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APA has a number of rules that your instructor may want you to follow. The following information
came from the 6th edition of the APA Manual. See the page number that follows each style rule for
more information.

NOTE: Your instructor may prefer slight changes to these rules. Check with your instructor for any
variations.
Document Format:
Margins - 1 inch all sides, including top, bottom, left and right (p. 229)
Font preference and size - The preferred font is 12-pt Times New Roman. (p. 228)
Line Spacing - Double spacing should occur throughout the document, including quotations of 40 or
more words. (pp. 171 & 229)
Page Numbers - Page numbers should be located in upper right corner, unless specified differently
from your instructor. Be sure to include a page number on the title page, too! (p. 230)
Paragraph Indentation - Paragraphs should be indented 5-7spaces or 1/2 inch. (p. 229)

Setting up your Paper in Proper APA Style - this is a video tutorial created by the CSS Library. It
will demonstrate how to set up a paper in proper APA Style in Word for a PC.

YouTube video that shows how to set up MS-Word for APA format

Atomic Learning - Many short tutorials on all aspects of APA from how to create a title page to
compiling your references. You will have to log in with your network username and password (same
as for Blackboard and CSS email). To find the tutorials, click on Workshops.
APA Headings

To separate the parts within the body of your paper, APA has five different levels of headings. Think
of these levels similar to what an outline has and how the main topics have Roman numerals,
subtopics have capital letters, the next level has Arabic numbers and so on.

Ask your professor if they wish to have you use headings in your paper. Long, formal papers should
have headings especially if they include an abstract at the beginning.

Here are the five levels and how they should be formatted:

1. Centered, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading

2. Left-aligned, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading

3. Indented five spaces, boldface, lowercase heading with a period. Begin the text of your first
sentence after the period.

4. Indented, boldface, italicized, lowercase heading with a period. Begin the text of your first
sentence after the period.

5. Indented, italicized, lowercase heading with a period. Begin the text of your first sentence after the
period.
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Multiple Authors?
Example:
McGill, I., Glenn, J. K., & Brockbank, A. (2014). The action learning handbook: Powerful techniques for education,
professional
development and training. New York, NY: Routledge Falmer.
Explanation:
List each author last name first followed by the initials for the first and middle names followed by a comma. Insert an
amperstand (&) before the last author.

Eight or More Authors?

List the first six authors' names, then insert three ellipses, and add the last author's name.
Example:
Gilbert, J. R., Smith, J. D., Johnson, R. S., Anderson, A., Plath, S., Martin, G., . . . White, N. (2014). Choosing a
title (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Unnamed Publishing.

Editors?
Example:
Gibbs, J. T., & Huang, L. N. (Eds.). (2007). Children of color: Psychological interventions with minority youth. San
Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Explanation:
Place the word Eds. followed by a period in parentheses also followed by a period after the editors' names.

Only One Editor?

Instead of Eds., use Ed. follow-up with a period, place in parentheses, and end with a period after the editor's name.
Example:
Avery, E. F. (Ed.). (2003). Assessing student outcomes for information literacy instruction.Chicago, IL: American
Library Association.
More information: See p. 184 in the APA Manual 6th Edition for further explanation.

Edition?
Example:
Smith, S. (2008). Clinical nursing skills: Basic to advanced skills (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice
Hall.

Explanation:
Place the edition number in parentheses after the book title. Follow by ed. and a period outside the parentheses.
There is no period after the book title.

Group Author?
Example:
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.).
Washington, D.C.: Author.
Explanation:
This includes a name of a study group, government agency, association, corporation, etc. Put the name of the group
author in the author position followed by a period.
More information: See p. 184 in the APA Manual 6th Edition for further explanation.

No Author?
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Example:
The bluebook: A uniform system of citation (18th ed.). (2015). Cambridge, MA: Harvard Law Review Association.
Explanation:
When there is no author move the title to the author spot. Italicize title and end with a period. Follow title with
publication date and publication information.
More information: See p. 184 in the APA Manual 6th Edition for further explanation.

Example
Talty, S. (2009). The illustrious dead: The terrifying story of how typhus killed Napoleon's greatest army.

New York, NY: Crown.

Explanation
Author: Talty, S.
Begin with last name first, abbreviate first and middle names (if applicable). End with a period.

Year of Publication: (2009).

In parentheses, list the year of publication, which appears on the title page or the title page verso (back
side of title page). Follow the parentheses with a period.
Title & subtitle of the book: The illustrious dead: The terrifying story of how typhus killed Napoleon's
greatest army.
The title and subtitle are separated by a colon. Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle and all
proper nouns or names. Italicize the title and end with a period.

Place of publication: New York, NY:

List the city and state of the publisher's location. Use the standard postal abbreviations for states. For
publishers outside the United States list the city and country. Separate place from publisher with a colon.
If more than one city is given, use the first city listed or, if specified, the name of the publisher's home
office. Separate from publisher with a colon. Ex. = Duluth, MN:
Publisher: Crown.
Shorten publisher's name to most concise form. End the citation with a period.

NOTE: For more information about book citations, see page 203 of the APA Manual, 6th ed. For title
format or publication information, see pages 185 & 186 respectively in the APA Manual, 6th ed.
Book Chapter Example
Mehrotra, C. M., & Wagner, L. S. (2009). Informal and formal care for older persons. In Aging and diversity: An active
learning
experience (2nd ed., pp. 205-252). New York, NY: Routledge.

Book Chapter Explanation

Author of the book/chapter: Mehrotra, C. M., & Wagner, L. S.

Begin with the last name first. First and middle name always represented by initials.

Year of publication: (2009).

Date the book was published. Examine the title page or the title page verso (backside) to determine the date of publication. Place in parentheses with a p

Title & subtitle of the chapter: Informal and formal care for older persons.
Title and subtitle are separated by a colon. Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle, and any proper nouns. End with a period.

Title & subtitle of the book: In Aging and diversity: An active learning experience
Begin with the word "In". Title and subtitle are separated by a colon. Capitalize only the first word of title and subtitle, and any proper nouns. Italicize title a
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Page numbers: (2nd ed., pp. 205-252).

In parentheses, place the edition and/or volume followed by the page numbers of the chapter preceded by pp. Close with a period.

Place of publication: New York, NY:

List the city and state of the publisher's location. Use the standard postal abbreviations for states. For publishers outside the United States list the city an
from publisher with a colon. If more than one city is given, use the first city listed or, if specified, the name of the publisher's home office. Separate from p

Publisher: Routledge.
Shorten publisher's name to most concise form. End the citation with a period.

NOTE: For more information about book citations, see pages 202-203 of the APA Manual, 6th ed. For title format or publication information, see pages 18
APA Manual, 6th ed.

Chapter Example from Edited Book

Vye, C., Jr. (2007). Managing anxiety and related conditions: Solutions and effective approaches. In S. F.
Smith, D. J. Duell, & B. C. Marting (Eds.), Underpressure and overwhelmed: Coping with anxiety in
college (pp. 53-67). New York, NY: Praeger.
Chapter from Edited Book Explanation

Author of the chapter: Vye, C., Jr.

Last name first. First and middle name always represented by initials.
Year of publication: (2007).
Date the book was published. Examine the title page or the title page verso (backside) to determine the date of publication
parentheses with a period following.
Title & subtitle of the chapter: Managing anxiety and related conditions: Solutions and effective approaches.
Title and subtitle are separated by a colon. Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle, and any proper nouns. End

Editor(s) of book: In S. F. Smith, D. J. Duell, & B. C. Martin (Eds.),

Include the word "In" before the editor(s). List names of editors with initials for the first and middle names followed by their
ampersand (&) before the last name followed by Eds. in parentheses (or Ed. if there is only one) with a comma after the pa
Title & subtitle of the book: Under pressure and overwhelmed: Coping with anxiety in college
Title and subtitle are separated by a colon. Capitalize only the first word of title and subtitle, and any proper nouns. Italicize
period!
Page numbers: (pp. 53-67).
Page numbers of the chapter preceded by pp. Place in parentheses. Close with a period.
Place of publication: New York, NY:
List the city and state of the publisher's location. Use the standard postal abbreviations for states. For publishers outside th
the city and country. Separate place from publisher with a colon. If more than one city is given, use the first city listed or, if
of the publisher's home office. Separate from publisher with a colon.
Publisher: Praeger.
Shorten publisher's name to most concise form. End the citation with a period.

NOTE: For more information about book citations, see page 203 of the APA Manual, 6th ed. For title format or publication i
pages 185 & 186 respectively in the APA Manual, 6th ed.
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Qualitative Research – YouTube Tutorials

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