What Is the APA Style Website (apastyle.apa.org)?

Updated

apastyle.apa.org is the official website for APA Style and the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual. It is the authoritative source for citation formats, paper formatting, and scholarly writing conventions, and it is aimed at students, researchers, and writers who need to apply APA Style correctly. Use it when you need to confirm a reference format, check a formatting rule, or learn a convention directly from the organization that publishes the standard.

What the site provides

The site describes itself as "the authority on APA Style and the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual." Its stated purpose is to help users improve their writing, master APA Style, and learn the conventions of scholarly publishing.

Based on the site's own description and visible sections, its main offerings include:

  • Tutorials — guided instruction on applying APA Style
  • The APA Style Blog — posts explaining style points and common questions
  • How to format papers in APA Style — formatting guidance for academic papers
  • Other resources for scholarly publishing conventions
  • Popular style guidelines — quick access to frequently used rules
  • Bias-free and inclusive language guidance
  • APA Style Monthly newsletter — a recurring update
  • APA Style merchandise — branded products

Who it is for

The site is relevant if you are:

  • A student formatting a paper or reference list
  • A researcher preparing a manuscript for publication
  • An instructor teaching citation and writing conventions
  • Anyone who needs to verify a rule against the official standard rather than a third-party summary

How to use it

  1. Identify what you need: a specific citation format, a paper formatting rule, or general guidance.
  2. Start from the popular style guidelines if your question is a common one.
  3. Use the tutorials for step-by-step instruction on applying a convention.
  4. Check the blog for explanations of specific or debated points.
  5. Verify against the 7th edition, since the site is tied to that edition of the Publication Manual.

The expected result is a rule or format you can apply directly, sourced from the body that sets the standard.

Practical notes

  • The site is in English.
  • It uses cookies for functionality, personalization, targeting, and social media, and presents a privacy preference center where you can configure or accept these. Blocking some categories may affect site functionality.
  • The site references a subscription option ("subscribe"), but the available material does not specify pricing or access terms, so do not assume any content is free or requires no login.

Bottom line

Treat apastyle.apa.org as the primary reference when accuracy matters. For quick lookups, use the popular guidelines; for learning, use the tutorials; for edge cases, use the blog. Confirm you are working from the 7th edition, since that is the edition the site is built around.