Key Takeaways
- An APA format essay usually includes a title page, abstract, introduction, body, conclusion, and reference section.
- Use Times New Roman size 12 font and double-space your paper with one-inch margins.
- The reference list should be in alphabetical order by the author’s last name and include all sources cited in your essay.
Formatting an essay in APA style can be a bit intimidating, especially if you’re used to another format like MLA or Chicago style. But you can master the rules of APA essay format, too. The key is to learn the basics of APA format and then utilize the write tools and resources to make sure your paper follows all the style rules before you hand it in.
Online citation generators, the official APA style book, and your university’s writing center can all be helpful.
An essay is just one type of paper that can be written in APA format; others include lab reports, experimental reports, and case studies. Before you begin, familiarize yourself with some of the basic guidelines for writing a paper in APA format.
Your instructor may also have specific requirements you should be sure to follow when formatting your essay.
How do you write an essay in APA format? The trick is to understand the basic elements you need to include:
- A title page
- An abstract
- An introduction, main body, and conclusion
- A reference section
- Proper APA formatting with regard to margins, layout, spacing, titles, and indentations
Keep reading to learn more about how to write an essay in APA format, including the basic steps you should follow and tips for how to get started.
What Is APA Format, Exactly?
Whether taking an introductory or graduate-level psychology class, you’ll probably have to write at least one paper. It might be an essay, but it could also be a lab report, research proposal, literature review, or some other type of writing.
And if you’re writing a paper for a psychology class, you will need to use APA format, the official publication style of the American Psychological Association. It’s used for student papers in the social sciences (think psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, education, and political science) as well as professional academic journals.
Such rules are generally the same whether you are writing a high school, college, or professional essay for publication.
APA format is used in a range of disciplines, not just psychology. The format dictates your paper’s presentation elements, including spacing, margins, and how the content is structured.
Most instructors and publication editors have strict guidelines when it comes to how your format your writing. Not only does adhering to APA format allow readers to know what to expect from your paper, but it also means that your work will not lose critical points over minor formatting errors.
Basics of Formatting an Essay in APA Style
First, it’s important to note that the formatting requirements for your essay depend on your instructor’s directions. However, in most cases, writing APA essay format means you will most likely need to include a title page, abstract, introduction, body, conclusion, and reference sections.
Title Page
Your APA format essay should have a title page. This title page should include the title of your paper, your name, and your school affiliation. In some instances, your teacher might require additional information such as the course title, instructor name, and the date.
- The title of your paper should be concise and clearly describe what your paper is about.
- Your title can extend to two lines, but it should be no longer than 12 words.
Abstract
An abstract is a brief summary of your paper that immediately follows the title page. It is not required for student papers, according to APA style. However, your instructor may request one.
If you include an abstract, it should be no more than 100 to 200 words, although this may vary depending upon the instructor’s requirements.
References
Your essay should also include a reference list with all of the sources that were cited in your essay. Key points you should follow include the following:
- The reference section is located at the end of your paper.
- References should be listed alphabetically by the last name of the author.
- References should be double-spaced.
- Any source that is cited in your paper should be included in your reference section.
Text
When writing in APA essay format, the text will include the actual essay itself: The introduction, the body, and the conclusion.
- Your essay should have uniform margins of at least one inch at the top, bottom, left, and right sides.
- The text should be in Times New Roman size 12 font or another easily readable serif typeface.
- Your paper should be double-spaced.
- Every page should include a page number in the top right corner.
- The first word of each paragraph in your paper should be indented one-half inch.
For professional papers (usually not student papers), every page of the essay also includes a running head at the top left. The running head is a shortened form of the title, often the first few words, and should be no more than 50 characters (including spaces).
Steps for Formatting an Essay in APA Style
In addition to ensuring that you cite your sources properly and present information according to the rules of APA style, there are a number of things you can do to make the writing process a little bit easier.
Choose a Topic
Start by choosing a good topic to write about. Ideally, you want to select a subject that is specific enough to let you fully research and explore the topic, but not so specific that you have a hard time finding sources of information.
If you choose something too specific, you may find yourself with not enough to write about. If you choose something too general, you might find yourself overwhelmed with information.
Research Your Topic
Start doing research as early as possible. Begin by looking at some basic books and articles on your topic to help develop it further. What is the question you are going to answer with your essay? What approach will you take to the topic?
Once you are more familiar with the subject, create a preliminary source list of potential books, articles, essays, and studies that you may end up using in your essay.
Remember, any source used in your essay must be included in your reference section. Conversely, any source listed in your references must be cited somewhere in the body of your paper.
Write Your Rough Draft
With research in hand, you are ready to begin. Some people like to create an outline to organize their argument prior to drafting. You may want to start with a very rough outline, and then add details.
Once you have a detailed outline, the next step is to translate it from notes to complete sentences and paragraphs. Remember, this is a first draft. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
As you write your paper in APA essay format, be sure to keep careful track of the sources that you cite.
How do you start an APA paper? Your paper should begin with an introduction that includes a thesis statement that presents your main ideas, points, or arguments. Your introduction should start on the third page of your paper (after the title page and abstract). The title of your paper should be centered, bolded, and typed in title case at the top of the page.
Review and Revise
After you have prepared a rough draft of your essay, it’s time to revise, review, and prepare your final draft. In addition to making sure that your writing is cohesive and supported by your sources, you should also check carefully for typos, grammar errors, and possible formatting mistakes.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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American Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). Washington DC: The American Psychological Association; 2019.
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American Psychological Association. Page header. APA Style.
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Saini RK, Issac M, Kumar KJD, et al. Selecting a thesis topic: A postgraduate’s dilemma. Ind Psychiatry J. 2023;32(1):19-23. doi:10.4103/ipj.ipj_62_22
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Mensh B, Kording K. Ten simple rules for structuring papers. PLoS Comput Biol. 2017;13(9):e1005619. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005619
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