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APA 6 vs. APA 7: Key Differences Clearly Explained

12/03/2025

The American Psychological Association (APA) updated their citation guidelines in late 2019, transitioning from the 6th to the 7th edition. If you're a student or academic writer, adapting to APA 7 is essential, as most institutions now mandate this updated version. This comprehensive guide clearly outlines the key differences between APA 6 and APA 7 to ensure your papers are perfectly formatted and academically accurate.

Title Page and Paper Formatting

APA 6:

APA 6 used a standardized title page format across all types of papers. The title was limited to 12 words, not bolded, and included a running head. Elements included the paper's title, student's name, and institution affiliation.

APA 7:

APA 7 introduces distinct formats for student and professional papers.

  • Student Papers:

    • Title (bolded)

    • Author(s)

    • Author affiliation

    • Course name and number

    • Instructor's name

    • Assignment due date

    • No running head required

  • Professional Papers:

    • Bolded title

    • Author names and affiliations

    • Author note (optional, includes ORCID ID, disclosures)

    • Running head without the label "Running head:"

Heading Levels

APA 6:

Used different formatting for each heading level, with only Level 1 and 2 headings being title case and bolded, while others were formatted inconsistently with italics and lowercase.

APA 7:

All five heading levels are consistently formatted in title case and bold. Levels 4 and 5 are indented and end with a period, followed immediately by the paragraph text.

Writing Style and Grammar

APA 6:

No explicit guidance on using gender-neutral pronouns or reducing biased language.

APA 7:

Endorses "they" as a singular gender-neutral pronoun and advises writers to employ inclusive and bias-free language, thus promoting respectful descriptions of all individuals irrespective of gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

Mechanics of Style

Italics vs. Quotation Marks

  • APA 6: Linguistic examples were italicized.

  • APA 7: Linguistic examples now use quotation marks.

Spacing

  • APA 6: Recommended two spaces after periods.

  • APA 7: Uses one space after periods.

Numbers and Punctuation

  • APA 6: Numbers in abstracts were numerals except for time.

  • APA 7: Numerals are used for numbers 10 and above universally.

  • Bulleted Lists:

    • APA 6 required punctuation after each bullet.

    • APA 7 allows punctuation after bullets to be optional.

Tables and Figures

APA 6:

Table numbers were plain, titles italicized. Figure captions appeared below the figure on the same line.

APA 7:

Table numbers are bold, titles italicized. Figure captions are now placed above the figure, on a separate line.

In-text Citations

APA 6:

Listed all authors for citations of three to five authors at first mention; subsequent mentions used the first author's surname followed by "et al." For works with six or more authors, "et al." was always used.

APA 7:

All citations with three or more authors now immediately use the first author's surname followed by "et al." This simplification improves readability.

Audiovisual Media:

APA 7 explicitly includes guidance on citing audiovisual sources such as YouTube, podcasts, or PowerPoint slides, requiring timestamps instead of page numbers for direct quotes.

Reference List Changes

Number of Authors:

  • APA 6: Listed up to 7 authors; beyond that, an ellipsis was used.

  • APA 7: Lists up to 20 authors before using ellipsis.

Publisher Location:

  • APA 6: Required publisher location.

  • APA 7: Omitted publisher location entirely.

E-books:

  • APA 6: Specified the e-book format (e.g., Kindle version).

  • APA 7: Omits the format, including only publisher and DOI or URL.

DOIs and URLs:

  • APA 6: DOIs formatted as "doi:"

  • APA 7: DOIs are formatted as URLs (https://doi.org/…)

"Retrieved from" Phrase:

  • APA 6: Used "Retrieved from" before URLs.

  • APA 7: Omits "Retrieved from."

Website Names:

  • APA 6: Website names not required.

  • APA 7: Requires website names before URLs.

Additional Notable Changes

  • Fonts: APA 6 restricted to Times New Roman, while APA 7 permits various fonts, including Arial, Calibri, and Georgia.

  • Ordinal Numbers: APA 6 prohibited superscripts; APA 7 allows consistent superscript use.

  • Acceptable Language: APA 7 encourages inclusive language, avoiding labels that stereotype or marginalize.

Final Thoughts

Mastering APA 7 can initially seem challenging, but understanding these key differences simplifies the transition. Always consult the official APA manual or your institution's guidelines to ensure compliance. Adopting APA 7 standards enhances the clarity, inclusivity, and accuracy of your academic writing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. When did APA 7 replace APA 6? APA 7 was officially introduced in October 2019, and most universities adopted it from 2020 onwards.

2. Is a running head mandatory in APA 7 student papers? No, APA 7 eliminated the running head requirement for student papers, simplifying formatting.

3. How should I cite three or more authors in APA 7? Use the surname of the first author followed by "et al." for every citation, including the first occurrence.

4. Should DOIs be formatted differently in APA 7? Yes, DOIs in APA 7 should be formatted as hyperlinks, e.g., https://doi.org/10.xxx.

5. What if a source has no DOI in APA 7? If a DOI is unavailable, APA 7 recommends providing the URL directly, without using "Retrieved from."

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