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APA Guide

This guide contains information to help you cite your sources in APA format.

Formatting a References Page in Word 2013/2016

Use the following directions to format your References page in APA format. Also, check out our APA 7th ed. sample paper. 

  1. After completing your paper, click the "Insert" tab and choose "Blank Page" to add a new page to your document. Your header with your page number should appear in the top right corner when you insert the new page.

Task bar of Microsoft Word with the Insert tab outlined in red and the Blank Page icon outlined in a red box.

  1. Click on the "Home" tab, then click the "Justify Center" icon. This will center your title.

Home tab in Microsoft Word with a red box outlining it; center justified icon also outlined in a red box.

  1. Type in your title: References. Your title should be bolded in size 12 Times New Roman font.

References page in APA format with the word "References" centered and in bold.

  1. Hit "Enter" on your keyboard to start a new line. Then, hit the "Justify Left" icon to move the cursor back to the left. Make sure to unbold the text.

Task bar for Microsoft Word under the "Home" tab with the Justify Left icon outlined in red.

  1. Type in your full APA citation for your sources. Remember your References page should still be double-spaced!

References page with full APA citation, but the citation does not have a hanging indent.

  1. All References entries that are longer than a single line must include a Hanging Indent for second (and so forth) line(s).
  2. Choose the line you wish to indent. Move your cursor to the line you wish to indent.
  3. Hit CTRL T (or CMD T on a Mac) on your keyboard.

References page with a full APA citation that includes a hanging indent.

  1. Repeat (if necessary) for your third line.

Formatting a References Page in Word Online

Use the following directions to format your References page in APA format. Also, check out our APA 7th ed. sample paper. 

  1. After completing your paper, add a new page to your document for your Works Cited. Hit "Enter" on your keyboard until you begin a new page.  Your header with your page number should also update automatically (although you will not be able to see them in the document).
  2. Click the "Home" tab, then click the "Justify Center" icon. This will center your title.

Word Online taskbar with "Home" tab outlined in red and the "Center Alignment" tab outlined in red.

  1. Type in your title, References. Your title should be bolded and in size 12 Times New Roman font.

References page formatted in Word Online.

  1. Hit "Enter" on your keyboard to start a new line. Then, go to the "Home" tab and hit "Justify Left" to move the cursor back to the left. Make sure to unbold the text.

Word Online taskbar with "Home" tab outlined in red and the "Justify Left" icon outlined in red.

  1. Type in your full APA Citations for your sources. Remember, your References page should be double-spaced!

References page with a full APA Citation double-spaced, but missing the hanging indent.

  1. All References page entries that are longer than a single line must include a Hanging Indent for second (and so forth) line(s). Move your cursor to the end of the first line.
  2. Using your mouse, move the cursor to the beginning of the second line of your citation.
  3. Hit "Tab" on your keyboard. This should indent only the second line of your citation.

Full APA citation with a hanging indent.

  1. Repeat (if necessary) for your third line.