APA 7th Edition Formatting Guide

The American Psychological Association (APA) style is used in psychology, education, social sciences, nursing, and business.

Paper Formatting

• Font: Times New Roman, 12pt
• Margins: 1 inch on all sides
• Spacing: Double-space entire document
• Page Numbers: Top right corner
• Running Head: Short title (50 characters max) on every page
• Title Page: Title, author, institution, course, instructor, date

Reference List Formatting

• Start on new page titled "References"
• Alphabetical order by author's last name
• Hanging indent (0.5 inches)
• Double-spaced
• Use DOI when available (preferred over URL)

Common Reference Formats

Journal Article with DOI

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), pages. https://doi.org/xxxx

Example: Smith, J. D., & Johnson, M. L. (2023). Cognitive development in early childhood. Journal of Educational Psychology, 115(2), 245-267. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000456

Book

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book: Subtitle if any (Edition). Publisher.

Example: American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).

Website

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Website Name. URL

Example: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, March 15). Mental health statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth

In-Text Citations

• One author: (Smith, 2023)
• Two authors: (Smith & Johnson, 2023)
• Three or more authors: (Smith et al., 2023)
• Direct quote: (Smith, 2023, p. 45)
• Multiple sources: (Smith, 2023; Johnson, 2022)

MLA 9th Edition Formatting Guide

The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is used in humanities, literature, arts, and languages.

Paper Formatting

• Font: Times New Roman, 12pt
• Margins: 1 inch on all sides
• Spacing: Double-space entire document
• Header: Last name and page number (top right)
• First Page: Your name, instructor, course, date (left-aligned)
• Title: Centered, no extra formatting

Works Cited Formatting

• Start on new page titled "Works Cited"
• Alphabetical order by author's last name
• Hanging indent (0.5 inches)
• Double-spaced
• Include access date for online sources

Common Works Cited Formats

Book

Author. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Date.

Example: Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 1925.

Journal Article

Author. "Title of Article." Journal Name, vol. number, no. number, Year, pages.

Example: Smith, John. "Modern Poetry Analysis." Literary Review, vol. 12, no. 3, 2023, pp. 45-67.

Website

Author. "Title of Web Page." Website Name, Publisher, Publication Date, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

Example: Johnson, Mary. "Understanding Shakespeare." Literature Online, LitWeb, 15 Mar. 2023, www.example.com/shakespeare. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

In-Text Citations

• Basic format: (Author Page)
• Example: (Fitzgerald 45)
• Two authors: (Smith and Johnson 123)
• Three or more authors: (Smith et al. 89)
• No author: Use shortened title ("Title" Page)

Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition

Chicago style is used in history, arts, publishing, and some social sciences. It has two systems:

• Notes-Bibliography: Used in humanities (footnotes/endnotes)
• Author-Date: Used in sciences and social sciences

Notes-Bibliography System (Humanities)

Footnote/Endnote Format

1. Author First Name Last Name, Title (Location: Publisher, Year), page(s).

Bibliography Format

Last Name, First Name. Title. Location: Publisher, Year.

Examples

Book:

1. John Smith, A History of Modern Europe (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2023), 45.
Smith, John. A History of Modern Europe. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2023.

Author-Date System (Sciences)

Reference List Format

Last Name, First Name. Year. Title. Location: Publisher.

In-Text Citation Format

(Last Name Year, Page)

Examples

Book:

Smith, John. 2023. A History of Modern Europe. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
(Smith 2023, 45)

Paper Formatting

• Font: Times New Roman, 12pt
• Margins: 1 inch minimum
• Spacing: Double-space text, single-space footnotes
• Page Numbers: Top right or bottom center
• Title Page: Title, author, course, date (centered)

Citation Style Comparison

Choosing the Right Style

• Use APA if: Writing in psychology, education, social sciences, nursing, or business
• Use MLA if: Writing in literature, arts, humanities, languages, or cultural studies
• Use Chicago if: Writing in history, publishing, theology, or some social sciences
• Always check: Your instructor's or publisher's specific requirements

Citation Best Practices

When to Cite

• Direct quotes from any source
• Paraphrased ideas or information
• Statistical data or research findings
• Images, graphs, or tables from other sources
• Specific facts that aren't common knowledge

Common Citation Mistakes to Avoid

• ❌ Incorrect punctuation: Each style has specific punctuation rules
• ❌ Missing information: Include all required elements
• ❌ Inconsistent formatting: Be consistent throughout your paper
• ❌ Incorrect capitalization: Follow style-specific rules
• ❌ Outdated edition: Use the latest edition of the style guide

Citation Management Tips

• ✅ Cite as you write: Don't leave citations for last
• ✅ Use citation generators: Save time but verify accuracy
• ✅ Keep track of sources: Use reference management software
• ✅ Check formatting: Use official style guides as reference
• ✅ Proofread carefully: Errors can lead to plagiarism accusations