APA Style Levels of Headings

(Adapted from Concise Rules of APA Style, 2006)


The five levels of headings are formatted as follows:



CENTERED UPPERCASE HEADING    (Level 5)

Centered Uppercase and Lowercase Heading    (Level 1)

Centered, Italicized, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading    (Level 2)

Flush Left, Italicized, Uppercase and Lowercase Side Heading    (Level 3)

Indented, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading ending with a period.   (Level 4)


Selecting the Levels of Heading


1.  One Level

  • Use only centered uppercase and lowercase headings

2.  Two Levels

  • Use Level 1 and Level 3 headings

3.  Three Levels

  • Use Level 1, Level 3, and Level 4 headings

4.  Four Levels

  • Use Levels 1 through 4

5.  Five Levels

  • Use Levels 1 through 5


For an example of headings in a writing sample, click here.