The Writing Center

by Ruth Rogers ‘07

There is only one type of list that is acceptable for use in an APA style paper (see Lists in APA Style). You can’t have bulleted lists, but numbered lists can be used. Look for it on page 116 of the APA manual (5th ed.).

The number for each item in the list goes at the position where a paragraph indentation would be (a half inch from the margin). The list is double spaced, just like everything else.

To make this happen in Word, type the first item in your list as you normally would. Leave the cursor in the paragraph and go up to the menu bar, click on the Format menu, and select Bullets and Numbering.

In the window that opens, choose the tab that says Numbered and click the style that has 1., 2., 3., … Click the Customize button at the bottom of the window.

In the slot for Aligned at enter 0.5″; for Tab space after and Indent at put 0.75″ in both places. Click OK.

Now your numbered items will line up properly.