Academic Formats

How to Use Academic Formats

Step-by-step guide to checking your APA 7th Edition compliance

Installation

Open Microsoft Word on your computer

Go to Insert > Get Add-ins

Search for 'Academic Formats'

Click Add to install the add-in

Alternatively, visit Microsoft AppSource and install directly from there.

Using the Add-in

1Launch Academic Formats

Open your Word document and click on 'Academic Formats' in the Home ribbon tab.

2Run Compliance Check

The add-in will analyze your entire document across all APA 7th Edition requirements.

3Review Results

See a comprehensive breakdown by section: Basic Setup, Title Page, Abstract, and References.

4Fix Issues

Follow the detailed guidance for each issue. The add-in explains exactly what's wrong and how to fix it.

What Gets Checked?

Basic Setup

  • 1-inch margins on all sides
  • Approved fonts: Calibri 11pt, Arial 11pt, Times New Roman 12pt, or Georgia 11pt
  • Double line spacing throughout
  • 0.5-inch first line indentation for paragraphs
  • Page numbers in top right corner

Title Page Elements

  • Proper title page structure with all required elements
  • Paper title formatting and placement
  • Author name(s) formatting
  • Institutional affiliation
  • Course information
  • Instructor name
  • Due date formatting

Abstract Page

  • Correct 'Abstract' title formatting
  • Word count between 120-250 words
  • Keywords section with proper formatting
  • 3-5 keywords with correct indentation
  • Proper placement on page 2

References Section

  • Correct 'References' or 'Reference' title
  • Alphabetical ordering of entries
  • 0.5-inch hanging indent for each reference
  • Double line spacing
  • Individual reference validation for books, journal articles, and web sources

Tips for Best Results

1

Run the compliance check regularly as you write, not just before submission.

2

Fix Basic Setup issues first, as they affect the entire document.

3

For references, ensure each entry has the 0.5-inch hanging indent for proper detection.

4

Review the detailed explanations for each issue - they help you learn APA formatting.

5

Keep your Word document properly structured with clear section breaks.