ASA Citation & Format - A Complete Guide

ASA Manuscript Formatting Requirements

General Page Layout

ASA format has specific manuscript requirements that differ slightly from other citation styles. Use standard 8.5" × 11" white paper with 1.25-inch left margin and 1-inch margins on the right, top, and bottom. The wider left margin accommodates binding for printed copies and provides space for reviewer comments. 

Use Arial font throughout your entire manuscript, including the main text, headings, tables, figures, and references. ASA prefers Arial over Times New Roman because of its readability. If Arial is unavailable, use another sans-serif font like Helvetica or Calibri. Set your font size to 12 points for all text except footnotes, which use 10 points.

Double-space your entire manuscript with no extra spacing between paragraphs, sections, or references. Do not add extra blank lines anywhere in your paper. Indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.5 inches using the Tab key—never use multiple spaces to create indentation.

Title Page Format

ASA requires a separate title page that includes several elements. At the top of the page, include a running head (shortened title in uppercase, maximum 50 characters) flush left with the page number flush right. Center your full paper title in the middle of the page using bold text. Below the title, center your name (no "by" or other designations).

Below your name, include your institutional affiliation, course information, instructor name, and date. If you're submitting to a journal, include your department, institution, full mailing address, phone number, and email address instead of course information. The title page counts as page 1, though some instructors may ask you to begin numbering on page 2.

Abstract and Keywords

Most ASA papers require an abstract on page 2, before the main text begins. Center the word "Abstract" at the top of the page (not bold). The abstract should be a single paragraph of 150-200 words summarizing your research question, methods, key findings, and implications. Do not indent the abstract paragraph—it should be flush left.

Below the abstract, include 3-5 keywords that identify your paper's main topics. These help researchers find your work in databases. Format as: "Keywords: socialization, education, inequality, social mobility"

Page Headers and Numbers

Include a running head on every page in the upper left corner with page numbers in the upper right corner. The running head is your title shortened to 50 characters or fewer, typed in all uppercase letters. In Microsoft Word, use the Header function to set this up once rather than typing manually on each page.

Example running head: SOCIAL MEDIA AND ADOLESCENT IDENTITY 7

ASA In-Text Citations

Basic Citation Format

ASA uses author-date in-text citations similar to APA style, but with one critical difference: ASA uses a colon before page numbers, while APA uses a comma and "p." ASA's distinctive colon format is mandatory for all citations with page references.

ASA citation with page number: Recent research confirms this pattern (Smith 2023:45).

APA citation for comparison: Recent research confirms this pattern (Smith, 2023, p. 45).

When citing a source generally without referencing specific pages, include only the author and year with no punctuation between them.

General reference - ASA: Social inequality persists across generations (Martinez 2024).

Author in Text vs Parenthetical

When the author's name appears in your sentence, place only the year (and page number if applicable) in parentheses immediately after the name. When the author is not mentioned, include the full citation in parentheses at the end of the sentence before the period.

Author named in text: Smith (2023:45) argues that social media reshapes adolescent identity formation.

Parenthetical citation: Social media reshapes adolescent identity formation (Smith 2023:45).

Author named without page number: Smith (2023) conducted extensive interviews with urban teenagers.

Multiple Authors

For sources with two authors, include both names connected by "and" in text or by "and" in parentheses. For sources with three or more authors, use "et al." after the first author's name in all citations.

Two authors in text: Rodriguez and Chen (2024:112) examined social class mobility.

Two authors parenthetical: Social class mobility varies significantly by region (Rodriguez and Chen 2024:112).

Three or more authors: Educational attainment correlates with parental involvement (Martinez et al. 2023:78).

Multiple Sources in One Citation

When citing multiple sources in a single parenthetical citation, separate them with semicolons and list them alphabetically by author's last name or chronologically.

Multiple sources - alphabetical: These findings have been confirmed repeatedly (Chen 2023; Martinez 2024; Smith 2022).

Multiple sources - chronological: Research has evolved substantially (Smith 2022; Chen 2023; Martinez 2024).

Direct Quotations

Always include page numbers for direct quotations using the colon format. For quotes of 40 words or fewer, incorporate them into your text with quotation marks. For quotes exceeding 40 words, format as block quotations.

Short quote: As one sociologist notes, "Identity formation occurs through social interaction" (Goffman 1959:22).

Block quote (40+ words): Introduce with a complete sentence and colon. Indent the entire quote 0.5 inches from the left margin with no quotation marks. Double-space and place the citation after the final punctuation.

Secondary Sources

When citing a source quoted in another source, name the original source in your text and cite the secondary source in parentheses preceded by "cited in."

Secondary source citation: Durkheim's concept of anomie (cited in Ritzer 2023:156) remains relevant to contemporary sociology.

In your references, list only the secondary source (Ritzer) that you actually consulted, not the original source (Durkheim).

ASA References Page Formatting

References Page Setup

Your references page begins on a new page after your main text, before any appendices or tables. Center the title "REFERENCES" at the top of the page in all capital letters (not bold). Continue your running head and page numbering. List all sources cited in your paper alphabetically by the first author's last name.

Use hanging indentation for all reference entries: the first line is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches. Double-space all references with no extra space between entries. Do not number or bullet your references—simple alphabetical listing is required.

Author Name Format

List authors with last name first, followed by a comma and first name (spelled out fully, not just initials). For multiple authors, use commas between all authors and "and" before the final author. List all authors regardless of number—ASA does not use "et al." in reference lists.

One author: Smith, Jennifer. 2023. Social Movements in the Digital Age. New York: Oxford University Press.

Two authors: Rodriguez, Michael and Susan Chen. 2024. "Social Class Mobility in Urban America." American Sociological Review 89(3):112-134.

Three or more authors: Martinez, Roberto, Jennifer Smith, David Lee, and Sarah Johnson. 2023. Educational Inequality. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Book Citations

For books, include author(s), publication year, full title in italics with title case capitalization, city of publication, and publisher. Use a colon between city and publisher.

Basic book: Johnson, Michael. 2023. Understanding Social Stratification. Boston: Beacon Press.

Edited book: Thompson, Amanda and Brian Williams, editors. 2024. Contemporary Sociology: Critical Perspectives. New York: Routledge.

Book chapter: Davis, Patricia. 2023. "Gender and Social Interaction." Pp. 45-67 in Handbook of Social Psychology, edited by Robert Martinez. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Journal Article Citations

Journal citations include author(s), year, article title in quotation marks with sentence case, journal title in italics with title case, volume number, issue number in parentheses, and page range separated by colon.

Journal article with DOI: Chen, Susan. 2024. "Race and educational attainment: A longitudinal study." Sociology of Education 97(2):45-68. doi:10.1177/0038040724xxxxx.

Journal article without DOI: Brown, James and Mary Wilson. 2023. "Social capital in rural communities." Rural Sociology 88(4):234-256.

Website and Online Sources

For online sources, include author (or organization), year, title in quotation marks, full URL, and access date in parentheses. Unlike MLA format, which requires access dates for all online sources, ASA requires them only for content that may change or lacks a clear publication date.

Website with organization author: American Sociological Association. 2024. "Ethics in Sociological Research." Retrieved November 15, 2024 (https://www.asanet.org/topics/ethics).

Online article with individual author: Martinez, Roberto. 2023. "Understanding social media's impact." Sociological Insights Online. Retrieved November 15, 2024 (https://www.socinsights.com/social-media).

Government and Organization Reports

Government document: U.S. Census Bureau. 2023. Current Population Survey, 2023. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

Organization report: Pew Research Center. 2024. Social Media Use in 2024. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.

Data Sets and Archival Materials

Sociological research frequently uses data sets and archival materials that require proper citation.

Data set: General Social Survey. 2022. General Social Survey, 1972-2022 Cumulative File. Chicago: National Opinion Research Center. Retrieved November 15, 2024 (https://gss.norc.org).

Archival material: Du Bois, W.E.B. 1899. Correspondence with Jane Addams. W.E.B. Du Bois Papers. University of Massachusetts Amherst, Special Collections and University Archives.

ASA Headings and Subheadings

Heading Levels in ASA Format

ASA provides specific formatting for three levels of headings, which should be sufficient for most sociology papers. Use headings consistently to organize your paper's structure and guide readers through your argument.

Level 1 Heading (Major Sections): CENTERED, BOLD, ALL UPPERCASE Used for major sections like Introduction, Literature Review, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion

Level 2 Heading (Subsections): Flush Left, Bold, Title Case Used for subsections within major sections

Level 3 Heading (Sub-subsections): Indented, Bold, Title Case, Ending with Period. Run-in heading with text following on the same line.

Using Headings Effectively

Do not skip heading levels—always use them in order from Level 1 to Level 3. If you need only one level of headings, use Level 1. If you need two levels, use Levels 1 and 2. Never bold or underline your paper title on the first page of text.

Example heading structure:

LITERATURE REVIEW (Level 1)

Social Capital Theory (Level 2)

Community-Based Social Capital. (Level 3) Research demonstrates...

Tables and Figures in ASA Format

General Guidelines

ASA format has specific requirements for presenting tables and figures. Place each table or figure on a separate page after the references section (not embedded in text). Number tables and figures consecutively using Arabic numerals (Table 1, Table 2, Figure 1, Figure 2).

In your text, refer to tables and figures by number: "Table 1 shows..." or "As illustrated in Figure 2..." Place these references in parentheses if at the end of a sentence: "(see Table 1)."

Table Format

Place the table number and title above the table, flush left, in title case. Double-space the table title if it runs more than one line. Use horizontal lines to separate the table title, column headings, and bottom of the table—avoid vertical lines between columns.

Table formatting: Table 1. Educational Attainment by Race and Gender, 2023 [Table data here] Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2023.

Include a source note below the table if you're presenting data from published research. Place explanatory notes after the source note, indicated by lowercase letters as superscripts in the table.

Figure Format

Place the figure number and caption below the figure, flush left. The caption should be descriptive enough that the figure can stand alone without reference to the text.

Figure formatting: [Figure/graph here] Figure 1. Social class mobility trends, 1990-2023. Source: General Social Survey 2023.

Ensure all figures are high quality and easily readable. Use clear labels for axes, legends, and data points. Maintain consistent formatting across all figures in your paper.

8 Common ASA Format Errors

1. Using Comma Instead of Colon in Citations

Incorrect: Recent research confirms this finding (Smith 2023, 45).

Correct: Recent research confirms this finding (Smith 2023:45).

Why it matters: The colon before page numbers is ASA's signature citation feature. Using a comma (APA style) is the most common ASA error and immediately identifies unfamiliarity with the format.

2. Wrong Margin Width

Incorrect: Using 1-inch margins on all sides (APA/MLA standard)

Correct: 1.25-inch left margin, 1-inch on other sides

Why it matters: ASA's wider left margin is a distinctive requirement. Using standard 1-inch margins violates ASA manuscript formatting guidelines.

3. Using Times New Roman Font

Incorrect: Formatting entire paper in Times New Roman

Correct: Using Arial font (or another sans-serif font)

Why it matters: ASA specifically prefers Arial over serif fonts. While other styles accept Times New Roman, ASA requires sans-serif fonts for readability.

4. Incorrect Author Name Format in References

Incorrect: Smith, J. 2023. Social Movements in the Digital Age. New York: Oxford University Press.

Correct: Smith, Jennifer. 2023. Social Movements in the Digital Age. New York: Oxford University Press.

Why it matters: Unlike APA format, which uses initials only, ASA requires full first names in references to honor individual scholars fully.

5. Wrong Title Capitalization

Incorrect: Chen, Susan. 2024. "Race And Educational Attainment: A Longitudinal Study." Sociology of Education 97(2):45-68.

Correct: Chen, Susan. 2024. "Race and educational attainment: A longitudinal study." Sociology of Education 97(2):45-68.

Why it matters: ASA uses sentence case for article titles (only capitalize first word and proper nouns) and title case for journal names. Capitalizing all major words in article titles is incorrect.

6. Using "et al." in Reference Lists

Incorrect: Martinez, Roberto, et al. 2023. Educational Inequality. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Correct: Martinez, Roberto, Jennifer Smith, David Lee, and Sarah Johnson. 2023. Educational Inequality. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Why it matters: While "et al." is appropriate in in-text citations for three or more authors, ASA requires listing all authors in references regardless of number.

7. Missing Access Dates for Online Sources

Incorrect: American Sociological Association. 2024. "Ethics in Sociological Research." https://www.asanet.org/topics/ethics.

Correct: American Sociological Association. 2024. "Ethics in Sociological Research." Retrieved November 15, 2024 (https://www.asanet.org/topics/ethics).

Why it matters: ASA requires retrieval dates for online sources that may change or lack clear publication dates, helping readers understand when you accessed the information.

8. Incorrect Heading Format

Incorrect: Literature Review (centered, title case, not bold)

Correct: LITERATURE REVIEW (centered, bold, all uppercase)

Why it matters: ASA has specific formatting for each heading level. Level 1 headings must be centered, bold, and all uppercase—not simply centered with title case.

ASA vs APA: Key Differences

Citation Format Differences

While ASA and APA formats share structural similarities as social science citation styles, several key differences distinguish them. The most obvious difference is citation punctuation: ASA uses a colon before page numbers (Smith 2023:45), while APA uses a comma with "p." prefix (Smith, 2023, p. 45).

ASA citation: Social inequality persists across generations (Martinez 2024:112).

APA citation: Social inequality persists across generations (Martinez, 2024, p. 112).

Reference List Format Differences

ASA requires full first names in references, while APA uses only initials. ASA also has slightly different punctuation in reference entries, particularly for edited books and book chapters.

ASA book reference: Smith, Jennifer. 2023. Social Movements in the Digital Age. New York: Oxford University Press.

APA book reference: Smith, J. (2023). Social movements in the digital age. Oxford University Press.

Manuscript Formatting Differences

ASA requires 1.25-inch left margins; APA requires 1-inch margins on all sides. ASA prefers Arial font; APA accepts Times New Roman. These formatting differences reflect each discipline's manuscript preparation traditions.

Author Name Treatment

In references, ASA lists all authors regardless of number, while APA limits author listings differently for various source types. Both use "et al." in in-text citations for three or more authors, but ASA's reference list requirements differ.

When to Choose ASA vs APA: Use ASA for sociology, social work, criminology, and sociology journal submissions. Use APA for psychology, education, nursing, and most social sciences. Always follow your instructor's or journal's specified requirements.

Free Downloadable Resources

Master ASA Citation Style

The ASA citation guide format provides sociology students and researchers with a clear, consistent system for documenting sources and presenting sociological research. While the distinctive colon-before-page-numbers format may take adjustment, understanding ASA's logic—emphasizing scholarly attribution and manuscript clarity—helps you master the style quickly. Have a look at our complete citation style guide to further get acquainted with proper academic writing protocols.

Remember the key ASA features: colon before page numbers, 1.25-inch left margin, Arial font, full first names in references, and listing all authors. These requirements distinguish ASA from other social science styles and reflect sociology's specific research and publication traditions.