APA 101
Information and examples are from the APA blog (http://blog.apastyle.org) and the APA Style website
(http://apastyle.org). On the blog site, you can search for specific questions about APA style. A
tutorial is available for general information about APA formatting on the APA website at
http://www.apastyle.org/learn/tutorials/basics-tutorial.aspx.
Basic Reference List Punctuation note the periods, highlighted in yellow.
Jacobson, N. S., & Truax, P. (1991). Clinical significance: A statistical approach to defining change in
psychotherapy research. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59,
1219. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.59.1.12
Book with No Author or Editor [at least one of the drug books may fit this category]
Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary (11th ed.). (2005). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster.
Government Website - Author is the Entity
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). CDC recommendations for the amount of time
persons with influenza-like illness should be away from others. Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/exclusion.htm
Other Website with Entity as Author
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Basics of APA style tutorial. Retrieved from
http://www.apastyle.org/learn/tutorials/basics-tutorial.aspx
Note: if an article has a DOI, use that instead of a URL. If no DOI, use Retrieved from http://....etc.
Basic In-Text Citation Style Options
After the intervention, children increased in the number of books read per week (Smith & Wexwood,
2010). [citation after sentence; p. # optional]
Smith and Wexwood (2010) reported that after the intervention, children increased in the number of
books read per week. [citation using author name/s to start sentence; p. # optional]
Children increased in the number of books read per week in direct proportion to the instruction (Smith
& Wexwood, 2010, p. 132). [citation with quotes = requires p. # or pp. #s]
See the figure Citing References in Text below for more examples.
All information can be found on the American Psychological Association website and blog site.
How do I format my paper so that the phrase Running head appears on only the first page?
Microsoft Word 2007 and Microsoft Word 2010:
1. On the View tab, select the Print Layout document view.
2. Double click the header area of the document.
3. On the Header & Footer Tools Design tab, in the Options group, select the check box for Different First
Page.
4. In the First Page Header box at the top of page 1, type Running head: and then your abbreviated title.
5. Go to page 2 of your document and delete the phrase Running head.
6. On page 1, Running head will remain in your first page header, and only your abbreviated title will appear
on subsequent pages.
Microsoft Word 2003:
1. On the View menu, click on Header and Footer.
2. In the toolbar that appears, choose the Page setup image and then the tab Layout.
3. In the menu, under Headers and footers, click the box that says Different first page.
4. In the First Page Header box at the top of page 1, type Running head: and then your abbreviated title.
5. Go to page 2 of your document and delete the phrase Running head.
6. On page 1, Running head will remain in your first page header, and only your abbreviated title will appear
on subsequent pages.
All information can be found on the American Psychological Association website and blog site.
Checklist for APA Style Papers
Page 1 Checklist Page 2+ Checklist
Margins 1 inch: top, bottom, left, right Title in CAPS in top margin, not Running head
Page number flush right in top margin Title on first line, title case, centered, NOT bold
Running head in top margin with title or No extra space after paragraphs
shortened title Paragraph Spacing Before and After should be 0 pt.
Running head+title no more than 50 characters In-text citations are done correctly
Running head = sentence case Times New Roman size 12
Title beside Running head = ALL CAPS Double spaced
Running head + title = left justified Left justified
Title = centered, NOT bold Spell check
Title about 1/3 of way down Grammar check
Name, course, and college below title No contractions (its)
References Page Checklist:
References NOT bold
Double space entire page
References in alphabetical order by first word of entries.
All entry first lines are at left margin.
indent after 1st line of each entry. Must hit Enter key to be
able to hit Tab to indent the next line.
*Style formatting functions are available in Word under References.
*Make a master References list of all your textbooks, reference
books, care plan books. Copy and paste into your nursing papers.
All information can be found on the American Psychological Association website and blog site.
