APA headings and subheadings: the five levels explained
Quick answer
APA 7 defines five heading levels. Level 1 is centered and bold; Level 2 is left-aligned and bold; Level 3 is left-aligned, bold and italic; Levels 4 and 5 are indented, end with a period and run into the paragraph text. All use title case and the same size as the body.
What are the heading levels in APA 7?
| Level | Format |
|---|---|
| 1 | Centered, bold, title case |
| 2 | Flush left, bold, title case |
| 3 | Flush left, bold italic, title case |
| 4 | Indented, bold, title case, ending with a period; text starts on the same line |
| 5 | Indented, bold italic, title case, ending with a period; text starts on the same line |
What do they look like?
Level 1: Centered Heading
Level 2: Flush Left Heading
Level 3: Flush Left Italic Heading
Level 4. Indented Heading. Text begins here.
Level 5. Indented Italic Heading. Text begins here.How many levels should I use?
The fewest that organize your paper. Do not use a Level 2 without a Level 1 above it, and do not leave a single subheading alone: if a section has subsections, it needs at least two of the same level.
How do I build them in Word?
Apply the built-in Heading 1, Heading 2 and Heading 3 styles and modify them to match the table. You can then generate an automatic table of contents with no extra work.
Does the introduction get a heading?
No. The paper's title, repeated on the first page of text, serves as the heading for the introduction. Main sections such as Method and Results are Level 1.
Checklist
- Each heading matches a level in the table
- Same size as body text
- No single subheading in a section
- Word styles set up
Frequently asked questions
How do you format subheadings in APA?
It depends on the level. A Level 2 subheading is flush left and bold; a Level 3 subheading is flush left, bold italic. All headings use title case and the same font size as the text.
How many heading levels does APA have?
Five. Most papers use only two or three. Use the fewest levels that organize your content, always start with Level 1, and do not skip levels or leave a single subheading alone inside a section.
What font size do APA headings use?
The same as the body text. APA does not enlarge headings. Hierarchy comes from bold, italics, alignment and indentation, so every heading keeps the paper's font and size from Level 1 down to Level 5.