APA Style: what it is, basic rules and how to use it
Quick answer
APA Style is a set of rules from the American Psychological Association for formatting academic papers, citing sources in the text and listing references at the end. The current version is the 7th edition. Most U.S. colleges and many journals in the social sciences require it.
In short
APA 7 uses 1-inch margins, double spacing, a half-inch first-line indent, author-date citations and an alphabetical reference list. Your school or instructor may add rules of their own.
What is APA Style?
APA Style is the writing and citation system defined in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. It began in psychology and is now used in education, nursing, business, the social sciences and many other fields. It has one practical goal: any reader can follow your sources back to where they came from.
What are the basic rules of APA 7?
| Element | Rule in APA 7 | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Margins | 1 inch on all sides | Margins |
| Line spacing | Double throughout, no extra space between paragraphs | Line spacing |
| Indentation | 0.5 inch on the first line of each paragraph | Indentation |
| Font | A permitted one, such as Times New Roman 12 pt or Calibri 11 pt | Font |
| Page numbers | Top right, on every page | Page numbers |
| Headings | Five levels | Headings |
| Citations | Author and year in the text | Citations |
| References | Alphabetical list with hanging indent | References |
How do you apply APA Style step by step?
- Set margins, font and spacing before you start typing.
- Cite each source as you use it, not at the end.
- Collect the sources on a new page titled "References."
- Run the checklist below.
APA Style or my school's rules?
If your school publishes its own guide, follow it. Many institutions use APA as a base and change details such as the title page or the left margin. When your instructor and the manual disagree, the instructor wins. More in APA Style by institution.
Which edition should I use?
The 7th, unless your school says otherwise. See APA 7th edition, what changed since the 6th and whether a newer edition exists.
Checklist
- 1-inch margins on all sides
- One permitted font used throughout
- Double spacing, no extra space between paragraphs
- Half-inch indent on each paragraph
- Page number in the top right corner
- Every citation has a reference, and every reference a citation
- Your institution's requirements checked
Guides in this section
- APA 7th edition: key rules, format and what to know: APA 7th edition at a glance: margins, fonts, title page, citations and references in one table, plus where to find the official guidance and sample papers.
- APA 6 vs APA 7: what changed in the 7th edition: Differences between APA 6 and 7: fonts, title page, the et al. rule, DOI format, publisher location and author counts. Comparison table and update steps.
- Is there an APA 8th edition? What is current in 2026: APA 8th edition: what we checked in October 2026, why search results can mislead, and how to confirm the current edition of the Publication Manual yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How do you format an APA Style paper?
Use 1-inch margins, a permitted font, double spacing, a half-inch indent on each paragraph, left-aligned text and a page number in the top right corner. Add a title page, then your text, then a reference list on a new page.
What are the 5 principles of APA?
APA does not publish a list of five principles. Its rules cover paper format, headings, in-text citations, the reference list and bias-free language. Pages in this guide are grouped around those areas.
Is APA 7th edition still current?
As of our October 2026 review we found no announcement of a newer edition, so the 7th is the current one. Confirm on apastyle.apa.org before you submit work that depends on the answer.