This checklist is intended to identify the parts of a professional paper formatted in APA style.
Check with your professor to determine which parts are required for your assignment.
This list follows requirements from the seventh edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
Wellehan Library
Saint Joseph’s College
Professional Paper APA Checklist
Click here to see a sample professional paper.
Font and Size
Use the same font throughout the paper.
Times New Roman 12-point and 11-point Calibri are examples of acceptable fonts and sizes.
Click here to see other font recommendations.
Margins
Use a one-inch margin at top, bottom, left and right of every page.
Spacing
Double space throughout.
Click here to see exceptions.
Pagination
Page numbers are used on all pages of the paper.
They should be placed in the header section, flush with the right margin.
Indentation
Indent the first line of every paragraph.
Do not indent the first line of the Abstract.
Running Head
The running head is written in the header section of each page; it is flush with the left margin and written in all-capital letters.
Do not include the label “Running head” on any page.
The running head should contain no more than 50 characters, counting letters, spaces and punctuation.
The running head does not have to use the same words in the same order as the title. Convey the main idea of the title in a shortened form.
Title Page
Click here and scroll to the heading, “Professional Title Page,” for more information.
The title page includes the following:
Running head
Page number
Paper title written in title case, bold, centered and in the upper half of the page
Author name, Affiliation and author note
Abstract
The abstract should be no more than 250 words.
The abstract appears on its own page after the title page.
Center the word “Abstract” in bold title case at the top of the page and write the abstract below the title.
Do not indent the first line.
Text (Body)
Begin the text on a new page after the title page and abstract (if an abstract is used).
Write the title on the first line of the page of the text; the title is in title case, bold, and centered.
References List
Click here for reference list entry examples.
Begin the references list on a new page.
The heading “References” is capitalized, in bold and centered.
The hanging indent format is used for all entries.
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