition APA 7th

APA Tutorials on 7th edition

 If you need to format your research paper or dissertation in APA style, check out these tutorials from APA.

Video Tutorial

APA 7th edtion

Cover Art

  • Comparative Chart of APA 6th and APA 7th This is a quick chart created by the Janis P. Bellack Library comparing the new edition of APA.

NOTE FROM APA about 7th edition:

There is no electronic version of APA 7th edition.

"APA does NOT have an institutional license model for APA’s Publication Manual , but electronic versions are available at Vital Source ( www.vitalsource.com ) and RedShelf ( www.redshelf.com ).

 To help students in need of APA Style guidance, tutorials and quick guides adapted from Academic Writer ® , APA’s tool for teaching and learning effective writing, are now freely available through July 1, 2020.

The Basics of Seventh Edition APA Style tutorial and other material will stay on the APAStyle.org site for free after that date. "

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  • Next: Tutorials for Searching Education Topics >>
  • Last Updated: Feb 9, 2024 10:42 AM
  • URL: https://guides.lib.purdue.edu/education

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APA 7: Formatting a Paper

  • Introduction to APA Format (7th ed.)
  • Formatting a Paper
  • In-Text Citations
  • References List
  • Getting Research Help

Guidance from APA Style, Purdue OWL, & Excelsior OWL

Paper format is covered in Chapter 2 of the  APA Publication Manual

  • Paper Format From APA Style.
  • APA General Format From Purdue OWL.
  • APA Style From Excelsior OWL.

Microsoft 365 Access

All Merced College students have access to Microsoft 365 (formerly branded as Office 365), which includes Word, through student email.

  • How to Use Microsoft 365 From Merced College's SSTC.

Basic Formatting Guidelines

  • 11-point Calibri
  • 11-point Arial
  • 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode
  • 12-point Times New Roman
  • 11-point Georgia
  • normal (10-point) Computer Modern (the default font for LaTeX)
  • Double-space the entire paper
  • Use 1 inch margins
  • Use one space after periods and other punctuation marks
  • Indent paragraphs with the tab key on your computer keyboard
  • running head
  • author note
  • Every page, including the title page, should have a page number in the top-right corner
  • Title in bold & centered
  • First and last name
  • Name of department & college
  • Course title
  • Professor first & last name
  • Date (Month Day, Year)
  • Use the  new guidelines for headings
  • Use singular "they" or "their" when gender is unknown or not relevant.
  • Gendered pronouns (he/she, him/her) are only appropriate when referring to a specific individual who identifies with that pronoun​

Sample Student Papers

  • Sample Student Paper From APA Style.
  • APA 7 Student Paper From Purdue OWL.

Format an Office 365 Word Document in APA 7

Office 365 was rebranded to Microsoft 365 in 2020. "This video walks you step-by-step through setting up an Office 365 Word document in APA 7th edition format" ( lsccyfairlibrary , 4:25). 

Format APA 7th edition in Google Drive

"APA format is easy in Google Drive! This video is based on the student guidelines for APA 7th edition, which came out near the end of 2019" ( Amy Whitson , 3:32). 

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  • Next: In-Text Citations >>
  • Last Updated: Feb 8, 2024 7:57 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.mccd.edu/apa7

Fresno State Library

Citation Help

  • About Citing and Citation Styles
  • Other Citation Styles
  • Citing Artificial Intelligence Tools
  • Citation Managers

APA (American Psychological Association) Style is most commonly used in the  social and behavioral sciences.

  • APA General Format The guidelines for paper format apply to both student assignments and manuscripts being submitted for publication to a journal. If you are using APA Style to create another kind of work (e.g., a website, conference poster, or PowerPoint presentation), you may need to format your work differently in order to optimize its presentation, for example, by using different line spacing and font sizes. Follow the guidelines of your institution or publisher to adapt APA Style formatting guidelines as needed.
  • In-text Citations In scholarly writing, it is essential to acknowledge how others contributed to your work. By following the principles of proper citation, writers ensure that readers understand their contribution in the context of the existing literature—how they are building on, critically examining, or otherwise engaging the work that has come before.
  • Reference List Check each reference carefully against the original publication to ensure information is accurate and complete. Accurately prepared references help establish your credibility as a careful researcher and writer. Consistency in reference formatting allows readers to focus on the content of your reference list, discerning both the types of works you consulted and the important reference elements (who, when, what, and where) with ease. When you present each reference in a consistent fashion, readers do not need to spend time determining how you organized the information. And when searching the literature yourself, you also save time and effort when reading reference lists in the works of others that are written in APA Style.
  • Sample Paper This page contains several sample papers formatted in seventh edition APA Style.
  • DOI Lookup: Crossref Search "Metadata". Crossref makes research outputs easy to find, cite, link, assess, and reuse. We’re a not-for-profit membership organization that exists to make scholarly communications better.
  • Basics of APA Tutorial This tutorial is designed for writers new to APA Style. Learn the basics of seventh edition APA Style, including paper elements, format, and organization; academic writing style; grammar and usage; bias-free language; mechanics of style; tables and figures; in-text citations, paraphrasing, and quotations; and reference list format and order. The Basics of Seventh Edition APA Style tutorial will permanently stay on this site for free.

APA Style from Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL)

  • APA 7th Handout Two page PDF covering common citation and reference types in APA.
  • << Previous: MLA
  • Next: Chicago >>
  • Last Updated: Feb 21, 2024 3:06 PM
  • URL: https://guides.library.fresnostate.edu/citationhelp

APA 7th Edition Tutorial: Download Template & Section Headings

  • Download Template & Section Headings
  • Abstract Page
  • Cite a YouTube Video or Website
  • Reference Page
  • APA Format Checklist
  • Sample APA Paper
  • APA Video Tutorials
  • APA Step by Step Guide
  • Citation Generators

Monroe College & APA Style

Monroe college uses  apa 7 style guidelines for all student papers. , you can download our detailed apa 7 formatting tutorial here ., if your instructor's directions conflict with any apa rules, follow the instructor's directions., apa 7th edition template.

  • APA 7 Student Paper Template (.docx) Download this 7th-edition template, and use it to format your APA-style Research Paper. Simply download and save a new copy of the document and paste the contents of your paper into the appropriate fields within the template.
  • APA 7 Paper Template WITH ABSTRACT This version of the template includes the ABSTRACT page. Ask your instructor whether the Abstract is required for your paper.
  • APA 7 Student Paper Template PDF

7th Edition APA Section Headings

Apa 7 section headings.

  •  Running heads are no longer required for student papers.
  • written in title case
  • Level 1 and 2 Section Headings APA 7

This is an excerpt. The full Annotated Sample Student Paper can be downloaded from the official APA Style Website here .

Purdue OWL 7th Edition Changes Guide

purdue owl apa 7th

Great News! The Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab) has created a handy guide to Changes in the 7th edition of the APA Style Manual

We've done our best to lay out the basic standards for the two different editions here, but you can go to the OWL for a more comprehensive breakdown of the new APA standards.

A Monroe College Research Guide

                 THIS RESEARCH OR "LIBGUIDE" WAS PRODUCED BY THE LIBRARIANS OF MONROE COLLEGE                    

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  • Last Updated: Jan 9, 2024 2:30 PM
  • URL: https://monroecollege.libguides.com/apa
  • Research Guides |
  • Databases |
  • Free Tools for Students
  • APA Citation Generator

Free APA Citation Generator

Generate citations in APA format quickly and automatically, with MyBib!

APA 7 guide book cover

🤔 What is an APA Citation Generator?

An APA citation generator is a software tool that will automatically format academic citations in the American Psychological Association (APA) style.

It will usually request vital details about a source -- like the authors, title, and publish date -- and will output these details with the correct punctuation and layout required by the official APA style guide.

Formatted citations created by a generator can be copied into the bibliography of an academic paper as a way to give credit to the sources referenced in the main body of the paper.

👩‍🎓 Who uses an APA Citation Generator?

College-level and post-graduate students are most likely to use an APA citation generator, because APA style is the most favored style at these learning levels. Before college, in middle and high school, MLA style is more likely to be used. In other parts of the world styles such as Harvard (UK and Australia) and DIN 1505 (Europe) are used more often.

🙌 Why should I use a Citation Generator?

Like almost every other citation style, APA style can be cryptic and hard to understand when formatting citations. Citations can take an unreasonable amount of time to format manually, and it is easy to accidentally include errors. By using a citation generator to do this work you will:

  • Save a considerable amount of time
  • Ensure that your citations are consistent and formatted correctly
  • Be rewarded with a higher grade

In academia, bibliographies are graded on their accuracy against the official APA rulebook, so it is important for students to ensure their citations are formatted correctly. Special attention should also be given to ensure the entire document (including main body) is structured according to the APA guidelines. Our complete APA format guide has everything you need know to make sure you get it right (including examples and diagrams).

⚙️ How do I use MyBib's APA Citation Generator?

Our APA generator was built with a focus on simplicity and speed. To generate a formatted reference list or bibliography just follow these steps:

  • Start by searching for the source you want to cite in the search box at the top of the page.
  • MyBib will automatically locate all the required information. If any is missing you can add it yourself.
  • Your citation will be generated correctly with the information provided and added to your bibliography.
  • Repeat for each citation, then download the formatted list and append it to the end of your paper.

MyBib supports the following for APA style:

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Daniel is a qualified librarian, former teacher, and citation expert. He has been contributing to MyBib since 2018.

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APA Formatting and Style (7th ed.) for Student Papers

  • What's New in the 7th ed.?
  • Principles of Plagiarism: An Overview
  • Basic Paper Formatting
  • Basic Paper Elements
  • Punctuation, Capitalization, Abbreviations, Apostrophes, Numbers, Plurals
  • Tables and Figures
  • Reference Page Format
  • Periodicals (Journals, Magazines, Newspapers)
  • Books and Reference Works
  • Webpage on a Website
  • Discussion Post
  • Company Information & SWOT Analyses
  • Dissertations or Theses
  • ChatGPT and other AI Large Language Models
  • Online Images
  • Online Video
  • Computer Software and Mobile Apps
  • Missing Information
  • Two Authors
  • Three or More Authors
  • Group Authors
  • Missing Author
  • Chat GPT and other AI Large Language Models
  • Secondary Sources
  • Block Quotations
  • Fillable Template and Sample Paper
  • Government Documents and Legal Materials
  • APA Style 7th ed. Tutorials
  • Additional APA 7th Resources
  • Grammarly - your writing assistant
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APA 7th ed. Fillable Word Template and Sample Paper

  • APA 7th ed. Template Download this Word document, fill out the title page and get writing!
  • Sample Paper APA 7th ed. Our APA sample paper shows you how to format the main parts of a basic research paper.
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  • Creating an APA Style table of contents

How to Create an APA Table of Contents | Format & Examples

Published on November 5, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on January 17, 2024.

A table of contents is not required in an APA Style paper , but if you include one, follow these guidelines:

  • Include all level 1 and level 2 headings (other levels are optional).
  • Indicate different heading levels with indents. Adhere to general APA format in terms of font, spacing, etc.

You can automatically create the table of contents by applying APA heading styles in Word.

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Table of contents

Apa format guidelines for the table of contents, how to generate a table of contents in word.

In a thesis or dissertation , the table of contents comes between your abstract and your introduction . It should be written in the same font and size as the rest of your text (usually 12 pt Times New Roman). At the top of the page, write Contents , centered and in bold.

In APA Style, you can use up to five levels of heading , each with its own formatting style. In the table of contents, you should include all level 1 and 2 headings, left-aligned and formatted as plain text. Level 2 headings are indented.

Including lower-level headings in the table of contents is optional. Add an additional indent for each level. If you have a lot of headings in your text, you may not be able to include them all—your table of contents should not be more than two pages long in total.

APA table of contents

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To automatically generate a table of contents in Word, you’ll first have to apply heading styles throughout your text. After that, you can generate the table of contents.

Applying heading styles

First, go through your text making sure that each level of heading is in keeping with APA Style rules.

Next, update the heading styles listed in the Home tab at the top:

  • Highlight a level 1 heading
  • Right-click the Heading 1 style and select Update Heading 1 to match selection
  • Do the same for each level of heading

Once you’ve done this you can update any other headings quickly using the heading styles. Make sure all headings are in the appropriate style before proceeding.

Generating the table of contents

Now you can generate your table of contents. First write the title “Contents” (in the style of a level 1 heading). Then place your cursor two lines below this and go to the References tab.

Click on Table of Contents and select Custom Table of Contents… In the popup window, select how many levels of heading you wish to include (at least two) under Show levels , then click OK :

Updating your table of contents

Now you have a table of contents based on your current headings and page numbers. If you continue working on your text after this, be sure to go back and update your table of contents at the end, as headings and page numbers might change.

You can do this by right-clicking on the table of contents and selecting Update Field . Then you can choose whether to update all information or just the page numbers. It’s best to update everything, just to be sure.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2024, January 17). How to Create an APA Table of Contents | Format & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved February 22, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/apa-table-of-contents/

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APA Citation Help Guide

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Welcome to the APA Style Help Guide!

This guide contains quick guide links and tools to help readers format their reference lists and in-text citations in APA 7th edition.

For additional assistance, please visit the writing center at this link -  https://writingcenter.unlv.edu/ .

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Help Guides

American psychological association resources.

  • APA Reference Examples More than 100 reference examples and their corresponding in-text citations are presented in the seventh edition Publication Manual. Examples of the most common works that writers cite are provided on this page; additional examples are available in the Publication Manual.
  • Database Information in References 7th edition - Do not include database information for works obtained from most academic research databases or platforms because works in these resources are widely available. This includes journal articles, books, and book chapters from academic research databases.
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APA Style, 7th edition - Citing Sources

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Gerriets, V., Anderson, J., & Nappe, T. M. (2021, July 3). Acetaminophen. In  StatPearls.  StatPearls Publishing. Retrieved April 4, 2022 from  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482369/

Parenthetical citation: (Gerriets et al., 2021)

Narrative citation: Gerriets et al. (2021)

Note: The retrieved from date is used because the information on StatPearls may be updated frequently.

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COMMENTS

  1. APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition)

    Learn how to write an APA style paper and cite your sources according to the 7th edition of the APA Manual. Find general guidelines, in-text citations, reference list formats, citation machines, and more resources on Purdue OWL.

  2. APA Style Introduction

    Learn how to use the APA citation and format style for your research papers, with resources on in-text citation, the reference page, and more. This section provides an overview of APA style, a formatting and style guide, a poster, and citation machines.

  3. APA Style Guide

    ISBN: 9781433832161 Publication Date: 2019-10-01 The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition is the official source for APA Style. Purdue's OWL (Online Writing Lab) provides instruction on how to use APA 7th. Below are a few topics covered by the OWL. APA Style Introduction APA 7th

  4. APA Citation Format

    APA 7th Edition Citation Format instructions--Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) APA Style Manual Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th ed. by American Psychological Association Call Number: BF76.7 .P83 2020 (three copies at HSSE reference desk, one in HICKS) ISBN: 9781433832161 Publication Date: 2020

  5. Library: Purdue Global Library: APA Style Help & Tools

    Academic Writer is the only authoritative and complete online environment for teaching, writing, and publishing in APA Style®, now updated to the 7th Edition.

  6. Library Guides: APA 7th Edition

    Purdue OWL Guide to APA 7th Edition "These OWL resources will help you learn how to use the American Psychological Association (APA) citation and format style. This section contains resources on in-text citation and the References page, as well as APA sample papers, slide presentations, and the APA classroom poster."

  7. APA Citations

    Purdue OWL APA Style Guide A very comprehensive guide to using the APA style. APA Style Blog The Official APA Style Blog. Lots of good quick answers, especially for less common citation questions. APA Manual 7th Edition Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association by American Psychological Association Call Number: BF76.7 .P83

  8. APA Style

    The authority on APA Style and the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual. Find tutorials, the APA Style Blog, how to format papers in APA Style, and other resources to help you improve your writing, master APA Style, and learn the conventions of scholarly publishing.

  9. PDF APA Style Reference Guide for Journal Articles, Books, and Edited Book

    APA Style Reference Guide for Journal Articles, Books, and Edited Book Chapters, APA Style 7th Edition Author: American Psychological Association Subject: references Keywords: APA Style; 7th edition; reference; journal article; book; chapter in an edited book Created Date: 12/30/2019 10:15:20 AM

  10. APA Style (7th Edition)

    Changes in the 7th Edition; General APA FAQs; APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition) Suggested Resources Style Guide Overview MLA Guide APA Guide Chicago Guide OWL Exercises. Purdue OWL; Research and Citation; APA Style (7th Edition) APA Style (7th Edition) APA Style (7th Edition)

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    PURDUE OWL APA PAGE APA citation style @ Purdue OWL These OWL resources will help you learn how to use the American Psychological Association citation and format style. APA Style Center Writing Sources from the American Psychological Association Why a new edition?

  12. Research Guides: APA 7th ed. Style Guide: Formatting Your Paper

    Use the same font type and size throughout the paper (exceptions for figure images, computer code, and footnotes - see 2.19 in APA Manual) Margins: 1 inch on all sides. Left align paragraphs and leave ragged (uneven) margins on the right. Indention: use 0.5 inch indention for the first line of every paragraph (use tab key for consistency)

  13. PDF APA 7th Edition Style

    arAustln Peay State University CLARKSVILLE TENNESSEE APSU Writing Center APA style 7th Edition - Citing Books 5. Several volumes of a multivolume work Provide the name(s) of the editor(s)-in-chief as the editors of the work, even if the volume editors are different. Harris, K. R., Graham, S., & Urdan T. (Eds.). (2012).

  14. LibGuides: PSYC 6020 Course Guide: APA Style

    Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL) guide to APA gives a user friendly overview of APA style. The linked overview should help you better understand how to cite sources using APA 7th edition, including how to format the reference page and in-text citations.

  15. Publication Style Guides

    Purdue OWL APA 7th edition Purdue's OWL (Online Writing Lab) is the "go to" for instruction on how to use APA 7th. Below are a few of the topics OWL has. Check out their website for more. https://owl.purdue.edu/index.html APA Style Introduction APA 7th APA Overview and Workshop APA 7th General Formating APA 7th In-Text Citation: Authors APA 7th

  16. Formatting a Paper

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    APA General Format The guidelines for paper format apply to both student assignments and manuscripts being submitted for publication to a journal. If you are using APA Style to create another kind of work (e.g., a website, conference poster, or PowerPoint presentation), you may need to format your work differently in order to optimize its presentation, for example, by using different line ...

  18. Download Template & Section Headings

    The Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab) has created a handy guide to Changes in the 7th edition of the APA Style Manual. We've done our best to lay out the basic standards for the two different editions here, but you can go to the OWL for a more comprehensive breakdown of the new APA standards.

  19. Free APA Citation Generator [Updated for 2024]

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  20. APA Formatting and Style (7th ed.) for Student Papers

    APA 7th Formatting Basics Toggle Dropdown. Basic Paper Formatting ; Basic Paper Elements ; Punctuation, Capitalization, Abbreviations, Apostrophes, Numbers, Plurals ; ... APA 7th Sample Papers from Purdue Owl << Previous: Block Quotations; Next: Government Documents and Legal Materials >> Last Updated: Feb 16, 2024 2:28 PM;

  21. How to Create an APA Table of Contents

    Generating the table of contents. Now you can generate your table of contents. First write the title "Contents" (in the style of a level 1 heading). Then place your cursor two lines below this and go to the References tab. Click on Table of Contents and select Custom Table of Contents…. In the popup window, select how many levels of ...

  22. Cite Your Sources (APA Help)

    Welcome to the APA Style Help Guide! This guide contains quick guide links and tools to help readers format their reference lists and in-text citations in APA 7th edition. For additional assistance, please visit the writing center at this link - https://writingcenter.unlv.edu/. Background photo created by freepik - www.freepik.com

  23. Citations

    Purdue Owl's manual of MLA citations will explain the proper usage of this citation. APA Citation (7th edition) APA citation is used for education, medical papers, health, science, social sciences, and business.

  24. APA Style, 7th edition

    Research Guides: APA Style, 7th edition - Citing Sources: StatPearls