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APA 6th referencing style

A guide to using the APA 6th referencing style.

Tips on using headings

  • There are five levels of headings
  • All headings work from the top level down, regardless of how many subheadings in the section
  • Each section begins with the top level heading, regardless of how many subheadings are used within the section
  • Do not use numbers or letters as labels in headings 
  • Do not use Introduction as your first heading
  • The title of the paper is not considered a heading. Place the title at the top of the first page and use regular font that is centered. Follow with the text.

Five levels of headings

Heading Level Formatting
1 Centered, Bold, Upper Case and Lower Case Heading (Title Case)
2 Left aligned, Bold, Upper Case and Lower Case Heading (Title Case)
3

Indented, bold, Sentence case (first word uses capital letter, rest uses lower case. Also called a lower case paragraph heading) ending with a full stop.
4

Indented, bold, italicized, Sentence case (first word uses capital letter, rest uses lower case. Also called a lower case paragraph heading) ending with a full stop.
5

Indented, italicized, Sentence case (first word uses capital letter, rest uses lower case. Also called a lower case paragraph heading) ending with a full stop.

Example

Results

Outcome of Parenting Intervention

Group support.

Large groups.

Children aged 3-5.