Question: How do I format my paper in APA style (6th edition)?

1. Open a new blank document in Microsoft Word, then click on the Font diagonal arrow
2. Select Times New Roman from the Font menu
3. Select 12 from the Size menu
4. Click on Set As Default
5. Click OK on the pop-up box

1. Bring down the Paragraph menu by clicking on the diagonal arrow
2. Make sure that Spacing Before and After are set to 0 pt
3. Check the box for “Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same style”
4. Select Double from the Line spacing menu
5. Click on Set As Default
6. Click OK on the pop-up box

Make sure that the margins are set to one inch all around:

1. Go to the Layout tab
2. Click on Margins
3. Select or make sure that Normal (Top, Bottom, Left, Right) is set to 1”

1. Go to the Insert tab and click on Header
2. Select Blank
3. Check the box Different First Page
4. Type the “running head” label in regular font, capitalizing the first letter, add a colon, and include the abbreviated version of your title (50 characters or less) in all caps
5. Press the tab key a few times until the cursor lands on the right side
6. Click on Page Number
7. Select Current Position
8. Click on Plain Number
9. Click on Close Header and Footer

1. From the Home tab, click on the Center alignment button
2. Press the enter key three times and enter the required elements for your title page
   1. Type the full title of your essay
      Note* Titles should be no more than 12 words and must be clear, concise, and summarize the main idea of your paper.
   2. Press enter and type your first and last name
   3. Press enter and type the college name followed by any other requirements from your professor, these could be the professor’s name, course name, date, etc. 
3. Insert a page break after all the elements on your title page have been entered by pressing the control and enter keys at the same time, or by going to the Insert tab, and clicking on Page Break.

1. Once you are on the second page of your document, go to the Insert tab and click on Header
2. Select Blank
3. Do not add the running head label, just type in all caps the shortened version of your title in all caps (50 characters or less – same as on your cover sheet
4. Press the tab key a few times until the cursor reaches the margin on the right
5. On the toolbar, click on Page Number
6. Click on Current Position
7. Click on Plain Number
8. Click on Close Header and Footer
9. Center and type the complete title of your easy, but only capitalize tall the major words
10. Press the enter key, then click on left align
11. Press the tab key to indent your first paragraph, and then start typing your essay

Note*  As you type, Word uses a feature called "word wrap" so you do not have to worry about your text going over the right margin.  Also, remember to indent all of your paragraphs, unless indicated otherwise by your professor.

After your essay, the last section is the References list. This is where you list all your sources alphabetically and follow strict APA citation guidelines. APA calls for double line spacing and requires hanging indentation. A hanging indent is where the first line of an entry extends out to the left margin, and the rest of the entry is indented.

To set up your References list:

1. Place a page break after your essay, if necessary, to start your references list on a new page
2. Type and center: References
3. Press enter to move the cursor to the next line
4. You may need to align the line to the left by clicking on the left align button located in the Paragraph group in the Home tab
5. Click on the down arrow in the Paragraph group
6. Under the Indentation section, select Hanging from the Special menu
7. Click OK
8. Start typing your citation entries following APA guidelines.
   Not sure about the format? Contact your professor or librarian.

For examples and instructions on how to cite your sources in APA style, see: https://libguides.lasc.edu/lasc_library/citations