What Is APA 7th Edition Format? The Complete Student Guide for 2026
APA 7th edition format is the most widely required citation style for academic writing in the social sciences, psychology, education, and nursing. Updated by the American Psychological Association in 2019, the 7th edition introduced significant changes from the 6th edition — changes that many students and even academic staff are still catching up with in 2026. Understanding APA 7th edition format correctly is not optional: incorrect citations can result in plagiarism flags and grade deductions, even when the underlying research is excellent.
This guide covers everything you need to know about APA 7th edition — from basic formatting rules to in-text citations, reference list entries, and heading hierarchies — with clear worked examples for the source types you are most likely to encounter in thesis and dissertation writing.
What Changed in APA 7th Edition
The shift from APA 6th to 7th edition introduced several important changes that every student using APA format must know:
- Running head removed for student papers: Student papers no longer require a running head. Only papers submitted for publication retain it.
- Up to 20 authors listed: Previously, works with more than six authors listed six then “et al.” APA 7th edition lists all authors up to 20, using “et al.” only after that.
- DOI format updated: DOIs are now presented as full hyperlinks: https://doi.org/xxxxxx (not as “doi:xxxxxx”).
- “Place of publication” removed: Book references no longer require the publisher’s city and state.
- Font flexibility: APA 7th permits multiple font options (Times New Roman 12pt, Calibri 11pt, Arial 11pt, Lucida Sans Unicode 10pt, Georgia 11pt).
- Singular “they” endorsed: APA 7th edition explicitly endorses the use of singular “they” as a gender-neutral pronoun.
- Updated website citation format: Retrieved from dates are generally no longer required for stable web content.
Page Formatting Rules
APA 7th edition specifies the following formatting requirements for student papers:
| Element | APA 7th Edition Requirement |
|---|---|
| Font | Times New Roman 12pt, Calibri 11pt, Arial 11pt, or Georgia 11pt |
| Margins | 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides |
| Spacing | Double-spaced throughout |
| Paragraph indentation | 0.5 inch indent for first line of each paragraph |
| Alignment | Left-aligned (not justified) |
| Page numbers | Top right corner, starting from page 1 |
| Running head | Not required for student papers |
Heading Structure (Levels 1–5)
APA 7th edition uses a five-level heading hierarchy. Each level has specific formatting requirements:
| Level | Format | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Centred, Bold, Title Case | Major sections: Introduction, Method, Results, Discussion |
| Level 2 | Left-aligned, Bold, Title Case | Major subsections within a section |
| Level 3 | Left-aligned, Bold Italic, Title Case | Subsections within Level 2 |
| Level 4 | Indented, Bold, Title Case, ending with period. Text continues on same line. | Subsections within Level 3 |
| Level 5 | Indented, Bold Italic, Title Case, ending with period. Text continues on same line. | Subsections within Level 4 (rarely needed) |
In-Text Citations
APA 7th edition uses the author-date citation system. Every claim you make that is based on someone else’s work must include an in-text citation directing the reader to the full reference in your reference list.
Basic Format
Single author: (Smith, 2023)
Two authors: (Smith & Jones, 2022)
Three or more authors: (Smith et al., 2021)
Corporate author: (World Health Organization, 2024)
Direct Quotations
For direct quotations (word-for-word copying), include the page number:
(Smith, 2023, p. 47)
For a specific section without page numbers: (Smith, 2023, para. 3)
Narrative Citations
Author name in the sentence: Smith (2023) argued that…
Two authors in the sentence: Smith and Jones (2022) found that…
Three or more: Smith et al. (2021) demonstrated that…
Multiple Sources in One Citation
When citing multiple works together, list them alphabetically by author separated by semicolons:
(Brown, 2020; Jones, 2022; Smith, 2021)
Reference List Format
The reference list appears at the end of the document on a new page with the centred Level 1 heading References. Key formatting rules:
- Double-spaced throughout
- Hanging indent: first line flush left, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inch
- Alphabetical order by first author’s surname
- All authors listed (up to 20; et al. after 20)
- DOI as full URL: https://doi.org/xxxxxx
- URL for web sources (no “Retrieved from” date for stable sources)
Common Reference Examples
Journal Article
Smith, J. A., & Jones, B. C. (2023). The impact of AI on academic writing. Journal of Educational Research, 45(2), 112–128. https://doi.org/10.1000/xyz123
Book
Brown, T. (2022). Academic writing in the digital age. Oxford University Press.
Book Chapter in an Edited Volume
Williams, R. (2021). Citation styles in the 21st century. In M. Davis & L. Chen (Eds.), Advances in academic publishing (pp. 45–67). Cambridge University Press.
Website
American Psychological Association. (2024). APA style resources. https://apastyle.apa.org
No Author Website
APA 7th edition guide for students. (2024, January 15). University Writing Centre. https://www.university.edu/writing-centre/apa
Conference Paper
Chen, L., & Park, S. (2023, September 5–8). AI-assisted citation tools in postgraduate education [Paper presentation]. British Educational Research Association Annual Conference, Birmingham, UK.
Formatting all of these references by hand is time-consuming and error-prone. Tesify’s Auto Bibliography generates APA 7th edition references automatically from the sources you verify, saving hours of manual formatting work.
Student Papers vs Professional Manuscripts
APA 7th edition introduced explicit distinctions between student papers and professional manuscripts submitted for publication:
| Element | Student Paper | Professional Manuscript |
|---|---|---|
| Running head | Not required | Required |
| Author note | Optional | Required |
| Abstract | Check with instructor | Always required |
| Keywords | Optional | Required |
Most thesis and dissertation requirements align with the student paper format. If you are also submitting a journal article from your research, use the professional manuscript format instead.
Students writing theses across Europe use Tesify’s localised platform: in French for French academic conventions, in German for DACH universities, in Spanish for Spanish institutions, and in Portuguese for Brazilian and Portuguese universities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is APA 7th edition format?
APA 7th edition is the current version of the American Psychological Association citation and formatting style, published in 2019. It specifies rules for paper formatting, heading structure, in-text citations (author-date format), and reference list entries. It is the standard citation style for psychology, social sciences, education, and nursing.
What are the main differences between APA 6th and 7th edition?
Key changes in APA 7th edition include: removal of the running head for student papers, listing up to 20 authors (previously 6), DOI presented as full hyperlink, removal of publisher location from book references, expanded font options, explicit endorsement of singular “they,” and updated website citation format (no “Retrieved from” date for stable sources).
How do you cite a journal article in APA 7th edition?
Journal article format: Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Journal Name, volume(issue), page–page. https://doi.org/xxxxxx. Example: Smith, J. A., & Jones, B. C. (2023). The impact of AI on academic writing. Journal of Educational Research, 45(2), 112–128. https://doi.org/10.1000/xyz123
Do student papers need a running head in APA 7th edition?
No. APA 7th edition explicitly states that student papers do not require a running head. Only papers submitted for publication require the running head. This is one of the most significant changes from APA 6th edition, which required running heads for all papers.
How do you cite a website in APA 7th edition?
Website format: Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Site Name. URL. If the content is stable, you do not need to include a “Retrieved from” date. If the author and site name are the same organisation, omit the author: Site Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. URL.
How many authors do you list in APA 7th edition?
APA 7th edition lists all authors up to 20. For works with 21 or more authors, list the first 19, then use an ellipsis (…), then the last author’s name. In-text citations use et al. for works with three or more authors.
What font should I use for APA 7th edition?
APA 7th edition permits several fonts: Times New Roman 12pt, Calibri 11pt, Arial 11pt, Lucida Sans Unicode 10pt, or Georgia 11pt. Times New Roman 12pt is the most traditional and widely expected choice. Check your institution’s specific requirements, as some departments still mandate Times New Roman regardless of the APA flexibility update.
How do you format a reference list in APA 7th edition?
The reference list starts on a new page with the centred heading “References” (Level 1 format). Entries are: double-spaced, in hanging indent format (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inch), in alphabetical order by first author’s surname, listing all authors up to 20, with DOIs as full hyperlinks.
What is the difference between APA and Harvard referencing?
Both APA and Harvard referencing use the author-date system for in-text citations. The main differences are: APA has a standardised manual with specific rules for hundreds of source types, while “Harvard” is a family of loosely related styles without a single governing manual, resulting in institutional variations. APA is typically required in US psychology and social sciences; Harvard referencing is more common in UK universities across a wider range of disciplines.
Can Tesify format my references in APA 7th edition automatically?
Yes. Tesify’s Auto Bibliography feature generates correctly formatted APA 7th edition references from the sources you verify and input. It supports APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, Chicago 17th edition, and Harvard referencing, automatically formatting hanging indents, author lists, DOIs, and all other required elements.
Format Your Thesis References Automatically
Stop formatting citations by hand. Tesify Auto Bibliography generates perfect APA 7th edition references — and all other major citation formats — from your verified sources.
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