Why your review layout matters
A clean literature review helps readers scan sources, follow themes, and trace claims. APA seventh edition supplies the rules that keep pages consistent across classes and journals. This guide walks you through the setup that markers expect and shows you how to present sources with polish.
Before writing, confirm any course or journal tweaks. If your instructor requests an abstract or a running head, add them. If not, stay with the student defaults explained below.
Paper setup at a glance
Use this quick table to configure your document in minutes. The rules come from the official style pages and common university guides.
| Element | APA 7 standard | Quick notes |
|---|---|---|
| Font | 11 pt Calibri, 11 pt Arial, 12 pt Times New Roman, 11 pt Georgia, or 10 pt Lucida Sans Unicode | Use one font throughout the paper and reference list. |
| Margins | 1 inch on all sides | This is the default in Word and Google Docs. |
| Spacing | Double spacing throughout | No extra space before or after paragraphs. |
| Indentation | First line 0.5 inch | Use the paragraph indent, not tabs repeatedly. |
| Page header | Page number right aligned | Student papers do not use a running head unless assigned. |
| Title page | Centered, bold title; name; affiliation; course; instructor; due date | Place the title three to four lines from the top. |
| Headings | Five levels available; Level 1 is bold and centered | Use title case for headings; no number prefixes. |
| References | New page with hanging indents | Alphabetize by author; include DOIs as links when present. |
For the official wording on layout, see the APA paper format. For section headings, see the APA page on headings. If you need a refresher on what a review does, read the Purdue OWL literature review.
Formatting a literature review in APA 7th: core steps
Start with the file setup
Create a fresh document with 1 inch margins and double spacing. Enable automatic page numbers in the header at the top right. Set the paragraph first line indent to half an inch. Pick one approved font and keep it for every section, including tables, figure notes, and the reference list.
Build a clean title page
Type your paper title in bold and center it three to four lines from the top. On separate centered lines, add your name, your institutional affiliation, the course code and name, the instructor, and the due date written in Month Day, Year order. Add the page number in the top right corner. Student papers do not include an author note.
Open with purpose
Begin the first page of text with the title repeated in bold at the top. Do not use a heading named “Introduction.” Write a short opening that states the topic, defines the scope, and signals your organizing logic. Name the main lenses you will use, such as chronology, method, theory, or subtopic.
Organize with headings
Use Level 1 headings for each major theme and Level 2 for subthemes inside a section. Keep names short and plain. The body text under Levels 1–3 starts as a new paragraph. Levels 4 and 5 are indented with the text running on after a period. Keep headings parallel in phrasing and avoid numbered headings.
Summarize and synthesize
Within each section, group studies that speak to the same question. Start paragraphs with the point you are making, not with a citation. Weave sources together by comparing findings, methods, and limits. Show patterns, agreements, conflicts, and gaps. Close each section with a short takeaway that builds toward the next section.
Use in-text citations the right way
Paraphrase most of the time and cite author and year. Add page or paragraph numbers for direct quotations and for close paraphrases that track specific lines. For three or more authors, use the first author’s name followed by “et al.” from the first citation onward. Place punctuation after the parenthetical citation.
Balance quotation and paraphrase
Quote sparingly to capture a term of art or a precise definition. Integrate quotations with your own syntax and provide context before and after. Aim for a smooth blend that keeps your voice in charge of the paragraph.
Present numbers and abbreviations
Use numerals for numbers 10 and above and for statistical values. Define abbreviations at first mention. Keep units and symbols consistent with the sources you review.
Use tables and figures only when needed
Many literature reviews work well without visuals. If you include a table to compare studies, follow APA table elements: number, title in italics, and notes as needed. Place each table after first mention or at the end, depending on your instructor’s request.
Write a closing section that ties the room together
End with a section that draws out what the body of work suggests for practice or research. Point to the strongest trends, the unanswered questions, and the next logical steps. Keep claims tied to the evidence you have summarized.
Create the reference list
Start a new page titled “References” in bold and centered. Use hanging indents of 0.5 inch. Alphabetize by the last name of the first author; order multiple works by the same author by year. Turn DOIs into clickable links and present URLs as live links without underlining. Keep the same font as the rest of the paper.
Apa 7 literature review format tips that save time
Lock in styles
Build Word or Google Docs styles for the five heading levels, normal text, and the reference list. With styles in place, you can reformat sections instantly.
Draft with placeholders
When a citation is missing, insert a quick note like “(Author, year)” and move on. Later, search for closing parentheses to locate every placeholder before you finalize references.
Track themes in a matrix
Create a simple table where each row is a study and columns record method, sample, main findings, limits, and your note. Patterns become easier to spot when details sit side by side.
Use consistent verbs
Verbs like reports, finds, argues, and shows keep sentences lively and precise. Avoid vague verbs that blur the action of a study.
Mind tense
Use past tense or present perfect for what specific authors did. Use present tense for your own claims about the field. This pattern keeps time clear for the reader.
Common layout fixes
Too much white space
Remove extra space before and after paragraphs. In Word, set “Spacing” before and after to zero. In Google Docs, choose “Custom spacing” and set paragraph spacing to zero.
Uneven reference list
Turn on hanging indents using the paragraph dialog, not manual spaces. Check that every entry ends with the correct punctuation and that long titles use sentence case.
Overloaded headings
Keep headings short and descriptive. If a heading runs over two lines, trim filler words and keep the main terms near the front.
Heading levels quick map
| Level | Format | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Centered, bold, title case | Main sections like methods, themes, or periods. |
| 2 | Flush left, bold, title case | Subtopics inside a Level 1 section. |
| 3 | Flush left, bold italic, title case | Finer splits within a Level 2 section. |
| 4 | Indented, bold, title case, period. Text runs on. | Short subpoints inside a paragraph. |
| 5 | Indented, bold italic, title case, period. Text runs on. | Rare cases needing one more layer. |
Model section plan you can adapt
Title repeated on first text page
Follow the title with a short overview that names the topic, date range, and guiding logic and main terms. Readers should know what is in and what is out within a few lines.
Search strategy and scope
Offer a concise note on databases, keywords, and limits. Aim for transparency instead of exhaustiveness. Report any inclusion criteria that shaped the pool.
Theme one: core definitions and theories
Clarify how terms are used across the field. Note where definitions align and where they diverge. Track which theories dominate and which are emerging.
Theme two: methods and measures
Compare designs, samples, instruments, and analytic choices. Point out tradeoffs that recur, such as convenience samples versus depth of measurement.
Theme three: findings and trends
Group results that point in the same direction. Flag outliers and propose plausible reasons they differ. Note the strength of evidence behind each trend.
Limitations across the body of work
Collect the common limits you observed: small samples, narrow contexts, short follow ups, or missing controls. Connect limits to the confidence readers should place in claims.
Implications and next steps
Translate patterns into practical takeaways or research moves. Suggest designs, samples, or measures that would fill the gaps you flagged earlier. Keep this tied to what the reviewed studies show.
Reference list setup details
Authors and dates
Use last name and initials for authors. Place the year in parentheses right after the author element. For works with more than twenty authors, list the first nineteen, insert an ellipsis, and then the last author.
Titles and sources
Article and chapter titles use sentence case. Journal titles and volume numbers are italicized, with issue numbers in parentheses right after the volume. Include page ranges for articles and chapters.
DOIs and URLs
Format DOIs as clickable links using the https://doi.org/ prefix. Present URLs as live links without a retrieval date unless the content is designed to change, such as a wiki.
Consistency checks
Scan the list for duplicate entries, missing italics, stray capitalization, and broken links. Cross match each in-text citation with a reference and each reference with at least one in-text citation.
Final checks before submission
Structure
Every major section begins with a Level 1 heading. Headings appear in logical order and never skip a level. No heading is isolated with a single short paragraph.
Style
The same font appears across the paper. Spacing is double everywhere, including block quotations, titles, and the reference list. Paragraph indents are uniform.
Accuracy
Citations match the reference list. Names, years, volumes, and pages are correct. Direct quotations carry page or paragraph numbers. Numbers and symbols follow the same style across sections.
Readability
Sentences are concise and varied. Topic sentences lead paragraphs. Passive wording is trimmed. Jargon is limited to terms that readers in your field expect.
Bias free language and clarity
APA style favors clean, reader friendly language. Use specific labels people prefer and describe groups with care. Define acronyms at first use and keep them rare. When you report statistics, name the test, value, and exact p value. Short sentences help readers track complex claims.
Abstract and keywords if assigned
Some courses ask for an abstract even for reviews. If assigned, place the abstract on its own page right after the title page. Type the word “Abstract” in bold and center it at the top. Write a single paragraph, double spaced, that states the topic, the time span, the selection logic, the major themes, and the main takeaways. Keep it within 150–250 words unless your instructor sets a different range. On the next line, add an indented list labeled “Keywords:” followed by three to five keywords separated by commas.
Running head rules for students and pros
Student papers use only the page number in the top right corner. A running head appears only in professional manuscripts submitted to journals. In that case, place a shortened paper title in the header, flush left, in all caps, paired with the page number at the right. Keep the running head to fifty characters or fewer, including spaces. The words “Running head:” never appear in seventh edition manuscripts.
Sample paragraph moves that work
Open with a claim that advances your section goal. Follow with two or three sentences that summarize converging studies. Contrast a counter finding and offer a plausible reason for the split, such as different measures or samples. Close with a one sentence takeaway that links back to your section heading. This four move pattern keeps paragraphs purposeful and helps readers see how evidence fits together rather than stacking source summaries.