Library - APA Style - Microsoft Word Tutorial

APA Style - Microsoft Word (2000 - 2003) Tutorial

APA Style - Microsoft Word Tutorial

Setting up a paper in APA Style (format, fonts, spacing, etc.). Based on 5^th ed. of Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2001). Call number: BF76.7 .P83 2001.Chapter 5 provides detailed instructions and images to create a manuscript. See Figures 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3 in Section 5.29
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Layout See “Layout and Formatting Buttons in MS Word” example on the reverse.

Open Microsoft Word. (These instructions were created using MS Office Word 2003.)

1)      Click on View menu and then Toolbars. Place check mark before Standard and Formatting toolbars.

2)       Change size of margins.    (Sections 5.01 and 5.06)Click on the File menu and then on Page Setup. Check margins and layout settings. On Margins tab: Change Margins on the Top, Bottom, Left and Right sides to 1 inch. Click OK. On Layout tab: Header (and footer) should be set to 0.5 inches. Click OK.  NOTE: Sec. 5.06 states that a half-inch top margin for the page header (page number) is acceptable.

3)      Check Tab setup. Click on Format menu, then Tabs. Set Default Tab Stops to 0.5 inches. Click OK.

4)      Set Font style and size.   Note: For fonts in figures (tables, charts, etc.), consult Section 3.80 of the manual.Select Format menu, then Font. Change: Font = Times New Roman, Font Style = Regular, Size = 12 point.

5)      Set double spaced lines.Select Format menu, then Paragraph. On Indents and Spacing tab: look at Spacing. Under Line Spacing choose Double. Click OK.

6)       Create Page Header for shortened title and page numbering. (See Sample APA Title Page on reverse.) (Section 5.06) Click on View menu, then on Header and Footer. Cursor is inside Header box at top of page.  On Formatting toolbar, select Align Right button.  Now type first 2-3 words of title and insert 5 spaces then click insert page number button. Click Close.

Parts of a Paper   (Section 5.15)

Important: use a single space between punctuation marks. Indent paragraphs with Tab button and end paragraphs with Enter button.

Center: On Formatting toolbar, select Align Center button, and start typing (e.g., title, authors, institutions).Left align: On Formatting toolbar, select Align Left button, and type content (e.g., running head; text; reference entry).

Title Page   See “Sample APA Title Page” on reverse for a visual example. Page Header – see Header under Layout instructions at top of page. It contains a shortened title and page number.
     Running Header   = abbreviated title used as running head for published article.
          Maximum 50 characters & spaces.
          On the Formatting toolbar, select the Align Left button. Cursor should be at first line
          of the paper.  Now type “Running head:” (without “ ”) insert a space, and type
          shortened title in uppercase letters.

     Paper Title and Authors (byline) In upper half of the page: Center and type the title.
          Press Enter.  Now center & type author names in order of contributions. Below each
          author is institution name. (Sec. 5.15)

Force a New Page  Place cursor at bottom of current page. Click on the Insert menu, then Break, select Page Break, and click OK.

Abstract   (Most papers do NOT require an Abstract. Use it only if an Abstract is required by professor or for publication.) Force a new page. Center “Abstract” at top. Type abstract as 1 paragraph, block format, max. 120 words.

Text   Force a new page. Center & type full title, press Enter. Change to Left Align, press Tab and begin the paper. NOTE: If Abstract is included, Text begins on page 3. If no Abstract, then Text begins on page 2.

References   (See Figure 5.1 in Section 5.29 of manual for visual example)      Force a new page. Center and type “References” (without “ ”) and press Enter.       Change to Left align and type references, ending each with Enter. Alphabetize by last name of the first author.

Hanging Indent: highlight all entries and select Format, then Paragraph. On Indents and Spacing tab: find Indention, and under Special select Hanging. (All citations have 1^st line flush left & additional lines are indented.)

APA Style – Microsoft Word Tutorial (continued) Layout and Formatting Buttons in MS Word:

Sample APA title page:

APA Style - Microsoft Word (2000 - 2003) Tutorial

Layout See “Layout and Formatting Buttons in MS Word” example on the reverse.

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