APA Manuscript Format

What is APA Manuscript Format?

The APA Manuscript Format is a style of writing that requires a specific format. The American Psychological Association (APA) publishes a style manual used for many disciplines where effective commu nic ation in words and data is fundamental, including: Psychology, Business, Economics, Nursing, Social Work, and Criminology. The most recent edition is Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition, American Psychological Association, 2002.

Paper: White, twenty-pound, 8 ½ by 11-inch paper.

Font: Courier, Courier New, Times, Times Roman, or Times New Roman.

Margins: One-inch margins all around the text of your paper -- left side, right side, and top and bottom. Paragraphs should be indented half an inch; for quotations longer than forty words, indent each line one-half inch (or five spaces) from the left margin.

Spacing: Double-spaced, including quotations, notes, and the list of references. Use one space after all punctuation.

Title Page: Full title of the paper, running head, author's name, course, instructor’s name and date are centered on the page.

Page Numbers and Running Head Title: Upper right-hand corner of each page, one-half inch from the top. Type the page number, preceded by the short title that you typed on the title page. Number all pages, including the title page. Most word processing programs provide for a "header," which you can set up as you create the format for the paper. Do not use the abbreviation "p." or any other mark before the page number.

Headings: Use no more than one or two levels of headings for most undergraduate papers. Major headings should be centered, with the first letter of important words capitalized; minor words — articles, short prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions — are not capitalized unless they are the first word. Subheadings should be typed flush left (against the left margin) and underlined; the rules on capitalization are the same as for major headings.

Abstract: Include the abstract right after the title page. Center the word "Abstract" one inch from the top of the page; double-space the text of the abstract as you do the body of your paper.

Visuals: 1) Visuals like tables, figures, and graphs should be kept simple. 2) Each should be labeled clearly (Table 1, Figure 3) and should include a caption that describes the information in the visual. In the text of your paper, discuss the most significant features of each visual. 3) Ask your instructor for guidelines on placement of visuals in the paper.

Note: Recommendations here are based on the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. It is important to note, however, that individual instructor’s specifications may vary from these recommendations, and it is always wise to consult with your instructor before formatting and submitting your work.