Contrary to popular opinion, APA style does not apply only to reference citations. There are some basic formatting rules that accompany APA style, and they are:

1.  Use Times Roman or Courier font, 12-point size, for everything.

2.  Double space everything, and I do mean everything: all content, tables, references, block quotes: everything.

3.  Keep 1-inch margins on the top, bottom, and both sides of the paper (excluding the headers and footers).

4.  Do not underline anything. Use italics for most things you used to underline, such as for emphasis or book and journal titles.

5.  Do not use bold type for anything. Again, you will use italics when needed.

6.  Did I mention that you should double space everything?

7.  Indent all paragraphs 1/2 inch. The only exception is the paragraph on the Abstract page.

8.  APA has defined the type of headings you should use to organize your paper. That's a complicated subject, so we'll tackle it separately later. Just know that there are rules for headings.

9.  Always include a title page with an APA-style document. We'll discuss the format of the title page another time.

10. Double space everything. No exceptions.

These are good, basic formatting rules that should apply to every paper you produce for school or business. Using these rules enhances readability and improves the appearance of your documents.