Autor: Claudia Samudio

The APA reference page is the last section of your paper — a complete, alphabetically ordered list of every source cited in your text. It is titled «References» (not «Bibliography» or «Works Cited»), starts on its own page, and follows strict formatting rules for each source type.

Reference Page Format Requirements

Source: APA Publication Manual, 7th Edition, Chapter 9.

Reference Format by Source Type

Journal article

Format: Last name, I. (Year). Title of article. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), page–page. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Example:
Walker, M. P., & Stickgold, R. (2023). Sleep, memory, and plasticity. Annual Review of Psychology, 74(1), 55–78. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.56.091103.070307

Book

Format: Last name, I. (Year). Title of book. Publisher.

Example:
Walker, M. (2017). Why we sleep: Unlocking the power of sleep and dreams. Scribner.

Book chapter (edited volume)

Format: Last name, I. (Year). Title of chapter. In I. Last name (Ed.), Title of book (pp. xx–xx). Publisher.

Example:
Smith, J. (2022). Memory consolidation during sleep. In R. Brown (Ed.), Handbook of sleep science (pp. 112–145). Academic Press.

Website

Format: Last name, I. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Website Name. URL

Example:
American Psychological Association. (2023, March 15). How to cite sources in APA format. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/learn/quick-guide-on-references

More cases, including pages with no author or no date, are covered in our guide on how to cite a website in APA.

Newspaper article

Format: Last name, I. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. Newspaper Name. URL

Example:
Carey, B. (2023, October 12). Scientists uncover new findings on sleep deprivation. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/12/health/sleep-research.html

Government or institutional report

Format: Author or Agency. (Year). Title of report (Report No. XXX). Publisher. URL

Example:
National Institutes of Health. (2023). Sleep disorders research plan (NIH Publication No. 23-7982). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sleep

Alphabetical Ordering Rules

How to Create a Hanging Indent in Word

1. Select all reference entries.
2. Right-click → Paragraph.
3. Under Indentation → Special, select Hanging.
4. Set the By value to 0.5″.
5. Click OK.

Common Reference Page Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a reference list and a bibliography?

A reference list contains only sources cited in the text. A bibliography may include additional sources you consulted but did not cite. APA uses reference lists — not bibliographies.

Should I include the access date for websites?

Only when the content is likely to change over time — like wikis, social media posts, or frequently updated pages. For stable web pages (reports, articles with a clear publication date), no access date is needed.

What if a source has no publication date?

Use «n.d.» in place of the year: Smith, J. (n.d.). Title. Publisher.

For complete in-text citation rules that correspond to each reference type above, see the APA In-Text Citation Guide.

APA in-text citations use the author-date system: every time you quote, paraphrase, or summarize a source, you include the author’s last name and the publication year in parentheses. For direct quotes, you also add a page number. These brief citations point readers to the full reference in your reference list.

Basic In-Text Citation Format

Source: APA Publication Manual, 7th Edition, Chapter 8.

Parenthetical vs. Narrative Citations

APA allows two ways to incorporate a citation into your writing:

Both are correct. Narrative citations work well when you want to emphasize who conducted the research. Parenthetical citations keep the focus on the finding itself. Vary your approach to improve readability.

Number of Authors: Citation Rules

APA 7 simplified the rule for 3+ authors — you use «et al.» from the very first citation, unlike APA 6 which listed all authors for the first mention.

Direct Quotes: Format and Examples

Short quotations (under 40 words)

Incorporate into your text with quotation marks:

Smith (2023) concluded that «the relationship between sleep and memory consolidation is stronger than previously understood» (p. 112).

Block quotations (40 words or more)

Start on a new line, indented 0.5 inch from the left margin, no quotation marks. The citation goes after the closing punctuation:

Walker (2023) described the mechanism as follows:

During slow-wave sleep, the hippocampus replays newly encoded memories and transfers them to the neocortex for long-term storage. This process, known as memory consolidation, requires uninterrupted sleep cycles of sufficient duration to complete all necessary transfer operations. (p. 198)

Special Cases

No author

Use the first few words of the title in place of the author. Use quotation marks for article titles, italics for book or report titles:

(«Sleep Study Results,» 2023) — for an article
(Annual Sleep Report, 2023) — for a book or report

No date

Use «n.d.» (no date) in place of the year: (Smith, n.d.)

Organization or government as author

Spell out the full name on first use; use the abbreviation thereafter if one exists:

First citation: (World Health Organization [WHO], 2023)
Subsequent citations: (WHO, 2023)

Two authors with the same last name

Include first initials to distinguish them, even if the publication years differ:

(J. Smith, 2022) and (R. Smith, 2023)

Two works by the same author in the same year

Add lowercase letters after the year, assigned alphabetically by title:

(Smith, 2023a) and (Smith, 2023b)

Citing multiple sources in one parenthetical

List citations alphabetically, separated by semicolons:

(Brown, 2021; Garcia, 2022; Smith, 2023)

Secondary sources (citing a source you found cited in another source)

Cite only when the original is unavailable. Identify the original work and credit the source where you found it:

Freud (as cited in Smith, 2023)

Only Smith (2023) appears in your reference list — not Freud’s original work.

Common In-Text Citation Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a page number for paraphrases?

APA 7 does not require page numbers for paraphrases, but the manual recommends including them when it would help readers locate the specific passage. For long books with many chapters, a page or paragraph number is helpful even for paraphrases.

What if a source has no page numbers (website, e-book)?

Use a paragraph number (para. 4), a heading name, or a section label to help readers locate the passage: (Smith, 2023, «Results» section, para. 2).

Should I cite every sentence when paraphrasing a long passage?

No. When you are clearly paraphrasing a single source across multiple sentences, APA allows you to cite once at the end of the passage rather than after every sentence. Make it clear from context that the entire passage refers to the same source.

For the complete APA reference list format — how to format books, journals, websites, and more at the end of your paper — see the APA References Guide.

An APA abstract is a 150–250 word summary of your paper that appears on its own page, directly after the title page. It gives readers a complete but concise overview of your paper’s purpose, method, results, and conclusions — enough to decide whether to read the full paper.

APA Abstract Format Requirements

Source: APA Publication Manual, 7th Edition, Chapter 2, Section 2.9.

Do Student Papers Need an Abstract?

Not always. APA 7th edition states that student papers do not require an abstract unless the instructor or institution requests one. For short course papers (5–10 pages), an abstract is typically not needed. For longer research papers, theses, and dissertations, it is generally expected.

When in doubt, check your syllabus or ask your professor before spending time writing an abstract.

Structured vs. Unstructured Abstracts

Example: Unstructured Abstract

This study examined the relationship between sleep duration and academic performance among undergraduate students at a large public university. A survey of 312 students collected data on self-reported sleep hours, grade point average, and study habits over one semester. Students sleeping fewer than six hours per night showed significantly lower GPAs compared to those sleeping seven or more hours (p < .001). Perceived stress mediated the relationship between sleep and GPA in approximately 40% of cases. These findings suggest that institutional sleep health interventions may produce measurable academic benefits at relatively low cost.

Keywords: sleep duration, academic performance, undergraduate students, GPA, stress

Example: Structured Abstract

Objective: To examine whether mindfulness-based interventions reduce test anxiety in high school students.

Method: A randomized controlled trial with 180 students assigned to an 8-week mindfulness program or a waitlist control condition. Anxiety was measured using the Test Anxiety Inventory at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up.

Results: Intervention students showed significantly lower test anxiety at post-intervention (d = 0.72) and at follow-up (d = 0.58) compared to controls.

Conclusions: Mindfulness training produces meaningful reductions in test anxiety that persist at 3-month follow-up. School-based implementation is feasible within existing curriculum structures.

How to Format the Keywords Line

The keywords line appears directly below the abstract paragraph, on the same page. Format it as follows:

• Start with the label Keywords: in italics, followed by a colon.
• List 3–5 keywords in lowercase, separated by commas.
• No period at the end of the keywords line.
• Keywords should reflect the main concepts of your paper — the terms someone would search to find your work.

Correct format:
Keywords: academic writing, APA format, citation style, student papers, reference list

What to Include in Each Part of the Abstract

Abstract Word Count by Paper Type

Common Abstract Mistakes

APA 6 vs APA 7: Abstract Changes

The core abstract requirements stayed the same between editions. The main change in APA 7 is that student papers are no longer required to include an abstract (it was previously expected for all papers). The keywords line was also formalized in APA 7 — in APA 6, keywords were sometimes placed before the abstract rather than after.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should the abstract mention the title of the paper?

No. The title already appears on the title page and as a header on the first page of the body. The abstract should stand on its own — a reader who sees only the abstract should understand the paper’s purpose, method, and findings without needing the title.

Can I use abbreviations in the abstract?

Define abbreviations on first use within the abstract itself, even if you define them again in the body. The abstract is read independently and cannot rely on definitions from the body of the paper.

Does the abstract count toward the paper’s word limit?

It depends on your instructor’s instructions. Most course assignments with a word limit refer to the body text only. When in doubt, ask. Professionally submitted manuscripts typically count abstract and body words separately.

For the complete APA paper structure — title page, abstract, headings, references, and appendices — see the APA Format Guide.

El formato APA 2026 define cómo debe presentarse un trabajo académico: márgenes, fuente, interlineado, numeración de páginas, estructura de secciones, citas y referencias. Esta guía reúne todos los parámetros de la 7.ª edición del Manual de Publicaciones de la APA en un solo lugar, con los valores exactos para cada elemento.

Parámetros de formato APA 2026: tabla resumen

Estructura de un trabajo en formato APA

Un trabajo académico en formato APA sigue un orden de secciones establecido. No todas son obligatorias en todos los documentos: depende del tipo de trabajo y de las instrucciones del docente o institución.

Formato de la portada APA 2026

La portada es la primera página del trabajo y contiene información distinta según si es un trabajo estudiantil o un manuscrito profesional.

Portada para trabajos estudiantiles

Formato de los encabezados (headings) en APA

APA 7 define cinco niveles de encabezado. Solo se usan los niveles necesarios en orden jerárquico (no se puede usar Nivel 2 sin haber usado Nivel 1):

Formato de citas en el texto

Las citas dentro del texto siguen el sistema autor-fecha. El formato varía según el tipo de cita:

Formato de la lista de referencias

La lista de referencias va en una página nueva, con el título «Referencias» centrado y en negrita. Cada entrada sigue estas reglas:

Ejemplos de referencias frecuentes

Libro:
Apellido, Inicial. (Año). Título del libro. Editorial.

Artículo de revista:
Apellido, Inicial. (Año). Título del artículo. Nombre de la Revista, volumen(número), páginas. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Página web:
Apellido, Inicial. (Año, día de mes). Título de la página. Nombre del sitio. URL

Lista de verificación de formato APA antes de entregar

• Márgenes de 2,54 cm en los cuatro lados
• Fuente de la lista aprobada, tamaño correcto para la fuente elegida
• Interlineado doble en todo el documento, 0 pt antes y después de párrafo
• Sangría de 1,27 cm en la primera línea de cada párrafo
• Número de página en esquina superior derecha en todas las páginas
• Portada con todos los elementos en el orden correcto
• Citas en texto con formato autor-fecha
• Lista de referencias ordenada alfabéticamente con sangría francesa
• Alineación izquierda en el cuerpo del texto

Para ver ejemplos detallados de cada sección, incluyendo portada, resumen y lista de referencias con casos específicos, consulta los artículos individuales de esta guía o descarga la plantilla APA en Word.

APA 7th edition does not require a table of contents for standard research papers or student assignments. A table of contents is appropriate only when your paper is long enough that readers need navigation help — typically theses, dissertations, multi-chapter reports, and book-length manuscripts. For a standard 10–20 page course paper, skip it.

When to Include an APA Table of Contents

The APA manual itself does not include specific formatting instructions for a table of contents because APA-style papers are typically journal articles or short academic papers, not book-length documents. The formatting guidance below reflects best practices consistent with APA style principles, adapted for theses and long reports.

APA Table of Contents Format

Example APA Table of Contents

Here is how a correctly formatted APA table of contents looks:

Table of Contents

Abstract ......................................................................................  2
Introduction ..................................................................................  3
   Background and Context ...............................................................  4
   Research Questions ....................................................................  5
Method ........................................................................................  6
   Participants ..............................................................................  6
   Instruments ...............................................................................  7
   Procedure .................................................................................  8
Results ........................................................................................  9
   Quantitative Findings ..................................................................  9
   Qualitative Themes ..................................................................... 12
Discussion .................................................................................... 15
Conclusion .................................................................................... 18
References .................................................................................... 19
Appendix A: Survey Instrument ......................................................... 22
Appendix B: Consent Form ............................................................... 24

How to Create an APA Table of Contents in Word

Method 1: Automatic (recommended)

1. Apply heading styles to your document sections: select each section title and apply Heading 1, Heading 2, or Heading 3 from the Styles panel in the Home tab.
2. Place your cursor where the table of contents should appear (after the abstract page).
3. Go to References → Table of Contents → Custom Table of Contents.
4. Set Show levels: 3 (to include Levels 1–3).
5. Make sure Show page numbers and Right align page numbers are both checked.
6. Set Tab leader to dots (…).
7. Click OK.

Word generates the table automatically from your heading styles. When you edit the document, right-click the table of contents and select Update Field → Update entire table to refresh page numbers.

Method 2: Manual

Type each entry manually with tab stops set to right-align at the right margin, using dot leaders. This works for short documents but becomes impractical for long ones since page numbers must be updated by hand every time content changes.

Matching Heading Styles to APA Heading Levels

Word’s built-in Heading styles do not match APA formatting by default. You need to modify them:

To modify a heading style: right-click the style in the Styles panel → Modify → adjust formatting to match the APA requirements above.

Table of Contents in Theses and Dissertations

For theses and dissertations, your institution’s formatting guide takes precedence over APA. Common institutional requirements that differ from standard APA:

Frequently Asked Questions

Does APA require a table of contents?

No. The APA manual does not require a table of contents for research papers or student assignments. It is only appropriate for long documents where readers need navigation — primarily theses, dissertations, and book-length manuscripts.

Where does the table of contents go in an APA paper?

When included, the table of contents comes after the abstract and before the introduction. It occupies its own page and continues the sequential page numbering of the document.

Should «Abstract» appear in the table of contents?

For most course papers: no, since a table of contents is not required. For theses and dissertations: typically yes — all front matter including the abstract is listed with its page number.

How many heading levels should appear in the table of contents?

For most academic papers, Levels 1–3 is sufficient. Including Level 4 and 5 headings makes the table of contents unwieldy. For theses with very detailed chapter structures, check your institution’s template — some specify the exact number of levels to show.

For the complete APA paper structure including title page, abstract, and reference list format, see the APA Format Guide.

Las Normas APA no especifican un tamaño de hoja obligatorio, pero están diseñadas para papel carta (Letter: 21,59 × 27,94 cm), que es el formato estándar en Norteamérica. En Latinoamérica, la mayoría de instituciones acepta también el tamaño A4 (21 × 29,7 cm). Ambos son compatibles con los requisitos de márgenes, fuente e interlineado de la APA.

Comparación de tamaños de hoja aceptados

La diferencia entre los dos formatos es mínima en ancho (0,59 cm), pero el A4 es 1,76 cm más largo. Esto no afecta la configuración de márgenes (siempre 2,54 cm en todos los lados), pero puede cambiar el número de páginas del documento si se cambia el tamaño a mitad del proceso.

Regla práctica: usa el tamaño que indique tu institución. Si no hay indicación, usa el predeterminado de tu computadora (Letter en Colombia y México; A4 en Argentina, Chile y Perú).

Cómo configurar el tamaño de hoja en Microsoft Word

Para hoja carta (Letter)

1. Ve a la pestaña Diseño (o Diseño de página).
2. Haz clic en Tamaño.
3. Selecciona Carta o Letter (21,59 cm × 27,94 cm).

Para hoja A4

1. Ve a la pestaña Diseño.
2. Haz clic en Tamaño.
3. Selecciona A4 (21 cm × 29,7 cm).

Método alternativo: Configurar página

1. Ve a Diseño → Tamaño → Más tamaños de papel.
2. En el cuadro de diálogo Configurar página, elige el tamaño en la pestaña Papel.
3. Selecciona Todo el documento en el campo Aplicar a.
4. Haz clic en Aceptar.

Cómo configurar el tamaño de hoja en Google Docs

1. Ve a Archivo → Configuración de página.
2. En el campo Tamaño del papel, selecciona Letter o A4 según corresponda.
3. Haz clic en Aceptar.

Orientación de la página: vertical u horizontal

La orientación estándar en documentos APA es vertical (portrait). La orientación horizontal (landscape) solo se usa de forma excepcional para elementos que no caben en vertical, como tablas muy anchas o figuras grandes. En ese caso, la página horizontal se numera igual que el resto del documento y el lector debe girar el papel para verla.

Resumen de configuración de página para un trabajo APA

Errores comunes con el tamaño de hoja

Preguntas frecuentes

¿Las Normas APA exigen obligatoriamente hoja carta?

No. La APA está diseñada para papel carta, pero el manual no prohíbe el A4. En Latinoamérica el A4 es ampliamente aceptado. Sigue siempre la indicación de tu institución.

¿Los márgenes cambian si uso A4 en vez de carta?

No. Los márgenes APA son siempre 2,54 cm independientemente del tamaño de hoja. El área de texto disponible varía ligeramente entre formatos, pero la configuración de márgenes no cambia.

Para una guía completa de todos los parámetros de formato APA, incluyendo fuente, interlineado y numeración de páginas, consulta la guía de estructura y formato APA.

APA 7th edition requires a page number in the top-right corner of every page, including the title page. Page numbers use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) starting from the title page, which is always page 1. There are no Roman numerals, no «p.» prefix, and no page numbers in the footer.

APA Page Number Rules at a Glance

Source: APA Publication Manual, 7th Edition, Section 2.18.

Page Numbers by Section

There is no page-number reset at any point in the document. The numbering runs sequentially from page 1 (title page) through to the last appendix.

How to Insert Page Numbers in Microsoft Word

For student papers (page number only, no running head)

1. Go to Insert → Page Number → Top of Page → Plain Number 3 (this inserts a right-aligned number in the header).
2. Word opens the header automatically. Close it by double-clicking in the document body.
3. Confirm the page number on the title page reads «1».

If Word starts your page numbers at 0 or a wrong number

1. Go to Insert → Page Number → Format Page Numbers.
2. Set Start at: 1.
3. Click OK.

For professional papers (running head + page number)

1. Double-click at the top of any page to open the header.
2. Type your running head in ALL CAPS on the left side.
3. Press Tab twice to move to the right.
4. Go to Insert → Page Number → Current Position → Plain Number.
5. Close the header by double-clicking in the document body.

Critical: Never type page numbers manually. Use Word’s automatic page number field — it updates as you add or remove pages. Manual numbers become wrong the moment your content shifts.

How to Insert Page Numbers in Google Docs

1. Go to Insert → Page numbers.
2. In the dialog, select the option that shows numbers in the top-right corner, starting from page 1 (not page 0).
3. Make sure «Show on first page» is checked — APA requires the page number on the title page.
4. Click Apply.

If Google Docs shows «0» on the title page, go to the header, click on the page number, and adjust via Insert → Page numbers → More options → Start at 1.

APA 6 vs APA 7: Page Number Changes

Page number placement and format did not change between APA 6 and APA 7. Both editions require Arabic numerals in the top-right header starting from the title page. The only change relevant to the header area is that APA 7 removed the «Running head:» label from the title page and made running heads optional for student papers.

Common Page Number Mistakes

Page Numbers in Specific Paper Types

Theses and dissertations

Institutional requirements for theses often differ from APA defaults. Many universities require Roman numerals (i, ii, iii) for preliminary pages (table of contents, acknowledgements) and Arabic numerals starting at 1 for the introduction. Follow your institution’s thesis formatting guide — it takes precedence over APA.

Multi-study papers

Numbering runs continuously through the entire document regardless of how many studies or sections are included. Do not restart numbering at each new study or major section.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the title page get a page number in APA 7?

Yes — the title page is page 1 and the page number should appear in the top-right corner. This is the same requirement as in APA 6.

Should I include the page number on a blank page?

Blank pages are not part of standard APA formatting. If your document has an unintended blank page (often caused by a section break), remove it. APA papers do not use blank separator pages between sections.

Can I right-align the page number manually without using Word’s header tool?

Technically yes, but it is strongly inadvisable. Manual page numbers break as soon as content is added or removed. Always use Word’s automatic page number field to ensure accuracy through revisions.

Does the reference list page need a number?

Yes. Every page of an APA paper — including the reference list and appendices — carries a page number in the top-right corner. There are no unnumbered pages in a standard APA document.

For the complete APA formatting checklist — margins, fonts, line spacing, title page, and running heads — see the APA Format Guide.

Las Normas APA 2026 establecen que el texto del documento debe ir alineado a la izquierda, con el margen derecho desigual (también llamado «sin justificar» o «bandera derecha»). No se usa justificación completa en el cuerpo del texto, salvo en casos especiales como tablas o cuando la institución lo exige explícitamente.

Alineación por elemento del documento

Fuente: Manual de Publicaciones APA, 7.ª edición, Sección 2.23.

¿Por qué APA prohíbe la justificación completa?

El texto justificado (alineado en ambos márgenes) crea espacios irregulares entre palabras que pueden dificultar la lectura, especialmente en documentos académicos que se revisan en pantalla. La alineación izquierda produce un ritmo de lectura más uniforme y consistente, que es la prioridad en publicaciones científicas.

Algunas instituciones latinoamericanas aún exigen texto justificado. Si ese es tu caso, la directriz institucional tiene prioridad sobre la APA.

Cómo configurar la alineación en Microsoft Word

Alineación izquierda (texto del cuerpo)

1. Selecciona todo el texto con Ctrl + A.
2. En la pestaña Inicio, haz clic en el botón de alineación izquierda (ícono con líneas alineadas al margen izquierdo), o usa el atajo Ctrl + Q.

Alineación centrada (portada y encabezados de nivel 1)

1. Selecciona el texto que quieres centrar.
2. Haz clic en el botón de centrado en la pestaña Inicio, o usa Ctrl + T.

Cómo configurar la alineación en Google Docs

1. Selecciona todo el texto con Ctrl + A.
2. Ve a Formato → Alinear y aplicar sangría → Izquierda, o usa el atajo Ctrl + Mayús + L.
3. Para centrar texto específico (portada, encabezados de nivel 1): selecciona ese texto y usa Ctrl + E.

Sangría y su relación con la alineación

La alineación izquierda del cuerpo del texto no significa que todos los elementos comiencen en el mismo punto. Dentro de esa alineación se aplican sangrías específicas:

Errores comunes de alineación

Preguntas frecuentes

¿Mi universidad pide texto justificado. ¿Puedo usarlo con Normas APA?

Sí. La APA indica que los requisitos institucionales tienen prioridad. Si tu reglamento exige justificación completa, úsala. Solo asegúrate de que el resto de los elementos de formato (márgenes, fuente, interlineado) sean correctos.

¿La lista de referencias va justificada o alineada a la izquierda?

Alineada a la izquierda, igual que el cuerpo del texto. La sangría francesa (segunda línea en adelante) no cambia la alineación general de la entrada.

¿Cambió la alineación entre APA 6 y APA 7?

No. La alineación izquierda ha sido el estándar APA en ambas ediciones. El cambio más notable entre ediciones en cuanto a formato fue la ampliación de las fuentes aceptadas y la eliminación del encabezado de publicación en trabajos estudiantiles.

Para revisar todos los elementos de formato APA en un solo lugar — márgenes, fuente, interlineado y numeración — consulta la guía completa de estructura y formato APA.