1. Introduction
Academic writing is essential at UK universities because it makes sure clarity, consistency, and credibility in research and scholarly discourse. Dissertations, essays, and research papers must all adhere to a set structure that enables students to professionally and logically explain their points of view. The American Psychological Association (APA) style is one of the most popular citation formats in academic writing, especially in the fields of psychology, social sciences, business, and education.
The APA style essay is the preferred format in UK universities due to its ability to cite sources, format papers, and organize content in a standardized manner. By avoiding plagiarism and citing the original authors, this preserves academic integrity. Because APA Style format adheres to a structured framework with well-defined headings, citations, and references, it also improves readability.
UK students can learn how to structure an essay in APA style, including how to organize the title page, abstract, main body, and references, by following this step-by-step APA citation guide. This blog will cover what you need to know about academic writing in APA Style style using the most recent APA 7th edition essay structure, regardless of your level of experience or need for a refresher.
2. Understanding APA Style
2.1 What is APA Style?
A standardized approach to formatting academic papers, referencing sources, and organizing research documents is APA style. In order to provide a standard writing style for psychology and the social sciences, the American Psychological Association initially used it in 1929. It has changed over time to accommodate researchers’ demands, guaranteeing scholarly writing’s coherence and clarity.
2.2 Difference Between APA 6th and APA 7th Edition
In 2019, the APA released its 7th edition, replacing the 6th edition with several key updates:
- For student papers, there is no need for a running head.
- First Author et al. can be used to abbreviate in-text citations for three or more authors.
- More inclusive language rules to encourage writing that is devoid of bias.
- greater freedom in selecting fonts (e.g., Calibri, Arial, and Times New Roman).
- Simplified DOI and URL formatting (no “Retrieved from” is required).
2.3 Why UK Universities Require APA Format
In order to guarantee that students adhere to an internationally accepted reference style, UK colleges place a strong emphasis on APA Style referencing UK requirements. This makes it possible for scholarly conversations and research to be consistent. Additionally, APA 7th edition streamlines citation guidelines, assisting students in properly structuring their works while preserving their reputation and avoiding plagiarism..
3. APA Essay Structure & Formatting
To guarantee clarity, organization, and accurate source citation, writing an essay in the APA style necessitates adhering to a set format. In order to preserve uniformity in academic writing, UK colleges place a strong emphasis on the APA 7th edition essay structure. An outline of the key elements of an APA essay structure can be seen below:
3.1. Standard Structure of an APA Essay
An APA-formatted essay typically includes the following sections:
- Title Page –includes the title of the essay, the name of the author, the course information, the institution, and the date.
- Abstract –A brief synopsis of the essay that highlights its main ideas.
- Main Body – The main body of the essay, divided into sections with headings that adhere to APA guidelines.
- References –A comprehensive listing of all references used in the work, formatted in accordance with UK APA citing standards.
3.2. Font, Spacing, Margins, and Alignment
APA 7th edition provides the following formatting rules:
- Font: Use Times New Roman (12 pt), Arial (11 pt), or Calibri (11 pt).
- Spacing: All text, including the reference list, is double-spaced..
- Margins: 1-inch (2.54 cm) on all sides.
- Alignment: Text that is inclined to the left, with each paragraph’s opening line indented by 0.5 inches.
3.3. How to Create an APA Title Page
The APA 7th edition title page for student essays includes:
- The title of the essay should be bold, centered, and in title case.
- Full name of the student (first and last names).
- association with the institution (name of university).
- Name and code of the course (per university regulations).
- Name of instructor and date of submission .
A thorough tutorial on how to format an APA title page is provided below.
4. Writing an APA-Formatted Title Page
4.1 Placement of Title, Name, Institution, and Date
The following components must be present in the title page, which is the opening page of an essay written in APA style.:
- Title of the essay: “The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health” is written in bold and title case.
- Title-free student name: First and last name (e.g., “John Smith”).
- Academic affiliation: The university’s name (e.g., “University of Oxford”).
- Details of the course: The name of the course and its code (e.g., “PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology”).
- Name of instructor: As given by the university.
- Date of submission: formatted as Month, Day, and Year (for example, “March 18, 2025”).
4.2 Running Head and Page Numbers
Student papers do not need a running head according to APA 7th edition. Nonetheless, beginning with the title page (Page 1), page numbers must appear in the upper-right corner of each page.
Example of a Correct APA Title Page
The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
John Smith
University of Oxford
PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology
Dr. Jane Doe
March 18, 2025
5. Abstract Writing in APA Style
5.1 Purpose of an Abstract in Academic Essays
An abstract is a concise synopsis of an academic article that gives readers a rapid rundown of the main ideas of the work. The abstract is crucial for providing a succinct and organized summary of the research emphasis, major points, and conclusions in APA style essays. In order to increase readability and facilitate researchers’ ability to rapidly determine a paper’s relevance, UK colleges place a strong emphasis on abstract writing in APA style.
5.2 Word Count Requirements
According to APA 7th edition, abstracts should:
- Depending on the standards of the university, be between 150 and 250 words.
- Unless referencing important sources, omit citations.
- Don’t use indentation; just use one paragraph.
5.3 Structuring a Concise and Clear Abstract
An effective APA abstract includes:
- Give a brief overview of the research topic and goal in the introduction.
- Methods: Provide an overview of the strategy or methodology, if any.
- Results: Emphasize the main conclusions or points of contention.
- Conclusion: Recap the key lesson learnt.
Example Abstract:
“This paper investigates social media’s effects on mental health, examining both its beneficial and detrimental effects. The study examines the psychological impacts of extended use of social media using evidence-based research. According to research, social media promotes connectedness but also increases the risk of anxiety and depression. The significance of digital well-being techniques for enhanced mental health is emphasized by this study.”
6. Main Body Formatting
The main body of an APA style essay follows a structured approach using approved headings, in-text citations, and paragraph formatting. This section ensures clarity and logical organization of ideas.
6.1 APA-Approved Headings and Subheadings
The content of APA 7th edition is organized using a five-level heading scheme. The levels that are most frequently utilized are:
- Level 1: Bold, Centered, Main Heading Case Title
- Level 2 (Subheading): Bold, Left-Aligned, Case Title
- Level 3 (Sub-subheading): Title Case, Bold, Left-Aligned, Italicized
Example:
- Social Media and Mental Health (Level 1)
- Effects on Anxiety and Depression (Level 2)
- Social comparison’s function (Level 3)
6.2 How to Format In-Text Citations (Author-Date Method)
For citations, APA use the author-date method:
- Straight Quote: “Social media makes teens more anxious” (Smith, 2021, p. 45).
- Paraphrase: Smith (2021) discovered that using social media is connected to more worry.
For three or more authors, use et al.:
(Brown et al., 2020)
6.3 Paragraph Structuring with Evidence-Based Writing
Each paragraph should follow the PEEL format:
- Point: Explain the main idea.
- Evidence: Back up your claim with study or citations.
- Explanation: Read and understand the facts.
- Link: Link to the next thought.
Example:
“Excessive social media use is linked to anxiety (Brown et al., 2020). Research shows that spending too much time in front of a screen can make you feel more stressed. This shows that digital well-being methods are needed to improve mental health.”
7. APA Citation & Referencing
For academic work in APA style to be credible and avoid plagiarism, it is important to use the right citations and references. For in-text citations and reference lists, UK universities follow the rules set out in the APA 7th version.
7.1 Difference Between In-Text Citations and Reference List
- In-Text Citations: These are in the body of the essay and quickly describe where the information came from. The author-date style is used by APA (Smith, 2021).
- Reference List: This is at the end of the article and has full citation information for all sources used. There must be an entry in the reference list for every source used in the text.
7.2 Common Citation Formats (Books, Journals, Websites)
📖 Books
Format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the book (Edition). Publisher.
Example:
Smith, J. (2020). Understanding Social Media Psychology (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
📄 Journal Articles
Format:
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the article. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), Page numbers. https://doi.org/xxxxx
Example:
Brown, K., & Lee, P. (2021). Social media and anxiety: A systematic review. Journal of Mental Health Studies, 45(3), 234-250. https://doi.org/10.1234/jmhs.2021.789
🌐 Websites
Format:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Date). Title of the webpage. Website Name. URL
Example:
NHS. (2022, July 10). How social media affects mental health. NHS UK. https://www.nhs.uk/socialmedia-mentalhealth
7.3 Using DOI and URLs Correctly
- Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) should be used when citing journals. If you can’t find a DOI, use the source’s direct URL instead.
- When citing websites that don’t have an author, the name of the organization should be used as the author. (e.g., NHS, 2022).
Example of Correctly Formatted References
Reference List (APA 7th Edition Example):
Brown, K., & Lee, P. (2021). Social media and anxiety: A systematic review. Journal of Mental Health Studies, 45(3), 234-250. https://doi.org/10.1234/jmhs.2021.789
NHS. (2022, July 10). How social media affects mental health. NHS UK. https://www.nhs.uk/socialmedia-mentalhealth
Smith, J. (2020). Understanding Social Media Psychology (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
8. Writing an APA-Formatted Conclusion
8.1 Summarizing the Key Points Without Introducing New Ideas
In the end of an APA-style essay, you should restate the main points and conclusions without adding anything new. It should restate the argument and give a short summary of the main points of the essay.
Example of an APA-Formatted Conclusion:
“His article looked at how social media can affect mental health, focusing on both good and bad effects. According to research, social media makes it easier to talk to each other, but it also makes people more anxious and depressed. These bad effects can be lessened with smart usage and digital well-being tactics. Long-term mental health trends linked to social media use should be looked into in future studies.”
8.2 APA Rules for Referencing Conclusion Sections
- In the conclusion, don’t add any new sources unless you have to.
- There is no need for new in-text citations when summarizing sources that have already been mentioned.
- The end should follow a natural flow from the main body, with no abrupt changes.
9. Common Mistakes in APA Style Essays
When writing an essay in APA style, a lot of college students in the UK make the same mistakes. These mistakes can cost you points and hurt your reputation in school. The most common mistakes in APA style are shown below:
9.1. Incorrect Citation Formatting
Wrong: (Smith 2020) – Missing a comma.
Correct: (Smith, 2020)
Wrong: Smith 2020 says that “social media has an effect on mental health.” – Parentheses are missing.
Correct: Smith (2020) says that “social media has an effect on mental health.”
9.2. Overuse of Direct Quotes Instead of Paraphrasing
Many students overuse direct quotes, which affects readability and originality.
- Wrong: “Feeling anxious is connected to social media (Brown, 2021, p. 45).
- Correct: Social media can make people anxious, according to Brown (2021)..
9.3. Formatting Errors in the Reference List
- Wrong font, spacing, or indentation (should be double-spaced with a hanging indent).
- Incorrect DOI and URL formatting (APA Style 7th edition no longer requires “Retrieved from”).
- Missing or incorrect italics for book and journal titles.
By avoiding these mistakes, students can ensure proper APA Style referencing UK standards.
10. Tools & Resources for APA Formatting
It can take a lot of time to format an APA 7th edition essay by hand. Luckily, many citation tools are available to help students at universities in the UK make correct references.
10.1. Best Citation Generators
- Zotero is a free reference manager that keeps PDFs and sources in order.
- Mendeley is great for keeping track of sources and working with other people.
- EndNote is a powerful program that experts use to make APA citations.
10.2. Purdue OWL APA Guide
- The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) is a free, reliable place to learn about APA style rules.
- It shows how to format an article, cite sources in the text, and make a reference list.
10.3. Free Referencing Tools for UK Students
- Cite This For Me is a quick tool for making APA Style citations.
- MyBib is a free tool for formatting in APA Style 7th version.
- Scribbr has an APA Style reference checker to make sure your work is correct.
By using these tools, you can be sure that your APA-style academic work is correct and free of plagiarism.
11. Final Checklist Before Submission
Use this list to make sure your APA-style essay is formatted properly before you turn it in:
Formatting Check: Make sure that the title page, headings, font, spacing, and margins all follow the rules for the APA Style 7th version.
Accuracy of Citations: Check both the in-text citations and the reference list to make sure they are formatted correctly and don’t leave out any information or use the wrong DOI or URL.
Proofreading Tips:
- Check your grammar with Grammarly or the word check in MS Word.
- Read out loud to find awkward words and phrases.
- Please check the flow of logic between parts.
A final review makes sure that the essay follows the style for UK university essays and boosts the essay’s academic credibility.
12. Conclusion
UK university students must learn how to use APA style citations correctly. Using APA style makes sure that your writing is clear, consistent, and gives credit to sources correctly, which lowers the risk of copying.
It might seem hard to learn how to write an essay in APA style, but using citation tools and guides like Purdue OWL can make the process easier. Students can easily format an essay in APA style and meet academic standards if they do it often.
UK students can improve their writing skills and do well in school by following the APA Style 7th edition essay rules.
