APA format is the official style of the American Psychological Association (APA) and is commonly used to cite sources in psychology, education, and the social sciences.
The recent publication of the sixth edition of the APA Publication Manual contained a few changes to the format of an APA style title page.
- Your title page should contain a running head that is flush left at the top of the page and a page number that is flush right at the top of the page.
- The title should be located at the top half of the page and should be centered between margins.
- Use both upper-case and lower-case letters.
- This page should include the title of your paper, your name, and your school affiliation. The APA suggests that your title be no more than 12 words in length. Avoid using titles or degree info (such as Dr. or Ph.D.) before and after your name.
- Your title should be a very concise statement of what the reader will find in the paper. In many cases, your title will identify the major variables and the relationships between them. For example, "Effect of Sleep Deprivation on Math Performance" is an example of a succinct title that clearly describes what the paper is about.
- The APA style guide also advises writers to avoid phrases such as "An Experimental Investigation on..." or "A Study of...". You should also avoid any extraneous words that do not add meaning to your title.
Learn more about how to write a title page.
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