4 Quick Tip: APA Formatting
There are many types of standardized formatting for writing essays, and one of the most commonly used is APA (American Psychological Association). APA is typically preferred in the science because the focus is the author and date.
Basic APA formatting for student essays (not professional) includes the following:
- One inch margin on all sides
- 12 pt. Times New Roman font
- Double-spaced
- Header in the top right margin with only the page #
- Title page including: the title (bolded), the student’s name, the name of the educational institution, the name of the course, the name of the instructor and the date, each centered on separate lines. Title page information should begin 4 lines from the top of the page, skipping a line between the title and the student’s name.
- Repeat the bolded, centered title on the first line of the second page.
For more formatting information, check out Purdue OWL, the Purdue Online Writing Lab. This is an excellent online resource for all types of formatting and citation information!
Example of APA Formatted Title Page
Essay Title
[Skip This Line]
Student’s Name
Name of Educational Institution
Course Title
Instructor’s Name
Date
Attributions:
Adapted from “Quick Tip: MLA Formatting” created by Dr. Karen Palmer. Last edited 5/28/2020. Licensed under CC BY NC.
