Student papers usually don’t require a running head External link, as seen in professional APA papers, unless requested by the instructor. The header includes only a page number at the top right-hand corner of the page. Margins should be 1 inch from top, bottom, right, and left edges of the paper. All text, including block quotes and the references section, should be double spaced. Ultimately, check with your instructors about their font preferences. Options include 11-point sans-serif fonts, such as Calibri or Arial, and 12-point serif fonts, such as Times New Roman. The font should remain the same throughout the paper. View an official APA sample paper External link Font Your role is to be objective, to be conscious of word choice, and to avoid discriminatory language. In addition to being scientific and precise, you must use bias-free and inclusive language when writing in APA style. APA format is the official style used by the American Psychological Association External link.ĪPA style is used primarily in the social sciences and communicates data in a concise style that precisely describes material, makes the relationship between ideas or data as clear as possible, is generally in the active voice, and utilizes the past tense.