How to set margins for APA block quotes

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2005

Maybe I've misunderstood you, but did you use "justify" text in paragraph formatting? That should bring your text flush to both left and right sides of your paper.

crb613, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2005

Maybe I've misunderstood you, but did you use "justify" text in paragraph formatting? That should bring your text flush to both left and right sides of your paper.

Yes & from what I understand a long quote (all of it) must be indented app. 5 spaces & the whole quote done in freestanding block. This is what I can't do....get the whole quote indented 5 spaces then in block form so that all sides are even. I hope this makes sense & thanks for trying to help!

Sumatra · Sep 13, 2005

Yes, the block quote is double-spaced and indented 5 spaces from the left margin. It does not need to be indented on the right margin. You can highlight (select) the quote and tab in to set it in on the left. If you are justifying your right margin, the quote will, of course, be justified as well. If there are new paragraphs within the block quote, indent the first line of the new paragraph with an additional 5 spaces. Also, there are no quotation marks on a block quote--a common mistake.

Sumatra · Sep 13, 2005

Oh, it is not necessary to have a straight (justified) right margin, unless you have been instructed to do so.

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 13, 2005

I have moved & reset all kinds of stuff on this computer!! I can get the left side flush but I cannot get the right side flush!! I am trying to do a long quote per APA style & I can't. I really need help.As you can tell I am not a computer whizz so please explain step by step. Thank you! I am loosing it here.

If you are using word, use the justify margin on the upper bar.

crb613, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2005

Oh, it is not necessary to have a straight (justified) right margin, unless you have been instructed to do so.

Allrighty then! Thank you. I thought & my book did show the right side straight also. I just could not figure out how to do it. I have been a little obsessed with this since I couldn't do it. :uhoh3: I was never taught APA only MLA sooo I am really uncomfortable with it. I have been digging out books........and am about ready to :barf01: Thanks!

purplemania, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2005

another option is to pay about $30 for the APA template. It got me through a lot of papers. Go to their website. Others offer it too. I recommend having the CD mailed to you versus downloading.

crb613, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2005

another option is to pay about $30 for the APA template. It got me through a lot of papers. Go to their website. Others offer it too. I recommend having the CD mailed to you versus downloading.

Does it auto format it for you or is it just a guide? Thanks

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Sep 14, 2005

OK, I understand what you need. I'm assuming you are using Microsoft Word. What you want to do is to format a paragraph. A paragraph is any text that you specify by selecting it. First "select" the text (in this case the quote) by placing the cursor at the first letter of the quote, left clicking your mouse and hold the click and drag the mouse to the end of the quote you want in the block form. Next click on "Format" on the top menu bar. From the dropdown menu that appears you click on "Paragraph". Another window opens up. There are two tabs at the top. You want to click on the "Indents and Spacing" folder tab at the top of the window that opens although it will probably already be the window that is displayed since it is usually the default window for that. The first heading you will see is "Alignment". Click on the dropdown box and click on "Justified". Now, the next heading as you move down that window says: "Indentation". You will see a Left: and a Right: with arrows pointing up and down. You select from those, the inches you want the selected text to be from your left and right margins of your page setup. They will be in tenths of an inch, so you will have to figure out what the measurement of 5 spaces will be. My guess is that 1/2 inch or .05 inches will be what you want. Set your indentations. I am assuming that your Spacing which is the next section of this window is going to be single spacing because that is the default. When you have done all this, click the "OK" button at the bottom of this window. The window closes and your quote should be now be justified and indented from the left and right sides as you wanted.

nursemomruns · Sep 14, 2005

I have moved & reset all kinds of stuff on this computer!! I can get the left side flush but I cannot get the right side flush!! I am trying to do a long quote per APA style & I can't. I really need help.As you can tell I am not a computer whizz so please explain step by step. Thank you! I am loosing it here.

According the the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.), you don't justify (flush) the right margin. Because of the style of the 5th ed. book, it looks justified in both margins. If you look at the 4th edition, which was formatted differently, it doesn't look flush. Just set the margin for the block quote five spaces and double space it.

Sumatra · Sep 14, 2005

Right. The APA Publication Manual doesn't show a justified right margin even for publication. Most professors I know don't like the justified right margin because it spaces words in the sentence strangely to fit the margins. I wouldn't bother with it. The block quote keeps the same right margin as the rest of the paper.