- 1. Author Rule: Up to 20 Authors
- 2. In-Text Citations: Three or More Authors Use Et Al. Immediately
- 3. Running Head Removed for Student Papers
- 4. DOI Format: Now a Hyperlink
- 5. Title Formatting Changes
- 6. Publisher Location Removed for Books
- 7. New Reference Types Added
- 8. Paper Format Changes
- 9. Heading Format Refined
- 10. Bias-Free Language Guidelines Expanded
- Quick Reference: What Stayed the Same
- Related Guides
- Frequently Asked Questions
- 1. Author Rule: Up to 20 Authors
- 2. In-Text Citations: Three or More Authors Use Et Al. Immediately
- 3. Running Head Removed for Student Papers
- 4. DOI Format: Now a Hyperlink
- 5. Title Formatting Changes
- 6. Publisher Location Removed for Books
- 7. New Reference Types Added
- 8. Paper Format Changes
- 9. Heading Format Refined
- 10. Bias-Free Language Guidelines Expanded
- Quick Reference: What Stayed the Same
- Related Guides
- Frequently Asked Questions
The American Psychological Association published its 7th edition manual in October 2019. The update came ten years after the 6th edition and addressed a world where much of the material researchers cite — tweets, YouTube videos, podcasts, apps — didn't meaningfully exist in 2009.
This guide covers every major change that affects student papers and research writing. If you learned APA in 6th edition or are checking whether your citation software is current, this is the complete reference.
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The extension detects the page type and applies the correct 7th edition format.
Add to Chrome — Free1. Author Rule: Up to 20 Authors
This is the change that catches most people off guard. In 6th edition, if a work had seven or more authors, you listed the first six, added an ellipsis, and then wrote the last author's name. In 7th edition, you list up to 20 authors before abbreviating.
| Situation | 6th Edition | 7th Edition |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 authors | List all | List all |
| 3-6 authors | List all | List all |
| 7-20 authors | First 6, ellipsis, last author | List all (up to 20) |
| 21+ authors | First 6, ellipsis, last author | First 19, ellipsis, last author |
2. In-Text Citations: Three or More Authors Use Et Al. Immediately
In 6th edition, for works with three to five authors, you spelled out all author names on the first citation in your paper, then switched to et al. For subsequent citations. For six or more authors, you used et al. From the start.
In 7th edition, the rule is simpler: any work with three or more authors uses et al. From the very first citation.
| Authors | 6th Edition (First Cite) | 7th Edition (First Cite) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 author | (Smith, 2018) | (Smith, 2018) |
| 2 authors | (Smith & Jones, 2018) | (Smith & Jones, 2018) |
| 3 authors | (Smith, Jones, & Williams, 2018) | (Smith et al., 2018) |
| 4 authors | (Smith, Jones, Williams, & Brown, 2018) | (Smith et al., 2018) |
| 5 authors | (Smith, Jones, Williams, Brown, & Davis, 2018) | (Smith et al., 2018) |
| 6+ authors | (Smith et al., 2018) | (Smith et al., 2018) |
3. Running Head Removed for Student Papers
In 6th edition, every APA paper — student and professional — required a running head: an abbreviated paper title in all caps at the top of every page, with the words "Running head:" on the title page.
In 7th edition, running heads are only required for professional manuscripts being submitted for publication. Student papers now only need a page number in the header.
What Student Paper Headers Now Look Like
6th edition: Running head: SHORT TITLE IN ALL CAPS (title page) / SHORT TITLE IN ALL CAPS (subsequent pages)
7th edition: Just a page number, right-aligned, on every page including the title page
If your instructor explicitly requires a running head, follow their instructions — instructor requirements always override the manual's defaults.
4. DOI Format: Now a Hyperlink
The old DOI format used a plain text prefix: doi:10.1037/a0024816
APA 7th edition requires DOIs formatted as active hyperlinks:
Additional DOI changes in 7th edition:
- Include a DOI whenever one is available, including for print sources
- If an article has no DOI but has a URL, include the URL
- No period after a DOI or URL at the end of a reference entry
- URLs do not need "Retrieved from" unless a retrieval date is required (for sources that may change)
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Install Citation Generator — Free5. Title Formatting Changes
Reference list titles follow different capitalization rules depending on source type — and 7th edition made this more explicit.
| Source Type | Title Formatting | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Journal article title | Sentence case, no italics | The effects of sleep on memory consolidation |
| Journal name | Title Case, italics | Journal of Experimental Psychology |
| Book title | Sentence case, italics | The psychology of learning |
| Book chapter title | Sentence case, no italics | Memory formation in the hippocampus |
| Website title / webpage | Sentence case, italics | Understanding cognitive biases |
6. Publisher Location Removed for Books
In 6th edition, book references included the city and state (or city and country) of the publisher: New York, NY: Publisher.
In 7th edition, the publisher location is removed entirely. Just include the publisher name.
7. New Reference Types Added
APA 7th edition added complete citation formats for source types that became mainstream after 2009.
Social Media Posts
YouTube and Streaming Video
Podcasts and Podcast Episodes
Software and Mobile Apps
8. Paper Format Changes
Student vs. Professional Paper Distinction
7th edition formally distinguishes student papers from professional manuscripts. Different requirements apply:
- Student paper title page: Author name, institution, course, instructor, due date, page number
- Professional paper title page: Author name, institutional affiliation, author note, running head, page number
- Running head: Professional papers only (not student papers)
- Abstract: Required only if specified by instructor for student papers
9. Heading Format Refined
APA 7th edition clarified the five-level heading system. One notable change: Level 3 headings are no longer indented and followed by a period. They are now left-aligned and bold, like Level 1 and 2.
| Level | Format |
|---|---|
| 1 | Centered, Bold, Title Case |
| 2 | Left-aligned, Bold, Title Case |
| 3 | Left-aligned, Bold Italic, Title Case |
| 4 | Indented, Bold, Title Case, period ending, inline paragraph |
| 5 | Indented, Bold Italic, Title Case, period ending, inline paragraph |
10. Bias-Free Language Guidelines Expanded
APA 7th edition expanded its bias-free language guidance. Key updates include:
- Singular "they/them" is now endorsed as a gender-neutral pronoun
- "Participants" or "individuals" preferred over "subjects"
- Person-first language encouraged: "person with a disability" rather than "disabled person" (unless the community prefers identity-first)
- Avoid "the elderly" or "the disabled" — use "older adults" or "people with disabilities"
- Avoid "illegal alien" — use "undocumented immigrant" or "person without legal status"
Quick Reference: What Stayed the Same
Not everything changed. These APA rules carry over from 6th edition:
- Double-spacing throughout
- 1-inch margins on all sides
- 12-point Times New Roman (or similar readable serif font)
- Reference list on a new page, hanging indent format
- Alphabetical order by first author's last name
- Author, A. A. Format for names
- In-text citation: (Author, Year) for paraphrase, (Author, Year, p. X) for direct quote
- Volume number italicized in journal references
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Get the APA Citation GeneratorRelated Guides
- How to Cite a Website in APA Format
- How to Cite a Journal Article in APA
- What Is a DOI and How to Use It in Citations
- How to Cite Social Media Posts in APA
- 10 Common Citation Mistakes to Avoid
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest change in APA 7th edition?
The most impactful change is the author listing rule: 7th edition lists up to 20 authors before using an ellipsis, compared to 6th edition's 6-author limit. Other major changes include removing the running head for student papers, updating DOI format to https://doi.org/ links, and applying et al. From the first in-text citation for works with 3 or more authors.
Did APA 7th edition change in-text citations?
Yes. For works with three or more authors, 7th edition uses et al. From the very first citation in the paper. In 6th edition, works with 3-5 authors required spelling out all names on the first citation. Now any work with 3+ authors is immediately (Smith et al., Year).
Is the running head required in APA 7th edition?
No, not for student papers. Running heads are only required for professional manuscripts submitted for publication. Student papers include only a page number in the header.
How did the DOI format change in APA 7th edition?
DOIs changed from the plain text format (doi:10.1037/xxx) to a full hyperlink format (https://doi.org/10.1037/xxx). Always include a DOI when one is available, and no period goes after the DOI at the end of a reference entry.
When did APA 7th edition take effect?
APA 7th edition was published in October 2019 and became the standard for most academic institutions by 2020. If your institution hasn't specified an edition, assume 7th edition applies.
Are there new reference types in APA 7th edition?
Yes. Seventh edition added formats for tweets and social media posts, YouTube videos, TikTok and Instagram content, podcasts and podcast episodes, software and mobile apps, and AI-generated content, among others — source types that didn't exist or weren't commonly cited when the 6th edition was published in 2009.
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