APA 7th edition: key rules, format and what to know
Quick answer
APA 7th edition is the current version of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, published in October 2019. It calls for 1-inch margins, double spacing, a 0.5-inch indent, a permitted font such as 12-point Times New Roman or 11-point Calibri, and author-date citations.
What is APA 7th edition?
It is the 2019 edition of the Publication Manual, the book that defines APA Style. It replaced the 6th edition from 2009. When someone says "APA 7," this is what they mean.
What are the key rules of APA 7?
| Element | APA 7 |
|---|---|
| Paper | Letter size (8.5 × 11 in) |
| Margins | 1 inch on all sides |
| Font | Times New Roman 12 pt, Calibri 11 pt, Arial 11 pt, Georgia 11 pt, Lucida Sans Unicode 10 pt |
| Line spacing | Double |
| Indent | 0.5 inch on first line |
| Alignment | Left, ragged right |
| Page number | Top right, every page |
What changed from the 6th edition?
- Student papers have their own title page, with no running head unless an instructor requires one.
- You can choose from several fonts.
- A source with three or more authors is cited as "et al." from the first mention.
- Publisher locations are gone from references.
- DOIs are written as links, and "Retrieved from" is dropped for most sources.
The full list is on what changed in the 7th edition.
Where is the official guidance?
On apastyle.apa.org and in the printed or digital manual. This page is an independent summary. If it differs from the official source, trust the official source.
Checklist
- You are using the 7th edition, or the one your school requires
- Margins, font and spacing set
- Citations in author-date form
- DOI written as a link and no publisher location
Frequently asked questions
What is the 7th edition APA format?
It is the paper format and citation system from the 2019 Publication Manual: 1-inch margins, double spacing, permitted fonts, page numbers in the top right, author-date citations and an alphabetical reference list with hanging indent.
How do you write a 7th edition paper in APA format?
Set margins, font and spacing, add a title page, write with author-date citations and headings by level, and end with a reference list on a new page. The format guides on this site cover each step.
Is there an APA 7th edition template in Word?
Yes. In Word, go to File, New, and search for APA. You can also build your own template with the steps in our Word guide, which is useful when your school adds extra requirements.