A Guide to ASA Style (American Sociological Association)

You’re writing a sociology paper, and your professor asks for “ASA style.” It looks like APA, but the in-text citations are (Smith 2024:15) instead of (Smith, 2024, p. 15). What are the differences?

ASA style, from the American Sociological Association, is the standard for sociology papers. It is an author-date system, but with its own unique rules for citations, references, and headings.

This guide is your foundational resource for ASA 7th edition. We will cover the “macro” context (how it’s different from APA) and the “micro” skills (how to format your citations and “References” list).

What is ASA Style?

ASA Style is the citation and formatting guide of the American Sociological Association, as detailed in the *ASA Style Guide* (7th edition). It is the standard for sociology papers and is used in many social science departments.

ASA vs. APA: The Key Differences

Both are author-date systems, but they are not the same. Using APA format for an ASA paper will lose you points.

Key Differences: ASA does not use commas between author/date, uses a colon for page numbers, does not use “p.”, spells out author first names, and puts article titles in quotes.

General Paper Formatting (ASA 7th Ed.)

ASA formatting is straightforward. As the official ASA guide outlines, the focus is on a clean, readable manuscript.

• Margins: 1.25-inch margins on all sides. (Note: this is larger than the 1-inch standard for other styles).
• Font: A standard, readable 12pt font (e.g., Times New Roman).
• Spacing: Double-space the entire paper, including the abstract, body text, and references.
• Page Numbers: Page numbers go in the top-right header, starting with page 1 (the title page).

The ASA Title Page

ASA requires a separate title page.

• Title: The full title of your paper.
• Author(s): Your full name(s).
• Affiliation: Your university or institution.
• Word Count: The total word count for the paper.
• Title Footnote (Optional): An asterisked footnote `*` at the bottom of the title page can be used for acknowledgments or to provide a contact address.

The Abstract Page

On page 2, you must have an abstract.

• The abstract is a single paragraph of 150-200 words.
• It should not have the heading “Abstract.” It simply begins on page 2.
• Below the abstract, you may include 3-5 keywords.

ASA In-Text Citations (Author-Date)

This is how you cite sources in your text. It has two parts: (Author Year).

The Basic Rule: (Author Year)

A parenthetical citation includes the author’s last name and the year of publication. There is no comma between them.

• Parenthetical: Recent research on social class shows this trend (Smith 2024).
• Narrative: Smith (2024) found that…

Citing Direct Quotes (with Page Numbers)

When you use a direct quote, you must include a page number. Use a colon `:` after the year. Do not use “p.” or “pp.”

• Parenthetical: The study found that “social mobility is a myth for many” (Smith 2024:15).
• Narrative: Smith (2024:15) stated, “social mobility is a myth for many.”

Citing by Number of Authors

• One Author: (Smith 2024)
• Two Authors: Spell out both names (Smith and Jones 2024)
• Three Authors: List all three names in the first citation (Smith, Jones, and Davis 2024), then use “et al.” for all subsequent citations (Smith et al. 2024).
• Four or More Authors: Use “et al.” from the *first* citation (Smith et al. 2024).

How to Format the “References” List

The “References” list is your alphabetical list of all sources at the end of your paper.

Core Formatting Rules

1. New Page: Start on a new page after your main text.
2. Title: Center the title “References” at the top (not bold).
3. Alphabetical: Alphabetize all entries by the author’s last name.
4. Hanging Indent: Use a 0.5-inch hanging indent.
5. Spacing: The entire list must be double-spaced.
6. Author Names: Spell out all author first and last names. (e.g., “Smith, John A.”)

Common ASA Reference Examples (7th Ed.)

ASA format is very specific. Note that article titles are in quotes, but book titles are in italics.

Book

Journal Article (with DOI)

Note: Article titles are in “quotes.” Do not use “p.” or “pp.” for the page range.

Webpage

Chapter in an Edited Book