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APA Style -6th edition

  • Sample APA Paper
  • General Guidelines
  • A. One Author or Editor
  • B. Two Authors or Editors
  • C. Three to Five Authors or Editors
  • D. Article or Chapter in an Edited Book
  • E. Article in a Reference Book
  • F. No Author
  • H. Edition other than the First
  • I. Translation
  • J. Government Publication
  • A. Journal Article with One Author
  • B. Journal Article with 2 Authors
  • C. Journal Article with 3-5 Authors
  • D. Journal Article with 6 or more Authors
  • E. Magazine Article
  • F. Newspaper Article
  • A. Basic Web Page
  • B. Web Page from a University Site
  • C. No Author
  • D. Blog Post
  • E. Entry in a Reference Work
  • F. Government Document
  • A. Motion Picture
  • B. Youtube Video
  • C. Audio Podcast
  • A. Electronic Image
  • A. Interview
  • D. Classical Works
  • E. Secondary Sources
  • F. Legal Materials
  • Evaluating Sources
  • Zotero This link opens in a new window

Sample APA Formatted Paper

  • Sample APA Formatted Paper How to format your paper in APA style

Sample Reference List

  • Sample End of Text Citations
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  • Last Updated: Jun 15, 2023 2:57 PM
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APA Style - Quick Guide - 6th edition: APA Style

This guide covers the 6th edition of APA Style. The 7th edition came out in October 2019. For information on the 7th edition, please visit The OWL at Purdue until this guide is updated.

About References

"The references of your paper are the foundation on which your work is built. They provide the scientific background that justifies the research you have undertaken and the methods you have used. They provide the context in which your research should be interpreted. They should not be collected as an afterthought when your research project is complete. A literature search and reading of the relevant references should be the starting points of any research project." - Howell, Simon. "References." How to write a paper . Ed. George M. Hall. 3rd ed. London: BMJ Books, 2003. 51.

Academic Integrity

"As a community of students and scholars, The University strives to set and maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All members of the university community are expected to exhibit honesty and competence in academic work. This responsibility can be met only through earnest and continuing good faith effort on the part of all students and faculty."

The Lowdown, "Student Academic Conduct Policy"

  • Avoiding Plagiarism - The OWL at Purdue

APA Style Manual - 6th edition

apa 6th edition essay

APA (American Psychological Association) style is commonly used in the social sciences. The APA released a 6th edition of their publication manual in 2010, which contains many updates from the previous edition.

APA Examples - Books

Page numbers refer to the relevant page in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association , 6th ed.

Book (p. 203):

Takahashi, S. (2009). The manga guide to statistics . San Francisco, CA: No Starch Press.

Book chapter in an anthology (p. 204):

Vessey, D. (2001). Hey-diddley-ho neighboreenos: Ned Flanders and neighborly love. In W. Irwin, M. T. Conrad,  & A. J. Skoble (Eds.),       The Simpsons and philosophy (pp. 202-214). Chicago, IL: Open Court.

Article in a reference book (p. 203):

Chapman, R. (2000). GI Joe. In T. Pendergast & S. Pendergast (Eds.), St. James encyclopedia of popular culture (Vol. 2, pp. 229-230).      Detroit, MI: St. James Press.

APA Examples - Periodicals

Journal article with DOI (p. 198):

Shepherd, L. & Kuczynski, A. (2009). The use of emotive imagery and behavioral techniques for a 10-year-old  boy's nocturnal fear      of ghosts and zombies. Clinical Case Studies , 8(2), 99-112. doi:10.1177/1534650108329664

Journal article with no DOI listed (p. 199):

  • If article was retrieved from a print journal:

Mabry, R., & Deiermann, P. (2009). Of cheese and crust: A proof of the pizza conjecture and other tasty results.       American Mathematical Monthly , 116(5), 423-438.

  • If DOI is found, cite using DOI.
Deno, S. (1985). Curriculum-based measurement: The emerging alternative.       Exceptional Children ,52(3), 219-232. Retrieved from http://www.cec.sped.org
  • Your instructor may ask you to use a modified version of APA style, in which you include the name of the database instead of the journal home page or cite articles without a DOI in the print journal format. Check your assignment or ask the professor.

Magazine article - accessed online (p. 200):

Kushner, D. (2009, September). Tricked-out golf carts swarm Florida communities. Wired 17(10). Retrieved from       http://www.wired.com/magazine

Magazine article - accessed in print (p. 200):

Reyes, P. (2010, August). Paradise swamped: The boom and bust of the middle-class dream. Harper's Magazine , 321(1923), 39-48.

Newspaper article - accessed online (p. 200):

Kepner, T. (2004, October 21). Back from dead, Red Sox bury Yanks and go to series. The New York Times . Retrieved from      http://www.nytimes.com.

Newspaper article - accessed in print (p. 200):

Itzkoff, D. (2010, July 20). Banned TV episode has its day on DVD. The New York Times , pp. C1, C5.

APA Examples - Websites

Entire website ( ref .) :

To cite an entire website, give the URL of the site in the text of your paper.  It is not necessary to put cite it in the references section. Only include retrieval dates for sites that change frequently, such as wikis.

Example: The APA style website gives examples of references (http://apastyle.org).

Article on a website ( ref. ):

Welch, C. (2009, September 9). Web goes nuts for 'crasher squirrel.' Retrieved from      http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/09/09/minnesota.crasher.squirrel/

Article from an online reference work (p. 205):

Boondoggle. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster's online dictionary . Retrieved from http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/boondoggle

APA Guides on the Web

  • APA Formatting and Style Guide - Purdue OWL
  • APA Style - Research and Documentation Online
  • Last Updated: Jul 9, 2024 2:27 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.southalabama.edu/apa

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APA Research Paper Formatting: APA 6th Edition Resources

  • Home of APA 7th Edition Resources
  • APA 6th Edition Resources

APA (American Psychological Association) style was developed by social and behavioral scientists to standardize scientific writing. It is used for term papers, research reports, empirical studies, literature reviews, theoretical articles, methodological articles, and case studies. (APA website)

Writers in the following disciplines usually use APA style:

  • Social sciences- psychology, sociology, economics, criminology

*IMPORTANT NOTE: In October 2019 the American Psychological Association released the latest edition of the APA format - the 7th edition. For Spring term 2021 many instructors will have shifted to using APA 7th edition, while some may still request (or allow) students to choose APA 6th edition. It would be a good idea to verify which edition your professor will be requiring.  

As of January 2021, the APA citation generators in the Gale and Ebsco databases are formatting APA citations in 7th edition instead of 6th edition.

This Library Guide will also be updated throughout Spring 2021, to add additional resources for the 7th edition and links that should remain accessible for the 6th edition. 

ALL RESOURCES ON THIS PAGE ARE FOR APA 6TH EDITION.

FOR 7TH EDITION RESOURCES, SEE THE 7TH EDITION TAB AT THE TOP OF THIS GUIDE.

APA - Publication Manual

(In 2021 most instructors will be using the 7th edition instead.)

APA 6th ed. Template & Paper Sample

  • APA 6th ed. Paper Sample (including headings)
  • APA Template - 6th Edition You are going to love this! Save this template somewhere safe or e-mail it to yourself. Then resave it immediately with the name of your new document. This will keep your template safe and ready to reuse again for future assignments.

How to Use the APA Template

How Do I Write a Thesis Statement?

  • Thesis Statement Help - Owl @ Purdue

Free Citation Creation Tools on the Web

  • BibMe BibMe is a free automatic bibliography generator that supports MLA, APA, Chicago, and Turabian formatting.
  • Citation Machine Select APA citation style. Then choose they type of resource to cite.
  • CiteFast APA citation generator. Choose APA tab at top (if not already selected). Then select the source to be cited.
  • KnightCite APA citation generator. Choose type of resource on the left.

How to Generate Citations Using CiteFast

Parenthetical References or In-text Citations

  • APA Parenthetical (In-text) Citations - Purdue OWL
  • APA Parenthetical (In-text) Citations - EasyBib

Everything APA - 6th Edition

  • APA Style - Official 6th Edition Archive
  • Purdue OWL - APA 6th ed.

APA Inclusive Language Guidelines

American Psychological Association's Inclusive Language Guidelines and related information can be found here:  https://www.apa.org/about/apa/equity-diversity-inclusion/language-guidelines

  • << Previous: Home of APA 7th Edition Resources
  • Last Updated: Feb 21, 2024 12:13 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.polk.edu/apa

Polk State College is committed to equal access/equal opportunity in its programs, activities, and employment. For additional information, visit polk.edu/compliance .

APA Style 6th Edition: Citing Your Sources

  • Basics of APA Formatting
  • In Text Quick View
  • Block Quotes
  • Books & eBooks
  • Thesis/Dissertation
  • Conference Presentations
  • Course Documents
  • Social Media
  • Government Documents

Standard Formatting

Abbreviations.

  • Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
  • Additional Resources
  • Sample Reference Page
  • Use 1" margins for the entire document.
  • Use a 1/2" indent for every paragraph and footnote.
  • Indent set-off quotations 1/2" from the left margin.

Text Formatting

  • Use 12 pt Times New Roman font.
  • Do not justify the text or use hyphenation.
  • commas, colons, and semicolons;
  • periods that separate parts of a reference citation
  • periods following the initials in personal names (e.g., J. R. Zhang) (American Psychological Association, 2010, pp. 87-88).
  • Do not insert space after periods in abbreviations or around colons in ratios
  • Space twice after punctuation marks at the end of a sentence

Page Header (Running Head)

  • Include a running head on every page.
  • Page number should be flush right.
  • Type the entire title in capital letters. Title should be flush left.
  • Shorten the title if necessary. It cannot exceed more than 50 characters.
  • Actual words "Running head" only appear on title page
  • Title should not include abbreviations or exceed more than 12 words.
  • Title should be typed using upper and lower case letters.
  • Center the title and position in the upper half of the page.
  • Center the author's name directly under the title.
  • Format the name omitting titles (Dr, Prof, etc.) and degrees: First name, middle initial, last name.
  • Center the institutional affiliation directly under the author's name.
  • Author's notes are not required for dissertations and theses.

Introduction

  • Begin introduction on a new page.
  • Identify it with the running head or abbreviated title and the page number.
  • Type the title of the manuscript in upper and lower case letters, centered, at the top of the page.
  • The summary itself should be single spaced without indentation.

References (Reference Page)

  • Starts on new page
  • The word "References" should appear (without quotation marks) centered at the top of the page
  • Double-space all reference entries
  • Use a hanging indent for reference- first line of each reference is flush with the left margin while subsequent lines are indented.
  • Use footnotes to provide additional content or acknowledge copyright permission
  • Content footnotes convey just one idea and only include simple, relevant or essential information
  • Use a footnote to acknowledge the source of lengthy quotes, scale adn test items, and figures or tables that have been reproduced or adapted
  • Number all footnotes consecutively in the order they appear, use superscript Arabic numerals within the text
  • Begin each appendix on a new page.
  • Center the word Appendix and the identifying capital letter (A, B, etc.) at the top of the page.
  • Center the title of the appendix, and use upper and lower case letters.
  • Begin the text of the appendix flush left, followed by indented paragraphs.

Adapted from American Psychologial Association (2010) Publication manual (6th ed.).  Washington, D.C.: American Psychologial Association

  • APA Quick Answers- Formatting Find quick answers to basic APA formatting directly from APA Style

The correct form of abbreviation must be used in reference lists:

chap. chapter
ed. edition
Rev. ed. Revised edition
2nd ed. second edition
Ed. (Eds.) Editor (Editors)
Trans. Translators
n.d. no date
p. (pp.) Page (pages)
Vol. Volume (as in Vol. 4)
Vols. Volumes (as in 4 vols.)
No. Number
Pt. Part
Tech. Rep. Technical Report
Suppl. supplement
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  • Last Updated: Sep 22, 2022 11:20 AM
  • URL: https://libguides.usc.edu/APA-citation-style

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apa 6th edition essay

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APA Style: APA 6 & 7 Comparison Tables

Apa 6 & 7 comparison tables.

Many students come to Walden having used APA 6 in their previous education programs.

These comparison tables offer highlights of some changes between APA 6 and APA 7, which students may find helpful in transitioning to APA 7. Note that these are not comprehensive tables of all changes between the two editions, but the table highlights the most common changes students will use in their writing at Walden.

  • APA 6 and 7 Comparison Tables Download a PDF version of these tables.

Citations

Topic APA 6 (location and old guideline) APA 7 (location and new guideline)
In-text citation format for three or more authors Table 6.1: In in-text citations of sources with three to five authors, list all authors the first time, then use et al. after that; for sources with six or more authors, use et al. for all citations. 8.17 (Table 8.1): In in-text citations, use et al. for all citations for sources with three or more authors.
Direct quotation from audiovisual works No guidance from the manual itself (only the APA Style Blog). 8.28: To quote directly from an audiovisual work, include a time stamp marking the beginning of the quoted material in place of a page number.
Dates listed in secondary source citations 6.17: Secondary source citation does not include the date of the original source. 8.6: Secondary source citation includes the date of the original source.

References

Topic APA 6 (location and old guideline) APA 7 (location and new guideline)
Number of author names listed in a reference 6.27: Provide surnames and initials for up to seven authors in a reference entry. If there are eight or more authors, use three spaced ellipsis points after the sixth author, followed by the final author name (no ampersand). 9.8: Provide surnames and initials for up to 20 authors in a reference entry. If there are 21 or more authors, use the ellipsis after the 19th, followed by the final author name (no ampersand).
Reference format when publisher and author are the same 7.02: When a work's publisher and author are the same, use the word "Author" as the name of the publisher in its reference entry. 9.24: When a work's publisher and author are the same, omit the publisher in its reference entry.
Issue numbers for journal articles in references 6.30; see also 7.01: Include issue number when journal is paginated separately by issue. 9.25: Include issue number for all periodicals that have issue numbers.
Publisher location 6.30: Provide publisher location (city, state, etc.) before publisher name. 9.29: Do not include publisher location (city, state, etc.) after publisher name in a reference.
Reference for online work with no DOI 6.32: If an online work has no DOI, provide the home page URL of the journal or of the book/report publisher. 9.34: If an online work (e.g., a journal article) has no DOI and was found through an academic research database, generally, no URL is needed. The reference will look just like the print version.
Hyperlinks in DOI and URL formatting 6.32: DOI begins with either "doi:" or with "https://doi.org/" in references. The recommendation that URLs should be in plain black text, not underlined, follows examples from APA 6 and the APA Style Blog. 9.35: Both DOIs and URLs should be presented as hyperlinks (beginning with "http://" or "https://"). Standardize DOIs as starting with "https://doi.org/". In documents to be read online, use live links. Blue/underlined or plain black text, not underlined, are both acceptable.
URL retrieval information in references 7.01: URLs include a retrieval phrase (e.g., "Retrieved from"). 9.35: The words "Retrieved from" or "Accessed from" are no longer necessary before a URL. The only time the word "Retrieved" (and not "Retrieved from") is needed is in those rare cases where a retrieval date is necessary (see p. 290, 9.16).
Website name in references for online media Chapter 7: List the URL but not the website in the publication information. 10.15-10.16: Include the name of the website in plain text, followed by a period, before the URL.

Avoiding Bias

Topic APA 6 (location and old guideline) APA 7 (location and new guideline)
Singular usage of "they" 3.12: No mention of singular human pronouns other than traditional, binary "he" and "she" and their related forms. 4.18: Use singular "they" and related forms (them, their, etc.) when (a) referring to a person who uses "they" as their preferred pronoun (b) when gender is unknown or irrelevant.
Disability 3.15: Use person-first language. 5.4: Both person-first and identity-first language "are fine choices overall" (p. 137). Okay to use either one until you know group preference.
Gender and noun/pronoun usage n/a: No guidance. 5.5: Use individuals' preferred names and pronouns even if they differ from official documents, keeping in mind concerns about confidentiality.
Race and ethnicity--Latin@ n/a: No guidance. 5.7: "Latin@" for Latino and Latina can be used to avoid "Latino," which is gendered.
Race and ethnicity--Latinx n/a: No guidance. 5.7: "Latinx" can be used to include all gender identities.

General Formatting/Mechanics

Topic APA 6 (location and old guideline) APA 7 (location and new guideline)
Italics vs. quotation marks 4.07: Use italics to highlight a letter, word, phrase, or sentence as a linguistic example (e.g., they clarified the distinction between and ). 6.07: Use quotation marks to refer to a letter, word, phrase, or sentence as a linguistic example of itself (e.g., they clarified the difference between "farther" and "further").
Numbers 4.31: Numbers in the abstract of a paper should be expressed as numerals. 6.32: Use numerals for numbers 10+ for all sections of the paper including the abstract (numbers in abstracts now follow general APA number rules).
Numbers expressing time 4.31: Although numerals should be used for numbers that represent time (among other things) even if below 10, the number should be spelled out if it refers to an approximate amount of time (e.g., about three months ago). 6.32: Numbers representing time are written as numerals, not spelled out, regardless of whether the time is exact or approximate (e.g. “about 7 weeks,” “3 decades,” or “approximately 5 years ago”).
Punctuation for bulleted lists within a sentence 3.04: For bulleted lists within a sentence (i.e., when each list item is a word or phrase, not a complete sentence), use punctuation after each list element in the same way you would if the sentence had no bullets (i.e., commas or semicolons as appropriate and a period after the last item). 6.52*: For bulleted lists withina sentence, there is the option to either (a) use no punctuation after any of the list items, including the last, or (b) use punctuation after each bulleted item in the same way you would if the sentence had no bullets (as was the case in APA 6). The manual suggests that using no punctuation may be more appropriate for lists of shorter, simpler items. *Note: The term "seriation" does not appear in APA 7 and has been replaced by "lists" (see 6.50 for lettered lists, 6.51 for numbered lists, and 6.52 for bulleted lists).
Spacing after punctuation marks 4.01: Recommendation to space twice after punctuation marks at the end of sentences to aid readers of draft manuscripts. 6.1: Insert only one space after periods or other punctuation marks that end a sentence.
Preferred spellings of technology terms Based on how words were written in 6th edition manual, not explicit examples of spelling, preferred spellings were as follows: "e-mail," "Internet," and "web page." 4.12 indicates spelling should conform to standard American English as in . 6.11: Commonly used technology terms are listed and should be spelled as follows: "email," "internet," and "webpage."
Use of abbreviations in headings n/a: No guidance in manual; On the archived sixth edition APA Style Blog, APA experts recommended not using abbreviations in headings. (see post titled ) 6.25: Abbreviations can be used in headings if they were previously defined in the text (but cannot be defined in the heading itself), or if the abbreviation is exempt from needing definition because it appears as a term in the dictionary.
Acceptable fonts 8.03: The preferred typeface is Times New Roman, 12-point. 2.19: A variety of fonts are acceptable, with focus on accessibility for readers. APA accepts sans serif fonts such as Calibri 11, Arial 11, and Lucida Sans Unicode 10, as well as serif fontssuch as Times New Roman 12, Georgia 11, and Computer Modern 10. Note: Per our institutional requirement, Walden doctoral capstones should use Times New Roman 12. Walden coursework templates also use Times New Roman 12, but the other APA-endorsed fonts arealso acceptable in Walden coursework.

Paper-Specific Formatting

Topic APA 6 (location and old guideline) APA 7 (location and new guideline)
Paper title length 2.01: Recommended title length is no more than 12 words. 2.4: No prescribed limit for title length (though recommendation for conciseness).
Title formatting 2.1: Title in regular type (not bold).

2.4: Title in bold type.

There is an institutional variation for titles in doctoral capstone documents (i.e., dissertations, doctoral studies, or projects): The title is in plain type. Doctoral capstone students should refer to the APA 7 template for their program posted on the page after June 1 to see this Walden institutional variation in place.

Heading levels 3,4, and 5 formatting 3.03: Levels 3, 4, and 5 are all indented and sentence case. 2.27-2.28: Levels 3, 4, and 5 are all title case. Level 3 is now flush left, while 4 and 5 remain indented.

Tables and Figures

Topic APA 6 (location and old guideline) APA 7 (location and new guideline)
Tables 5.1 and 5.16: Table number is plain type, table title is title case and set in italics; see Sample Tables 5.1 to 5.16. 7.2 and 7.24: Table number is bold; table title is title case and set in italics. See Sample Tables 7.2 to 7.24.
Figures 5.1 and 5.12: Figure number and caption are on same line and are placed below the figure; see Sample Figures 5.1 to 5.12. 7.2-7.21: Figure number and caption are on separate lines and are placed above the figure, and the style matches that for tables: Figure number is bold, figure caption is title case and set in italics; see Sample Figures 7.2 to 7.21.

Updated July 14, 2020.

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Sample essay apa 6th edition.

Steven A. McDonald , Liberty University Follow

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McDonald, Steven A., "Sample Essay APA 6th Edition" (2009). Faculty Publications and Presentations . 117. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/educ_fac_pubs/117

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  • APA Citation Generator

Free APA Citation Generator

Generate citations in APA format quickly and automatically, with MyBib!

APA 7 guide book cover

🤔 What is an APA Citation Generator?

An APA citation generator is a software tool that will automatically format academic citations in the American Psychological Association (APA) style.

It will usually request vital details about a source -- like the authors, title, and publish date -- and will output these details with the correct punctuation and layout required by the official APA style guide.

Formatted citations created by a generator can be copied into the bibliography of an academic paper as a way to give credit to the sources referenced in the main body of the paper.

👩‍🎓 Who uses an APA Citation Generator?

College-level and post-graduate students are most likely to use an APA citation generator, because APA style is the most favored style at these learning levels. Before college, in middle and high school, MLA style is more likely to be used. In other parts of the world styles such as Harvard (UK and Australia) and DIN 1505 (Europe) are used more often.

🙌 Why should I use a Citation Generator?

Like almost every other citation style, APA style can be cryptic and hard to understand when formatting citations. Citations can take an unreasonable amount of time to format manually, and it is easy to accidentally include errors. By using a citation generator to do this work you will:

  • Save a considerable amount of time
  • Ensure that your citations are consistent and formatted correctly
  • Be rewarded with a higher grade

In academia, bibliographies are graded on their accuracy against the official APA rulebook, so it is important for students to ensure their citations are formatted correctly. Special attention should also be given to ensure the entire document (including main body) is structured according to the APA guidelines. Our complete APA format guide has everything you need know to make sure you get it right (including examples and diagrams).

⚙️ How do I use MyBib's APA Citation Generator?

Our APA generator was built with a focus on simplicity and speed. To generate a formatted reference list or bibliography just follow these steps:

  • Start by searching for the source you want to cite in the search box at the top of the page.
  • MyBib will automatically locate all the required information. If any is missing you can add it yourself.
  • Your citation will be generated correctly with the information provided and added to your bibliography.
  • Repeat for each citation, then download the formatted list and append it to the end of your paper.

MyBib supports the following for APA style:

⚙️ StylesAPA 6 & APA 7
📚 SourcesWebsites, books, journals, newspapers
🔎 AutociteYes
📥 Download toMicrosoft Word, Google Docs

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APA Changes 6th Edition

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Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Note:  This page reflects APA 6, which is now out of date. It will remain online until 2021, but will not be updated. The equivalent APA 7 page can be found here .

The American Psychological Association (APA) updated its style manual in the summer of 2009. This resource presents the changes made between the fifth and sixth editions. Please note that the first printing of the APA sixth edition contained misprints; if you are using the APA manual, make sure you are using at least the second printing of the sixth edition. Traditionally, psychologists were the main users of APA, but recently, students and writers in other fields began using APA style. Therefore, the sixth edition was written with a broader audience in mind. The changes made to the sixth edition reflect this broader audience. This resource was created following the APA manual’s “What’s New in APA,” is organized according to the APA manual chapters, and highlights updates to the sixth edition that most concern student writers instead of those interested in publishing manuscripts. For a more complete discussion of the changes, please visit this site .

Levels of Heading

Headings are used to help guide the reader through a document. The levels are organized by levels of subordination, and each section of the paper should start with the highest level of heading.

Fifth Edition (Section 3.31 in the APA manual)

Level Format
1 CENTERED UPPERCASE HEADINGS
2 Centered Uppercase and Lowercase Headings
3
4
5

Sixth Edition (3.03)

Level Format
1
2
3
4
5

For example, in a scientific report following APA style, a report contains three sections: Method, Results, and Discussion. Each of these sections start with level 1 headings:

Methods (Level 1)

Site of Study (Level 2)

Participant Population (Level 2)

Teachers. (Level 3)

Students. (Level 3)

Results (Level 1)

Spatial Ability (Level 2)

Test one. (Level 3)

Teachers with experience. (Level 4)

Teachers in training. (Level 4)

Test two. (Level 3)

Kinesthetic Ability (Level 2)

Reducing Bias in Language (3.11)

Using precise language is expected in scientific writing, and the sixth edition offers new ways in which to talk about research participants (note that “subjects” is still an acceptable term to use, but “participants” is more representative of the individuals’ roles in the research project).

Refer to participants at the appropriate level of specificity. The manual provides the example of using "women and men" to refer to all human beings instead of only using man. "Man" is appropriate to use when referring to one man, but not when referring to a population that includes men and women.  The APA Style Blog also includes a page that discusses the use a singular “they.” You can find it here .

Refer to participants how they wish to be called. Try to avoid labels if possible, but if this is not avoidable, be respectful. Focus on the people and not the label. For example, instead of labeling a group “the elderly" or "the arthritic," labels in which individuals are lost, try “older adults" or "a woman with arthritis."

Acknowledge participants’ participation while still following the rules in your field. For example, a cognitive psychology student might use the term “subjects” in her research report, but a nursing student might use the term “patients” to refer to those who participated in his research. Whatever term you choose to use, be sure you are consistent throughout your paper and with your field’s guidelines.

The Mechanics of Style

Spacing (4.01). Regarding punctuation in manuscript drafts, APA suggests using two spaces after periods ending sentences to aid readability.

One space: “Previous research shows that patients are interested in palliative care. This research project explores how to discuss palliative care with patients.

Two spaces: “Previous research shows that patients are interested in palliative care.  This research project explores how to discuss palliative care with patients.

Approximations (4.31-32). Use words to express approximations of days, months, and year.

I started spelunking about four years ago.

Reporting statistics (4.35, 44, and 10). Use a zero before the decimal point with numbers less than one when the statistic can be greater than one.

Do not use a zero before the decimal point when the number cannot be greater than one.

Include effect sizes and confidence intervals with statistics. This will allow the reader to more fully understand the conducted analyses.

Use brackets to group together confidence interval limits in both the body text and tables (5.15).

95% Cls [-7.2, 4.3], [9.2, 12.4], and [-1.2, -0.5]” (p. 94)

Displaying Results

The sixth edition includes a section (5.01) on the purpose of displaying data. This section can help you decide when and how to display your data. For example, your data might show that you are exploring data and information, or your data may serve a storage purpose for later retrieval. More than likely, though, your data will serve either a communication purpose to show you have discovered meaning in data and you want to show/communicate to others this meaning. Figures. Figures include graphs, charts, maps, drawings, and photographs. As a general rule, only include figures when they add to the value of the paper. If the figure merely repeats what is written in the paper, do not include it, as it does not add any new information to the paper. The sixth edition also emphasizes the importance of clearly labeling electrophysiological, radiological, and genetic data (sections 5.26 – 5.28 in the Publication Manual).

Direct Quotations (6.01-21)

The sixth edition provides explicit rules for direct quotations and states that you must credit the source when “paraphrasing, quoting an author directly, or describing an idea that influenced your work” (p. 170). If the quotation is less than 40 words, incorporate the quotation into the text and place quotation marks round the quotation. Cite the source immediately after the quotation and continue with the sentence.

Porter (1998) has stated that “The internetworked classroom has the potential (not yet realized) to empower students” (p. 5), and this research project examines this potential.

If the quotation you are using falls at the end of the sentence, enclose the quotation with quotation marks without including the quotation’s original punctuation. Here’s a sentence as it appears in the original text:

“Semantic frames/domains represent one of the two major organizing principles for conceptual structure” (Croft & Cruse, 2004, p. 32).

Here’s what the sentence looks like when quoted within a text:

In arguing for frame semantics, Croft and Cruse (2004) asserted, “Semantic frames/domains represent one of the two major organizing principles for conceptual structure” (p. 32).

If the quotation has more than 40 words, use a block quotation. Begin the quotation on a new line and indent a half-inch from the left margin. Double-space the entire quotation, and at the end of the quotation, provide citation information after the final punctuation mark.

John Nicholson (1820) anticipated this effect when discussing farming methods in the nineteenth century:

Perhaps it would be well, if some institution were devised, and supported at the expense of the State, which would be so organized as would tend most effectually to produce a due degree of emulation among Farmers, by rewards and honorary distinctions conferred by those who, by their successful experimental efforts and improvements, should render themselves duly entitled to them. (p. 92)

The Reference List

References that appear in the text must appear in the references list in alphabetical order by the author’s last name, with the exception of personal communication; only cite personal communication in the text, not in the reference list. Electronic sources (6.31). Because electronic publishing has become a standard in research, the sixth edition provides an overview of electronic sources and how to reference them, specifically with URLs and DOIs. URLs, more commonly known as a web address, locate information housed on the Internet. The fifth edition specified that references to electronic sources should refer to the article’s or document’s URL. However, they are prone to “breaking” or deleting, and to resolve issues associated with the unstable nature of URLs, publishers have started using DOIs with articles. For more details on how to cite electronic sources with following the sixth edition, consult your APA manual or the OWL’s resource on citing electronic sources . While citing from a webpage, you may not be able to find a page number to refer to, i.e., there is no pagination. Instead, refer to the paragraph number from which you are citing where you would usually insert a page number by using “para.” instead of “p.”. Be sure to include the author’s/s’ name/s and year, too, if applicable.

“The Purdue University Writing Lab and Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) assist clients in their development as writers—no matter what their skill level—with on-campus consultations, online participation, and community engagement” (Purdue OWL, 2010, “Mission,” para. 1).

“Mission” is used here to refer to the section in which this quote was found.

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  • APA title page (6th edition)

APA Title Page (6th edition) | Guidelines, Example, Template

Published on November 6, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk .

An APA title page must include:

  • A running head (including page number)
  • The title of your paper (one or two lines long)
  • The full name of the author(s)
  • Your university or institution

Additional information, such as a course number or an author’s note, should be placed on a separate line below the institution.

APA title page template

Table of contents

Apa title page example, general formatting guidelines, running head, paper title, author name(s), setting up the title page.

APA title page

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apa 6th edition essay

The APA cover page adheres to the  general APA formatting guidelines :

  • 12 pt Times New Roman
  • Double line spacing
  • 1 inch (2.54 cm) margins

The formatting requirements for each element on the APA title page are listed below.

Write “Running head:” followed by a (shortened) version of your paper’s title. It must be:

  • Left aligned
  • Capitalized
  • Maximum 50 characters (not including the words “running head:”)

Read more on how to  insert and format a running head .

Use an informative, striking title that summarizes the main idea of your paper.

  • Apply title case ( capitalize the first letter of each word, except small words such as articles and short prepositions )
  • Keep it shorter than 12 words
  • Don’t use abbreviations or contractions
  • Place the title in the center of the page

The names of the authors are written in full (first name, initial of middle name(s), last name). Include the names of all authors in order of contribution. Don’t include titles (Dr., Prof.) or degrees (PhD, MSc).

APA title page with multiple authors

There are specific guidelines for multiple authors. The formatting guidelines depend on whether the authors have the same affiliation.

APA title page multiple authors
Multiple author variations Example
Two authors, one affiliation John T. Taylor and George Kotler
University of California, Berkeley
Three authors, one affiliation John T. Taylor, George Kotler and Dennis G. Parker
University of California, Berkeley
Two authors, two affiliations John T. Taylor
University of California, Berkeley
Laura Johnson
Harvard University
Three authors, two affiliations John T. Taylor and George Kotler
University of California, Berkeley
Laura Johnson
Harvard University

This video will demonstrate how to set up the title page in Google Docs.

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Streefkerk, R. (2020, November 06). APA Title Page (6th edition) | Guidelines, Example, Template. Scribbr. Retrieved August 19, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/6th-edition/archived-title-page/

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American Psychological Association

Direct Quotation of Material With Page Numbers

When quoting directly, always provide the author, year, and page number of the quotation (in both parenthetical and narrative in-text citations ).

Follow these guidelines when providing a page number:

  • For a single page, use the abbreviation “p.” (e.g., p. 25, p. S41, p. e221).
  • For multiple pages, use the abbreviation “pp.” and separate the page range with an en dash (e.g., pp. 34–36).
  • If pages are discontinuous, use a comma between the page numbers (e.g., pp. 67, 72).

If the work does not have page numbers, provide another way for the reader to locate the quotation.

Direct quotations of material with page numbers are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Sections 8.25 to 8.27 and the Concise Guide Sections 8.25 to 8.27

apa 6th edition essay

From the APA Style blog

apa 6th edition essay

APA Style webinar on citing works in text

Attend the webinar, “Citing Works in Text Using Seventh Edition APA Style,” on July 14, 2020, to learn the keys to accurately and consistently citing sources in APA Style.

IMAGES

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COMMENTS

  1. APA Format (6th ed.) for Academic Papers and Essays [Template]

    A complete guide to APA format (6th edition) for academic papers and essays. Including clear examples and an APA format template for Word.

  2. APA Formatting and Style Guide (6th Edition)

    APA Tables and Figures 1. APA (American Psychological Association) style is most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences. This resource, revised according to the 6th edition, second printing of the APA manual, offers examples for the general format of APA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the reference ...

  3. APA Sample Paper

    Cite your source automatically in MLA or APA format. Cite. Using citation machines responsibly. Powered by. Media File: APA Sample Paper. This resource is enhanced by an Acrobat PDF file. Download the free Acrobat Reader. Click this link to download the PDF handout of the APA Sample Paper.

  4. PDF Running head: APA SAMPLE PAPER AND STYLE GUIDE (6th ED.)

    1. Annotated APA Sample Paper and Style Guide for Student Writers (6th Edition) Center and double-space your title, author(s), and institutional affiliation in the top half of your first page (p. 23). If your title runs more than one line (here and on page 3), you may insert a break wherever you want or can just let your title wrap onto a new ...

  5. APA Sample Paper

    APA Sample Paper Note: This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019. The equivalent resource for the older APA 6 style can be found here.

  6. APA Style Sixth Edition Resources

    The 6th edition blog archive, sample papers, and the tutorials for the past edition.

  7. Quick Guide to APA Citation (6th ed.)

    This citation guide is based on the 6th edition of the APA Manual. The latest edition, published in October 2019, is not yet supported, but we have compiled a quick guide to the most important 7th edition changes. You can also use our free APA Citation Generator to automatically create accurate citations.

  8. Quick Answers—Formatting (6th edition)

    Find answers to common questions about running heads, margins, heading levels, lists, tables, figures, tables of contents, title pages, serial commas, and quotations in sixth edition APA Style.

  9. LibGuides: APA Style -6th edition: Sample APA Paper

    APA Style -6th edition This guide provides resources for learning how to cite your sources using APA Style guidelines.

  10. APA headings (6th edition)

    Learn how to format headings in APA style (6th edition) with examples and tips. This guide covers the five levels of heading styles and when to use them.

  11. Quick Guide

    A brief guide to citing common sources according to the 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

  12. APA Research Paper Formatting: APA 6th Edition Resources

    APA Research Paper Formatting: APA 6th Edition Resources. APA (American Psychological Association) style was developed by social and behavioral scientists to standardize scientific writing. It is used for term papers, research reports, empirical studies, literature reviews, theoretical articles, methodological articles, and case studies.

  13. APA Style 6th Edition: Citing Your Sources

    Provide guidance on the APA format style based on the 6th edition of the APA Publication Manual.

  14. APA Style (6th Edition)

    This workshop provides an overview of APA (American Psychological Association) style and where to find help with different APA resources. It provides an annotated list of links to all of our APA materials and an APA overview. It is an excellent place to start to learn about APA format.

  15. Academic Guides: APA Style: APA 6 & 7 Comparison Tables

    APA 6 & 7 Comparison Tables This guide includes links to the Writing Center's pages on APA style.

  16. Quick Answers—References (6th edition)

    Find sixth edition APA Style guidelines on (a) citing websites, ebooks, interviews, Facebook, Twitter, and videos (e.g., YouTube) and (b) formatting DOIs, in-text citations, and reference lists.

  17. "Sample Essay APA 6th Edition" by Steven A. McDonald

    By Steven A. McDonald, Published on 08/01/09

  18. General Format

    General APA Guidelines. Your essay should be typed and 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.

  19. Paragraph Alignment and Indentation

    APA Style includes guidelines for paragraph alignment and indentation to ensure that papers are formatted in a consistent and readable manner.

  20. Free APA Citation Generator [Updated for 2024]

    Generate APA style citations quickly and accurately with our FREE APA citation generator. Enter a website URL, book ISBN, or search with keywords, and we do the rest! Updated with APA 7th Edition!

  21. A complete guide to APA in-text citation (6th edition)

    A complete guide to APA in-text citation (6th edition) Published on November 4, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on May 19, 2022.

  22. APA Changes 6th Edition

    APA (American Psychological Association) style is most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences. This resource, revised according to the 6th edition, second printing of the APA manual, offers examples for the general format of APA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the reference page.

  23. APA Title Page (6th edition)

    An APA title page (6th ed.) consists of a running head, paper title, author name (s) and institutional affiliation. Download the template!

  24. Direct quotation of material with page numbers

    Direct quotations of material with page numbers are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Sections 8.25 to 8.27 and the Concise Guide Sections 8.25 to 8.27. This guidance is the same as in the 6th edition. From the APA Style blog. APA Style webinar on citing works in text. Attend the webinar, "Citing Works ...