Academic Writing

Top 5 APA 7 Mistakes Graduate Students Should Avoid

By Dr. Tiffanie James Parker · April 28, 2025

APA 7 formatting can be demanding, especially at the end of a dissertation. Small inconsistencies can lead to revisions and take attention away from otherwise strong research.

First, do not add a running head unless your program requires it. In APA 7, most student papers only need page numbers.

Second, follow the heading hierarchy exactly. Level 1 and Level 2 are bold, Level 3 is bold italic, and Levels 4 and 5 use indented paragraph formatting.

Third, check author-date citations carefully. Missing commas, incorrect dates, inconsistent punctuation, and author-name errors are easy to repeat across a long manuscript.

Fourth, review every reference-list entry against APA 7 requirements. Small issues in capitalization, italics, DOI formatting, and author order add up quickly.

Fifth, make global formatting consistent. Margins, fonts, page numbers, and spacing should be checked across the full document rather than chapter by chapter.