This document provides guidelines for formatting a paper in APA style. It outlines how to format the title page, in-text citations, quotes, references list, and websites. The paper should be typed double-spaced with a running head on every page. In-text citations require the author's name and date, and quotes over 40 words are indented with the author and date above. References are alphabetized by author's last name and use a hanging indentation.

1. APA Basic Guidelines
General
• Your essay should be typed, double-spaced on standard-
sized paper (8.5" x 11") with 1" margins on all sides. You
should use a clear font that is highly readable. APA
recommends using 12 pt. Times New Roman font.
• Include a page header (also known as the "running head") at
the top of every page. To create a page header/running
head, insert page numbers flush right. Then type "TITLE OF
YOUR PAPER" in the header flush left using all capital
letters.
Formatting and Writing Style
• Paper should contain Title, main body, and
reference page
• Title page should contain: paper title, your
name, and school name.
• Pages after the title should contain paper
name

2. EX: Title Page

3. In-text citation
Short quotes:
Direct quotes should include the author’s name,
year of publication, and page number.
EX: According to Jones (1998), "Students often had
difficulty using APA style, especially when it was
their first time" (p. 199).
If the Author isn’t named before the quote include
the last name in parentheses.
EX: She stated, "Students often had difficulty using
APA style" (Jones, 1998, p. 199), but she did not
offer an explanation as to why.

4. Long quotes (40 words or longer):
Start the quote on a new line. Indent ½
inch from the left margin. Keep double
spaced.
EX: Author (date)
double spaced quote. (p. ###)

5. Summary or Paraphrase:
If you are paraphrasing from a source you only
have to include the author and year of
publication.
EX: According to Jones (1998), APA style is a
difficult
citation format for first-time learners.

6. References
• 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.
• 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. Keep the journal titles
exactly same as how it is on the journal.
• 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.

7. Sources
scdiscus.org: online databases. Access to thousands of
professional journals, magazines, and books. Not a
search engine
Destiny catalog: subject search and reference books
Search engines: Be aware of where you info is coming
from!
Follow these guidelines for websites
• Authority-who’s publishing?
• Accuracy- is the information correct? How do you
know?
• Objectivity-does the information show bias? What is
the reason for the site?
• Currency-How old is the site? When was it last
updated?
• Coverage-How much information does the site give?
Is the information limited?

8. Need more help?
• Visit the Media Center blog and follow the links
located under Reference
• Visit http://www.apastyle.org/
• Ask the librarians