Are you struggling to format your Google Docs document in APA style? Don’t worry! This comprehensive guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions and helpful tips to ensure your document meets APA formatting requirements. Whether you’re writing a research paper, essay, or professional report, this guide will empower you to create polished and credible documents that adhere to the latest APA guidelines.
To begin, open your Google Docs document and click on the “Format” menu. Select “Paragraph styles” and then “Options.” In the “Indentation options” section, choose “Hanging” for both “Left” and “Right” indentations. This will create a hanging indent for all paragraphs except the first line, which is the standard APA formatting style. Additionally, set the “spacing” to “Double” and select “Times New Roman” as the font. APA style dictates that all text should be double-spaced and written in Times New Roman font with a font size of 12 points.
Next, create a header for your document. Go to “Insert” and select “Header & page number.” In the header section, type your paper’s title in Title Case and left-align it. On the same line, right-align the page number. The page number should be in Arabic numerals and should start with the number 1 on the first page of your document. Throughout your document, the header should appear on every page except the title page. To achieve this, go to “Insert” > “Header & page number” again and check the box next to “Different first page.” This will allow you to create a custom header for your title page, which typically does not include the page number.
Getting Started with Google Docs for APA Formatting
Google Docs offers a user-friendly platform for creating and formatting documents in accordance with the American Psychological Association (APA) style. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you get started:
Step 1: Create a New Document
- Create a new Google Doc by going to docs.google.com and clicking on the “+” icon.
- To select a page layout, choose “File” > “Page setup” in the menu bar. For APA formatting, set the margins to 1 inch on all sides.
- Select “Font” > “More fonts” in the menu bar and choose “Times New Roman” as the font. Set the font size to 12 points.
- In the “Paragraph” section of the menu bar, choose “Line and paragraph spacing” and set the line spacing to double. Additionally, adjust the paragraph alignment to justify left and right.
Setting the Page Margins and Font Styles
To ensure a professional and consistent appearance, establish appropriate page margins and font styles for your document. Here’s how to do it in Google Docs:
Page Margins
Go to “File” > “Page setup”. Under the “Margins” tab, adjust the top, bottom, left, and right margins to 1 inch (2.54 cm). These margins provide ample space for headings, page numbers, and annotations.
Font Styles
For APA format, select the following font settings:
| Heading | Font | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (Title) | Times New Roman | 14 pt |
| Level 2 | Times New Roman | 14 pt, bold |
| Level 3 | Times New Roman | 12 pt, italic |
| Level 4 | Times New Roman | 11 pt, bold |
| Level 5 | Times New Roman | 11 pt, italic |
| Body Text | Times New Roman | 12 pt |
| Block Quotations | Times New Roman | 10 pt, indented |
Times New Roman is the preferred font for APA format, and the font sizes and styles ensure consistency and readability throughout the document.
Creating the Title Page
1. Create a new Google Doc.
Go to Google Drive and click on the “New” button. Then, select “Google Docs.” A new Google Doc will be created.
2. Set the page margins.
Click on the “File” menu and select “Page setup.” In the “Page setup” dialog box, set the margins to 1 inch on all sides.
3. Create a header.
Click on the “Insert” menu and select “Header.” In the “Header” dialog box, enter the title of your paper. The title should be centered and in 12-point font.
Below the title, enter the author’s name and affiliation. The author’s name should be left-aligned and in 10-point font. The affiliation should be right-aligned and in 10-point font.
Here is an example of a header:
| Title | Author | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| The Importance of Sleep | John Smith | University of California, Berkeley |
4. Create a footer.
Click on the “Insert” menu and select “Footer.” In the “Footer” dialog box, enter the page number. The page number should be right-aligned and in 10-point font.
5. Save your document.
Click on the “File” menu and select “Save.” Enter a name for your document and click on the “Save” button. Your document will be saved as a Google Doc.
Formatting the References List
Your references list should be double-spaced and left-aligned, with a hanging indent of 0.5 inches for each entry. All entries should be listed alphabetically by author’s last name and, if multiple works by the same author are cited, chronologically by year of publication.
Book
For a book, include the author(s), year of publication, title, city of publication, and publisher.
| Example |
|---|
| Smith, J. (2023). The Psychology of Persuasion. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. |
Journal Article
For a journal article, include the author(s), year of publication, title of the article, title of the journal, volume number, issue number, and page numbers.
| Example |
|---|
| Brown, A., & Jones, B. (2022). The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Performance. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 151(2), 321-332. |
Website
For a website, include the author (if known), year of publication (if known), title of the page, website title, and URL.
| Example |
|---|
| National Institute of Mental Health. (2023, January 10). Anxiety Disorders. NIMH. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders |
Inserting In-Text Citations
In-text citations briefly reference the source of a quote or idea in the body of your paper. They provide readers with the information they need to locate the full source in the reference list. To insert an in-text citation in Google Docs, follow these steps:
1. Highlight the text that you want to cite.
2. Click the “Insert” menu and select “Citation”.
3. In the “Citation” window, select the appropriate citation style. (e.g., APA)
4. Search for and select the source that you want to cite.
5. Choose the type of citation that you want to insert (e.g., parenthetical, narrative). For APA style, the preferred citation format is parenthetical:
a) Author-Date:
| Format | Example |
|---|---|
| (Author, Year, p. Page Number) | (Smith, 2023, p. 15) |
b) Narrative:
| Format | Example | |
|---|---|---|
| Smith (2023) argues that… | -or- | According to Smith (2023),… |
c) Multiple Authors:
| Format | Example |
|---|---|
| (Author1 & Author2, Year) | (Smith & Jones, 2023) |
Using the Heading Styles
Google Docs offers built-in heading styles that automatically format text in accordance with APA guidelines. To apply a heading style, highlight the text you wish to format and click the “Format” tab in the menu bar. Under “Paragraph styles,” select the appropriate heading level.
### Level 1 Heading
Use Level 1 headings for the main title of your paper. This heading should be left-aligned, bold, and 12 pt. font size. Do not include the running head or page number in the Level 1 heading.
### Level 2 Heading
Level 2 headings are used for primary sections within your paper. These headings should be aligned left, bold, 12 pt. font size, and have a double line space before and after the heading. Capitalize only the first word and any proper nouns.
### Level 3 Heading
Level 3 headings are used for subsections within your paper. These headings should be aligned left, italicized, 12 pt. font size, and have a double line space before and a single line space after the heading. Capitalize only the first word and any proper nouns.
### Level 4 Heading
Level 4 headings are used for further subsubsections within your paper. These headings should be indented, italicized, 12 pt. font size, and have a single line space before and after the heading. Capitalize only the first word and any proper nouns.
Level 5 Heading
Level 5 headings are the lowest level of heading in APA style. These headings should be indented, italicized, 12 pt. font size, and have a single line space before and after the heading. Capitalize only the first word and any proper nouns.
Level 6 Heading
Level 6 headings are not explicitly defined in APA style. However, they can be used to further subdivide your paper into smaller sections. These headings should be indented, italicized, 10 pt. font size, and have a single line space before and after the heading. Capitalize only the first word and any proper nouns.
| Heading Level | Alignment | Font Style | Font Size | Line Spacing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Left | Bold | 12 pt | Double before |
| Level 2 | Left | Bold | 12 pt | Double before, single after |
| Level 3 | Left | Italicized | 12 pt | Double before, single after |
| Level 4 | Indented | Italicized | 12 pt | Single before, single after |
| Level 5 | Indented | Italicized | 12 pt | Single before, single after |
| Level 6 | Indented | Italicized | 10 pt | Single before, single after |
Adding Footnotes and Endnotes
Footnotes and endnotes provide additional information to readers without interrupting the flow of your text. In Google Docs, you can easily add footnotes and endnotes. In the menu bar, click “Insert” > “Footnote” or “Endnote”. Choose “Footnote” to add a footnote, which will appear at the bottom of the current page. Choose “Endnote” to add an endnote, which will appear at the end of your document. Enter your footnote or endnote text in the pop-up window, then click “Insert”.
Inserting a Footnote or Endnote
To insert a footnote or endnote at a specific point in your text, click where you want to place it. Then, click “Insert” > “Footnote” or “Endnote” and enter your text.
Editing a Footnote or Endnote
To edit a footnote or endnote, double-click on it to open the pop-up window. Make your changes and click “Update”.
Deleting a Footnote or Endnote
To delete a footnote or endnote, double-click on it and click the “Delete” button.
Customizing Footnote and Endnote Options
You can customize the appearance of your footnotes and endnotes by clicking “Format” > “Footnotes and Endnotes”. Here, you can change the numbering style, font, and other options.
Converting Footnotes to Endnotes and Vice Versa
If you want to convert footnotes to endnotes or vice versa, click “Format” > “Footnotes and Endnotes”. Then, under “Conversion Options”, choose “Convert footnotes to endnotes” or “Convert endnotes to footnotes”.
Numbering Options for Footnotes and Endnotes
You can choose different numbering options for your footnotes and endnotes. In the “Footnotes and Endnotes” dialog box, under “Numbering”, you can choose “Continuous”, “Restart each page”, or “Restart each section”.
| Numbering Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Continuous | Footnotes or endnotes will be numbered consecutively throughout the entire document. |
| Restart each page | Footnotes or endnotes will be numbered consecutively on each page. |
| Restart each section | Footnotes or endnotes will be numbered consecutively in each section of the document. |
Managing Long Quotations
For quotations longer than 40 words, indent the entire quotation 10 spaces or 1 tab from the left margin. Do not use quotation marks. Single-space the quotation, and at the end, provide the citation information.
Example:
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| “This is a long quotation that requires special formatting because it is over 40 words long. It should be indented 10 spaces from the left margin and single-spaced.” | This is a long quotation that requires special formatting because it is over 40 words long. It should be indented 10 spaces from the left margin and single-spaced. (Author, Year, p. Page Number) |
Block Quotations
For quotations longer than 100 words, start the quotation on a new line and indent it 10 spaces from both the left and right margins. Single-space the quotation and do not use quotation marks. Place the citation information after the quotation, on its own line, indented 10 spaces from the left margin.
Example:
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| This is a very long quotation that requires special formatting because it is over 100 words long. It should be indented 10 spaces from the left and right margins and single-spaced. | This is a very long quotation that requires special formatting because it is over 100 words long.
(Author, Year, p. Page Number) |
Additional Tips for APA Formatting on Google Docs
Setting Up Your Document
Go to File > Page Setup and set the margins to 1 inch on all sides, select “Landscape” orientation, and ensure the font is set to Times New Roman, size 12.
Headers and Footers
Insert an automatic header with your last name and the page number (Insert > Header & Footer > Edit Header & Footer > Header > Insert Page Number > Insert Page Number).
Inserting In-Text Citations
Use the “Citations” add-on (found in the Add-ons menu) to easily insert in-text citations and create a reference list.
Creating a Table of Contents
Highlight the headings in your document and go to Insert > Table of Contents to automatically generate a table of contents.
Using a Template
Download a pre-formatted APA template from the Google Docs Template Gallery (File > New > Gallery > search for “APA”) to save time.
Checking for Errors
Use the integrated spell checker (Tools > Spelling & Grammar). Additionally, install the “Manuscript Cleaner” add-on to detect common formatting and citation errors.
Exporting to PDF
Export your document to PDF (File > Download As > PDF Document) to ensure proper formatting and citation integrity.
Using the Table Feature
Insert a table by going to Insert > Table. Make sure the table is formatted correctly according to APA guidelines, including a table title, column headings, and any necessary footnotes.
Adding Special Characters
Insert special characters, such as the ampersand (&), by going to Insert > Special Characters. This is useful for properly formatting references with multiple authors.
Avoid line spacing after paragraphs
Do not add extra line spacing after each paragraph. In APA style, paragraphs should be separated by a single blank line.
Use the paragraph indentation feature
Indent the first line of each paragraph by 5 spaces or 0.5 inches. Do not use the Tab key for indentation.
Set proper margins
Set the margins to 1 inch on all sides of the document. Use the Page Setup function in Google Docs to adjust the margins.
Use the correct font
Use Times New Roman, 12-point font throughout the document. Do not use other fonts, such as Arial or Calibri.
Create a running header
Insert a running header in the top right corner of each page. It should include the page number and a shortened version of the paper’s title.
Paginate correctly
Use the Header & Page Number function to add page numbers to the document. Start numbering on the title page with the Roman numeral “i.” Switch to Arabic numerals for the rest of the document.
Format the title page
The title page should include the paper’s title, author’s name, institutional affiliation, course number, instructor’s name, and due date. Use the following format and font sizes:
| Element | Font Size |
|---|---|
| Title | 14 pt |
| Author’s Name | 12 pt |
| Institutional Affiliation | 12 pt |
| Course Number | 12 pt |
| Instructor’s Name | 12 pt |
| Due Date | 12 pt |
Use the correct citation style
Follow the APA citation style guidelines for both in-text citations and the reference list. Use the built-in citation tool in Google Docs to automatically generate citations.
Format the reference list
Create a reference list on a separate page at the end of the document. List all sources cited in the paper in alphabetical order by author’s last name.
How to Do APA Format on Google Docs
The American Psychological Association (APA) style is a widely used citation and referencing style in academic writing. Google Docs provides built-in support for APA formatting, making it easy to create APA-compliant documents.
Here are the steps on how to do APA format on Google Docs:
- Open a new Google Doc.
- Click on the “Format” menu and select “Paragraph styles.”
- In the “Paragraph styles” sidebar, click on the “Options” button (three dots) and select “Manage styles.”
- In the “Styles” window, click on the “New style” button.
- In the “New style” dialog box, enter the following settings:
- Style name: APA
- Based on: Normal text
- Font: Times New Roman
- Font size: 12pt
- Line spacing: Double
- Indentation: Hanging indent (0.5 inches)
- Click on the “OK” button.
- To apply the APA style to your text, select the text and click on the “Format” menu. Then, select “Paragraph styles” and choose “APA” from the list of styles.
People Also Ask About How to Do APA Format on Google Docs
How do I create an APA header in Google Docs?
To create an APA header in Google Docs, insert a header by clicking on the “Insert” menu and selecting “Header & page number.” Then, click on the “Options” button (three dots) and select “Edit header & page number.” In the “Header & page number” dialog box, enter the following settings:
- Header type: Custom header
- Header content: Running head: [Your paper title]
- Font: Times New Roman
- Font size: 12pt
- Alignment: Left
How do I create an APA title page in Google Docs?
To create an APA title page in Google Docs, insert a new page by clicking on the “Insert” menu and selecting “Break.” Then, type the following information on the new page:
- Your name
- Your affiliation (e.g., university)
- The course number and title
- The instructor’s name
- The date
- The title of your paper
How do I create an APA reference list in Google Docs?
To create an APA reference list in Google Docs, use the “Insert” menu to insert a new page. Then, click on the “Format” menu and select “Paragraph styles.” In the “Paragraph styles” sidebar, click on the “Options” button (three dots) and select “Manage styles.” In the “Styles” window, click on the “New style” button.
In the “New style” dialog box, enter the following settings:
- Style name: APA Reference List
- Based on: Normal text
- Font: Times New Roman
- Font size: 12pt
- Line spacing: Single
- Indentation: Hanging indent (0.5 inches)
Click on the “OK” button. To apply the APA Reference List style to your text, select the text and click on the “Format” menu. Then, select “Paragraph styles” and choose “APA Reference List” from the list of styles.
