University of Houston-Victoria

Academic Center

Levels of Headings in APA Format

Many people use headings in APA format to help the reader understand the hierarchy of the paper’s sections. Headings can function as an outline that reveals the organization of your paper. Most college level research papers tend to use somewhere between one and three levels of headings.

Please note that APA format may not be preferred by your instructor— you should always follow your instructor’s preferences concerning headings. Headings don’t include your paper’s title.

One Level of Heading

Level one headings identify the major sections of your paper are centered and use upper and lower case letters.

Medical Uses of Hypnosis

Hypnosis, a technique for controlling activities within the mind, represents an innovative approach for alleviating severe pain. By administering hypnosis to sufferers of chronic back pain, individuals in the medical field . . . .

Two Levels of Headings

When you use two levels of headings, you use level one (described above) and another heading. This second heading is flush left, italicized, and uses upper and lower case letters.

Medical Uses of Hypnosis

Managing Chronic Pain

This technique recognizes the powerful tool of the mind and uses it to overcome pain within the body. When appropriately administered, hypnosis can alleviate severe back pain in patients suffering from . . . .

Three Levels of Heading

When you have three levels of heading, you’ll use the two levels mentioned above and also use a third level that is indented, italicized, uses lowercase letters, and ends with a period.

Medical Uses of Hypnosis

Managing Chronic Pain

Teaching self-hypnosis. Self-hypnosis offers a unique approach for controlling medical stressors. . .