The American Psychological Association (APA) style is a widely used formatting style in academic and professional writing, particularly in the social sciences. One of the key components of an APA-style document is the cover page, also known as the title page. The cover page serves as the first impression of the document and provides essential information about the author, title, institution, and date.
APA Style Cover Page Requirements
A well-formatted APA-style cover page should include the following elements:
- Title: The title of the document, centered and in title case, should be no more than 12 words in length.
- Author’s Name: The author’s name, centered and in title case, should be listed below the title.
- Institutional Affiliation: The author’s institutional affiliation, such as the university or organization, should be centered and listed below the author’s name.
- Date: The date of submission or publication, centered and in the format “Month Day, Year,” should be listed below the institutional affiliation.
- Running Head: A running head, which is a shortened version of the title, should be included in the top-left corner of the page. The running head should be no more than 50 characters in length, including spaces and punctuation.
Formatting Guidelines
The cover page should be formatted according to the following guidelines:
The title page should be on a separate page, with the title, author’s name, institutional affiliation, and date centered and double-spaced.
The font should be a clear, legible font, such as 12-point Times New Roman.
The margins should be set to 1 inch on all sides (top, bottom, left, and right).
The running head should be in the top-left corner of the page, with the page number in the top-right corner.
| Element | Format |
|---|---|
| Title | Centered, title case, 12 words or less |
| Author's Name | Centered, title case |
| Institutional Affiliation | Centered |
| Date | Centered, "Month Day, Year" format |
| Running Head | Top-left corner, 50 characters or less |
Example of an APA-Style Cover Page
Here’s an example of what an APA-style cover page might look like:
Centered Title: The Effects of Climate Change on Mental Health
Centered Author’s Name: Jane Doe
Centered Institutional Affiliation: Harvard University
Centered Date: February 22, 2023
Running Head: CLIMATE CHANGE AND MENTAL HEALTH
By following these guidelines, you can create a properly formatted APA-style cover page that meets the requirements of the American Psychological Association.
What is the purpose of the APA-style cover page?
+The APA-style cover page provides essential information about the author, title, institution, and date, and serves as the first impression of the document.
What are the key elements of an APA-style cover page?
+The key elements of an APA-style cover page include the title, author’s name, institutional affiliation, date, and running head.
How should the title be formatted on the APA-style cover page?
+The title should be centered, in title case, and no more than 12 words in length.
