| Within the main text of your thesis or | | | | centered above their associated text blocks. Use |
| dissertation, you may need to organize the text | | | | both uppercase and lowercase words within the |
| and information beyond the standard blocks of | | | | heading. |
| text. You have a couple of options under APA | | | | SECOND LEVEL. Type the second level heading in |
| Style. Footnotes give you the option of adding | | | | all italics, flush left, and with both uppercase and |
| information about an idea in your text without | | | | lowercase words. |
| detracting from the text. Headings allow you to | | | | THIRD LEVEL. The third level heading should look |
| organize the text into sections, similar to an | | | | like a sentence at the start of a paragraph, as it's |
| outline. | | | | indented, all lowercase words (other than the first |
| 1. APA STYLE FOOTNOTES | | | | word or proper nouns), and ends with a period. It |
| APA Style recommends against using footnotes | | | | is italicized, however, to set it apart from the |
| within the paper, because it is difficult for a | | | | main text. |
| publishing company to reproduce the superscript | | | | An example of the formatting for the first three |
| numbers used with footnotes. Footnotes are | | | | levels of headings looks this way. |
| explanatory notes referenced from the main text. | | | | First Level of Heading (centered) |
| If you need to use footnotes, place them at the | | | | Main text continues as normal (indented). |
| end of the paper, after the references list. (Some | | | | Second Level of Heading (flush left) |
| people call these types of citations "endnotes.") | | | | Main text continues as normal (indented). |
| Footnotes should appear on a separate page with | | | | Third level of heading (indented). Main text should |
| the word "Footnotes" centered at the top of the | | | | immediately follow the third heading. |
| page. | | | | FOURTH LEVEL. If you need a fourth level |
| It's worth noting that because APA Style allows | | | | heading, you have to rework your previous |
| for in-text citations, you'll rarely need footnotes, | | | | headings. The second level becomes italicized and |
| unless you need an in-depth explanation of an | | | | centered, while the old second level and old third |
| item within the text. However, keep the footnote | | | | level become the new third and fourth levels, |
| to a maximum of a few sentences and do not | | | | respectively. |
| discuss more than one idea per footnote. If you | | | | First Level of Heading (centered) |
| need a more complex footnote, you'll want to | | | | Main text continues as normal (indented). |
| include the information as an appendix page entry | | | | Second Level of Heading (centered) |
| or incorporate it into the main text instead. | | | | Main text continues as normal (indented). |
| APA Style allows for two types of footnotes: | | | | Third Level of Heading (flush left) |
| Content and copyright permission. A content | | | | Main text continues as normal (indented). |
| footnote should include information that would be | | | | Fourth level of heading (indented). Main text should |
| distracting to include within the main text. It's a | | | | immediately follow the fourth heading. |
| good way to point the reader toward additional | | | | FIFTH LEVEL. Again, adding a fifth level requires |
| information. A copyright permission footnote | | | | reworking of the other levels, beginning with the |
| shows the reader that you have obtained | | | | first level, which now becomes a centered and all |
| permission to use a previously published long | | | | uppercase heading. Every other heading moves |
| quote (more than 500 words), table, or figure. | | | | down one spot. The old first level heading |
| Both types of footnotes require the same type | | | | becomes the new second level, and the others |
| of formatting, as shown in the following example. | | | | follow suit. |
| Technological advancements tend to spark | | | | FIRST LEVEL OF HEADING (centered) |
| economic growth worldwide.1 | | | | Main text continues as normal (indented). |
| On the footnote page, indent each footnote as a | | | | Second Level of Heading (centered) |
| new paragraph and double space throughout. | | | | Main text continues as normal (indented). |
| 1 Johnson defines technological advancements in a | | | | Third Level of Heading (centered) |
| variety of ways ... | | | | Main text continues as normal (indented). |
| 2. APA STYLE HEADINGS | | | | Fourth Level of Heading (flush left) |
| APA Style allows for you to use headings to | | | | Main text continues as normal (indented). |
| better organize your paper. You can think of using | | | | Fifth level of heading (indented). Main text should |
| headings like creating an outline. You can use up to | | | | immediately follow the fifth heading. |
| five levels with headings, although the formatting | | | | Finally, keep in mind that very few APA Style |
| becomes tricky if you go deeper than three | | | | papers will require more than two or three levels |
| levels. | | | | of headings. Typically, the only types of papers |
| The headings formatting requirements include: | | | | that need four or five levels of headings are |
| FIRST LEVEL. The first level headings should be | | | | those detailing complex scientific experiments. |