Using Word 2003 (or an earlier version) to Create an APA Document

For more questions about the APA format, such as the format for citing, and references and other APA information, see the APA Guidelines.

• Write the document, but do not create the title page. Using the outline feature will help you with adding section titles.
• Double space it. This can be done at any time, before you write, after you write, or after editing etc.
• Cite appropriately.
• Create the Reference List that is separated from the main document by a hard page, has hanging paragraphs, and is alphabetized.
• Write your abstract.
• Edit the document. Do one good edit after you finish, then if possible, let it alone for 3 or more days, and edit it again.
• Create document header
• Create title page
  • Create title page header
  • Center title page vertically
  • Enter information
• Put information together

 

Create a header for the document (Without the title page)

1. On the View line click Header and Footer.
2. Type "Running head:"
3. Tap the space bar once, then type the running head all in upper case letters.
4. Tap the Tab key twice so the text will be right aligned.
5. Click on the left "#" box on the header and footer bar. This will place the page number on the paper.



6. Because the title page will be page one, you need to start the numbering on page two. Click the number box that has a hand above it (in the blue box above).
7. Under page numbering click on the radio button before "Start at": Type the number 2 in the next box.



8. Click OK on the above dialog box.
9. Click Close (in green square above.)

Create the title page.

1. Open a new document.

Create a title page header with running head in it

1. Create a header using steps 1 to 5 above.
2. Tap Enter and on this line type (left justified): Running head: Blah blah, substituting of course the running head for Blah Blah.
3. Close the header footer dialog box.

 

Center the page vertically On the menu line, click File>Page Setup Click the Layout tab Under Page, opposite Vertical alignment drop down the box and select "Center." Click OK.

 

 

 

Enter the information for the title page Click the center box on the tool bar to center the text left to right. *Double space the document by : Clicking on the menu line Format>Paragraph. On the indents and spacing tab, in the spacing section, drop down the box next to Line spacing and select "Double." Click OK Type the necessary information, title of document, your name and affiliation. Save the title page.

 

Putting document together

To put the document together you need to print each file separately. To create this format electronically with this version of Word, you will need to manually create the title page without centering it vertically, or putting the "Running head" in the header. In Word 2007 and Word Perfect this difficulty is overcome.

*If you forgot to double space before entering the title page information, select the information, right click on it, and select paragraph from the pop up box and follow steps 2a and 2c

 

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