APA 7 Formatting Checklist & Interactive Cheatsheet
Checklist Generator
APA 7 Cheatsheet
Student Title Page: Center each of these, double-spaced:
- Paper Title (bold)
- Student Name
- Institution Name
- Course Number and Name
- Instructor Name
- Due Date
In Word: Insert > Page Break, center all elements, bold only the title, Times New Roman 12pt.
Heading Level 1: Centered, Bold. Used for major sections like Introduction, Method, Discussion.
In Word: Apply Heading 1, then fix font to Times New Roman 12pt black.
Heading Level 2: Left-Aligned, Bold. Used for subsections like Participants, Materials, Procedures.
In Word: Apply Heading 2, reset font after.
Heading Level 3: Indented, Bold, Sentence case, period at end. Use sparingly.
In Word: Indent 0.5\", bold manually, add period at end of heading.
Parenthetical: (Author, Year). Example: (Smith, 2020)
Narrative: Author (Year). Example: Smith (2020) argued...
Direct Quote: (Author, Year, p. #). Example: (Smith, 2020, p. 45)
Multiple Authors: 2 Authors: (Smith & Jones, 2020); 3+: (Smith et al., 2020)
No Author: (“Title,” Year); No Date: (Author, n.d.)
In Word: References > Insert Citation > Add New Source.
Page Layout: New page, center 'References' (bold).
Hanging Indent: Paragraph > Special > Hanging > 0.5\"
Format: Author(s). (Year). Title. Source Info. DOI/URL.
Examples:
- Journal: Smith, J. (2020). The study. Journal Name, 12(3), 123-130. https://doi.org/xxxx
- Book: Jones, M. (2019). The book title. Publisher.
In Word: Use Word’s References tab or build manually for full APA control.
Tables: Table number (bold), title (italic, sentence case), table itself (no vertical lines), note below table if needed.
Figures: Figure number (bold), title (italic), image/chart, legend below if necessary.
Placement: Place after first mention or at end of paper (check instructor preferences).
In Word: Insert > Table / Insert > Chart. Format borders and captions manually.
Font: Times New Roman 12pt
Spacing: Double-spaced throughout (Paragraph > Line Spacing > Double)
Margins: 1-inch on all sides (Layout > Margins > Normal)
Page Numbers: Insert > Page Number > Top of Page (right aligned)
Paragraphs: Indent first line 0.5 inches (Paragraph > Special > First Line)
- Not resetting Word heading styles to correct font/size after applying them.
- Extra line breaks between paragraphs — APA requires double spacing only.
- Incorrect hanging indents on reference entries.
- Wrong use of et al. for 3+ authors (always use after first author name).
- Leaving page numbers off the top right corner.
- Misaligning tables/figures titles or using incorrect caption formatting.
Struggling with APA 7 formatting? You're not alone. APA style can feel overwhelming, especially for first-year psychology students writing lab reports, literature reviews, dissertations, case studies, or grant proposals. That’s why we created the SimplyPutPsych APA 7 Interactive Checklist & Cheatsheet — a free, beginner-friendly tool that walks you through APA 7 compliance step-by-step.
✅ Covers all psychology assignment types
✅ Interactive, clickable checklists
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✅ Built specifically for undergraduate & postgraduate psychology students
Disclaimer: This tool is provided as an educational resource to help students better understand and apply APA 7th Edition formatting guidelines. While we strive for accuracy, users remain responsible for ensuring their work fully complies with their institution's APA requirements and individual instructor preferences. Always check your university's official APA guidance for any specific variations or updates.
Who is this tool for?
Undergraduate psychology students
MSc, BSc, and Honours psychology students
Dissertation & thesis writers
Clinical psychology trainees
Anyone submitting APA 7 compliant coursework or journal submissions
Why use this APA 7 Tool?
✅ Interactive checklist removes the guesswork
✅ APA 7 rules explained in plain English
✅ Microsoft Word-specific guidance for easy formatting
✅ Works for every psychology paper type (lab reports, dissertations, IRB, case studies, grant proposals, annotated bibliographies, cover letters)
✅ No subscription, no logins, completely free
How this APA 7 tool works:
1️⃣ Select your document type (lab report, literature review, dissertation, etc.)
2️⃣ Follow the interactive APA checklist to format each section correctly
3️⃣ Use the expandable cheatsheet for deeper APA 7 explanations, rules, and examples
4️⃣ Submit your fully APA-compliant psychology assignment with confidence
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is this APA 6 or APA 7?
✅ This tool is fully updated for APA 7th Edition (APA 7, 2020 guidelines).
Does this tool write my paper for me?
❌ No — but it removes formatting stress, allowing you to focus on your research, writing, and analysis.
Can I use this for other disciplines?
✅ While designed for psychology, it also works for education, social work, nursing, and other APA-using disciplines.
Is this tool free?
✅ Yes! 100% free for psychology students — no account or subscription needed.
Do you offer full APA Word templates?
✅ Yes! You can get fully formatted APA 7 Microsoft Word templates for lab reports, dissertations, IRBs, and more in our Premium Tools Suite.
