In today’s digital age, Google Docs has become an indispensable tool for students, researchers, and professionals alike. Its user-friendly interface and collaborative features make it the perfect platform for creating and editing documents. However, when it comes to formatting your document according to the American Psychological Association (APA) style, things can get a bit tricky. But fear not! With a few simple steps, you can easily master APA formatting in Google Docs.
First and foremost, let’s address the elephant in the room: the dreaded header. In APA style, every page of your document must have a header containing the page number and a shortened version of your last name. To create a header in Google Docs, simply click on the “Insert” menu and select “Header & Page Number.” Choose the “Blank” template and type in the necessary information. Don’t forget to adjust the page margins to 1 inch on all sides, as required by APA style.
Next, let’s tackle the body of your document. APA style dictates specific formatting rules for headings, paragraphs, citations, and references. To create a heading, use the “Format” menu and select “Paragraph Styles.” Choose the appropriate heading level (e.g., Heading 1, Heading 2) and make sure to apply it to the desired text. Paragraphs should be left-aligned, with a first-line indent of 5 spaces. To create a first-line indent, highlight the paragraph and click on the “Format” menu. Under “Paragraph Settings,” adjust the “Indentation Options” accordingly.
Setting Margins and Line Spacing
To ensure that your document adheres to APA format guidelines, it is crucial to set the correct margins and line spacing.
Margins
- Top Margin: 1 inch
- Bottom Margin: 1 inch
- Left Margin: 1.25 inches
- Right Margin: 1 inch
Line Spacing
In APA format, double spacing is typically used throughout the document, including the title page, abstract, body paragraphs, references, and appendices. To set the line spacing in Google Docs:
- Highlight the text you want to double-space.
- Click the “Format” menu, select “Paragraph styles,” and choose “Normal text.”
- In the “Spacing” section of the “Paragraph Styles” sidebar, set the “Line spacing” to “Double.”
- Click the “Insert” menu in the Google Docs toolbar.
- Select “Header & Page Number” from the dropdown menu.
- Choose the “Custom Header” option from the “Header” tab in the “Header & Page Number” sidebar.
- In the “Header” field, enter the desired running head text.
- Select the “Align Right” option from the “Alignment” dropdown menu.
- Select the desired font, font size, and font color from the “Font” dropdown menus.
- Click the “Apply” button to save your changes.
- Use a concise, informative title that accurately reflects the document’s content.
- Keep the running head to a maximum of 50 characters, including spaces.
- Use a consistent font and font size throughout the document.
- Align the running head right on the first line of every page.
- Avoid using all caps in the running head.
- Font: Times New Roman
- Size: 12
- Line spacing: double
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides
- Open the document.
- Go to Insert > Header & Page Number.
- Select the “Empty” or “Blank” header.
- Open the document.
- Go to Insert > Page Break.
- Set the page margins to 1 inch on all sides.
- Insert the title of your paper, your name, and your affiliation.
- Center the text and double-space the lines.
- Go to Insert > Citations.
- Select “Add a citation”.
- Enter the information for the source you want to cite.
- Click on the “Add” button.
- The citation will be added to your document and a reference list will be created at the end of the document.
Note: Remember that page numbers should be inserted in the header or footer, not affecting the margins or line spacing of the document body.
Formatting the Running Head
Google Docs automatically generates the running head based on the page’s title. To format the running head, follow these steps:
The running head will now appear on every page of the document, aligned right on the first line.
Tips for Formatting the Running Head
Here are some tips for formatting the running head effectively:
| Element | Recommended Formatting |
|---|---|
| Font | Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri |
| Font Size | 10-12 point |
| Font Color | Black |
| Alignment | Align right on the first line of every page |
| Length | Maximum of 50 characters, including spaces |
Using Headings and Subheadings
Headings and subheadings help organize and structure your document, making it easier for readers to navigate and understand your key points. Google Docs provides several heading styles to choose from:
Heading 1 (Title)
This is the highest-level heading, typically used for the main title of your document or section.
Heading 2 (Main Section)
This heading style is used for major sections or divisions within your document.
Heading 3 (Subsection)
Heading 3 is used for subsections within main sections, providing further detail and organization.
Heading 4 (Further Subsections)
This heading style allows you to create sub-subsections, further refining the organization and hierarchy of your document.
When inserting headings and subheadings, keep the following considerations in mind:
| Level | Font | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Heading 1 | Arial | 24pt |
| Heading 2 | Arial | 18pt |
| Heading 3 | Arial | 14pt |
| Heading 4 | Arial | 12pt |
To create headings and subheadings in Google Docs, simply click on the “Insert” menu and select “Heading 1” (or the appropriate level) from the dropdown options.
Creating a References Page
To create a references page in APA format using Google Docs, follow these steps:
1. Create a New Page
Click on the “Insert” menu and select “Page break”. This will create a new page at the end of your document.
2. Set the Page Margins
Click on the “File” menu and select “Page setup”. In the “Margins” section, set the margins to 1 inch on all sides.
3. Center the Page Number
Click on the “Insert” menu and select “Header & page number”. In the “Page number” section, select “Center”.
4. Create a Hanging Indent
Click on the “Format” menu and select “Paragraph styles”. In the “Indentation” section, select “Hanging”.
5. Set the Font and Font Size
Click on the “Format” menu and select “Font”. Set the font to Times New Roman and the font size to 12 points.
6. Use the Reference Tool
If you have the Google Docs add-on “Google Docs Citation Tools” installed, you can use the “Insert citation” button to automatically create and format references. To do this:
| Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Click on the “Insert” menu and select “Citation”. |
| 2 | Select the citation style you want to use (APA). |
| 3 | Enter the bibliographic information for the source you want to cite. |
| 4 | Click on the “Insert” button. |
The reference will be automatically generated and formatted in APA style.
Adjusting Font and Typeface
When writing in APA format in Google Docs, it’s important to adhere to the specific font and typeface requirements. Here’s how to do it:
Font Type
The standard font for APA is Times New Roman. However, other acceptable options include Georgia, Arial, and Calibri.
Font Size
The default font size in Google Docs is 11pt. For APA format, the font size should be 12pt throughout the document, including the main text, headings, and references.
Typeface
The typeface refers to the style of the font. For APA format, the typeface should be regular (not bold, italic, or underlined) for all text, except for specific cases mentioned in the style manual (e.g., book titles in references).
Highlighting
Avoid highlighting text using colors or shading. Instead, use bold or italics to emphasize important information.
Headings
Headings should be formatted using the Heading styles in Google Docs. Level 1 headings should be centered and in bold, while Level 2 and 3 headings should be left-aligned and bold.
References
References should be formatted using the following styles:
| Level | Font | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Book Title | Italicized | 12pt |
| Author | Regular | 12pt |
| Publisher | Regular | 12pt |
| Journal Title | Italicized | 12pt |
| Article Title | Regular | 12pt |
Adding Special Characters
APA style requires the inclusion of various special characters, such as dashes and quotation marks, in your writing. Google Docs provides a convenient way to insert these characters using the following methods:
Using the Special Characters Panel
Click “Insert” > “Special characters” to open the panel. Browse through the available characters and select the one you need by double-clicking it.
Using Keyboard Shortcuts
For common special characters, you can use the following keyboard shortcuts:
| Character | Keyboard Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Em dash (—) | Ctrl + Alt + Minus sign (-) |
| En dash (–) | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Minus sign (-) |
| Ellipsis (…) | Ctrl + Alt + Period (.) |
| Left double quotation mark (“) | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + [ |
| Right double quotation mark (”) | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + ] |
| Single left quotation mark (‘) | Ctrl + Alt + [ |
| Single right quotation mark (’) | Ctrl + Alt + ] |
Writing the HTML Code
For more complex special characters, you can write their HTML code directly into your document:
Example: To insert an em dash, write —.
How To Do Apa Format On Google Docs
To set up an APA style format in Google Docs, open the document you want to format.
Click on the “Format” menu and select “Document styles.”
In the sidebar that appears, scroll down and click on “New style”.
In the “Style name” field, enter “APA”.
In the “Style options” section, change the following settings:
Click on the “Paragraph styles” tab in the sidebar
In the “Heading 1” style, change the font size to 14 points and make it bold.
In the “Heading 2” style, change the font size to 13 points and make it bold.
In the “Heading 3” style, change the font size to 12 points and make it bold.
Click on the “Apply” button.
People Also Ask About How To Do Apa Format On Google Docs
How do I add an APA header in Google Docs?
To add an APA header in Google Docs, follow these steps:
How do I create an APA title page in Google Docs?
To create an APA title page in Google Docs, follow these steps:
How do I cite sources using the APA style in Google Docs?
To cite sources using the APA style in Google Docs, follow these steps:
