APA Title Page (Cover Page) Format, Example, & Templates
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In APA Style (7th edition), the cover page, or title page, should include:
- A running head (professional papers only) and page number
- The title of the paper
- The name of the author(s)
- The institutional affiliation
- An author note; optional (professional papers only)
- A student paper should also include course information
Note : APA 7 provides slightly different directions for formatting the title pages of professional papers (e.g., those intended for scholarly publication) and student papers (e.g., those turned in for credit in a high school or college course).
Professional paper APA title page
Student paper APA title page
Formatting an APA title page
Note : All text on the title page should be double-spaced and typed in either 12-point, Times New Roman font. In the 7th edition, APA increaded the flexibility regarding font options: which now include Calibri 11, Arial 11, Lucida Sans Unicode 10, Times New Roman 12, or Georgia 11. All words should be centered, and capitalize the first letter of important words.
Running Head
In the 7th edition of the APA style manual, running heads are only required for professional papers that are being submitted for publication (student papers do not require a running head, but still need a page number).
Your title page should contain a running head that is flush left at the top of the page and a page number that is flush right at the top of the page.
Place the running head in the pageâs header:
- The running head is the abbreviated title of the paper (IN UPPERCASE LETTERS) aligned left on the page header of all pages, including the title page. APA (7th edition) guidelines require that running heads be a maximum of 50 characters (spaces count as characters).
- The âRunning head:â label used in the APA sixth edition is no longer used.
- Place the page number in this same header, but align right, beginning with page number 1 on the title page.
- This header should be 1 inch from the top. Some instructors allow for 1/2 inch, too, but the default is 1 inch.
Paper Title
Position the title of the paper in the upper half of the page. The title should be centered and written in boldface, and important words should be capitalized.
The APA recommends that your title should be a maximum of 12 words and should not contain abbreviations or words that serve no purpose.
Author Name(s)
Institutional affiliation.
Position the school or universityâs name below the author(s) name, centered.
A student paper should also include the course number and name, instructor name, and assignment due date.
Further Information
- APA Student Title Page Guide
- APA Referencing
- How to Write a Lab Report
- Essay Writing Guide for Psychology Students
- APA Style Citations & References
- Example of an APA Formatted Paper
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APA cover (title) page: format and templates
There are two types of title page required for APA style papers, a professional and a student version.
Student APA cover page
As long as students do not have any specific guidance from their instructors in regards to a cover page format, they should include the following elements on their cover page:
- Running head : only for APA 6th you write "Running head: TITLE" as a header. APA 7th does not require a running head.
- Title of the paper : three to four lines down from the top of the title page, centered and in bold for APA 7 (APA 6 does not have a title in bold).
- Name of author(s) : include a double-spaced blank line between the paper title and the author name(s).
- Affiliation for each author (the university attended, including department)
- Course number and name
- Name of instructor
- Due date of the assignment (date format used in your location)
- Page number (included on all pages), cover page is number 1.
- Times New Roman is the preferred font, 12-point .
- Double spacing
- 1 inch margins
We created a a student APA cover page template of both 6th & 7th edition, which you can download:
Professional APA cover page
A professional APA cover page should include the following elements:
- Name of each author : include a double-spaced blank line between the paper title and the author names.
- Affiliation for each author: give the name of the institution at which the research was carried out.
- Author note : see the specific instructions below.
- Running head (included on all pages): for APA 6th you write "Running head: TITLE" and for APA 7th only the title in caps is required (omitting the phrase running head).
- Page number (included on all pages): page 1 is the cover page.
- Times New Roman is the preferred font, 12 -point.
Since there are a few slight differences between the professional cover page in APA 6th and 7th edition, we created a template for each version, which you can download.
APA cover page: Author note format
An author note in a professional paper can be found at the bottom of the cover page. It is usually composed of four paragraphs.
- In the first paragraph : for APA 6, give the name of the author and their affiliation. For APA 7, give the authors' ORCID iDs. Omit this part if the authors don't have ORCID iDs.
- Second paragraph : Specify any changes of affiliation (for both APA 6 & 7). Use the following format: â[Authorâs name] is now at [affiliation].â This paragraph may also clarify the death of an author.
- Third paragraph : give any confidentiality disclosures and/or acknowledgments.
- Fourth paragraph : give the contact information of the author(s).
Format : start this section in the bottom half of the title page, below the affiliations. Leave a minimum of one blank line between the affiliation and the author note title. Center the title âAuthor Noteâ in bold. The first line of each paragraph should be indented and all aligned to the left.
Further reading
For more details not covered in this guide, take a look at the following sources:
đ Student and Professional APA cover page (7th ed.)
đ APA 6th cover page tutorial
Frequently Asked Questions about APA cover (title) page
The title page of a student paper serves as a representation of the author. It is a mere formality, as it makes your paper appear more academic. As a student, the title page helps your instructor identify on a glance who wrote the paper, what the topic is, and for what course. In sum, a student should add a title page when indicated.
The title page of a professional paper serves as a representation of the author. For professionals, the function of a title page is to introduce the reader to the main facts of the paper, such as the author, the topic, the year of publication, and contact information. In sum, a professional should add a title page to comply with academic standards.
No. According to APA style, the title's font of a title page should not include any type of Word Art or "fun" fonts of any kind. APA style indicates titles should be written in the same font as the rest of the text, it should centered and in bold (for APA 7).
Yes, APA style's title page should be formated as page 1 of the paper, followed by the abstract page as page 2.
If you learn better by watching than by reading, here are two YouTube tutorials that will help you create a title page: APA Style 7th Edition: Student Paper Formatting and APA Style 7th Edition: Professional Paper Formatting by Samuel Forlenza, PhD.
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Formatting an APA title page
The title page is a requirement for all APA papers. The primary role of the title page is to present just that: the title. But thatâs only the beginning of what is actually required for a properly formatted APA title page. This is the first chance a writer has to truly engage with the reader.
For students, the title page also lets people know which class, professor, and institution the text was written for. For professional authors, the title page is an opportunity to share any affiliations or conflicts of interest that might be present.
APA Style recognizes two different ways to format a title page. One is for student papers and the other is for professional papers. This guide will examine the difference and provide real-life examples of both.
The information provided below comes from the 7 th edition of the APAâs Publication Manual . You can read more about title page elements in Sections 2.1 â 2.8.
Here’s a run-through of everything this page includes:
The difference between a professional title page and a student title page in APA
Elements of an apa style title page, apa formatting title page example, conclusion: formatting a title page in apa 7.
Both student and professional title pages require a title, author, and an affiliation. Both types of title page also require the same basic formatting, including 1-inch indentations on all sides and a page number in the top right corner.
The primary difference is that professional title pages also require an author note and a running head. However, some professors do ask that you provide some of these elements in student papers. Itâs a good idea to know how to format them just in case.
Student title page APA
An APA title page for any paper being submitted for a class, degree, or thesis is all about the basics. Here are the elements that should be included in a student title page :
- Title of your paper
- Byline (author or authors)
- Affiliation (department and university)
- Course name and course number
- Instructor name
Page number
Your professor or institution might have their own formatting requirements. When writing a paper for a class, the first rule is to always pay attention to the instructions.
Professional title page APA
A professional title page skips the class info and due date, but it includes:
- Affiliation (division and/or organization)
- Author note
- Running head
The author note and running head are generally only required for professional papers. However, some professors might ask that you include one or both of them. Be sure to check the assignment instructions before submitting.
The title of your paper is really important. This is where the author needs to simultaneously inform and engage the reader without being overly wordy.
An effective title will:
- Engage the reader
- Concisely explain the main topic of research
- Concisely explain any relevant variables or theoretical issues
The paper title should be placed three or four lines down from the top margin of the page. It should be presented in bold, title case, and centered on the page.
Author/Byline
The correct way to display the authorâs name is first name, middle initial, and last name. The most important thing is to prevent the possibility of mistaken identity. After all, there are a lot of papers published every year, and itâs possible that someone else has the same name as you do.
For all author bylines in APA, all licenses and degrees are omitted (e.g., Dr., Professor, PhD, RN, etc.).
If your paper has multiple authors, then they should all be listed in the same way, in order of their contributions. All authors should be on the same line, unless more lines are required.
Hereâs an example of a properly formatted byline for a paper with two authors:
Cassandra M. Berkman and Wilhelm K. Jackson
Affiliation
The affiliation element is where you identify the place where the work was conducted or who it was conducted for. This is almost always a university or institution. In some cases, there are multiple affiliations for one author, or multiple authors with different affiliations.
Academic affiliations
Academic affiliations include schools, universities, and teaching hospitals. The affiliation line should include the specific department followed by the name of the institution. There is no need to include a location for academic affiliations.
Here is an example of what a basic academic affiliation line should look like:
Department of Psychology, Colorado State University
Non-academic affiliations
Non-academic affiliations are anything that isnât a school or university, which could be a hospital, laboratory, or just about any type of organization. The affiliation line for a non-academic organization should include the department or division, followed by the name and location of the organization. All elements should be separated by commas.
Hereâs how it looks when put to use:
Vidant Health, Greenville, NC, United States
Course number and name (Student only)
Use the course number and course name as they appear on official university materials. Examples:
- ENG 204: Modern English Literature
- PSYC 2301: Research Methodology
Instructor name (Student papers only)
It’s important that you display your instructorâs name in their preferred way. With academics who have multiple degrees and positions, this isnât something that you should guess at.
It is generally safe to use the course syllabus to see how they prefer to be listed. For example, some use the word âProfessorâ as their prefix, and many will have PhD, RN, or other type of professional designation.
Due date (Student papers only)
The due date should be presented in the day, month, and year format that is standard to your country.
The page number goes at the top right-hand side of the paper. This is one of the only elements that appears on every single page.
You can add running page numbers to your paper by double-clicking the header portion of the document or clicking the âInsertâ tab. It will automatically insert page numbers into the rest of the document.
Author note (Professional papers only)
The author note is usually only required for professional papers. This is where additional data, disclaimers, conflicts of interest, and statements about funding are placed. In some cases, the author statement can be several pages long.
The author note is generally split into four paragraphs, including:
- ORCID iD (a scientific/academic author ID)
- Changes of Affiliation
- Disclosures and Acknowledgments
- Contact Information
Section 2.7 of the Publication Manual has even more information on how to structure these elements for a professional paper.
Running Head (Professional papers only)
While some student papers might require a running head, this is something that is typically only for papers being submitted for publication. This is an abbreviated version of your title that appears at the top of every page to help readers identify it. The running title is particularly useful especially in print versions of journals and publications.
The running head does not have to use the same words as they appear in your title. Instead, try to re-work your paper’s main idea into a shortened form.
For example, if your paperâs title is:
âA Mystery of Style: Exploring the Formatting Mechanics of the Running Head According to APA Style 7th Editionâ
Then your abbreviated title can be something like:
âRUNNING HEAD IN APA 7â
âFORMATTING THE RUNNING HEADâ
The idea is to convey only the most important aspects of your title. The running head should be entered in the page header, flush left against the margin, and presented in all-capital letters.
The APA suggests a maximum length of 50 characters (including spaces and punctuation) for a running head. If your title is already 50 characters and under, then you can use the whole thing as the running head.
Next, letâs have a look at an example of what a real APA title page looks like when itâs all put together.
Student title page formatting example
Professional title page formatting example
All papers written according to APA Style should have a properly formatted title page. Making sure that the title page elements are accurate and informative will help people access your work. It is also the first opportunity that you have as the author to establish credibility and engage the reader.
For more information on the basic elements of an APA paper, check out Chapter 2 of the Publication Manual or our guide on APA format .
Published October 28, 2020.
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An APA title page provides the details of the paper, such as the title of the paper, author name, and author affiliation. APA title pages have two formatsâone for professional papers and one for student papers.
The elements to be added on the title page of a professional paper (in order of appearance) are:
- Page number and running head: These elements appear in the header section. The page number appears at the top-right corner, whereas the running head appears at the top-left corner. If the title is too long, the running head is shortened to less than 50 characters.
- Title of the paper: It provides information about the paper. It is aligned center and set in bold.
- Names of the authors: It gives the names of the contributors to the paper and is aligned center.
- Affiliations of the authors: It gives the department and university details of the authors.
- Author note: It gives extra information about the authors.
In a student paper, the following details are included on the title page:
- Page number: This appears in the top-right corner of the header section.
- Title of the paper: It gives the reader an idea of the information in the paper. It appears in title case and bold. It is center-aligned.
- Names of the authors: The names of the contributors are added here. This field is also called the by-line.
- Affiliations of the authors: It includes the names of the authors’ departments and universities.
- Name of the course: The name of the course for which the paper is written is included in this field.
- Name of the instructor: Unlike the professional paper, the instructorâs name is included in a student paper.
- Due date of the assignment: The due date of the assignment is added here. The format is âMonth Day, Yearâ (e.g., August 22, 2017).
The title page information for APA is different for a professional paper and a student paper. As a student, you need to include the following details in the same order on the title page of your student paper.
- Page number: This appears in the header section. Set the page number in the top-right corner of the header.
- Title of the paper: Set it in title case and bold. Align it to the center.
- Names of the authors: Provide the names of the contributors. This field is also called the by-line.
- Affiliations of the authors: Include your department and university name.
- Name of the course: Provide the name of the course and course number for which the paper is written.
- Name of the instructor: Add the instructorâs name. There is no rigid rule on how to set the instructorâs name. You can set it according to the instructorâs preference.
- Due date of the assignment: Add the due date of the assignment. The format should be âMonth Day, Yearâ (e.g., August 23, 2021).
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APA Title Page / Cover Page
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Details to include
The title page (also known as the cover page) is the front page of your paper. It should contain:
- The running head , a header at the top of the page.
- The first page number .
- The title of the paper
- The institution for which you writing.
Running head
The running head should be in the top-left corner of the page in uppercase. It should include a shortened title of your paper. On the front page only, it should also be prepended with "Running head:".
First page number
The first page number -- generally page 1 -- should be in the top-right corner of the page. Both the page number and the running head should be a half inch from the top of the page.
The title of the paper can contain upper and lowercase letters, and ideally should be no more than 12 words in length. It should be direct, and should not contain abbreviations or other unnecessary words. It should not span longer than 2 lines. The first letter of each word should be uppercase, except for articles (a, an, the), and conjunctions (and, but, for, or, yet).
Underneath the title should be your name (or the author's name if you're not the author). It should be displayed as the first name , middle initial , and last name . Do not add titles (such as Dr.) to the beginning, or qualifications (such as PhD) to the end of an author's name.
Your institution
Finally, underneath the author's name, state the full name of the institution or school you're writing the paper for.
The font for all text on the title page should be Times New Roman, size 12pt, with double line-spacing.
A correct title page will look like the below image:
After completing your title page you will move on to writing an abstract of your paper.
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In APA Style, the cover sheet is called a title page. Follow the guidelines of your instructor when determining the proper format for your title page. Unless instructed otherwise, include the following elements:
- Title of the paper in bold
- Author name
- University Affiliation
- Course number and name
- Instructor name
- Page number (top right).
For APA 7th edition, running heads are only required for professional papers that are being submitted for publication. Please see Section 2.3 for more information or review the APA Style blog’s Student Title Page Guide . The video below by Academic Support walks you through how to format your paper. Here is an example of a student title page in APA style:
More Information
- APA Guide (Shapiro Library)
- Title Page Setup This link opens in a new window (APA Style)
Further Help
This information is intended to be a guideline, not expert advice. Always speak to your instructor about citation styles and paper formats for your course.
For help with citations and more, visit Academic Support. To access Academic Support, visit your Brightspace course and select Tutoring and Mentoring from the Academic Support pulldown menu. Then, select 24/7 Drop-In Tutoring from the top navigation menu.
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In the academic and professional realms, the presentation of written work is nearly as crucial as the content itself. The most popular guidelines are the APA, MLA, and Chicago style. Each has its unique specifications and nuances, particularly when it comes to crafting the cover page , a pivotal aspect that provides the first impression of any document. This article delves into the distinct features and requirements with examples .
Inhaltsverzeichnis
- 1 Cover page in a nutshell
- 2 Definition: Cover page
- 3 When is a cover page used?
- 4 Essentials of a cover page
- 6 Cover page for students
Cover page in a nutshell
What is a cover page? A cover page is also called the title page and is the first page of an academic essay or other kinds of academic papers. It displays its title, the authorâs name, and other relevant information, serving as an introduction or a preview of whatâs inside. Think of it like the cover of a book, giving a glimpse of what the content is about.
Definition: Cover page
The cover page serves as a representation of the author. The format will differ based on the style you choose. It typically contains:
- Name of the author
- Name of the professor
- Name of the studentâs educational establishment
- Due date of the paper
The topic of the paper and the course name are always included on the title page, regardless of the format used. As the name suggests, it is placed at the front of the paper and is the first thing your professor will see when they receive your paper. When writing an academic paper, you have to adhere to certain established standards. A cover page is required for many papers, as it introduces the professor to the project. In this article, we will look at the different types and their formats.
When is a cover page used?
A cover page is used in various academic, professional, and publishing contexts to provide a clear and organized introduction to a document. Its usage can vary based on the style guide in reference. Hereâs a brief overview of when it is used in APA, MLA, and Chicago styles .
- APA style always requires a title page for both student papers and professional articles or studies. You can read more in our article about the APA format title pages.
- Title of the paper, authorâs name, institutional affiliation, course name and number (for students), instructorâs name (for students), and due date
- MLA style does not typically require a title page for research papers , unless specifically requested by the instructor. Instead, essential details are usually placed in the top-left corner of the first page.
- Title, name of the author, instructorâs name, course, and date
Chicago style
- Its usage depends on specific publication or institutional requirements. For formal publications and individual assignments, a title page is typically preferred.
- Title, authorâs name, often the specific class or course information, and date of submission
Essentials of a cover page
A cover page requires:
- A running head
- The title of your academic paper
- The name of your university
- The name of the author or authors
Besides these requirements, your professor may ask you to add extra information . As mentioned earlier, you should refer to the latest guidelines to see how the cover should be formatted. With APA style, you have to use 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spacing, and 1-inch margins.
The running head has to be left-aligned, and it should be capitalized. Besides the ârunning head,â your header should have a maximum of 50 characters.
The title of your paper should also be properly formatted. It should be in the title case, meaning the first letters of every word is capitalized. The only words that should not be capitalized are small words like articles and prepositions . The title should be no more than 12 words in length. For the title, you should use whole words only. Avoid contractions and abbreviations.
The names of the authors should also be properly formatted. If multiple authors were involved in writing the paper, they should all be mentioned, along with the institutions they are affiliated with. Students with different affiliations should be listed separately.
The cover page should not be spruced up unnecessarily. Its only objective is to provide the reader or professor with essential information. Donât use colored paper, colored text, or fancy images to make it look more attractive. That will only make you appear less professional.
There are as many kinds of cover pages as there are academic writing formats. The most commonly used cover page formats are MLA , APA , and Chicago . The difference lies in their format and content. Here is an overview of each of these types.
APA cover page
The APA format cover page should start with the running head, positioned at the top left of your paper. The page number is on the top right. Your paper title is to be in title case, in the upper half of the page. For the title, you simply respect the rules for capitalization in titles . APA recommends that your title should be 12 words in length or less, and it should not include any abbreviations or contractions. Words that serve no purpose should also be left out. The title can take up one or two lines.
The information for an APA format cover is below the title of your paper, then the names of the authors and their institutional affiliations are listed. The authorâs name should include first name, middle initial(s), and last name. The titles of the author(s) and their educational qualifications should not be included in this part of the paper. The institutional affiliation is included under the authorâs name, and it shows where the researcher carried out the research.
For more information, read our article about the APA cover page .
MLA cover page
When using an MLA format cover page, it is not required. Your instructor will let you know whether they require a cover. For some assignments, a cover can make your paper look more professional, so you should always consider adding one. For MLA, you will have to include:
- School or university name
- Title of your paper
- Name of the class
- Name of your professor
- Date of submission
Note: Different instructors may have different style requirements. You may need to add other details to the cover page.
Like in APA, the format cover page is double-spaced and the letters are centered on the page. The name of your university should be typed first, after which you can skip down to a third of the page and add the title of the research paper. From here, you can skip several lines and add the rest of the details. These details should be on the bottom half of the page.
Chicago style cover page
Usually, the Chicago style does not require a cover. However, they may be requested for individual assignments. In this case, the Chicago cover page includes the title of your page, the name of the author, the name of your teacher, the course title, and the due date. The title should be typed at about one-third of the way down the page. Some professors accept covers using 11 pt. Arial font, but the most widely used font is 12 pt. Times New Roman. You should generally avoid using fancy fonts or underlining the text. You can only use bold for the title and subtitle. The page should be double-spaced. The page number should not be included in a Chicago style cover page.
Cover page for students
Creating a student cover page involves considering the essential elements that offer a concise overview of the work, while also adhering to any style or formatting guidelines in place. Hereâs a general outline of what should be included.
- Title of the document/paper Ideally placed at the center of the page Should be specific and concise, capturing the essence of the paper
- Studentâs name Usually positioned under the title Full name is recommended unless specified otherwise
- Course name and code Essential for academic submissions to ensure the paper reaches the correct instructor or department
- Instructor/professorâs name Specify the honorific title (e.g., Dr., Prof.) if applicable
- Date of submission Can be written in different formats (e.g., September 21, 2023, or 21-09-2023) depending on institutional or style guide preferences
- Institution Name Name of the school, college, or university
- Class or section If applicable Especially useful for larger courses with multiple sections
- Assignment number or type Optional E.g., âAssignment 1â, âFinal Projectâ, âResearch Paperâ, etc.
Formatting tips
Use a readable font like Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri. Typically, a 12 pt. font size is recommended. Details on the cover are usually double-spaced for clarity. Ensure you have standard margins (typically 1 inch, so 2.54 cm, on all sides) unless specified otherwise by your institution or style guide. Most of the details are typically centered on the page, but some style guides might have different requirements. Always refer to specific institutional guidelines or the requested style guide (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) as they may have distinct stipulations for page composition.
How do you write a title page for an essay?
The title page of your academic essay should be simple and straightforward, and it should only consist of text. For the cover page design, you should consult the latest manual of your institution. You may be required to use a certain style of formatting, such as APA, or MLA. The requirements for an APA title page differ from the requirements of an MLA title page .
Does the title page count as one page?
The title page will take up a whole page of your essay. However, it does not count as one page in terms of the page count for your essay . The table of contents and bibliography are also not included in the word/page count of your essay.
How do you format the names of multiple authors?
If more than one person was involved in writing the paper, all the names should be clearly indicated. The format used will depend on the affiliations of the authors and the institution that theyâre working with. For an APA cover page, the authors should be listed below the title of the paper. List their first names, middle initials, and last names with any titles and qualifications.
Is a cover page always required?
The cover page is typically required when you use the APA citation style. With the MLA and Chicago formats, your instructor will advise you on whether you have to include a cover. However, more often than not, MLA formatting does not require a title page.
Will you be penalized for adding a cover page when it is not required?
No instructor will penalize you for including a cover page when it is not strictly required. You should consider adding one if you are uncertain whether it is required for your academic writing work. Nevertheless, you should check with your institution anyway to ensure that youâre fulfilling all requirements.
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General Studies: APA Style
- Introduction
- Find Articles
- Web Resources
Paper Examples
- Article Critique
- Research Paper
Introduction & Overview
American psychological association (apa) style website .
The official APA website contains a wide variety of support materials for using this style in your writing process. The full edition of the APA Style guide is not free, but the support documents are freely accessible.
The Basics of Style shows users how to do the following:
- structure and format their work
- reduce bias in language
- avoid charges of plagiarism
- cite references in text
- select reference examples
CSU APA Resources
- CSU Citation Guide (PDF) - This tutorial is based on the 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) but is not a complete guide. For all rules and requirements of APA, please refer to the 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, which is available for purchase from the APA Style website . Should you have any questions, please contact the CSU Success Center by email at [email protected] or by phone at 1.877.875.0533 .
APA Style Blog
The APA Style Blog is a great resource for citation information created by the APA experts. Information at the site covers the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition .
Success Center Webinars and Tutorials
Have questions on writing and citation creation? For more information, please click on the tutorials below presented by the CSU Success Center.
- Citation Guide Tutorial
- Citing Non-Traditional Sources
- Essay Writing
- Formating Formal Assignments
- A Guide to Formatting Reference Citations for Webpages
- Reference Citations
- Writing a Research Paper
Individual References
*Note - When citing information from a database, use the DOI (data object identifier). If no DOI is available, no retrieval information will included in the reference. List the author, date, title, journal name, volume number, issue number, and page number. The name of the journal and the volume number will be in italics. The issue number will be in parentheses.
- CSU Study Guide
- Journal Article from a Database
- Online Magazine Article
- Online Newspaper Article
- Webpage with Title in Author's Position
- Webpage with Two Authors
- << Previous: Web Resources
- Last Updated: Apr 1, 2024 12:07 PM
- URL: https://libguides.columbiasouthern.edu/generalstudies
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APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition)
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In-Text Citations
Resources on using in-text citations in APA style
Reference List
Resources on writing an APA style reference list, including citation formats
Other APA Resources
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- Knowledge Base
- APA Style 7th edition
- Setting Up the APA Reference Page | Formatting & References (Examples)
Setting Up the APA Reference Page | Formatting & References (Examples)
Published on November 4, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on January 17, 2024.
On the APA reference page, you list all the sources that youâve cited in your paper. The list starts on a new page right after the body text.
Follow these instructions to set up your APA reference page:
- Place the section label âReferencesâ in bold at the top of the page (centered).
- Order the references alphabetically .
- Double-space all text.
- Apply a hanging indent of 0.5 inches.
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Table of contents
Setting up the apa reference page, apa alphabetization guidelines, which sources to include on the reference page, annotated bibliography, creating apa references.
Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.
References are ordered alphabetically by the first authorâs last name. If the author is unknown, order the reference entry by the first meaningful word of the title (ignoring articles: âtheâ, âaâ, or âanâ).
Word processors like Word or Google Docs and citation generators can usually order the reference list automatically. However, ordering becomes challenging when citing multiple works by the same author or works by authors with the same last name.
Our in-depth article on ordering references in APA Style explains what to do in these situations.
Only include references for sources cited in the body text (with an APA in-text citation ). Donât include references for:
- Sources that you only consulted;
- Personal communications (e.g., emails or phone calls);
- General mentions of websites or periodicals ;
- Common knowledge .
For some student papers, itâs common to describe or evaluate the source in an annotation . These annotations are placed on a new line below the corresponding reference entry. The entire annotation is indented 0.5 inches.
If an annotation consists of multiple paragraphs, the first line of the second and any subsequent paragraphs is indented an additional 0.5 inches.
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- Incorrect usage of “et al.”
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- Missing reference entries
The format of an APA reference differs depending on the source type. Play around with the options in the Scribbr Example Generator to get familiar with APA Style.
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APA citation examples
Check out Scribbr’s citation examples to learn more about citing each type of source, ranging from books and journals to podcasts and tweets !
Periodicals
- Journal article
- Newspaper article
Reports and gray literature
- Press release
- Dissertation or thesis
- Conference paper
Books and reference works
- Dictionary entry
- Encyclopedia entry
Audiovisual works
- Movie or documentary
- YouTube video
Online media
- Personal communication
- Tables and figures
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Streefkerk, R. (2024, January 17). Setting Up the APA Reference Page | Formatting & References (Examples). Scribbr. Retrieved April 2, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/apa-reference-page/
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Follow the guidelines described next to format each element of the student title page. Place the title three to four lines down from the top of the title page. Center it and type it in bold font. Capitalize major words of the title. Place the main title and any subtitle on separate double-spaced lines if desired.
The student version of the APA title page should include the following information (double spaced and centered): Paper title. Author name. Department and university name. Course number and name. Instructor name. Due date of the assignment. The professional title page also includes an author note (flushed left), but not a course name, instructor ...
Note: This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019. The equivalent resource for the older APA 6 style can be found here. Media Files: APA Sample Student Paper , APA Sample Professional Paper This resource is enhanced by Acrobat PDF files. Download the free Acrobat Reader
In APA Style (7th edition), the cover page, or title page, should include: A running head (professional papers only) and page number. The title of the paper. The name of the author (s) The institutional affiliation. An author note; optional (professional papers only) A student paper should also include course information.
Title of the paper: three to four lines down from the top of the title page, centered and in bold for APA 7 (APA 6 does not have a title in bold). Name of each author: include a double-spaced blank line between the paper title and the author names. Affiliation for each author: give the name of the institution at which the research was carried out.
As a student, you need to include the following details in the same order on the title page of your student paper. Page number: This appears in the header section. Set the page number in the top-right corner of the header. Title of the paper: Set it in title case and bold. Align it to the center.
The title page (also known as the cover page) is the front page of your paper. It should contain: The running head, a header at the top of the page. The first page number. The title of the paper; ... How to cite a movie in APA, MLA, or Harvard style. Answered on August 18, 2018 (updated on December 30, 2020) đ Latest blog post:
Here's how to create your APA format title as per the specified guidelines: Position your title 4-5 lines from the top of your page. Select your title to centrally align and bold it. Use the title case* while creating your heading. *Capitalize the first letter of each word apart from articles and prepositions. 4.
Throughout your paper, you need to apply the following APA format guidelines: Set page margins to 1 inch on all sides. Double-space all text, including headings. Indent the first line of every paragraph 0.5 inches. Use an accessible font (e.g., Times New Roman 12pt., Arial 11pt., or Georgia 11pt.).
Unless instructed otherwise, include the following elements: Title of the paper in bold. Author name. University Affiliation. Course number and name. Instructor name. Due date. Page number (top right). For APA 7th edition, running heads are only required for professional papers that are being submitted for publication.
General APA Guidelines. Your essay should be typed and double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5" x 11"), with 1" margins on all sides. Include a page header (also known as the "running head") at the top of every page. For a professional paper, this includes your paper title and the page number. For a student paper, this only includes the ...
Also known as the title page, an APA cover page is the very front page of an essay. It entails crucial information of the work presented by the author as advised by the examiner. The core duty of the APA cover page is to let the reader identify different parts of your work without having to read the paper. Also, it also ensures that your work ...
APA cover page. The APA format cover page should start with the running head, positioned at the top left of your paper.The page number is on the top right. Your paper title is to be in title case, in the upper half of the page. For the title, you simply respect the rules for capitalization in titles.APA recommends that your title should be 12 words in length or less, and it should not include ...
For more APA Style information, contact the CSU Success Center by email at [email protected] or by phone at 1.877.875.0533. Paper Examples. Article Critique Cover Page Research Paper Introduction & Overview. American Psychological Association (APA) Style Website . The official APA website contains a wide variety of support ...
Resources on writing an APA style reference list, including citation formats. Basic Rules Basic guidelines for formatting the reference list at the end of a standard APA research paper Author/Authors Rules for handling works by a single author or multiple authors that apply to all APA-style references in your reference list, regardless of the ...
Sample Student Paper paper title, 2.4, 2.27, Table 2.1, Figure 2.4 parenthetical citation of a work with two authors, 8.17 parenthetical citation of a work with one author, 8.17 group author, 9.11 use of first person, 4.16 italics to highlight a key term, 6.22 narrative citation in parenthetical running text, 8.11 repeated citation needed, 8.1
On the APA reference page, you list all the sources that you've cited in your paper. The list starts on a new page right after the body text. Follow these instructions to set up your APA reference page: Place the section label "References" in bold at the top of the page (centered). Order the references alphabetically. Double-space all text.
These sample papers demonstrate APA Style formatting standards for different student paper types. Students may write the same types of papers as professional authors (e.g., quantitative studies, literature reviews) or other types of papers for course assignments (e.g., reaction or response papers, discussion posts), dissertations, and theses.