Designing a document in APA style requires you to adhere to a specific set of formatting guidelines. Following these rules is important because it allows readers to locate essential information, such as your name and paper title, in an established order. Maintaining design consistency throughout the document helps to strengthen your credibility as a writer in this field. For every APA document:
Left-align the Running head and right-align the page number in the heading. The Running head is a shortened version of your paper title in all caps. For example, Running head: HOW TO FORMAT APA. The label “Running head” only appears on the first page. Successive pages will still have a heading with the all-caps title.
Center the title in the middle of the page. Capitalize all the major words in the title and lowercase propositions and articles. Capitalize the first word of the title regardless of the word type. No bold or underline is needed. Click Enter and include your name centered on the second line. Click Enter again and add your school’s name (Rock Valley College) on the third line.
This section is optional for student essays, so ask your instructor if you need to include it.
Once you format the cover page, insert a page break and begin writing your essay on a new page. Include your full paper title centered on the first line. Then begin writing paragraphs. Indent the first line of each paragraph one half-inch (press the tab key). No extra spacing is needed between paragraphs.
For an example of an APA cover page, visit the Writing Center’s Resource Library at https://www.rockvalleycollege.edu/StudentServices/Tutoring/WritingCenter.cfm