How do I create an APA Style essay template in Microsoft Word?

Word is the ideal program to create essays and other written assignments. The instructions below explain how to create a template that can be used for essays, saving you time and work in the future. These instructions might change as new versions of Word are released. Visit Microsoft Support for the most current instructions. A link to Microsoft Support can be found at the end of this section. Images of examples of title pages, reference list, and the body of an essay can be found in the sections of this chapter.

1. Open Microsoft Word.
2. Click File and then choose Save As.
3. Choose the location where you want the template to be saved.
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   Hint! Using OneDrive will give you access on any device where you’re signed into OneDrive.

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4. Type a name for your template.
5. Under the space to create a file name is a box called Save as Type. Use the dropdown and click Word Template.
6. Click Save. Now, you can edit your template.

What changes should I make to my template?

1. Under Layout, look at the Spacing. Make sure that the before and after spacing are both set to 0.
2. Under Insert, open the Page Number dropdown. Choose Top of the Page and find the option with the page number on the right side of the screen with no formatting. In the current edition of Word, this is Plain Number 3.
3. Under Home, choose the font style and size. Acceptable fonts are explained later in this chapter. The most commonly used font is Times New Roman in size 12.
4. Under Layout, adjust the line spacing. Click inverted triangle next to Line Spacing and choose Double from the dropdown menu.
5. Next, you’ll create the template for your title page. On the first page of the document, hit the Enter key five times. Then, press CTRL and E, and type Essay Title.
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   Remember! This is only a template. You are adding these words to remind you what to type into this space later. When you begin to write a real essay or assignment, you will change what is on these lines.
   

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   Using the mouse, highlight the words “Essay Title”. A pop-up will appear; choose B to make the title Bold. Hint! The title is the only line that appears in bold font on the title page.
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6. Press Enter twice, and type your first and last name.
7. Press Enter once, and type the name of your college or university.
8. Press Enter once, and type Course Code and Course Name.
9. Press Enter once, and type The Name of the Instructor.
10. Press Enter once, and type Due Date of the Assignment.
11. Click Save.
12. Press Enter until you are at the very top of the second page. Type “Name of the Essay” again.
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    Remember! This is just a placeholder, to remind you what to type into this space later.

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    Using the mouse, highlight the words “Name of Essay”. A pop-up will appear; choose B to make the title Bold.
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    Hint! The title is the only line that appears in bold font in the body of the essay.

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13. Press Enter. Under Layout, adjust the alignment of the text. At the top of the dropdown, under Alignment, choose Left. Under Indentation, click Special, and choose First Line. When you begin to type the body of the essay, pressing Enter to begin a new paragraph will prompt Word to indent the first line of the new paragraph.
14. Press Enter until you are at the very top of the third page. Press CTRL and E, and type References. Using the mouse, highlight it. A pop-up will appear; choose B to make the title Bold.
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    Hint! The word References is the only line that appears in bold font on the the References page.

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15. Press Enter. Under Layout, adjust the alignment of the text. At the top of the dropdown, under Alignment, choose Left. Under Indentation, click Special, and choose Hanging. When you begin to type in reference list entries, pressing Enter to begin a new entry will prompt Word to create a hanging indent.
16. Click Save. Your template is done!

How do I use the template?

1. Whenever you have to write an essay, open your template.
2. Click CTRL and A to select the whole document. Then, click CTRL and C to copy it.
3. Open a new blank Word document. Click CTRL and P to paste the template into the new document.
4. Enter the correct information into the title page. Type in the name of the essay or assignment, followed by your name, the name of your college or university, the course code and course name, the instructor’s name, and the due date of the assignment.
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   Remember! What appears in the template is only there to remind you what information to put in.

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5. Press Enter until you are at the very top of the second page. Type the name of your essay again.
6. Press Enter once, and begin typing your essay or assignment.
7. As you write, add your reference list entries on the last page.
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Sources

Microsoft Support. (2023). Create a template. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-a-template-86a1d089-5ae2-4d53-9042-1191bce57deb

Ocean County College Library. (2021). How to format an essay with Microsoft Word. https://www.ocean.edu/student-services/college-essay-format/