What Is an Appendix in a Research Paper? Format and Examples

An appendix in a research paper is a labeled section at the end of the paper that holds supporting material your reader may want to check but doesn't need in order to follow your argument: the survey you handed out, your interview questions, a full data table, a consent form template or a long calculation. In APA Style it comes after the reference list. In MLA style it comes before the works-cited list. The rest, from labels to table numbers, follows a short set of rules.

This guide covers what an appendix is, what belongs in one, and how to format an APA appendix and an MLA appendix, with examples you can model. The rules come straight from the APA Style website, the MLA Style Center and the Purdue OWL, and each one is linked so you can check it yourself. If you're still drafting the main sections, start with our guide on how to write a research paper and come back here when you're assembling the back matter.

What Is an Appendix, and Do You Need One?

An appendix is supplementary material placed after the main text of a paper. APA's page on appendices setup describes appendices as information that "supplements the text but would be distracting or inappropriate to include in the text itself." They are optional: APA says appendices can be included in both student and professional papers, and the number you use depends on what the paper needs.

The test for using one is simple: your paper has to make complete sense without it. If a reader needs a table to understand your findings, that table belongs in the results section. If a reader only needs it to check your work, judge your methods or repeat your study, it can go in an appendix.

You probably need one when:

• Your assignment asks you to include your instrument, such as the survey, interview guide or observation checklist.
• You collected data and want to show more than the summary in your results section.
• Your methods used materials someone would need to repeat the study, like stimulus lists, participant instructions or a coding scheme.
• You produced long supporting work, such as calculations, code or a database search log, that would stall the main text.

You probably don't need one for a short argumentative or literary essay that cites published sources and collects no data of its own.

A quick note on spelling: both plurals are correct. APA Style writes appendices, while the MLA Style Center and Chicago write appendixes. Use the one your style guide uses and stay consistent.

What to Put in an Appendix (and What to Leave Out)

Put material in an appendix when it supports something you say in the body but is too long, too detailed or too raw to sit there. APA's list of suitable material includes lists of stimulus materials, instructions to participants, tests or scales developed for the study, handouts or educational materials, and detailed descriptions of complex equipment, procedures or subpopulations. The Purdue OWL's guide to appendices in psychology reports adds mathematical proofs, lists of words and the questionnaire used in the research.

Leave these out:

• Your main findings. If your conclusion depends on it, it goes in the body.
• New arguments or analysis. An appendix supports what you already said. It doesn't make a second case.
• Padding. Instructors can tell when an appendix exists only to make a paper look longer. If you can't point to it from your text, cut it.
• Unedited software output. Trim SPSS, R or Excel printouts to the tables a reader actually needs, then rebuild them as properly labeled tables.
• Sources you didn't use. They don't belong in an appendix or your reference list.

Privacy and Permissions

Run two checks before anything goes in. First, de-identify participant material: replace names with codes such as P1 and P2, and remove workplaces, schools, phone numbers and other details that could point to a real person. Second, credit or get permission for anything you reproduce. APA notes that images reproduced from other sources may need copyright attributions in the figure note. Published tests and scales are often copyrighted too, so reprint their items only if the publisher allows it; otherwise describe the measure and cite it. Our guide on how to cite a diagram shows how to credit a figure you didn't create.

What Appendices Look Like in Different Papers

The appendices you need depend on the kind of paper you're writing. Use this table to see what usually goes at the back of common college assignments.

Lab reports handle this a little differently from essays, so if you're writing one, our lab report format guide shows where raw data and calculations usually go.

How to Format an APA Appendix (7th Edition)

An APA appendix starts on its own page at the end of the paper, with a bold, centered label and a bold, centered title. These rules come from APA's appendices page and apply to student and professional papers alike.

Basic APA Appendix Setup

1. Placement. APA's order of pages is title page, abstract, text, references, footnotes, tables, figures, appendices. Student papers generally skip the abstract unless it's requested, and tables and figures can be embedded in the text, so in most class papers the appendices simply follow the references.
2. New page. Begin each appendix on a separate page.
3. Label. Write the label at the top of the page in bold and centered. Use "Appendix" if you have only one, and "Appendix A," "Appendix B" and so on if you have more.
4. Title. On the next line, write a title in bold, centered and in title case. Make sure it describes what's in the appendix.
5. Content. Double-space all text. Write text appendices in ordinary paragraphs.
6. Citations. Any source you cite in an appendix goes in the main reference list for the paper.
7. Page numbers. Keep the page number in the top right corner of every page, appendix pages included.
8. Callouts. Mention each appendix in the text, and call them out in order: Appendix A first, then Appendix B.

APA Appendix Example

Here's how a one-page appendix holding a survey you wrote might look. On your page, the first two lines are bold and centered.

Appendix A

Study Habits Survey Items

Participants rated each statement from 1 (never) to 5 (always). Items 4 and 7 were reverse scored.

1. I plan my study sessions at the start of each week.
2. I study in the same place most days.
3. I put my phone in another room while I study.
4. I wait until the night before an exam to start reviewing.
5. I test myself on the material instead of rereading it.
6. I ask my instructor or a tutor for help when I'm stuck.
7. I study with music or video playing in the background.

In the methods section, the matching callout could read: "Participants completed a seven-item study habits survey (see Appendix A)."

Tables and Figures in an APA Appendix

Tables and figures inside an appendix put the appendix letter in front of their number, so they don't clash with the tables in your main text. The first table in Appendix B is Table B1, the second is Table B2, and the first figure is Figure B1. If your paper has only one appendix, still use A: Table A1, Figure A1. Don't put a period between the letter and the number, so write "Figure A1," not "Figure A.1."

Otherwise, format them as you would in the body. Following APA's table setup rules, the table number goes above the table in bold, and the title sits one double-spaced line below it in italic title case, with any notes underneath. Build the table with your word processor's table feature rather than tabs or spaces. If an appendix mixes text and tables, mention each table in the appendix text before it appears.

Appendix B

Supplementary Analyses

Table B1 breaks down weekly study hours by class year, and Figure B1 plots survey scores against cumulative GPA.

Table B1

Mean Weekly Study Hours by Class Year

[table body and notes]

Figure B1

Study Habits Score and Cumulative GPA

[figure image and notes]

An Appendix with Only One Table or Figure

When an appendix holds a single table or figure and nothing else, the appendix label takes the place of the table or figure number, and the appendix title takes the place of the table or figure title. You'd write "Appendix C" and "Participant Demographics" in bold and centered, then the table itself, with no separate "Table C1" line. The Purdue OWL's APA appendices page walks through the same rule with figures.

For the rest of the paper, from the title page to the reference list, see our APA style guide.

How to Format an MLA Appendix (9th Edition)

An MLA appendix goes after the body of your paper and before the works-cited list. The MLA Style Center's answer on where to place an appendix adds that if your paper also has endnotes, the order is appendix, notes, works-cited list. That answer and the others cited in this section were written for the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook, and the site points readers to the ninth edition for current guidance, so if your instructor sets a different order, go with the instructor.

MLA Appendix Rules

• Labels: With one appendix, "Appendix" is enough. With more, MLA says to label them numerically or alphabetically (Appendix 1, Appendix 2 or Appendix A, Appendix B). Order them by first mention in your text.
• Titles: Appendixes may also have titles, which MLA says should be short and descriptive, such as "Appendix A: Interview Questions."
• New page: Start each appendix on a new page.
• General format carries over: keep one-inch margins, double spacing, a legible 12-point font such as Times New Roman, and your last name with the page number in the upper right corner, as laid out in the Purdue OWL's MLA general format page.
• Sources: Because the appendix sits before the works-cited list, sources you cite in it go in that same list.

Format the Content to Fit the Material

MLA's advice on formatting an appendix is to let the content guide the format:

• Prose: no special formatting. Use paragraphs as in your main text, and add titled subheads if the appendix is long.
• Lists: number the items only if the numbers mean something. If you leave them unnumbered, make each item clearly distinct.
• Lists of sources or further reading: format them like a works-cited list, alphabetized, consistent and with hanging indents.
• Questionnaires and surveys: you usually don't need to reproduce the original layout exactly.
• Charts and tables: use one only when a simpler format, such as a list, can't carry the information. The Purdue OWL's page on MLA tables and figures shows the labels: "Table 1" with a caption above a table, and "Fig. 1." with a caption below a figure.

MLA Appendix Example

MLA doesn't fix how the label must look. A simple choice is to center the label and title the way you centered your paper's title, in plain text, then continue double-spaced.

Appendix A: Interview Questions

Each interview lasted about thirty minutes and followed these questions in order. Follow-up questions varied by participant.

1. How did you first hear about the campus food pantry?
2. What, if anything, made you hesitate before using it?
3. How has using the pantry affected the time you have for coursework?
4. What would make the pantry easier to use?

If Your Instructor Wants the Appendix After Works Cited

The MLA Style Center calls this nonstandard, but if you're told to do it, handle the appendix's sources this way: make a separate works-cited list if it cites many sources, give full publication details in endnotes if it cites only a few, or put the source information in captions if the appendix holds only images or figures.

For margins, headers and works-cited entries across the whole paper, see our MLA style guide.

APA vs. MLA vs. Chicago: Appendix Rules Side by Side

The biggest difference between the styles is placement: APA puts appendices last, while MLA puts them before the source list. Here's the full comparison.

Chicago papers follow similar logic. Turabian's student-paper guidance, as summarized on Chicago's CMOS Shop Talk blog, puts endnotes "after the main text and any appendixes but before the bibliography," so a Chicago appendix normally sits right after the text. Department guides vary, so check your syllabus.

How to Refer to an Appendix in Your Paper

Mention every appendix at least once in the main text, so readers know it exists and what's in it. APA asks you to call out each appendix, and in any style an appendix nobody mentions looks like filler. In APA, any of these patterns work:

• In parentheses: "Participants completed a seven-item study habits survey (see Appendix A)."
• In the sentence: "Appendix B contains the full interview protocol."
• Pointing to one part: "Table C3 contains the parameters for the multilevel model." That's APA's own example; Table C3 would sit inside Appendix C.
• Two at once: "(see Appendices A and B)."

In MLA, use the same idea. Name the appendix by its label in a sentence ("Appendix A lists the interview questions") or in parentheses, and keep the label identical to the one on the appendix page. When you cite an appendix in someone else's book or article, the MLA Style Center's post on citing appendixes treats it like any other part of a work: a parenthetical such as "(appendix B)" in your text and a works-cited entry for the work as a whole.

Two habits prevent most callout errors. Write the callout at the moment you move material out of the body, not at the end. And after you reorder anything, recheck the letters: if Appendix B is now mentioned first, it should become Appendix A.

Appendices in Theses, Dissertations and Journal Articles

Longer projects follow the same basics, but your institution or journal has the final word. APA itself notes that dissertations and theses may need elements its standard page order doesn't list, and it tells writers to follow their university's guidelines.

• Table of contents: Graduate school templates generally list each appendix by label and title. Check yours for the exact format.
• Page numbering: Keep numbering continuous unless your template says otherwise.
• Ethics paperwork: Some programs ask for the ethics approval letter, consent form and recruitment materials as appendices.
• Journal submissions: Journals may move long appendices online. APA's page on supplementing your article with online material lists lengthy appendixes, oversized tables, supplementary data sets and analysis code among the material it can post online, linked to the published article, and asks authors to refer to that material in the manuscript text.

Common Appendix Mistakes and a Final Checklist

The most common appendix mistakes are missing callouts, mislabeled tables and material in the wrong place. Here's how to fix each one.

Before you submit, run through this checklist:

1. Every appendix is mentioned at least once in the body.
2. Appendices are lettered or numbered in the order you first mention them.
3. Each one starts on a new page with a label and a descriptive title.
4. The labels in your callouts match the labels on the appendix pages exactly.
5. In APA, tables and figures carry the appendix letter (Table A1).
6. Every source cited in an appendix appears in your reference list or works-cited list.
7. Page numbers continue through the appendices.
8. Participant data is de-identified, and reproduced material is credited.
9. The paper still makes complete sense with every appendix removed.

If you'd like a second pair of eyes on it, a tutor can go through your appendices, labels and callouts with you and explain any APA or MLA rule you're unsure about. You can request feedback on your own draft whenever you're ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Does the Appendix Go in a Research Paper?

In APA 7, appendices are the last part of the paper: they come after the reference list and after any footnotes, tables and figures you placed at the end. In MLA, the appendix comes before the works-cited list, and before the endnotes if you have them. Chicago student papers usually put appendixes right after the main text, before endnotes and the bibliography. If your instructor or journal sets a different order, follow it.

Can a Research Paper Have Just One Appendix?

Yes. A single appendix is labeled simply "Appendix," with no letter. In APA, tables or figures inside it still take the letter A (Table A1, Figure A1) so readers don't confuse them with tables in the main text. Add letters or numbers only when you have two or more appendices, and assign them in the order you first mention each one in the body.

Do You Cite Sources in an Appendix?

Yes. Cite any source you draw on in an appendix the same way you would in the body. In APA, those sources go in the main reference list; there is no separate appendix reference list. In MLA, the appendix sits before the works-cited list, so its sources go in that list. If you reproduce a figure, photo or published scale, credit it and check that you're allowed to reprint it.

Does an Appendix Count Toward the Word Count?

APA and MLA don't decide this; your assignment, department or journal does. Some instructors count only the body text, while others count every page, so check the rubric or ask before you submit. Either way, don't move core content into an appendix to get under a limit. Graders expect the body to make your full case without anyone turning to the back.

Do Appendices Go in the Table of Contents?

Only if your paper has a table of contents, and most APA or MLA class papers don't. Theses, dissertations and long reports usually do, and their templates generally list each appendix by label and title, such as "Appendix A: Interview Guide," with a page number. Your graduate school's formatting guide decides the exact layout, so follow it over any general advice, including this one.

Can an Appendix Include Images or Graphs?

Yes. An appendix can hold graphs, charts, maps, photos and screenshots, as long as you mention them in your text. In APA, number them with the appendix letter (Figure B1) and give each a bold number and an italic title, unless the figure is the only thing in the appendix; then the appendix label and title replace them. Credit any image you didn't create yourself.

Is an Appendix the Same as a Bibliography?

No. A bibliography, reference list or works-cited list names the sources you used. An appendix holds your own supporting material, such as a survey, data tables or interview questions. A paper can have both: in APA the appendices follow the references, and in MLA they come before the works-cited list. Our guide to the difference between a bibliography and works cited explains those lists.