Conditions A-Z
APA Style is a set of rules for writing academic papers, developed by the American Psychological Association. It provides a standard for formatting documents, citing sources, and structuring ideas clearly and concisely. Originally developed for psychology, APA Style is now widely used across the social sciences, education, nursing, and business.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What disciplines use APA Style?
APA is widely used in psychology, sociology, education, business, health sciences, and communication fields.
How do I cite a website in APA?
Use this format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of webpage. Site name. URL
Is an abstract always required?
No. Abstracts are typically required for research papers and theses, but not for short essays unless instructed.
Can I use bullet points in APA Style?
Yes, APA allows bulleted or numbered lists, especially for clarity in presenting information.
KEY TERMS
Title Page
Your title page must include:
-
Title (bolded and centered)
-
Author name(s)
-
Institutional affiliation
-
Course number and name
-
Instructor’s name
Abstract
A 150–250 word summary of your paper. It should appear on a new page, titled “Abstract,” and not be indented.
In-Text Citations
APA uses the author–date citation style.
Headings and Subheadings
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APA provides five levels of headings. Example:
-
Level 1: Centered, Bold, Title Case
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Level 2: Left-Aligned, Bold, Title Case
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Level 3: Left-Aligned, Bold Italic, Title Case
-
Level 4: Indented, Bold, Title Case, Period. Start text after.
-
Level 5: Indented, Bold Italic, Title Case, Period. Start text after.
-
Title Page
Your title page must include:
-
Title (bolded and centered)
-
Author name(s)
-
Institutional affiliation
-
Course number and name
-
Instructor’s name
Abstract
A 150–250 word summary of your paper. It should appear on a new page, titled “Abstract,” and not be indented.
In-Text Citations
APA uses the author–date citation style.
Headings and Subheadings
-
APA provides five levels of headings. Example:
-
Level 1: Centered, Bold, Title Case
-
Level 2: Left-Aligned, Bold, Title Case
-
Level 3: Left-Aligned, Bold Italic, Title Case
-
Level 4: Indented, Bold, Title Case, Period. Start text after.
-
Level 5: Indented, Bold Italic, Title Case, Period. Start text after.
-
Explore APA Style and Writing
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