Avoid using your word processor’s auto-formatting features. They often contain errors and prevent you from learning and understanding the purpose of APA layout. Instead, learn how to manually format and get in the habit of setting up your documents to fit APA standards.

APA recommends that you use a clear and readable font. Choose one of the following fonts and use it throughout your paper: 12-point Times New Roman; 11-point Calibri, Arial, or Georgia; or 10-point Lucinda Sans Unicode.

Do not use decorative or “fun” fonts, such as Comic Sans.

Before you start typing, make sure the spacing between lines and paragraphs is correct.

1.  Select the “Paragraph Settings” pop-out window from the “Home” ribbon.

2. Then select “Double” from the “Line Spacing” drop-down menu.

3. On the same window, check the box next to “Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same style.”

Page numbers are required, and should be located in the upper right hand corner of all pages. They must be in the same font and size as your body text. A running head is no longer necessary; include one only if your instructor requires it.

1. Double click near the top of a page to open the “Header & Footer Tools”

2. In the “Design” ribbon that opens, click on “Page Number,” and select “Top of Page” and then “Plain Number 3.”

3. The title page should be page 1.

The first page of your paper will be a title page with six elements:

 Paper Title

 Your Name

Department, School

Course: Course Name

Instructor Name

Due Date

Center these elements and place them mid-way down the page. Make the title bold, and place an extra line between the paper title and your name. Your title page should be double spaced, and use the same font style and size as the rest of your text.

At the top of your second page, write your Paper Title again. It will be centered, in bold, and each major word should be capitalized. Start your introduction paragraph on the next line.

Indent the first line of each paragraph one-half inch by hitting the “Tab” key.

Insert manual page breaks in between the different sections of your paper. So, between the title page and the first page of text, and between the last page of text and the References list. This ensures that the next section of the paper always starts at the top of a page.

1. Place the cursor where you’d like the new page to start.
2. On the “Insert” ribbon at the top of the page, click on “Pages”
3. Select “Page Break”

Start the References list on a new page. Center the word References at the top, in bold, with no additional line spaces after. List your entries alphabetically by first word, and use a hanging indent for all entries:

1. First highlight the entire list.
2. Select the “Paragraph Settings” pop-out window from the Home ribbon.
3. Under “Indentation” you’ll see a drop-down box marked “Special.”
4. Select “Hanging” from the drop- down box.

You now have a professional-looking academic paper in proper APA format.