Use 1-inch margins on all sides
Use double spacing throughout the paper
Use a readable 12-point font, such as Times New Roman
Include a title page with paper title, author name, institution, course, instructor, and due date
Place a running head only if required by your instructor or edition
Add page numbers in the top right corner
Center the title on the title page in bold
Begin the paper with an introduction
Use clear section headings when needed
Write in formal academic language
Use in-text citations for all borrowed ideas, quotes, and data
Format in-text citations with author and year
Include page numbers for direct quotations
Paraphrase carefully and still cite the source
Match every in-text citation with an entry in the reference list
Start the reference list on a new page
Center the heading References at the top of the page
Alphabetize references by the first author’s last name
Use hanging indent format for each reference entry
Follow APA rules for books, journal articles, websites, and other sources
Proofread for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and APA formatting
Check APA edition requirements and instructor guidelines before submitting