WRITING TIPS LESSON
APA Heading Levels
How to use this table of heading levels:
1. Decide how many levels of headings your document will need.
A report needs one level for the reports major divisions: title, table of contents, executive summary, references, and appendix pages.
A report with internal sections needs two levels: the first level for the major divisions and a second level for topic sections such as introduction, materials, methods, results, and recommendations.
A report with multiple sub-sections needs three levels: the first level for the major divisions, the second level for topic sections, and a third level for sub-sections such as within an options section that presents three viable options.
2. Select from this table of heading levels the formatting levels you wish to use, for example: Level 1 for major divisions, Level 2 for sections, and Level 3 for sub-sections. APA recommends using the levels in the order presented in this table.
CAUTION
Avoid using two levels of headings sequentially. Always include text after a heading that introduces what is to come. Thus, the report title is on the first body page followed by an introductory paragraph, not a Level 2 heading, Introduction. Another example is when including a section for presenting three options: after the section heading provide a short paragraph that introduces the three options before using the Level 3 heading for the first option.
1. Decide how many levels of headings your document will need.
A report needs one level for the reports major divisions: title, table of contents, executive summary, references, and appendix pages.
A report with internal sections needs two levels: the first level for the major divisions and a second level for topic sections such as introduction, materials, methods, results, and recommendations.
A report with multiple sub-sections needs three levels: the first level for the major divisions, the second level for topic sections, and a third level for sub-sections such as within an options section that presents three viable options.
2. Select from this table of heading levels the formatting levels you wish to use, for example: Level 1 for major divisions, Level 2 for sections, and Level 3 for sub-sections. APA recommends using the levels in the order presented in this table.
CAUTION
Avoid using two levels of headings sequentially. Always include text after a heading that introduces what is to come. Thus, the report title is on the first body page followed by an introductory paragraph, not a Level 2 heading, Introduction. Another example is when including a section for presenting three options: after the section heading provide a short paragraph that introduces the three options before using the Level 3 heading for the first option.
Table 1. Five Formatting Levels for APA Headings
| Flush Left, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading | |
| Indented, boldface, lowercase paragraph heading ending with a period. | |
| Indented, boldface, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading ending with a period. | |
| Indented, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading ending with a period. |
Note.Resource: APA 6th, Section 3.03, p. 62
Reference: American Psychological Association, (2010). 3.03 Levels of Heading. In Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington DC: Author
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Copyright Ida L. Rodgers, 2004
Updated January 16, 2012
Updated January 16, 2012