Are you starting your first research paper and wondering how to format it correctly in APA 7? You’re not alone. Many students struggle with getting the basics right – margins, font, spacing – before they even start writing.
In this first installment of our APA 101 series, we’ll show you how to set up your student research paper so it’s perfectly formatted from the start. Follow these simple steps and avoid the most common APA mistakes.
APA 7 for Students vs. Professionals
First, it’s important to know that the APA 7th Edition provides two sets of guidelines: one for student research papers and one for professional research papers. In this post, we focus on student research papers, which have slightly simpler rules.
Pro Tip: Always follow your instructor’s requirements first – they may override APA defaults.
Step 1: Set Up Your Paper Correctly
Most word processors start with default settings that don’t match APA style. Here’s what you need to adjust:
- Paper size: 8.5″ × 11″ (standard letter size).
- Margins: 1″ on all sides, 0″ gutter.
- Font: APA-approved options like 12-pt Times New Roman, 11-pt Calibri, or 11-pt Arial. Use the same font throughout.
- Line spacing: Double-space everything – title page, headings, body, block quotes, and references.
- Paragraph indents: First-line indent of 0.5″. Avoid using the Tab key multiple times.
- Text alignment: Left-align text; do not justify.
- Page numbers: Insert in the top-right header. No running head is needed for student research papers unless instructed.
Once your document is set up, you’re ready to start writing – without worrying about formatting errors later.
✅ APA 101 Student Paper Formatting Checklist
Use this checklist to make sure your paper meets APA 7 student formatting requirements:
- Paper Size: ✅ 8.5″ × 11″ standard letter size.
- Margins: ✅ 1″ on all sides, 0″ gutter.
- Font: ✅ Choose 12-pt Times New Roman, 11-pt Calibri, or 11-pt Arial. Consistency matters.
- Line Spacing: ✅ Double-space all text, including title page and References.
- Paragraph Indents: ✅ 0.5″ first-line indent for every paragraph.
- Text Alignment: ✅ Left-align text; keep the right edge ragged.
- Page Numbers: ✅ Top-right corner of every page; no running head unless required.
Pro Tip: Check off this list before writing. Starting with a clean, formatted document saves time and prevents headaches later.
Why Using PERRLA Can Help You
With PERRLA, you can skip the guesswork. It automatically formats your APA 7 student research paper – margins, fonts, spacing, and page numbers are all set up correctly. That means you can focus entirely on writing a great paper, not fixing formatting issues. Try PERRLA free for 7 days (no credit card required) and get started instantly.
Next Steps: APA 101 Series
Stay tuned for the next installment of APA 101, where we’ll cover Title Pages and how to make them perfectly APA-compliant. In the meantime, check out all of our APA 101 guides to make your paper writing faster and easier.