*Not required in the APA 7th Ed. Manual for students, but may be required by your professor.
APA 7th Ed. permits several styles of font, depending on whether the text will be read on a screen or in physical copy. Always check to see if your professor requires a certain font, especially since Times New Roman 12pt font has been the default for so long.
Level 1 Heading
This is the highest level of heading and should be used to denote the primary sections within a paper such as the Methods, Discussion, or Conclusion of a paper. Level one headings should be centered, bolded, use title case (upper and lower case letters). All headings should be the same font size as the rest of your manuscript.
Level 2 Heading
Use this level of heading to organize topics within the major sections of your manuscript. For example, you could have sections for sample selection, participant recruitment, and/or assessment tool in the methods section of your manuscript. The level 2 heading is formatted the same as the level 1 heading except it should be flush with the left margin.
Level 3 Heading
This heading is very useful for organizing specific subjects within a topic. For example, if assessing different sources in a literature review, list the name of each source as a level 3 heading at the beginning of the paragraph in which a specific source is discussed. This heading is formatted the same as a level 2 heading, except it is italicized.
Level 4 Heading. These headings appear in-line with the paragraph, bolded, in sentence case, and are indented with the paragraph. This is the second-most specific level of heading provided by the APA Manual.
Level 5 Heading. These headings also appear in-line with the paragraph, bolded, in sentence case, indented with the paragraph, and are italicized. This is the most specific level of heading used for topic organization provided by the APA Manual.
Each table is assigned a number in bold based on the order it is used in the article (i.e. Table 1). Located below the table number (and just above the table itself) should be a clear but concise title in italics and title case. Notes about the table go underneath the table. To format one, put "Note." in italics with a period or colon then follow it with a description or explanation.
Example:
Example provided courtesy of Dr. Kandi Pitchford.
For more information on formatting and when to use tables, check out the link below.
Each figure is assigned a number in bold based on the order it is used in the article (i.e. Figure 1). Located below the figure number (and just above the figure itself) should be a clear but concise title in italics and title case. Notes about the figure go underneath. To format a note, put "Note." in italics with a period or colon then follow it with a description or explanation.
Example:
Figure 1
Official Emblem of South College
Note: Emblem provided with the approval of South College
For more examples and guidelines for how and when to use figures in a paper, follow the link below.
An appendix is a section that can come after the reference list that includes supplementary content that doesn't belong in the main text.
Examples: results table from a cited source, an info-graphic, a guideline checklist, or a diagram of complex equipment.
Point readers to the content of an appendix in the body of an article by referring to the corresponding appendix heading. Each appendix should be referred to at least once in the text with a parenthesis.
Example: This kitchen is rated a 5 on the Hazard Scale (for more information on the Hazard Scale, see Appendix B).
Format an appendix the same way you would start a reference list, with "Appendix" and the title bolded and centered at the top of a new page. If there is more than one appendix, start each on a new page and include a capital letter with the heading. Appendices are lettered and organized by the order they are referred to in the body of the article.
Example:
Appendix B
Hazard Scale
