Headings in APA
Often shorter, essay-type assignments do not need headings at all. Sometimes, however, you may be asked to give headings in your assignment, particularly for reports and longer documents. It is recommended you check your course guide or with your course coordinator about the formatting requirements for your assignment.
If you are required to give headings, then APA 7th edition suggests 5 possible heading levels to format an assignment. If only one kind of heading is needed (i.e., all the sections have the same level of importance), then use Level 1 headings. If there are subsections within the main sections (e.g., your Discussion section is broken into subsections) then use Level 2 and Level 3 headings, and so on. Usually university assignments have between 0 and 3 levels of headings. This page discusses how to format 5 different heading levels in APA style.
Level 1 headings are used for the main sections of your assignment (e.g., Methods, Discussion, Conclusion). You do not, however, need the heading “Introduction.” This is because your first page should have your assignment title at the top of the page and your first few paragraphs should clearly introduce your topic and intent. As such, your title and first paragraphs are understood to be introductory and the heading “Introduction” is unnecessary.
Level 1 headings should be centred, bold, and all major words should start with a capital letter (title case). The font should be the same style and size as the rest of the assignment. Do not give the heading a number or letter and do not close the heading with a full stop. The following text begins as a new, indented, paragraph.
Methods
A semi-structured interview was used to…..
Conclusion
This research shows that……
An Ecological Systems Approach
Bronfenbrenner developed the ecological systems theory to explain how….
Level 2 headings introduce subsections within the main sections. Level 2 headings should be flush with the left margin, bold, and all major words should start with a capital letter (title case). The font should be the same style and size as the rest of the assignment. Do not give the heading a number or letter and do not close the heading with a full stop. The following text begins as a new, indented, paragraph.
Participants
Participants were selected…..
The Chronosystem
The chronosystem includes the dimension of time which….
Level 3 headings break Level 2 subsections into smaller sections. Level 3 headings should be flush with the left margin, bold, in italics, and all major words should start with a capital letter (title case). The font should be the same style and size as the rest of the assignment. Do not give the heading a number or letter and do not close the heading with a full stop. The following text begins as a new, indented, paragraph.
Change in Family Structure
Another aspect of the chronosystem is seen in….
Factors Influencing Self-Esteem
There are a number of factors which…..
Level 4 headings break Level 3 subsections into smaller sections. Level 4 headings should be indented (like a new paragraph), bold, and all major words should start with a capital letter (title case). The font should be the same style and size as the rest of the assignment. Do not give the heading a number or letter and close the heading with a full stop. Text begins on the same line as the heading and continues as a regular paragraph.
Bullying. A key factor influencing self-esteem is the bullying actions of peers at school and online, through various social media platforms.
The Chronosystem. Another change in family structure that has impacted Sarah’s well-being is her parent’s divorce and her mother’s new relationship.
Level 5 headings break Level 4 subsections into smaller sections. Level 5 headings should be indented (like a new paragraph), bold, in italics, and all major words should start with a capital letter (title case). The font should be the same style and size as the rest of the assignment. Do not give the heading a number or letter and close the heading with a full stop. Text begins on the same line as the heading and continues as a regular paragraph.
Sarah’s Relationship with Dave. Sarah’s relationship with her mother’s new boyfriend Dave is highlighted as a significant factor affecting her well-being.
Gross Domestic Product per Capita. Another key socio-economic indicator is the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita which is the…..
Example of Heading Levels
References and further reading
American Psychological Association. (2020a). Headings. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/paper-format/headings
American Psychological Association. (2020b). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). [Massey Library link]
American Psychological Association. (2020c). Quick reference guide. https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/reference-guide.pdf
Disclaimer
These pages are provided as a guide to proper referencing. Your course, department, school, or institute may prescribe specific conventions, and their recommendations supersede these instructions. If you have questions not covered here, check in the style guide listed above, ask your course coordinator, or ask at Academic Q+A.