How to Set Up my Paper in APA Style (Microsoft Word)
Answer
Setting Up Your Paper in 7th Edition APA Style
(Microsoft Word: A Step-by-Step Guide)
Font & Layout:
1. Set up your font and page format before you start typing. (Or use CTRL + A to highlight all text to apply changes at the end.)
- Font - Choose one of these styles & size settings:
- Calibri (11 point)
- Arial (11 point)
- Times New Roman (12 point)
- Other accepted fonts
- Layout
- Line spacing = double-spaced. (Tip: Click Paragraph to get the full menu)
- Margins = 1 inch
Title Page:
2. Your first page is a cover page that shows the title of your work & authorship. All of the elements should be "Center" aligned. Begin this section 3-4 lines down from the top of the page.
- Title of your work (in bold)
- Your name
- Your institution (Northcentral Technical College)
- Course name and number
- Instructor name
- Due date of the assignment
Include one extra line space between your title and your name. See an example.
Page 2:
3. Add your title again to the top of the 2nd page (centered & bold).
Adding Page Numbers:
4. Set up your page numbers. Click Insert > Page Number > Top of Page. Select the choice that adds the page numbers to the top right.
Write the Essay:
5. You are now ready to begin typing your essay. Remember to add placeholders as you write to help you identify the sources of borrowed text or information. (You'll turn those into in-text citations later)!
Formatting your APA References:
6. Fill out your APA references on a clean, last page. Title it "References" in bold font. Once you have all your APA references complete, make sure to move them into alphabetical order by author. Highlight all references & choose "Hanging indent" under Layout > Paragraph > Special Indentation
Reach out with Questions:
Great work! If you run into an APA question, feel free to reach out to the library or ARC anytime. You can also submit a draft of your paper to the ARC (send to: ARC@ntc.edu) if you'd like feedback on your work.
