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purdue owl apa numbered lists

Purdue Online Writing Lab College of Liberal Arts

purdue owl apa numbered lists

General Format

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Welcome to the Purdue OWL

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Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Note:  This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019. The equivalent resource for the older APA 6 style  can be found here .

Please use the example at the bottom of this page to cite the Purdue OWL in APA.

You can also watch our APA vidcast series on the Purdue OWL YouTube Channel .

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General APA Guidelines

Your essay should be typed and double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5" x 11"), with 1" margins on all sides.   Include a page header (also known as the “ running head ”) at the top of every page. For a professional paper, this includes your paper title and the page number. For a student paper, this only includes the page number. To create a page header/running head , insert page numbers flush right. Then type "TITLE OF YOUR PAPER" in the header flush left using all capital letters. The running head is a shortened version of your paper's title and cannot exceed 50 characters including spacing and punctuation.

The 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual requires that the chosen font be accessible (i.e., legible) to all readers and that it be used consistently throughout the paper. It acknowledges that many font choices are legitimate, and it advises writers to check with their publishers, instructors, or institutions for guidance in cases of uncertainty.

While the APA Manual does not specify a single font or set of  fonts for professional writing, it does recommend a few fonts that are widely available. These include sans serif fonts such as 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, and 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode as well as serif fonts such as 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Georgia, 10-point Computer Modern.

Major Paper Sections

Your essay should include four major sections: the Title Page , Abstract , Main Body , and References .

Note: APA 7 provides slightly different directions for formatting the title pages of professional papers (e.g., those intended for scholarly publication) and student papers (e.g., those turned in for credit in a high school or college course).

The title page should contain the title of the paper, the author's name , and the institutional affiliation . A professional paper should also include the author note . A student paper should also include the course number and name , instructor name , and assignment due date .

Type your title in upper and lowercase letters centered in the upper half of the page. The title should be centered and written in boldface. APA recommends that your title be focused and succinct and that it should not contain abbreviations or words that serve no purpose. Your title may take up one or two lines. All text on the title page, and throughout your paper, should be double-spaced.

Beneath the title, type the author's name : first name, middle initial(s), and last name. Do not use titles (Dr.) or degrees (PhD).

Beneath the author's name, type the institutional affiliation , which should indicate the location where the author(s) conducted the research.

A professional paper should include the author note beneath the institutional affiliation, in the bottom half of the title page. This should be divided up into several paragraphs, with any paragraphs that are not relevant omitted. The first paragraph should include the author’s name, the symbol for the ORCID iD, and the URL for the ORCID iD. Any authors who do not have an ORCID iD should be omitted. The second paragraph should show any change in affiliation or any deaths of the authors. The third paragraph should include any disclosures or acknowledgements, such as study registration, open practices and data sharing, disclosure of related reports and conflicts of interest, and acknowledgement of financial support and other assistance. The fourth paragraph should include contact information for the corresponding author.

A student paper should not include an author note.

Note again that page headers/page numbers (described above for professional and student papers) also appear at the top of the title page. In other words, a professional paper's title page will include the title of the paper flush left in all capitals and the page number flush right, while a student paper will only contain the page number flush right.

Student APA title page

This image shows the title page for a student APA seventh edition paper.

Title page for a student paper in APA 7 style.

Professional paper APA title page

This image shows the title page for a professional APA seventh edition paper.

Title page for a professional paper in APA 7 style.

Begin a new page. Your abstract page should already include the page header (described above). On the first line of the abstract page, center and bold the word “Abstract” (no italics, underlining, or quotation marks).

Beginning with the next line, write a concise summary of the key points of your research. (Do not indent.) Your abstract should contain at least your research topic, research questions, participants, methods, results, data analysis, and conclusions. You may also include possible implications of your research and future work you see connected with your findings. Your abstract should be a single paragraph, double-spaced. Your abstract should typically be no more than 250 words.

You may also want to list keywords from your paper in your abstract. To do this, indent as you would if you were starting a new paragraph, type Keywords: (italicized), and then list your keywords. Listing your keywords will help researchers find your work in databases.

Abstracts are common in scholarly journal articles and are not typically required for student papers unless advised by an instructor. If you are unsure whether or not your work requires an abstract, consult your instructor for further guidance.

APA Abstract Page

This image shows the title page for a student APA seventh edition paper.

Abstract page for a student paper in APA 7 style.

Please see our Sample APA Paper resource to see an example of an APA paper. You may also visit our Additional Resources page for more examples of APA papers.

How to Cite the Purdue OWL in APA

Individual resources.

The page template for the new OWL site does not include contributors' names or the page's last edited date. However, select pages  still include this information.

In the absence of contributor/edit date information, treat the page as a source with a group author and use the abbreviation "n.d." for "no date":

Purdue Online Writing Lab. (n.d.).  Title of resource.  Purdue Online Writing Lab. http://Web address for OWL resource

Purdue Online Writing Lab. (n.d.).  General Writing FAQs. Purdue Online Writing Lab. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/general_writing_faqs.html

The generic APA citation for OWL pages, which includes author/edit date information, is this:

Contributors' names. (Last edited date).  Title of resource . Site Name. http://Web address for OWL resource

American Psychological Association

Bulleted Lists

To draw visual attention to items in a list without implying that items go in a certain order (e.g., chronology, importance, priority), use a bulleted list.

Use a numbered list if you want to display items in a numbered series. Use a lettered list if you want to emphasize separate parallel items within a sentence.

To create a bulleted list, use the bulleted list function of your word-processing program. This will automatically indent the list as well. Symbols such as small circles, squares, dashes, and so forth may be used for the bullets.

purdue owl apa numbered lists

This guidance has been expanded from the 6th edition. 

Items that are complete sentences

If bulleted items are complete sentences, begin each item with a capital letter and finish it with a period or other appropriate punctuation. The following example demonstrates this format as well as how to include a citation for the information in the bulleted list.

Infants often display prosocial behavior —that is, behavior intended to help others—when interacting with their parents, as demonstrated in the following examples (Hammond & Drummond, 2019):

Items that are words or phrases

If bulleted items are words or phrases (but not complete sentences), begin each item with a lowercase letter ( except words such as proper nouns ).

There are two options for the punctuation of bulleted lists when the items are words or phrases. The following examples demonstrate both options as well as how to integrate in-text citations into bulleted lists.

The first option is to use no punctuation after the bulleted items (including the final one), which may be better when the items are shorter and simpler.

Poor sleep quality has been linked with the following symptoms:

The second option is to insert punctuation after the bulleted items as though the bullets were not there, which may be better when the items are longer or more complex.

Young adults have many motivations for texting on their smartphones:

Further information about bulleted lists is available in the Publication Manual , including how to format lists of definitions in a glossary.

From the APA Style blog

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Navigating the not-so-hidden treasures of the APA Style website

This post links directly to APA Style topics of interest that users may not even know exist on the website.

The Classroom | Empowering Students in Their College Journey

How to Format Numbered Lists in APA Style

How to Take Good Notes From a Book

How to Take Good Notes From a Book

The American Psychological Association style is widely used and accepted for academic writing in the sciences and social sciences. Clarifying connections among ideas is paramount in APA style, which sometimes requires numbering ideas in a list. Numbered lists fall under the “Headings and Seriation” APA guidelines according to the sixth edition of the "Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association."

1. hierarchical or chronological

Determine if your list is of a hierarchical or chronological nature. Lists that don’t have an order or rank of items should be presented in bulleted lists, not numbered ones, according to the APA.

2. list form or within a paragraph

Decide if you would prefer to present the materials in a list form or within the text of a paragraph. If you choose to present the material in the text of a paragraph, you may use letters instead of numbers for each section.

3. Use one of these examples

Follow one of the examples below when presenting your materials. If your information does not fit into either of these examples, consider using bullet points or writing the information in prose.

Example 1: Numbered list

After analyzing the results of the recent study, the American Dental Association recommended the following:

Example 2: List within paragraph text

Following the ADA recommendations, the patients have (a) increased their brushing to twice per day, (b) reviewed and corrected their brushing technique, (c) have begun to integrate flossing into their daily routine.

​ Tip: ​ The APA acknowledges that bullets are acceptable alternatives to numbered lists. Numbered lists can give a sense of order for the items, and this implied process is eliminated with the use of bulleted lists. However, you may still use the numbered list system as your default.

​ Warning ​: Despite the APA expressly stating that bullets are allowed, some academics do not allow bulleted lists. The theory being that if you are unable to express the ideas in a paraphrase or a summary paragraph, perhaps the materials are better presented in the appendix or a table. Be sure to review any style manuals available for your target audience to be sure that the most recent version of the APA style manual contains all of the required information.

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Chloe began her writing career in 2001 by creating a newsletter for her company. Later, she served as an editor for the "Business Law Journal." She is an avid academic, amateur chef and technophile, and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics with a minor in art history from the University of California.

Blog Guidelines

« Lists, Part 3: Lowercase Letters | Main | Lists, Part 5: Bulleted Lists »

February 25, 2010

Lists, part 4: numbered lists.

Timothy McAdoo

This is the fourth in a six-part series. Today we’ll look at numbered lists.

Numbered lists (as noted on p. 64 of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association ) can be used to denote items in a series, such as conclusions or procedural steps. By virtue of their formatting, numbered lists stand out from the regular text and are more likely to catch a reader’s attention. So, be sure to use the numbered list format only when the list format will add clarity to the text.

Numbered lists can be useful to show the relationship between items: a chronology of events, each item’s relative importance, and so on.

The items can be single sentences or full paragraphs. In either case, the first words of the sentences are capitalized and appropriate end punctuation should be included.

If the items on the list are not complex and the list itself does not warrant special attention, consider running the items into regular text. See Parts 2 and 3 of this series for more detail on the use of serial commas, semicolons , and lowercase letters .

In Part 5 of this series, I’ll cover a list format new to APA Style with the 6th edition: bulleted lists!

Lists, Part 1   |  Lists, Part 2   |  Lists, Part 3

Lists, Part 4  |  Lists, Part 5   |  Lists, Part 6

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Before You Go

How To Do Bullet Points In Apa Purdue Owl?

30 Second Answer

Table of Contents

Can you use bullet points in APA table?

Yes, bullet points can be used in an APA table.

Lists are a common element of writing, whether we use them for groceries, to-dos, or notes from a meeting. We often use the same format for all of our lists, but when we’re writing something for school or work, we need to be mindful of the style guide we’re using. The most common style guides are MLA and APA, and each has different rules for how to format lists.

The answer is yes, but there are some guidelines you need to follow. First, the items on your list should be parallel in structure. That means each item should start with the same grammatical form, such as a verb or noun. Second, items on the list should be punctuated with a period or semicolon at the end; this depends on how the list was structured. Finally, numbers can be followed by periods, but not in parentheses.

Here’s an example of a correctly formatted list in APA style:

To create a successful blog post:

– Choose a catchy headline. – Write in a clear and concise manner. – Engage your readers with strong content. – Use images, videos, or infographics to break up your text. – Promote your post on social media.

How do you list tables in APA format?

Tables are numbered consecutively in the order they appear in the text and each table must have a brief, descriptive title.

When it comes to APA format, there are a few different things you need to keep in mind when listing tables. For starters, the table number should be bolded and placed above the table. Additionally, there should be a brief title in italics below the table number. It’s important to note that vertical lines are not allowed in APA format. If you need to use horizontal lines for clarity, that is perfectly acceptable. When labeling columns or rows, be sure to use concise labels that will be easy for readers to understand.

In addition to the above, it’s also important to provide explanation and context with examples whenever possible. Bullet points can also be helpful in making your information easier to digest. Finally, it’s always a good idea to include your final thoughts on the matter at hand. By following these simple tips, you can be sure that your tables will be listed correctly in APA format.

How do you format a table in APA 7th edition?

Title of Table

Tables are a common element of scientific writing, often used to concisely present large amounts of data. In APA 7th edition, tables are formatted with the following elements:

– The table number (e.g. Table 1) is displayed above the table in bold font. – The title appears one double-spaced line below the italic table number. – The headings are placed at the top of the columns, with the stub heading (the heading for the first column) appearing to the left of the columnar headings. – If the table spans more than one page, the headings and stub heading appear on each page. – explanatory text appears below the table.

Here is an example of a properly formatted table in APA 7th edition:

Table 1 Readiness for CollegeMath Coursework Among First-Year Students

n % Mean SD Range All 500 100% 2.87 1.02 1-5 Male 250 50% 2.86 1.01 1-5 Female 250 50% 2.88 1.02 1-5 First Gen 0 0% 2.82 0.98 1-4

How do you do bullet points in APA format?

The following are instructions on how to do bullet points in APA format: Use the bulleted-list function in your word processing program to create a bulleted listing. The list will be automatically indented. Bullets can be made from symbols such as squares or small circles.

Bullet points are a great way to organize your thoughts and ideas when writing. They can help you keep your ideas organized and can make your writing more concise. There are a few different ways to format bullet points in APA style.

One way to format bullet points in APA style is to use the bulleted-list function in your word processing program. This will automatically indent your list and you can use symbols such as squares or small circles for your bullets.

Another way to format bullet points in APA style is to use Arabic numerals followed by a period for each point. For example, you could write:

1. First point 2. Second point 3. Third point

You can also use lowercase letters followed by a period for each point. For example:

a. First point b. Second point c. Third point

Whichever method you choose, make sure that all of your bullet points are consistent throughout your paper.

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Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. A self-taught DIYer, Tammy loves nothing more than tackling a new project in her own home. When she's not blogging or spending time with her family, you can usually find her rooting around in the garden or at the hardware store.

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Q. How do i cite a numbered list in APA style?

Answered By: Erin McDaniel Last Updated: Jul 16, 2019     Views: 33088

According to the APA Style Blog (linked below), you treat a direct quote that is a list as a block quote. A block quote is indented ".5 with no quotation marks. The parenthetical citation is at the end of the last sentence, after the punctuation.

For more detailed info on creating a block quote in APA Style, visit the Purdue Owl's APA guide, also linked below. Scroll towards the bottom of the page until you see the section titled "Long Quotations". They have a really clear example.

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  1. General Format

    Purdue OWL Research and Citation APA Style (7th Edition) APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition) General Format In-Text Citations: The Basics In-Text Citations: Author/Authors Reference List: Author/Authors Reference List: Articles in Periodicals Reference List: Books Reference List: Other Print Sources Reference List: Electronic Sources

  2. Numbered lists

    To create a numbered list, use the numbered list function of your word-processing program. This will automatically indent the list as well. Select the option for an Arabic numeral followed by a period but not enclosed in or followed by parentheses. This is an example of a numbered list: Our hypotheses were as follows:

  3. Bulleted lists

    Bulleted lists are covered in Section 6.52 of the APA Publication Manual, Seventh Edition This guidance has been expanded from the 6th edition. Items that are complete sentences If bulleted items are complete sentences, begin each item with a capital letter and finish it with a period or other appropriate punctuation.

  4. How to Format Numbered Lists in APA Style

    Numbered lists fall under the "Headings and Seriation" APA guidelines according to the sixth edition of the "Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association." 1. hierarchical or chronological Determine if your list is of a hierarchical or chronological nature.

  5. APA Style Guide

    Purdue's OWL (Online Writing Lab) provides instruction on how to use APA 7th. Below are a few topics covered by the OWL. APA Style Introduction APA 7th APA Overview and Workshop APA 7th General Formatting APA 7th In-Text Citation: Authors APA 7th Foot Notes and Appendices APA 7th Changes in the 7th Edition APA 7th Last Updated: Feb 2, 2023 12:58 PM

  6. PDF Paraphrasing and Quoting: Bulleted and Numbered Lists

    When paraphrasing items in a list, use a signal phrase or citation in the paragraph text before the list. How to cite a block quote list Lists taken directly from a source can function as block quotes, which don't need quotation marks. In your text before the list, introduce the source with a . signal phrase. Make the list single-spaced.

  7. APA Style 6th Edition Blog: Lists, Part 4: Numbered Lists

    Numbered lists (as noted on p. 64 of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association) can be used to denote items in a series, such as conclusions or procedural steps. By virtue of their formatting, numbered lists stand out from the regular text and are more likely to catch a reader's attention.

  8. APA Citation Format

    The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition is the official source for APA Style. With millions of copies sold worldwide in multiple languages, it is the style manual of choice for writers, researchers, editors, students, and educators in the social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences, nursing, communications, education, business, engineering, and ...

  9. Purdue OWL: APA Formatting: Reference List Basics

    This vidcast introduces the viewers to the basics of APA style documentation, focusing on the reference list. For more information on this, please see the fo...

  10. APA Formatting and Style Guide

    Page numbers and running head: in the upper right-hand corner of each page, include a 1-2 word version of your title. Follow with five spaces and then the page number. Abstract: If your instructor requires an abstract, write a 75-100 word overview of your essay, which should include your main idea and your major points. You also may want to mention any implications of your research.

  11. How To Do Bullet Points In Apa Purdue Owl?

    One way to format bullet points in APA style is to use the bulleted-list function in your word processing program. This will automatically indent your list and you can use symbols such as squares or small circles for your bullets. Another way to format bullet points in APA style is to use Arabic numerals followed by a period for each point.

  12. How do i cite a numbered list in APA style?

    According to the APA Style Blog (linked below), you treat a direct quote that is a list as a block quote. A block quote is indented ".5 with no quotation marks. The parenthetical citation is at the end of the last sentence, after the punctuation.