What is APA Style?
The American Psychological Association (APA) style is widely used in social sciences, education, business, and some health disciplines. The current edition is the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual.
Key Features of APA Style
- In-Text Citations: APA uses an author-date format for in-text citations (e.g., Smith, 2020).
- Reference List: Sources are listed at the end of the document in alphabetical order.
- Formatting: APA requires a title page, abstract, and headings with specific levels of organization.
- Emphasis on Date: Since APA is used in research-heavy fields, the year of publication is crucial.
- Example Citation:
- Book: Smith, J. (2020). The study of human behavior. Academic Press.
- Journal Article: Doe, A. (2021). The impact of technology on education. Journal of Educational Research, 45(3), 120–135. https://doi.org/xxxx
Common Mistakes in APA Style
- Incorrect In-Text Citations: Forgetting to include the year or misplacing punctuation (e.g., (Smith 2020) instead of (Smith, 2020)).
- Formatting Errors: Incorrect use of italics, capitalization, or indentation in reference entries.
- Omitting DOI or URL: Online journal articles should include DOIs or URLs when available.
- Improper Use of ‘et al.’: Used for in-text citations with more than three authors but often misapplied.
- Neglecting Page Numbers: When quoting directly, a page number should be included (e.g., Smith, 2020, p. 45).
Best Practices for APA Style
- Use citation management tools like Zotero or EndNote to format references correctly.
- Double-check journal requirements, as some variations may exist.
- Follow APA’s recommended heading structure to maintain clarity.
- Ensure all sources cited in-text are included in the reference list.
Which Style Should You Use?
- If you are an AIIAS student and are writing on education, business, public health, and applied theology, use APA style.
- If you are in theological or biblical studies, use SBL style.
- In publishing your work, always check your publisher’s guidelines for preferred citation styles.
