MEC APA 7th Edition Guide

If your paper will follow strict APA formatting, follow the steps below. Your paper should have three major sections: the title page, main body, and references list. The Publication Manual covers these guidelines in Chapter 2; the APA website also has an annotated Student Paper Formatting sample.

These guidelines will cover how to set up a student paper in APA format. The 7th edition now has specific formatting for student papers versus a professional paper (i.e. one being submitted for publication). If your instructor has requested a different format or additional elements, use your instructor's preferences.

Official Resources

Basics

The margins of the paper should be set to 1" (one inch) all around.

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Go to the Page Layout or Layout tab
2. Click Margins
3. Select the Normal option

Basics

The line spacing for the paper should be set to double (2.0).

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Go to the Home tab
2. In the Paragraph box, click the icon that looks like two up/down arrows with text to the right
3. Pick 2.0
4. Alternate Method: You can also press the Control Key along with the number 2 to quickly double space.

Basics

Your title should summarize the main topic of your paper. Try not to be too wordy or off-topic. While there is no word limit for titles, "short but sweet" is the goal. The APA Style Blog has further information on titles: Five Steps to a Great Title. Use title case for paper titles.

Example Titles

• Attitudes of College Students Towards Transportation Fees
• Effect of Red Light Cameras on Traffic Fatalities
• Juror Bias in Capital Punishment Cases

Basics

Insert the page number in the right area of the header. Use the built-in page numbering system; do not attempt to type each page number manually.

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Go to the Insert tab
2. Under Header, select Edit Header (at the bottom)
   
   
3. Press Tab once or twice to go to the far right
4. Click Page Number
5. Click Current Position
6. Click Simple / Plain Number
   

Basics

On the first page you will include the following information:

• Title of Your Paper
• Your Name
• Northern Virginia Community College
• Course Number: Course Name
• Instructor
• Due Date

This information will be centered, and will be a few lines down from the top.

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Go to the top of the first page.
2. Press Enter 3-4 times.
3. Center your text.
4. Type in the title of your paper, in bold.
5. Press Enter twice, in order to have one blank line between the title and the next element.
6. On the next line, type your full name.
7. On the next line, type Northern Virginia Community College.
8. On the next line, type your course number, a colon, and your course name.
9. On the next line, type your instructor's name.
10. On the next line, type the due date of the paper.

Example

The references list should be on a new page, and should be the last section of your paper.

Heading of Reference List

Hanging Indent

Spacing

Alphabetizing

For more information on creating and formatting references, go to the Reference Components page.

Source: Publication Manual, 2.12; 9.44-9.49

The Font?

The Running Head?

If you are using an image that does not require attribution, you may provide a figure number and title prior to the image.

If your image requires attribution, such as those governed by Creative Commons licenses, include the attribution below the image. You will also need to cite the image in your references list.

Animal Diversity Web. (n.d.). Sciurus carolinensis (eastern gray squirrel) [Photograph]. Creative Commons. https://ccsearch.creativecommons.org/photos/4556e4bd-fba4-4b54-b967-3bc912695df4

Source: Clip Art or Stock Image References [APA Style]

APA now has guidelines for an annotated bibliography. Annotations will be a new paragraph directly below the reference, indented 0.5" from the left. Retain the double-spacing.