This document summarizes the basic formatting guidelines for papers according to the 6th edition of the American Psychological Association (APA) style guide. It discusses spacing, margins, font, tense, punctuation after sentences, hyphenating words at the end of lines, plagiarism, direct quotes, paraphrasing, citing multiple sources, and citing works with multiple authors. The document provides examples for direct quotes, block quotes, quotes within quotes, omitting words from quotes, and citing paraphrased information.
Rough draft check:MLA parenthetical and in text citationskhornberger
This slideshow is designed to help students check whether they have included the necessary citations within their paper and also attempts to help them ensure that they are properly formatted using MLA Style.
Rough draft check:MLA parenthetical and in text citationskhornberger
This slideshow is designed to help students check whether they have included the necessary citations within their paper and also attempts to help them ensure that they are properly formatted using MLA Style.
MLA 8th Edition Citation Format by Germanna Community College Tutoring ServicesJonathan Underwood
Instead of searching for the correct citation format for a specific type of source, the 8th edition introduces a new pattern for Works Cited citations.
MLA 8th Edition Citation Format by Germanna Community College Tutoring ServicesJonathan Underwood
Instead of searching for the correct citation format for a specific type of source, the 8th edition introduces a new pattern for Works Cited citations.
DISCLAIMER:
this note is merely for revision purposes.
any defects of facts will be not amount to any liabilities
one of the statutory provision
based on Malaysian Legal System
Al Bakhtiar bin Ab Samat v Public Prosecutor [2012] 4 MLJ 713
Evidence -- Similar fact evidence -- Admission of -- First charge was for possession of 30.40g of cannabis and second charge for trafficking dangerous drugs -- Whether any similarity in respect of both charges -Whether trial judge misdirected himself when acted on evidence of first charge to prove knowledge of trafficking charge -- Principles relating to similar fact evidence -- Evidence Act 1950 ss 14 & 15
The APA
6th Edition
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Title PageAPA requires a title pageThe title page must include:
Title of Paper (mixed upper and lower case letters)
Your Name (first and last name without including academic or license information such as BSN or RN)
Course Abbreviation and Number
Due Date (month, day, and year)
Instructor’s Name Center all of the above 1/3 of the way down the page
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Running head: TITLE OF PAPER 1
Title of Paper
Author’s name
Course Abbreviation and number
Due Date
Faculty member’s name
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This is an example of how the title page should look. APA, 6th edition. The Customized Little Brown Handbook has additional requirement for the title page.
HeaderThe page header includes an abbreviated paper title (Not more than 50 characters ALL UPPERCASE) and page numberIn MS Word 2003 Select “view” then “header and footer” from the main toolbarFull justify the lineAdd enough ‘tabs’ after the abbreviated title for the page number to land near the right marginChoose “insert page number” on the header and footer toolbar
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AbstractsAlthough the Publication Manual (2010) requires an abstract to precede the text, an abstract is not used in most student papers. Instructors may require an abstract if students are submitting lengthy papers or project proposals. In those cases, the direction to submit an abstract will be in the assignment guidelines.
TextDo not include Introduction as a level heading. Instead, begin the text of the paper by repeating the title from your title page. The title of the paper is centered but not bolded. All lines are double-spaced throughout the entire document. Use black, 12-point Times New Roman font throughout the document. Do NOT add additional line spacingMargins should be 1” all around, with the allowance of 1 ½ inches on the left if binding is expected.
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3 Easy Rules on Quotes1. Short quotes with fewer than 40 words are incorporated into text and enclosed by quotation marks.
Example: “Approximately 27% of the workforce displays poor emotional intelligence” (APA, 2001, p. 121).
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If quote ends the sentence, the punctuation goes outside the final parenthesis, APA, 5th edition, page 121 and see example on page 118, quotation 2.
If the quote is mid sentence, end the passage with quotation marks, cite the source in parentheses immediately after the quotation marks, and continue the sentence.
At the end of a block quote, insert the punctuation and then cite the source. Example:
Xxxxxx
The placebo effect which
verified in previous studies. (p. 276)
The Quote and the Period RulesQuote in Mid sentence. End the passage with quotation marks, cite the source in parentheses immediately after the quotation marks, and continue the sentence with no period.
Example:
She claims, “The placebo effect disappeared” (APA, 2001, p. 118), but she does not clarify.
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Per APA, 5h edition, page 121 In Mid Sentence: End the passage with.
APA STYLE SEVENTH EDITION - 2019This module is desi.docxrobert345678
APA STYLE SEVENTH EDITION - 2019
This module is designed to show the basic elements of APA style writing and provide examples of appropriate APA guidelines; however, it is not intended as an exhaustive reference guide.
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WHY USE APA?
APA writing style provides a foundation for effective communication aiding writers to present ideas in a clearer, concise, and organized manner.
APA rules create uniformity and consistency.
APA (Seventh Edition) has broadened its audience consulting not only by psychologists but also students & researchers in many fields such as business, education, social work, nursing and many other behavioral and social sciences.
BASIC APA PAPER CONSIST OF:
The title page
Text of the paper
Reference page
Notice No Running Head – YAY!
THE TITLE PAGE
APA requires seven basic elements to your title page:
1. Title
2. Author name
3. Institution affiliation
4. Course number/name
5. Instructor name
6. Due date
7. Page number (top header right)
SEVEN COMPONENTS OF THE TITLE PAGE
Title
Author name; first name, last name, no titles or degrees used.
Institution affiliation – American Public University
Course number/Course name
Instructor name
Assignment due date (Month, ##, YYYY)
Page number, page number in header flush right
The title is typed bold, centered, and positioned in the upper half of the title page, 3-4 lines from top margin.
Capitalize the significant words of the title. Do not capitalize words such as: the, in, of, or, and, unless the word is the first word in the title.
There is no prescribed limit for title length in APA Style, authors are encouraged to keep titles focused and succinct.
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TEXT OF THE PAPER
The body must conform to but a few guidelines:
1” margins all the way aroundAll text double-spacedEvery new paragraph 1 tab indent (0.5 inches)
GENERAL FORMATTING INFORMATION
Begin writing your paper on page two (the cover page is page one). The page numbering top right hand side must reflect page 2 in the Header.
Same typeface throughout – various typeface font choices acceptable (2.19).
Double space the entire paper (2.21).
Margins are set at one inch (top, bottom, left, and right) (2.22).
First sentence of every paragraph must e indented (2.24).
Center the title at the top of page two. The title is written in the title case (6.17).
Quotes 40+ words blocked no quotation marks (8.27)
.
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WRITING THE PAPER
APA writing should be straightforward with an active voice – i.e., “Jones developed the project..” as opposed to the passive voice – i.e. “The project was developed by Jones…”
Use past tense when describing earlier research
Spell out the first use of an acronym (example: American Public University (APU) – first use. Next time referenced in paper use (APU).
QUOTES OF 40 WORDS OR MORE
If a quotation contains 40 words or more,
treat it as a block quotation
Start a block quotation on a new line
Indent the whole block 0.5 in. from the .
APA 7th Edition Basics· Paper Your paper must be word-processe.docxShiraPrater50
APA 7th Edition Basics
· Paper: Your paper must be word-processed on unlined 8 ½″ x 11″ white paper.
· Margins: Use 1″ margins on all sides of the page.
· Student APA papers must consist of a (1) cover page, (2) essay, and (3) reference page: Each section of the paper must begin on a separate page.
· Abstracts are only needed if an instructor specifically requests that you have one, and it would only be for a lengthy paper—such as a Capstone.
· The title of the paper must appear on the third page, prior to the start of the body of the paper, centered and in bold.
· Text: accepted fonts are:
· Times New Roman 12 pt.
· Georgia 11 pt.
· Calibri 11 pt.
· Arial 11 pt.
· Lucida Sans Unicode 10 pt.
· Spacing: Double space your entire paper, including: headings, long quotations, and references.
· Page header: In APA 7th edition student papers no longer requires a “running head,” only the page number in the upper right-hand corner is needed
· Indentions: Indent one-half inch from your left margin. (one tab), except for the abstract—this paragraph must start flush left.
· References: Your references should begin on a new page separate from the text of the essay; label this page "References," centered at the top of the page, bolded. References must be ordered alphabetically by the author(s) last name.
· Double space the entire page—there should be no extra spaces between references.
· All lines after the first line of each entry in your reference list should be indented one-half inch from the left margin. This is called hanging indentation.
Any information, including ideas, theories, or research that is not your own, or has directly influenced your writing, must be cited within the body of your paper and have a corresponding reference on the reference list.
General Format:
Only if specifically requested!
Title page format:
· Page number in the right-hand corner of the page header
· Title of paper- Bold and center (beginning four lines down the page)
· Skip a line
· Student name(s)
· Department and University
· Course name and number
· Instructor of class
· Assignment due date
Text (Body):
· The body of the paper should start on a new, separate page following the title page.
· The title of the paper should appear on the first line on the first page of the text, bold and centered
· A brief student paper may not have any headings, and if they do, they should follow the standard 5 level headings
In-Text Citations
APA In-text citation basics
· When using APA 7th ed. format, follow the author-date- (and page number when applicable) method of in-text citation.
· All sources that are cited in the text must have a complete reference at the end of the paper and any source listed on the reference page must have a corresponding in-text citation.
· The sentence punctuation always appears after the closed parenthesis. This is to show that the in-text citation belongs to that exact statement.
· If possible, cite an electronic document using the author- ...
APA 7th Edition Basics· Paper Your paper must be word-processe.docxgertrudebellgrove
APA 7th Edition Basics
· Paper: Your paper must be word-processed on unlined 8 ½″ x 11″ white paper.
· Margins: Use 1″ margins on all sides of the page.
· Student APA papers must consist of a (1) cover page, (2) essay, and (3) reference page: Each section of the paper must begin on a separate page.
· Abstracts are only needed if an instructor specifically requests that you have one, and it would only be for a lengthy paper—such as a Capstone.
· The title of the paper must appear on the third page, prior to the start of the body of the paper, centered and in bold.
· Text: accepted fonts are:
· Times New Roman 12 pt.
· Georgia 11 pt.
· Calibri 11 pt.
· Arial 11 pt.
· Lucida Sans Unicode 10 pt.
· Spacing: Double space your entire paper, including: headings, long quotations, and references.
· Page header: In APA 7th edition student papers no longer requires a “running head,” only the page number in the upper right-hand corner is needed
· Indentions: Indent one-half inch from your left margin. (one tab), except for the abstract—this paragraph must start flush left.
· References: Your references should begin on a new page separate from the text of the essay; label this page "References," centered at the top of the page, bolded. References must be ordered alphabetically by the author(s) last name.
· Double space the entire page—there should be no extra spaces between references.
· All lines after the first line of each entry in your reference list should be indented one-half inch from the left margin. This is called hanging indentation.
Any information, including ideas, theories, or research that is not your own, or has directly influenced your writing, must be cited within the body of your paper and have a corresponding reference on the reference list.
General Format:
Only if specifically requested!
Title page format:
· Page number in the right-hand corner of the page header
· Title of paper- Bold and center (beginning four lines down the page)
· Skip a line
· Student name(s)
· Department and University
· Course name and number
· Instructor of class
· Assignment due date
Text (Body):
· The body of the paper should start on a new, separate page following the title page.
· The title of the paper should appear on the first line on the first page of the text, bold and centered
· A brief student paper may not have any headings, and if they do, they should follow the standard 5 level headings
In-Text Citations
APA In-text citation basics
· When using APA 7th ed. format, follow the author-date- (and page number when applicable) method of in-text citation.
· All sources that are cited in the text must have a complete reference at the end of the paper and any source listed on the reference page must have a corresponding in-text citation.
· The sentence punctuation always appears after the closed parenthesis. This is to show that the in-text citation belongs to that exact statement.
· If possible, cite an electronic document using the author-.
Running head SHORTENED TITLE1SHORTENED TITLE 6.docxagnesdcarey33086
Running head: SHORTENED TITLE1
SHORTENED TITLE 6
Paper Title
Author
Name of the University
Abstract
The abstract is written in block format, meaning that the start of the paragraph is not indented. It begins on the next line following the Abstract heading and should not be more than 250 words. As an undergraduate, it is suggested that you verify the length of the abstract with your instructor (it is usually a FULL paragraph), but a graduate student must adhere to the 120 to 250 word abstract. The Abstract heading should NOT be in bold. All numbers in an abstract should be typed as digits and not as words unless they are at the beginning of a sentence. The abstract is a one-paragraph summary of the most important elements of the paper. This is an example of what an abstract looks like in a paper. Remember, it takes a minimum of 5 sentences to make a paragraph.
Title of Paper
The title of the paper is centered on the first line of the third page and is in uppercase and lowercase letters. Do not italicize the title, bold it, or put it in quotes. The introductory paragraph begins on the line following the title of the paper. The entire paper, including the title page, abstract, body, and references, should be double-spaced. The before/after spacing should be set on zero and the margins should be one inch.
In order to give proper credit to the ideas and words of others, any outside sources used in the body of the paper must be documented by citing the author(s) and copyright date of the source(s). This is called a citation. Each citation must have a corresponding full source reference on the references page that follows the body of the paper. As noted by Stevens (2008), a signal phrase “signals to the reader that either a direct quote or a paraphrase is about to follow” (p.43). This is an in-text citation. As in this example, when the name of the author is part of the sentence, the year of the publication appears in parentheses directly following the author’s name, e.g., Stevens (2008). When the author of a source is not mentioned in the sentence, both the author and year of publication appear in parentheses (Stevens, 2008). This is a parenthetical citation. If a work has two authors, both authors are cited in each citation to that source. For a citation of a source with two authors, use the last names of both authors separated by an ampersand (&). When no author is listed, use the title. If the title is extremely long, one may shorten it to the first 4 words of the title and place them in quotation marks. If the headings are too long to use in your in-text citation use a shortened version in quotation marks like this: (Lorraine, 2009, “Stock market trends,” para. 56). When there isn’t any publication date is listed, use the abbreviation n.d., which stands for no date. When a direct quote is taken from a source with page numbers, such as a book, magazine, or newspaper, include the page n.
Safalta Digital marketing institute in Noida, provide complete applications that encompass a huge range of virtual advertising and marketing additives, which includes search engine optimization, virtual communication advertising, pay-per-click on marketing, content material advertising, internet analytics, and greater. These university courses are designed for students who possess a comprehensive understanding of virtual marketing strategies and attributes.Safalta Digital Marketing Institute in Noida is a first choice for young individuals or students who are looking to start their careers in the field of digital advertising. The institute gives specialized courses designed and certification.
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This slide is special for master students (MIBS & MIFB) in UUM. Also useful for readers who are interested in the topic of contemporary Islamic banking.
June 3, 2024 Anti-Semitism Letter Sent to MIT President Kornbluth and MIT Cor...Levi Shapiro
Letter from the Congress of the United States regarding Anti-Semitism sent June 3rd to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, MIT Corp Chair, Mark Gorenberg
Dear Dr. Kornbluth and Mr. Gorenberg,
The US House of Representatives is deeply concerned by ongoing and pervasive acts of antisemitic
harassment and intimidation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Failing to act decisively to ensure a safe learning environment for all students would be a grave dereliction of your responsibilities as President of MIT and Chair of the MIT Corporation.
This Congress will not stand idly by and allow an environment hostile to Jewish students to persist. The House believes that your institution is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the inability or
unwillingness to rectify this violation through action requires accountability.
Postsecondary education is a unique opportunity for students to learn and have their ideas and beliefs challenged. However, universities receiving hundreds of millions of federal funds annually have denied
students that opportunity and have been hijacked to become venues for the promotion of terrorism, antisemitic harassment and intimidation, unlawful encampments, and in some cases, assaults and riots.
The House of Representatives will not countenance the use of federal funds to indoctrinate students into hateful, antisemitic, anti-American supporters of terrorism. Investigations into campus antisemitism by the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means have been expanded into a Congress-wide probe across all relevant jurisdictions to address this national crisis. The undersigned Committees will conduct oversight into the use of federal funds at MIT and its learning environment under authorities granted to each Committee.
• The Committee on Education and the Workforce has been investigating your institution since December 7, 2023. The Committee has broad jurisdiction over postsecondary education, including its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, campus safety concerns over disruptions to the learning environment, and the awarding of federal student aid under the Higher Education Act.
• The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the sources of funding and other support flowing to groups espousing pro-Hamas propaganda and engaged in antisemitic harassment and intimidation of students. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight committee of the US House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X.
• The Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating several universities since November 15, 2023, when the Committee held a hearing entitled From Ivory Towers to Dark Corners: Investigating the Nexus Between Antisemitism, Tax-Exempt Universities, and Terror Financing. The Committee followed the hearing with letters to those institutions on January 10, 202
MATATAG CURRICULUM: ASSESSING THE READINESS OF ELEM. PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS I...NelTorrente
In this research, it concludes that while the readiness of teachers in Caloocan City to implement the MATATAG Curriculum is generally positive, targeted efforts in professional development, resource distribution, support networks, and comprehensive preparation can address the existing gaps and ensure successful curriculum implementation.
Executive Directors Chat Leveraging AI for Diversity, Equity, and InclusionTechSoup
Let’s explore the intersection of technology and equity in the final session of our DEI series. Discover how AI tools, like ChatGPT, can be used to support and enhance your nonprofit's DEI initiatives. Participants will gain insights into practical AI applications and get tips for leveraging technology to advance their DEI goals.
A workshop hosted by the South African Journal of Science aimed at postgraduate students and early career researchers with little or no experience in writing and publishing journal articles.
How to Build a Module in Odoo 17 Using the Scaffold MethodCeline George
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Introduction to AI for Nonprofits with Tapp NetworkTechSoup
Dive into the world of AI! Experts Jon Hill and Tareq Monaur will guide you through AI's role in enhancing nonprofit websites and basic marketing strategies, making it easy to understand and apply.
1. American Psychological Association (APA) Guide
Sixth Edition, 2010
Basic Format of Paper
1. For spacing, APA distinguishes between manuscripts (those written for publication) and
theses, dissertations, and student papers. A manuscript is completely double-spaced (APA,
2010, p. 229). Student papers are double-spaced to include references on the reference page and
long quotes (APA, 2010, p.37, example p. 59). You will need to ask your professor which
spacing rule is preferred for your assignment.
2. The paper needs to have one-inch margins (APA, 2010, pp. 228-229). Do not justify the right
margin (APA, 2010, p. 229). Font size needs to be 12 point (APA. 2010, p. 228).
3. Past tense (e.g. “Smith (1996) showed”) or present perfect tense (“researchers have shown”) is
appropriate for literature review (APA. 2010, p.77-78).
4. After a period at the end of a sentence, you will space twice. Spacing twice after punctuation
marks at the end of a sentence aids reader of draft manuscripts (APA, 2010 p. 87-88).
Example: The researchers examined gender differences in math. They found…
5. If the last word on a line is too long to stay at the end of a line, do NOT divide the word with
a hyphen. Just let the word fall to the next line (APA, 2010, p. 229).
6. Remember, it is PLAGIARISM to copy someone else‟s work or ideas. If you copy four or
more words in a row from the journal that are the author‟s original words, you must use
quotation marks and cite. When you paraphrase information, you give a citation, but you do not
use quotation marks (APA, 2010, p. 170-171).
Direct Quoting
7. All direct quotes of print sources must be cited with author‟s last name, year, and a page
number immediately following the end quotation mark (APA, 2010, p. 170). This can be done in
two ways as follows:
Example 1: According to Smith and Jones (1995), “the gender difference was not
significant” (APA, 2001, p. 456).
OR
Example 2: The results indicated “the gender difference was not significant” (Smith &
Jones, 1995) with males and females performing equally (APA, 2001, pp. 456-457).
2. *Citation will immediately follow the end quotation mark (APA, 2010, p. 170).
* If quote falls on two pages, use “pp.” instead of “p.” (APA, 2010, p. 170).
* For electronic sources that do not provide page numbers, indicate paragraph of the
quote by using the paragraph symbol: (Smith, 1999, ¶6).
8. Notice that you join two or more authors with the word and in the running text, but you use
the ampersand (&) in parenthetical material (APA, 2010, p. 175).
9. A direct quote (one that is in quotation marks) must be just that – you cannot change one
word of what you are quoting, leave any words out, or add any words without letting the reader
know you‟ve done so (APA, 2010, p. 172).
10. Again, a quote must be exact. If citations are embedded within your quote, these citations
must also go in your quote. These embedded citations are not put on the reference page (unless
you happen to cite them yourself elsewhere in the paper) (APA, 2010, p. 173).
11. You may change in a quote, without any explanation, the capitalization of a letter (a capital
letter may be changed to a lower case and vice versa); you may change the punctuation mark at
the end of the sentence, or a double quote to a single quote (APA, 2010, p. 172).
12. If there is an error in grammar, spelling, or punctuation that is in the text that you are
quoting, you must quote the mistake since you must quote directly as written. However, you
need to let the reader know that the mistake was not made by you. You do this by following the
mistake with [sic], the word sic in italic. Then, continue your quote (APA, 2010, p. 172). This is
NOT required for APA mistakes, just spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors.
Example: Smith (1990) indicated, “the students were concerned about his [sic] math grade.”
↓
indicates that the mistake was in the original text as quoted
13. If you need to add your own words to a quote for clarification, then your words must be
placed in brackets (APA, 2010, p. 173).
Example from p. 173: “They are studying, from an evolutionary perspective, to what extent
[children‟s] play is a luxury that can be dispensed with when there are too many other competing
↓ claims on the growing brain…” (Henig, 2008, p. 40).
Indicates that these are your own words
14. If you want to omit something within the sentence of the quote, you indicate this by placing
three ellipsis points (. . .) where the information was left out. If you omit something between two
sentences use four ellipsis points (. . . .). Do NOT use the ellipsis point at the beginning or end
3. of the quotation unless, in order to prevent misinterpretation, you need to emphasize that the
quotation begins or ends mid-sentence (APA, 2010, p. 209).
Example: Smith (1992) felt that “gender bias is evident on the SAT-Math . . . in favor of males”
(APA, 2001, p. 209). ↓
Indicates that more came after this, but it was left out
Please note that there ARE blank spaces between the ellipsis points.
15. If your quote is 40 or more words long, you block the quote. Hit the return key, and indent
the left margin by tabbing once, and then type in the quote, double-spaced. You do not indent
right margin. The left margin is indented for every line of the quote. You do NOT use
quotation marks when you block. However, you will need to cite the quote by telling the
author, date, and page number of the quote (APA, 2010, p. 171).
Example from p. 171:
------------------------------ (double spacing paper)
Others have contradicted this view:
Co-presence does not ensure intimate interaction among all group members. Consider
large-scale social gatherings in which hundreds or thousands of people gather in a
location to perform a ritual or celebrate an event. In these instances, participants are able
to see the visible manifestation of the group, the physical gathering, yet their ability to
make direct, intimate connections with those around them is limited by the sheer
magnitude of the assembly. (Purcell, 1997, pp.111-112)
*Note the period goes at the end of the sentence, not after the citation.
16. If you quote something that is itself inside quotation marks, then use single quotes inside of
double quotes (APA, 2010, p. 92).
Example: Johnson (1990) found that the “the „normal‟ children did not score differently from
the special education children” (APA 2001, p. 204).
Johnson (1990) had the word normal in quotes within a quotation, so normal was put
inside of single quotation marks.
17. Quotations should be used to make emphasis in the paper. They should not be used when
you just do not feel like putting things in your own words or when you do not understand what
4. the authors are saying, so you just quote it. A high majority of your paper should be written or
paraphrased by you!
Paraphrasing (using your own words to describe the author’s ideas)
18. Paraphrasing requires the author‟s last name and the year of publication. Including the page
number is acceptable, but not required. (APA, 2010, p. 15). This can be done in two ways as
follows:
Example 1: Smith and Jones (1995) did not find any significant differences between males and
females.
OR
Example 2: Research has not indicated any significant differences between males and females
(Smith & Jones, 1995).
19. If you want to cite more than one reference at a time, you list references in alphabetical
order and separate by semicolons (APA, 2010, p. 178).
Example: Much of the research has shown no significant differences in gender (Brown & Smith,
1998; Dowd, 1990; Kaufman &McClean, 1997).
20. Begin the paragraph by letting the reader know who you are paraphrasing in the first
sentence that is paraphrased. Thereafter, you do NOT need to give a citation for every sentence
paraphrased in the paragraph. If it is clear that you are still referring to the same citation, no
citation is necessary. However, when you change paragraphs, you must cite again whom you are
paraphrasing and do this in the first sentence that is paraphrased.
21. The first time in each paragraph you paraphrase and use the author‟s name as part of the
sentence, you must follow the name by the date of the journal in parenthesis. After that, you just
use the author‟s name (no date) in that paragraph if the author‟s last name is in the paraphrased
sentence (APA, 2010, p. 174).
However, if the citation does not use the author‟s last name as part of the paraphrase
sentence but it cited in parentheses at the end of the sentence then the date MUST always follow
the author‟s name (APA, 2010, p. 174).
Example:
Smith (1990) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - date follows since this is the first mention of Smith
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Smith also - - - no date since this is the second
time Smith‟s name is mentioned - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - Smith (1990) said “- - - - - -“ (p. 20) date follows since this sentence is a quote - - -
- - - - - - - - - - Janis (1991) disagreed date follows since this is the first mention of Janis -
5. - - - - - - - - - - - (Smith, 1990) date follows since Smith is not in sentence but is in
parentheses
For Both Quoting and Paraphrasing
22. If your source has three, four, or five authors, the first time you cite them, you must list them
all. After that, you list the first author followed by “et al.” for the rest of the paper and the year
if it is the first citation of the reference within a paragraph (APA, 2010, p. 175).
*Please note that et al. has a period after al and is not italicized. Also note that since “et
al.” stands for “and others”, it takes a plural verb.
Example: Smith et al. (1995) were investigating
23. For six or more authors, you can use “et al.” after the first author for all cites in the body of
the paper, including the first cite. On the reference page, you list them all if there are three to
seven authors. If there are eight or more, you list the first six followed by an ellipsis and add the
last author‟s name (APA, 2010, p.184).
Example: Smith et al. (1995) were investigating . . .
24. Don‟t talk about “the research” or “the study” without giving a citation in first sentence of
paragraph.
25. Don‟t refer to “the article.” Refer to the authors. For example, do not say, “in the article it
was found . . .” Instead, say “Smith and Brown (1995) found. . .”
26. Be concise and specific. For example, it is wordy to say “The study conducted by Lev
(1990) found . . .” instead, say “Lev (1990) found . . .”
27. When citing, only use the author‟s last name. Do not put first name, title of article, where
the author works, etc. (APA, 2010, p. 170).
28. You cannot change the order of the authors as they are presented in the article when you cite
them. The last names cited in your text and on your reference page must follow the same order
as they are listed on the publication.
Reference Page:
29. On a separate page, center the word References, capitalizing only the “R”. The word
“References” is NOT in bold, underlined, or in bigger font (APA, 2010, p.37). Double-space
after the title, References, and double-space the citations. List the references in alphabetical
order according to the first author‟s last name (APA, 2010, p. 181).
30. To reference a journal article APA style (APA, 2010, p.198):
6. References – center and type in plain text; double space before first reference
First initial of first name
↓ First initial of middle name
↓ ↓ ↓ (Comma before ampersand is necessary even if there are
only 2 authors)
Lastname, F. M., Lastname, F.M., & Lastname, F.M. (year). Title of the article.
(double space)
Journal Name, Volume Number, (page numbers). →Page numbers in parentheses
↓ ↓
Italicized Italicized
If name includes Jr., III, etc., place after middle initial. Title (PhD, MD, etc.) are not listed
(APA, 1994, p. 248, #23).
Example: Smith, C.L., Jr., Nahrgang, D.K., & Peterson, B.T. (1995). Using writing to learn
mathematics. Mathematics Teacher, 79, 461-465.
31. In the journal reference, only the first letter of the title of the journal is capitalized unless
title contains a proper noun, or a word follows a colon or dash (APA, 2010, pp. 198-200).
Example: Jones, J.J. (1990). Gender differences in math: A study conducted in
Tennessee. Mathematics Teacher, 3, 4-6.
“A” capitalized because it is the first letter of the first word after a colon
“Tennessee” capitalized because it is a proper noun
32. If the journal has a volume and an issue number (e.g., Volume 16 No.4), and if each issue
of a journal begins on page 1, give the issue number in parentheses immediately after the volume
number. Do not italicize the issue number (APA, 2010, p. 186).
Example: Smith, B.J., & Brown, T. (1997). Learning style differences in males and females.
Journal of Educational Psychology, 14(4), 49-50.
↓
The issue number is not italicized.
7. 33. In general, it is not necessary to include database information for journal articles accessed
through a database. Journal coverage in a particular database may change over time; also, if
using an aggregator such as EBSCO, OVID, or ProQuest (each of which contain many
discipline-specific databases, such as PsychINFO), it may be unclear exactly which database
provided the full text of an article (APA, 2010, p.192). For further information on electronic
sources, see APA, 2010, pages 187-192.
34. To reference a magazine article APA style (APA, 2010, p. 200):
Month and day Title of Article Name of magazine Volume & pg. number
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
Schrof, J.M. (1993, August 2). The gender machine. U.S. News & World Report, 115, 42-44.
35. To reference a book, APA style, (APA, 2010, 202-205):
*Remember, even if just two authors, a comma is placed before ampersand*
↓ The title of the book (italicized) Edition of the book
↓ ↓
Smith, L.R., & Jones, S.T. (1992). Education research: An introduction (4th
ed.).
Scottsdale, AZ,: Gorsuch Scarisbrick Publishers.
↓ ↓
City & State of Publishers(Not italicized) Publishers (Not italicized)
36. For the reference of books, reports, presentations, brochures, and other separate
nonperiodical publications, the two letter abbreviation of the state is cited (APA, 2010, p. 187).
Rules with Numbers:
37. Basically, numbers nine and lower must be spelled out (ninth grade); numbers ten and
greater should be expressed as a figure (12th
grade) (APA, 2010, p. 111). As usual, there are
exceptions. These include the following:
38. If a number is the first word in a sentence, it is always spelled out. However, if possibly, try
to write the sentence so that a number is not the first word (APA, 2010, p. 112).
39. All numbers are expressed in figures that are:
- mathematical or statistical functions (e.g., divided by 3)
-decimal or fractional quantities, quartiles, and percentiles (e.g. 2 ½ times, the 1st
quartile)
-percentages (e.g. 5% of the sample)
- represent time, ages, dates (e.g. 2:00 a.m., 2 months, 4 years, March 01, 1999)
- sample size, subsample size, or population size (e.g. from a population of 9 first grade
teachers, 6 teachers were chosen for the research; the control group contained 3 teachers,
and the treatment group contained 3)
- denote a specific place in a numbered series (e.g. Grade 8)
(APA, 2010, pp. 111-112)
8. 40. When typing percentages, you will use the % sign to mean percent (APA, 2010, p. 112)
Example: If you want to express ninety percent in APA, you type 90% but if you want
to indicate the ninetieth percentile, you type 90th
percentile.
41. To form the plurals of numbers, whether expressed as figures or as words, add s or es, alone
without an apostrophe (APA, 2010, p. 114).
Example: In the 1980s. . .
42. A comma is required in numbers over three digits. Example, 1,453 (comma is required).
The exceptions are page numbers, binary digits, serial numbers, degrees of freedom, acoustic
frequency designations, degree of temperature, the date expressed in years, and numbers to the
right of the decimal place (APA, 2010, p. 114).
43. For other rules concerning numbers, see pages 111-115 in APA Manual.
Referring to persons with disabilities:
44. If your paper refers to people with disabilities, the disability needs to be mentioned after the
person is mentioned (APA, 2010, 72-73).
Example of correct way: A student with a learning disability (student mentioned first)
Example of incorrect way: A learning disabled student (disability mentioned before student)
Using Abbreviation or Acronym
45. If you want to use an abbreviation like ADD for attention deficit disorder, the abbreviation
must be defined first before you can use it. To do this, first spell out what the abbreviation
means following by the abbreviation in parentheses (APA, 2010, p. 107)
Example: The student with attention deficit disorder (ADD) can be seen to . . .
Then you MUST use the abbreviation ADD with no parentheses for the rest of your paper.
46. Do NOT use periods in capital letter abbreviations (APA, 2010, p. 88). In other words, do
not abbreviate as A.D.D. but use ADD.
47. To make an abbreviation plural, simply add an s without using an apostrophe or italicized
(APA, 2010, p. 110).
Example: IQ
48. Do not overuse abbreviations. The whole point is to help the reader. Overuse hinders
reading comprehension; therefore, only use abbreviations that will help you communicate to the
reader (APA, 2010, p. 106). Further, do NOT ask the reader to learn an abbreviation that you
never use.
49. APA allows one to use abbreviations that are accepted as word entries in Merriam-Webster
Collegiate Dictionary without having to spell out their meaning so you do not have to write them
out the first time you use them (APA, 2010, p. 107). These include:
IQ REM ESP AIDS HIV NADP ACTH
9. 50. You also cannot use Latin abbreviations in the text in nonparenthetical material. In other
words, use Latin abbreviations only when they are inside parentheses. Otherwise, you use the
English translation (APA, 2010, p. 108). Examples:
CANNOT USE INSTEAD USE
e.g. for example
etc. and so forth
vs. versus, against
i.e. that is
The exception to this rule is the Latin abbreviation et al., which means “and others”.
Commas:
51. With a series of three or more, a comma is used before the word “and” (APA, 2010, p. 88).
Example: Smith‟s (1990) subjects included 66 African Americans, 83 Hispanic
Americans, and 89 Native Americans.
↓
Comma must be used
Colons:
52. A colon can be used only is what comes before the colon is a complete independent clause (a
complete sentence). If what follows the colon is also a complete sentence, then the first letter of
that clause will be capitalized (APA, 2010, p. 90).
Misuse of Slashes:
53. A slash CANNOT be used in and/or constructions (APA, 2010, p. 95).
Example of incorrect use: The students are majoring in elementary education and/or early
childhood education.
Example of correct use: The students are majoring in elementary education, early childhood
education or both.
54. A slash CANNOT be used in “he/she” constructions. Further, it is best to avoid using
gender specific pronouns altogether, but if you must, use “he or she” and “she or he” (APA,
2010, pp. 95-96). Examples:
Incorrect: The professor motivates students in the classroom when he reinforces other students
doing well.
Incorrect: The professor motivates students in the classroom when he/she reinforces other
students doing well (incorrect use of slash)
Ok: The professor motivates students in the classroom when he or she reinforces other students
doing well.
Best: The professor motivates students in the classroom by reinforcing other students who do
well. (avoids using the gender specific pronoun)
10. Hyphens and Dashes:
55. Hyphenate when using two or more compound modifiers having a common base (APA,
2010, p. 97).
Example of two correct ways:
The subjects were given pre- and post-test.
The subjects were given a pretest and a posttest.
56. The dash is only used to indicate a sudden interruption in the continuity of a sentence (APA,
2010, p. 90).
Example: These 2 participants – 1 from the first group and 1 from the second – were tested
separately.
Spelling:
57. The “official” dictionary chosen by the APA is the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary
(APA, 2010, p. 96).
- If the dictionary gives a choice of how to spell a word, then use the first spelling listed
(APA, 2010, p. 96). For example, the first listing of the word “cannot” indicates the
word is one word. “Cannot” as one word is the spelling you should use rather than
writing the word as “can not”.
- This dictionary has a web site with an audio feature that allows one to click on a word
and hear the pronunciation: http://www.Merriam-Webster.com
The Format of the APA Paper (APA, 2010, pp. 23-24)
58. Title Page (APA, 2010, p. 41)
One-inch margin for entire paper: left, right, top, and bottom
A Comparison 1 - header is right justified on every page. Tab before inserting page number
Running head: A COMPARISON OF DESIGNS- Running head is flush left
A Comparison of Analysis of Covariance and Blocking Designs in Distance Education - Title of
the paper is centered
Elizabeth Grace Eller – Author‟s name is centered
The University of Alabama – School affiliation is centered
The first page is the title page. The recommended length for a title is 10 to 12 words (APA,
2010, p. 23). The title should identify the actual variables under investigation (APA, 2010, p.
23). It will include a running head, a page number, and the page header (APA, 2010, p. 41). The
page header is the title abbreviated that is shown at the top of all the pages of the paper. It
11. should be no more than 50 characters long, counting letters, punctuation, and spaces between
words (APA, 2010, p. 229).
59. Abstract (APA, 2010, p. 41)
A Comparison 2 - Page header and number are right justified
Abstract – Center the word “Abstract”
This study compared the sensitivity of eight analyses procedures using data from a pilot of
distance education project, Integrated Science 7. The first sentence is not indented and the
paragraph should be double spaced.
The second page is the abstract, which is a summary paragraph of the contents of the paper
(APA, 2010, p. 25). It is numbered and contains the page header (APA, 2010, p. 27). It should
not be longer than 150-250 words and it is only one paragraph (APA, 2010, p. 27). However, it
is a paragraph, and therefore, should be at least three sentences in length.
60. Body of the Paper (APA, 2010, p. 307)
A Comparison 3 – Page header and number are right justified
A Comparison of Analysis of Covariance and Blocking Design in Distance Education – Title of
paper is centered. If title does not fit on one line, double space.
One task of educational researchers is to determine the most appropriate statistical analysis to
apply to their data. A primary goal of the researcher is to use the most . . . Body of the paper is
double-spaced
The third page starts the body of the paper. It is numbered and contains the page header. The
title on this page should math the title on the title page. For this assignment, it is the body of the
paper that must be the required length (I will begin counting pages on page three of your paper).
61. Reference Page (APA, 2010, p. 49)
A Comparison 8 – Page header and number are right justified
References – Center the word, “Reference”
Bonnett, D.G. (1982). On post-hoc blocking. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 42,
35-38.
12. Double space between references
Campbell, D.T., & Stanley, J.C. (1963). Experimental and quasiexperimental designs for
research. Chicago: Rand McNally & Company.
Double-space references
Your last page(s) will be the reference page(s). It is numbered and contains the page header. If
the reference page is longer than one page, you do not put the title, References, on succeeding
pages.
Grammar and Usage Tips:
62. Good to have at least three sentences in a paragraph.
63. Do not use words like “we”, “us”, “our”, or “you” (APA, 2010, p. 69).
64. Effect and affect: Usually, “effect is used as a noun. “Affect” is used as a verb.
65. “Group” takes a singular verb. For example, “the group was” NOT “the group were”
66. “Data” takes a plural verb. For example, “these data were, NOT “this data was” (APA,
2010, pp. 78-79).
67. Remember, results from a study DO NOT prove, only give a support for a theory. So DO
NOT say “Smith‟s (1990) results proved. . . “Say something like “Smith‟s (1990) results
indicated that . . .” or “Smith‟s (1990) results gave support for. . .”
68. Do not use contractions; for example, use “do not” instead of “don‟t.”
69. When you give your paper a title, it must be original. You cannot use the title of the journal
article you are critiquing because that is plagiarism. The title on the title page must math the title
on the first page of the body of the paper.
70. Correct any noun/verb disagreement. Writing center can help out in this area.
71. Further, correct any noun/pronoun disagreement (APA, 2010, pp. 79-80).
Example of incorrect way: If a student misbehaves, then their teacher should . . .
Example of correct way: If students misbehave, then their teacher should. . .
72. Do not end a sentence with a preposition. Examples of prepositions include: “in”, “at”,
“for”, and “on”.
73. You do not use a comma before the word “but” unless what follows it is a complete
sentence.
13. Examples:
Bob took the test but failed. (no comma since what follows “but” is not a complete sentence)
Bob took the test, but he failed (comma since what follows “but” is a complete sentence)
74. Use of conjunctions such as “therefore”. “Therefore” is preceded by a semicolon and
followed by a comma if what precedes it and follows it is a complete sentence. “Therefore” is
preceded by a comma and followed by a comma if what either precedes it or follows it is NOT a
complete sentence. This applies to other conjunctions like “however”, “nonetheless”,
“nevertheless”, “whereas”, etc. Examples:
Bob stayed up all night watching TV, therefore, failed his test.
Bob stayed up all night watching TV; therefore, he failed his test.
75. “Two” is a number. “Too” means also, excessive, or very. “To” is moving towards.
76. Use caution with words that are absolutes, such as “everyone”.
Incorrect: Everyone wants what is best for his or her children. (Unfortunately, not everyone
does)
Correct: Most want what is best for their children.
77. Their shows ownership (Their car was stolen).
There refers to location (The phone is over there).
They’re is the contraction of “they are” – but you will not use contractions in APA papers.
78. If you are using quotation marks to introduce an ironic comment, and the quotation is at the
end of the sentence, then the period goes inside the quotation
Example: The behavior was deemed “normal.”
↓
The period goes inside the quotation marks.
79. To make a word plural, you add s. To make a word possessive, you add „s. If the word is
plural and possessive, you add s‟.
Examples:
The students ran in the gym today (More than one student ran, so the s is added).
A student‟s paper was graded (One student had a paper. The „s shows student ownership of the
paper).
The students‟ papers were graded (More than one student, so the s is added. The apostrophe is
then added to show ownership).
80. One exception to the above rule is the possessive its and other possessive pronouns (his, our,
etc.). The possessive its does not have an apostrophe. It’s is used to mean it is.
Example: The school lost its funding (no apostrophe).
It‟s going to be a fun day (it’s has the meaning of it is).
NEED HELP?
The APA Manual has a section on grammar that I recommend. This section is on pages 77-88.
14. A WONDERFUL book that I HIGHLY recommend is Nitty-Gritty Grammar by Edith H. Fine
and Judith P. Joesphson published in 1998. The publisher is Ten Speed Press, Berkley,
California. It is an excellent, easy to use, quick reference to grammar. You can get is on
amazon.com for less than $10.00.
APA has a website to offer helpful hints: http://www.apastyle.org/pubmanual.html