Notice for Windows Vista and Office 2007 Users:

I have been informed that the installer doesn't work on Vista. This is problematic, as I do not have Windows Vista or Office 2007. And I probably won't be upgrading to either until I buy a new computer - which might not be until next year. 

If you're using Windows Vista or office 2007, try downloading the individual template rather than the installer. I don't know if it'll work correctly, but it's got a better shot than using an installation program that no longer works.

This is a free document template for use with Microsoft Word. Please read through the information on this page before downloading and installing the template.

Compatibility:

The installation and setup program is compatible with the following: 

• Microsoft Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, or XP
• Microsoft Office 97, 2000, 2002 (XP) or 2003

Download information is available at the bottom of this page. 

Additionally, the individual document template file can be used with other word processors, and has been reported to work on Macintosh computers using Microsoft Office.

What is included in the template?

• 5 heading styles (if your paper is complex enough to need that many)
• a "Normal" body style
• a "Reference" style with hanging-indent
• a "Running head" style
• a "Title" style
• a "Byline and Institution" style
• pre-set header with page number and a "right aligned" tab 1/2 inch from the right margin for the "Short Title"

Using the Template

The next time you want to start an APA formatted document, simply click on "File" and select "New". If you're using Word 2002 or 2003, the Task Pane will open and you'll need to click on "General Templates."

In the dialog window, under the section for "General", you'll find your new APA Template listed. Click on the template to select it and then click on "ok." Your new document will have all of the formatting from the template.

Once you have opened a new document based on the APA template, you can use Microsoft Word's built in features to format the paragraphs of your paper. For example, notice in the picture below that the paragraph (ok, so it's just two sentences) is indented on the first line. This is the normal formatting for a paragraph using APA Style - each paragraph of they body is indented 1/2 inch.

Now, look at the toolbar where it says "Normal" (3rd toolbar down from the top). This is the formatting toolbar. If you click the button to the immediate right of the word "Normal" (the one with the triangle pointing downward), the Styles and Formatting list  will be displayed.

If you scroll through that list and pick "References," then the paragraph formatting  is changed to look like the following:

This paragraph is now formatted as the references in an APA document should be - with a 1/2 inch hanging indent. The nice thing about Microsoft Word is that when you click on the Formatting toolbar to drop the formatting menu, it actually gives you a preview of the formatting types.

More Information

If you need more information about using document templates, Florida Gulf Coast University has a nice tutorial on using styles and formatting if you have more questions about the process.

DOWNLOADS:

• Setup Program for Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000 or XP
  
  
• Individual Document template for other word processors (as a Microsoft Word document)