What does Formatly actually do?

Formatly formats your document — margins, spacing, fonts, headings, page layout, and structure — all matched to your chosen style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). We don't edit your writing, check grammar, or validate citations. You write it; we make it look right.

Which citation styles are supported?

Formatly supports APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, Chicago Manual of Style, Harvard, and Turabian. We continuously evaluate new styles based on user requests.

How long does formatting take?

Most documents are formatted in about 30 seconds. The time depends on document size and length, but our engine is optimised for speed without sacrificing accuracy.

Yes. Your documents are processed in real-time and only you can access them. We never see, store, or share your content — your work stays yours.

How to Format a Reference List in APA 7th Edition: Rules, Examples, and Automation

You’ve Written the Paper. Now the Reference List Is Staring You Down.

You’ve just finished the last paragraph of your research paper. You close your laptop, ready to celebrate. Then you remember: the reference list. Suddenly, you’re staring at a blank page with 20 citations that all need to follow APA 7th edition formatting perfectly. One wrong period, one italicized title that shouldn’t be, and your grade could slip. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Formatting a reference list is one of the most tedious—and most penalized—parts of academic writing. But it doesn’t have to be a nightmare.

Understanding the APA 7th Edition Reference List

Before you start typing, you need to know the core rules. APA 7th edition has specific requirements for layout, spacing, and structure. Get these right, and you’re 90% of the way there.

Title: “References” should be centered and bold at the top of a new page.
Spacing: Double-space the entire list. No extra spaces between entries.
Hanging indent: Every entry needs a hanging indent of 0.5 inches. (Learn how in our guide on How to Create a Hanging Indent in Word.)
Order: Alphabetize by the last name of the first author. Use letter-by-letter ordering.
DOIs: Include a DOI as a hyperlink for any source that has one. See our guide on How to Format a DOI in APA, MLA, and Chicago.

Setup: Before You Start Formatting

Set up your document correctly to avoid rework later. Open a new page at the end of your paper. Title it “References” (centered, bold). Set your line spacing to double and remove any extra paragraph spacing. Apply a 0.5-inch hanging indent to all entries. If you’re using Microsoft Word, check out our tutorial on How to Update and Sync a Table of Contents in Microsoft Word for related tips on managing document structure.

Step 1: Identify Your Source Type

Each source type has a unique format. A journal article looks different from a book or a website. Here are the most common types you’ll encounter:

Journal article: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, Volume(Issue), Page range. DOI
Book: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work. Publisher.
Website: Author, A. A. (Year, Month Date). Title of page. Site Name. URL

For more complex sources like figures or appendices, see How to Format a Figure Caption in APA, MLA, and Chicago or How to Format an Appendix in APA 7th Edition.

Step 2: Enter the Core Elements

Every reference entry needs four core elements: Author, Date, Title, and Source. Write them in this order. For example:

Journal article: Smith, J. A. (2020). The impact of digital learning. Journal of Education, 45(2), 123-145. https://doi.org/10.1234/edu.2020.045

Book: Brown, L. M. (2019). Understanding behavior. Oxford University Press.

Website: Johnson, R. (2021, March 15). How to study effectively. Study Tips Blog. https://studytips.com/effective

Step 3: Apply the Hanging Indent

Select all entries. Go to Paragraph settings. Under Indentation, choose “Hanging” and set it to 0.5 inches. If you’re formatting manually, this is where mistakes happen. Use our guide on 5 Common APA Formatting Mistakes (And How to Fix Them) to avoid common pitfalls.

Step 4: Double-Check Alphabetical Order

Sort entries alphabetically by the last name of the first author. If an author has multiple works, order them by year (oldest first). If the same author has works in the same year, add lowercase letters (e.g., 2020a, 2020b).

Step 5: Format DOIs and URLs

DOIs should be formatted as hyperlinks: https://doi.org/xxxx. Do not add a period after the DOI. For URLs, include the full link. See How to Format a DOI in APA, MLA, and Chicago for detailed rules.

Pro-Tips for a Flawless Reference List

Here are insider tricks to save time and avoid errors:

Use reference management tools: Tools like Zotero or EndNote can auto-generate your list, but they often make mistakes. Always double-check.
Automate with Formatly: Our platform uses rule-based automation to format your entire reference list in seconds. No more manual tweaking.
Check for consistency: Ensure all entries follow the same pattern. For example, if one book uses “&” before the last author, all books should.
Avoid common errors: Don’t italicize the period after the title. Don’t forget the hanging indent. Don’t mix up author names with initials.

For more advanced formatting, like tables or annotated bibliographies, check out How to Format a Table in APA 7th Edition and How to Set Up an Annotated Bibliography in APA, MLA, and Chicago.

Stop Formatting. Start Writing.

You shouldn’t have to spend hours wrestling with margins, indents, and punctuation. With Formatly, you can upload your sources, choose APA 7th edition, and get a perfectly formatted reference list in under a minute. No more late nights double-checking every period. No more lost points for formatting errors. Effortless Academic Paper Formatting is here. Try Formatly today and reclaim your time for what matters: your research.