How to Write an Essay in APA Format 

If your instructor has asked you to write an APA format essay, it might at first seem like a rather daunting task, especially if you are accustomed to using another style such as MLA or Chicago.

Before you begin your uk essays apa, familiarize yourself with some of the basics.

The following tips offer some useful guidelines that will help you prepare your paper and ensure that it is formatted properly.

What Is APA Format?

Whether you’re taking an introductory or a graduate-level psychology class, chances are strong that you will have to write at least one paper during the course of the semester.

APA format is used in a range of disciplines including psychology, education, and other social sciences. The format dictates presentation elements of your paper including spacing, margins, and how the content is structured.

While it might seem like something you can just gloss over, most instructors, as well as publication editors, have strict guidelines when it comes to how your format your writing. Not only does adhering to APA format allow readers to know what to expect from your paper, it also means that your work will not lose critical points over minor formatting errors.

While this guide offers some basic tips on how to present your APA format essay, you should always check with your teacher for more specific instructions.

Basics of an APA Format Essay

• There should be uniform margins of at least one-inch at the top, bottom, left, and right sides of your essay.
• Your paper should be double-spaced.
• Every page of your essay should include a running head at the top left. The running head is a shortened form of your title, often the first few words, and should be no more than 50 characters (including spaces).
• Every page should also include a page number in the top right corner.
• This title page should include the title of your paper, your name and school affiliation. In some instances, your teacher might require additional information such as the course title, instructor name and the date.
• The title of your paper should be concise and clearly describe what your paper is about.
• Your title can extend to two lines but it should be no longer than 12 words.
•  Located at the end of your paper, the reference section is a list of all the sources that were cited in your essay. References should be listed alphabetically by the last name of the author, and they should also be double-spaced.
• The first word of each paragraph in your paper should be indented one-half inch.
• The American Psychological Association recommends using Times New Roman size 12 font.
• While the formatting requirements for your paper might vary depending upon your instructor's directions, your essay will most likely need to include a title page, abstract, introduction, body, conclusion, and reference sections.