APA Format Checker

Check if your academic paper follows APA 7th edition format guidelines

APA 7th Edition Format Checker

Paste your paper to instantly scan for citation errors, reference list issues, and formatting mistakes aligned with APA 7th standards.

APA In-text Citation and Reference List Checker

In-text Citation Scanner

Our tool scans your paper for common APA citation errors including incorrect author-date formatting, missing et al. usage, improper DOI and URL structures, and reference list alphabetization. Each issue is flagged with a specific suggestion so you can fix it quickly and avoid formatting-related deductions.

Try Citation Checker
APA citation format checking interface highlighting reference list errors

Check Heading Levels, Margins, and Hanging Indent

Full Paper Structure Analysis

Beyond citations, this checker reviews title page formatting, running head requirements, heading levels (Levels 1-5), double spacing, margins, and hanging indent in your reference list. Get a comprehensive report that covers the structural elements professors and journal editors look for.

Check Paper Structure
Complete APA paper structure analysis showing heading levels and margin settings

How to Use the APA Format Checker

Get a detailed APA compliance report in seconds. Perfect for research papers, essays, journal submissions, and dissertations.

Paste Your Text

Step 1

Copy and paste your academic paper, essay, or reference list into the input box.

Select What to Check

Step 2

Choose from in-text citations, reference list, paper formatting, or all three.

Get Your Report

Step 3

Receive a detailed report with flagged issues, line numbers, and correction suggestions.

Why Use Our APA Format Checker?

Avoid point deductions with detailed APA 7th edition scanning

Avoid Formatting Deductions

Catch APA errors before your professor or reviewer does. Small formatting mistakes can cost points.

  • Scan for common citation mistakes
  • Flag reference list errors instantly
  • Get actionable correction suggestions

Save Hours of Manual Checking

Stop comparing your paper line by line against the APA manual. Let the tool do the detailed work.

  • Instant format validation
  • Detailed error location with line numbers
  • Export or copy the full report

Learn APA Rules as You Go

Each flagged issue includes an explanation so you understand why a change is needed.

  • Clear explanations for each error
  • Improve your future formatting
  • Build confidence in APA 7th edition

Trusted by Students, Researchers, and Educators

See how academics use our APA checker to catch formatting errors before submission.

Dr. Sarah Mitchell

Dr. Sarah Mitchell

University Professor

The APA checker caught 12 citation errors in one of my graduate students papers. It saves me hours of formatting review each semester.

Michael Chen

Michael Chen

Graduate Student

I ran my thesis through this tool before final submission and fixed issues I never would have noticed. Worth every minute.

Dr. Emily Roberts

Dr. Emily Roberts

Journal Editor

I recommend this APA checker to all our authors. Submissions arrive cleaner, and we spend less time on formatting corrections.

FAQ

APA Format Checker FAQs

Common questions about checking APA 7th edition compliance

  • Yes, the tool scans for common in-text citation mistakes, reference list formatting issues, DOI and URL errors, and author-date mismatches based on APA 7th edition guidelines.

  • APA 7th edition. This is the current standard used by most universities, journals, and academic publishers.

  • It reviews in-text citations, reference list entries, hanging indent, heading levels, title page structure, margins, double spacing, and DOI/URL formatting according to APA 7th rules.

  • The tool provides specific suggestions for each flagged error. You can apply the corrections manually or use the suggested text to update your paper.

  • Yes, your paper is used only to generate the APA check report. We do not store or share your content.