It’s been said that a great research paper begins with a great idea. While that’s true, the process of turning that great idea into a great paper begins with a properly formatted document.

In this, the first installment of the APA 101 series here on the PERRLA Blog, we’ll help with just that!

But before we dive into the wonderful world of document formatting, an important distinction: The guidelines we’ll be covering in this post are for Student Research Papers. The APA 7th Edition provides formatting guidelines for two types of research papers: student research papers and professional research papers. (You can learn more about the differences between the two paper types here.) We’d also point out that your instructor’s formatting requirements should always come first, so you may need to adjust your layout accordingly.

Formatting Requirements

When starting your student research paper, keep in mind most word processors choose default page settings that do not match the APA 7 style rules. A few quick fixes to those settings will make a solid foundation for clean formatting in your paper. Here the checklist:

1. Paper size
   Set the page size to 8.5″ × 11″. Luckily, this is the default for almost all word processors.
2. Margins
   Set 1″ margins on all four sides. Keep the gutter at 0″.
3. Font
   Use an APA-approved, easy-to-read font such as 12-pt Times New Roman or 11-pt Calibri. Whichever font you use, use the same font throughout the entire paper.
4. Line spacing
   Use double spacing throughout the entire paper – title page, body text, headings, block quotes, and the References page.
5. Paragraph indents
   Set a first-line indent of 0.5″ in paragraph settings. This helps avoid tapping the Tab key by hand multiple times.
6. Text Alignment
   Use left alignment so the right edge is ragged. Do not justify the text.
7. Page numbers
   Insert a page number in the header of the document, top-right. The APA 7th Edition does not require a running head for student research papers.

Once all those are squared away, you’re ready to start writing your APA 7 student research paper.

One last thing...

Lastly, a reminder that with PERRLA you can get straight to the business of actually writing your paper. PERRLA creates APA 7 student research papers that are pre-formatted from the start – margins, fonts, spacing, and the page number appear in the correct places, removing any guesswork and preventing hidden formatting issues later. You can try PERRLA completely free for 7 days here.

We'll be back with another installment APA 101 (Title Pages) soon!