Chapter 6: Formatting

Proper formatting is an important part of the writing process and APA provides a clear set of guidelines for creating a professional looking paper. This chapter will provide you with some of the basics of APA 7th edition formatting that you, as a student, should be aware of and should be using in your academic writing. Indeed, your content is important, but how you present your writing is equally important. This chapter is intended to serve as a very general outline of formatting to assist you with the basics. Specifically, we will outline the following formatting rules:

Although APA does not have a required font, the general rule is that the font you choose should be easy to read and common on most computers. Most instructors will likely ask you to use Times New Roman 12 pt. The font you use must be consistent throughout your paper. Sometimes your text will require additional formatting, such as bold or italics, but the font, Times New Roman, and font size, 12pt, are consistent throughout your paper. To set this, click “Home” in the menu bar. The “Home” menu items will appear and will look something like what is seen in Figure 6.1.