APA Cheat Sheet

(Created by Natalie Gaspard, updated 9/ 2016)

Body of the Paper

  • Body of paper should be in 12pt, Times New Roman font, double-spaced
  • Running head should be included on the title page, along with a page number
  • Example:
  • Running head: FISH ARE AMAZING1
  • Header for the rest of the paper only includes the title and page number
  • Example:
  • FISH ARE AMAZING2
  • Ph. D titles can be mentioned

Removing the Paragraph Gap

  • Not Correct

  • Correct

  • To fix the gap:
  • Go to the “Paragraph” box option

  • Change the “Spacing” section labeled “After” to 0pt

Different Headers

  • Creating different headers
  1. Go to “Insert”

  1. Select “Header” and choose the first option

  1. Type in the title as it should look throughout your paper-not what it should look like on the first page
  1. Leave the cursor at the end of your title and then select “Page Number,”“Current Position,” and then the “Plain Number” at the top of the page

  1. Tab the number over to the right side of the page
  2. Underneath the “Design Tab” there is an option for “Different First Page”- select this once your page number has been set
  3. Selecting “Different First Page”after you have already entered your standard paper header will leave both headers on your paper
  1. Once you have selected ‘Different First Page” your current header will disappear. Repeat steps 2-4 to create your first page header.
  2. Close the header once this has been completed and your headers should be correct.

In-Text Citations

  • In-text citations should include punctuation following the closure of the bracket
  • Example:
  • Fish can swim (Gaspard, 2016).
  • Cite paraphrases and summaries
  • Examples:
  • According to Gaspard (2016), fish can swim.
  • Fish can swim (Gaspard, 2016).
  • Use “para.” if an electronic document has no page numbers but has numbered paragraphs. One can also use the paragraph headings if the document is organized this way.
  • Example:
  • According to Gaspard (2016), … (Ocean Creatures section, para. 5).
  • No author? Use the title of the document
  • Example:
  • (“Ocean Creatures,” 2016).
  • No date? Use “n.d.” for “no date”
  • Example:
  • (Gaspard, n.d.).

Reference Page

  • Ph. D titles should not be mentioned in the reference section
  • Can be mentioned in the body of the paper
  • Place references in alphabetical order
  • Title of article comes before journal or magazine title
  • Journal title is italicized

Additional Help

  • APA Style Blog
  • Good support/answers to common APA writing questions
  • APA Style Website
  • LRC-LRC Coordinator
  • Online Champion
  • APA Made Easy-Scott Matkovich
  • AWESOME book that breaks down everything and includes screenshots
  • Even has information on MACs
  • Check out the Purdue Owl APA Formatting and Style Guidefor in-depth examples
  • Or Google “Purdue Owl APA”
  • Examples for
  • Single & multiple authors, articles in periodicals, books, other print resources, electronic sources, and other non-print sources