APA Formatting Guide
APA 7th edition requires 12pt Times New Roman, double spacing throughout, and 1-inch margins on all sides. Citations use the author-date system (Smith, 2024). Abstracts run 150–250 words. KERNIT applies all APA formatting rules automatically when you select the APA preset.
APA Formatting Specifications
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Font Family | Times New Roman |
| Font Size | 12pt |
| Columns | 1 |
| Margins | 1in all sides |
| Citation Style | APA author-date (Smith, 2024) |
| Line Spacing | Double |
| Abstract Word Limit | 250 |
How to Format for APA Using KERNIT
- Open KERNIT
Go to kernit.org/formatter. No account required for the first export.
- Paste or upload your paper
Paste Markdown or plain text, or upload a .docx file. KERNIT reads your content and preserves structure.
- Select the APA preset
Click the APA card to apply APA 7th edition formatting rules — double spacing, 12pt Times New Roman, 1-inch margins.
- Review the live preview
KERNIT shows a live-rendered preview with correct running head, page numbers, and author-date citations.
- Export your paper
Click Export DOCX to download a submission-ready APA paper. HTML and LaTeX exports are also available.
APA Formatting Requirements
Typography
APA 7th edition specifies 12pt Times New Roman as the primary font. Acceptable alternatives include 11pt Calibri, 11pt Arial, and 10pt Lucida Sans Unicode, but Times New Roman at 12pt remains the most widely accepted for journal submission. The entire document is double-spaced, including the title page, abstract, body, block quotations, and the references section without exception.
Page Layout
APA papers use a single-column layout on US Letter paper (8.5×11 inches) with 1-inch margins on all four sides. Page numbers appear in the top-right corner of every page. Professional papers include a running head — a shortened version of the title (50 characters or fewer, all caps) — in the top-left header on every page. Student papers in APA 7th edition do not require a running head.
Citations & References
APA uses an author-date citation system. Every source cited in the text must appear in the reference list, and every entry in the reference list must be cited in the text. In-text citations include the author's surname and year: (Smith, 2024). The reference list is alphabetical by author surname, double-spaced, with hanging indents of 0.5 inches. DOIs are formatted as active hyperlinks when available.
Abstract
The APA abstract appears on its own page, titled "Abstract" (centered, bold, not italic). The abstract itself is a single paragraph of 150–250 words, flush left with no first-line indent. Keywords appear below the abstract, labeled "Keywords:" in italic, followed by the terms in lowercase separated by commas. KERNIT formats the abstract page according to these specifications automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does APA 7th edition require double spacing?
- Yes. APA 7th edition requires double spacing throughout the entire manuscript — including the title page, abstract, body text, block quotations, references, and appendices. There is no exception for the references list. KERNIT applies double spacing automatically when you select the APA preset.
- What is a running head in APA format?
- A running head is a shortened version of your paper title (50 characters max, all caps) that appears in the header of every page of a professional paper. In APA 7th edition, professional papers require a running head; student papers do not. KERNIT includes the running head in the header when exporting APA DOCX files.
- How do APA in-text citations work?
- APA uses an author-date citation system. In-text citations include the author's last name and the year of publication in parentheses, e.g., (Smith, 2024). For direct quotes, add the page number: (Smith, 2024, p. 45). For two authors use (Smith & Jones, 2024); for three or more use (Smith et al., 2024).
- How is the APA reference list formatted?
- The APA reference list appears on a new page at the end of the paper, titled "References" (centered, bold). Entries are listed alphabetically by the first author's last name. Each entry uses a hanging indent — second and subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches. KERNIT formats the reference list according to APA 7th edition guidelines.
- Does APA require a DOI in references?
- Yes. APA 7th edition requires a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) when one is available for journal articles, book chapters, and other digital sources. DOIs are formatted as hyperlinks: https://doi.org/10.xxxx. If no DOI is available for an online source, include the URL instead. Print sources without a DOI do not require a URL.