What is APA Format for an Essay?

First and foremost, APA writing format is a standard for academic writing that guides how an essay if physically prepared and how references are cited both within the text and at the end of the text. APA formatting is probably the most common one used by educational institutions for student production of essays and papers.

Originally designed so that there would be standardization of academic writing, the American Psychological Association regularly review its guidelines and changes them according to the evolution of academic research and in an effort to simplify its specific guidelines for writers and for readers.

APA writing format covers virtually all aspects of the “look” of academic writing, and has guidelines for everything from an APA formatted essay to a complex graduate works such as theses and dissertations. As well, it has very specific methods for citing every type of resource that could possibly be cited, both within the text and in a bibliography.

Basic APA paper format guidelines include the following:

  • One-inch margins all around on 8 ½ by 11-inch paper, white, of course
  • Indent each first word of a paragraph
  • Double-spacing
  • Indent long quotations and single-space them
  • Pagination in upper right hand corner of each page
  • Follow instructor’s guidelines for title page, as APA does not have a title page format

Because of the wide variety of sources used today, students can struggle with the details of correct APA citation. Indeed, there are specific guidelines for books, periodicals, essays, single works in editions, published and unpublished papers, and, most recently, Internet resources. Our online custom essay service offers a cheap formatting price, completed by experts, and can generally have it accomplished in one day. You can buy formatting service by contacting us 24 hours a day and placing an order!