Using and Modifying Styles

Many types of papers require the use of headings.  Headings can help you keep your paper organized.  Using the built-in styles in Google Docs makes it easier for you to apply and change headings and it also makes your document more accessible.  You can also use the styles feature to make your table of contents.

Creating Styles

Step 1: Highlight the text that you want to turn into a heading. Adjust the formatting to match your preferred style.  APA wants Heading 1 to be centered and bolded as is depicted in the screenshot below.

Red arrow pointing to Heading 1 text

Step 2: Click on Styles under the Home tab.

Step 3:  Choose the heading level that you want to create.  In this case, select the arrow next to Heading 1.

Step 3: Choose Modify.

Screenshot of word with red circles around the options for Styles, Heading 1, and Modify.

Step 4:  Adjust your heading to match APA requirements.  For a Heading 1, APA wants the text to be in  12-point Times New Roman font, bolded, centered, and double-spaced.  You can set all of these criteria on this page.  For additional features, click on the Format button at the bottom.

Screenshot of Modify Style page with red arrows pointing to the font, font size, bolding, centering, and double spacing options. A red circle indicates the Format feature in the bottom left.

Using Styles

Once Heading 1 has been set, use the Styles feature to apply the same format to all headings of that same level.

Screenshot of a Word document with a red arrow circling Heading 1 in the Styles section

Using Styles for a Table of Contents

Step 1:  Use the styles feature to indicate which of your headings are using a Heading 1 style, which are using the Heading 2 style, etc.

Step 2: Put your cursor where you'd like your table of contents to appear.  Hint: this is typically on a separate page between the cover page and the body of your paper.

Step 3: Under the References tab, choose Table of Contents.  There are multiple options to choose from.  An automatic option like Automatic Table 2 in the image below will use the organizational structure outlined by the styles feature to automatically create your table of contents.

Screenshot of Word doc with red arrows pointing to the References heading, the Table of Contents button, and Automatic Table 2
Example of a table of contents with Heading 1 unbolded and left aligned, while Heading 2 is indented and bolded.