American Psychological Association (APA) Style Resources
Whether you're writing for academic/scholarly purposes or for publication in scientific journals, your papers probably need to follow APA style. But few nursing or medical programs require students to actually buy the APA style manual. That's a problem that the resources below can help you get around. Each resource has been created or selected because it will teach you to use a different aspect of APA style with which students consistently struggle.
Please note that since my sabbatical, the APA 7th edition has been published! The resources below are being reviewed and are being updated to reflect any changes. All videos below refer to APA 6th edition, unless noted.
The official website of the APA 7th edition is here.
The official website of the APA 7th edition is here.
Using Numbers Correctly in APA Style
Many students are confused about when to spell out numbers and when to use numerals in the place of words. Both APA and AMA have specific rules governing the use of numbers in text and tables. This video explains many of the most important ways to use and style numbers according to APA style. Click the image below to go to the video page.
Click the image above to open the video page.
How to Style an APA References Page
The references page in an APA paper must follow a certain format. I'm not talking about the references themselves, whose style is the topic of many of the external links below, but the actual page of references itself. This video shows you exactly how--and how not--to style the APA references page. Click the image below to go to the video page.
Click the image to open the video page.
Headers and Introductions in APA Style
What goes at the top of your first page of text in a paper written in APA style? What is a Level 1 header in APA? Which headers are bold and which are italic in APA style? This video answers those questions and much more. Click the image below to go to the video page.
Click the image above to open the video page.
More about APA Headers [links to APA Style Blog]
The video above shows all levels of APA headers in action within a paper. This resource, however, explains more about headers and their usage. Click here to visit this resource [a new tab or window will open in your browser].
How to Style an APA Title Page & Running Heads
An APA title page has specific style requirements, as do the running heads. Learn how long your "short title" can be, what order the information on your title page should appear in, and other specific features of a proper APA title page and running head. Click the image below to go to the video page.
Click the image above to open the video page.
How to Create a Different First-page Running Head
Papers in APA style need to have a first-page running head that differs from the running head on the rest of the paper's pages. Did you know that, and do you know how to properly create both running heads in Word? This video shows how to make these different running heads happen in Word 365 (2016 version). Click the image below to go to the video page.
Click the image above to open the video page.
Reporting p values in APA and AMA Style
Reporting p values in APA is different from reporting them in AMA style. By watching this video, you'll find out exactly how to style p values properly in both styles. Click the image below to go to the video page. This video reflects APA 7th edition!
Click the image above to open the video page.
APA In-text (and Parenthetical) Citations
The rules governing in-text (and parenthetical) citations can be overwhelming. Students often express confusion about when to spell out acronyms, when to list all authors, when to use et al., and how to organize more than one citation within the same set of parentheses. In the video below, I help clear up the confusion. Click the image below to go to the video page.
Click the image above to open the video page.
Introducing & Using Acronyms & Abbreviations in Text & Tables [links to AMA Insider (but valid for APA, too!)]
Students are constantly baffled by the rules for introducing and using acronyms in text. This link explains the rules from the AMA's perspective., but it's the same as the APA's. Click here to visit this resource [a new tab or window will open in your browser].
Getting EndNote to Properly Output Journal Titles for APA Style [links to EndNote]
EndNote frequently abbreviates journal names when they should be spelled out, even when "APA style" is selected as an output style. Click on “Styles 4” on this linked page and you can see exactly how to correct these journal-output mistakes in EndNote. Click here to visit this resource [a new tab or window will open in your browser].
APA Reference Style for Many Types of Sources (journals, books, magazines, etc.)
APA Style for Journal Articles in Reference Lists [links to Purdue OWL]
Because most of the references you have in your reference list should be primary sources (i.e., journal articles), this may be the most important resource for you. The following link, however, also details certain aspects of references with which students often struggle. Click here to visit this resource [a new tab or window will open in your browser].
General Rules for APA References [links to Purdue OWL]
For a clear explanation of "what goes where" in almost any APA reference, start here. Purdue OWL does an excellent job of explaining and showing how the pieces of a reference fit together. Click here to visit this resource [a new tab or window will open in your browser].
Citations and References with More than One Author (e.g, using "et al.") [links to APA Style Blog]
Student writers frequently express confusion about when and how to use "et al." in text and citations and how to style references with more than one author. These rules can be confusing, and this link makes them clear. Click here to visit this resource [a new tab or window will open in your browser].
Citing and Referencing Books and eBooks in APA [links to University of Western Australia]
Although primary sources should make up the bulk of your references list, books can also be used for specific purposes (for example, providing definitions of concepts or medical terms). This resource shows how APA wants you to style books and ebooks. The style is quite different from that of journal articles. Click here to visit this resource [a new tab or window will open in your browser].
Tips for Formatting APA References [links to Indiana Univ-Purdue Univ-Indiana]
This website contains excellent tips and examples of properly styled APA references for journal articles, books, and more (including some online sources). The "rules of thumb" and the gray tabs with different types of resources should both be reviewed. Click here to visit this resource [a new tab or window will open in your browser].
APA Style for Journal Articles in Reference Lists [links to Purdue OWL]
Because most of the references you have in your reference list should be primary sources (i.e., journal articles), this may be the most important resource for you. The following link, however, also details certain aspects of references with which students often struggle. Click here to visit this resource [a new tab or window will open in your browser].
General Rules for APA References [links to Purdue OWL]
For a clear explanation of "what goes where" in almost any APA reference, start here. Purdue OWL does an excellent job of explaining and showing how the pieces of a reference fit together. Click here to visit this resource [a new tab or window will open in your browser].
Citations and References with More than One Author (e.g, using "et al.") [links to APA Style Blog]
Student writers frequently express confusion about when and how to use "et al." in text and citations and how to style references with more than one author. These rules can be confusing, and this link makes them clear. Click here to visit this resource [a new tab or window will open in your browser].
Citing and Referencing Books and eBooks in APA [links to University of Western Australia]
Although primary sources should make up the bulk of your references list, books can also be used for specific purposes (for example, providing definitions of concepts or medical terms). This resource shows how APA wants you to style books and ebooks. The style is quite different from that of journal articles. Click here to visit this resource [a new tab or window will open in your browser].
Tips for Formatting APA References [links to Indiana Univ-Purdue Univ-Indiana]
This website contains excellent tips and examples of properly styled APA references for journal articles, books, and more (including some online sources). The "rules of thumb" and the gray tabs with different types of resources should both be reviewed. Click here to visit this resource [a new tab or window will open in your browser].
APA Reference Style for Electronic & Online Sources (websites, mobile apps, YouTube videos, etc.)
Citing Mobile Apps and Other Online Sources in APA [links to APA Style Blog]
Today's academic resources are more and more frequently taking the form of electronic resources, including mobile apps and videos. Click here to visit this resource [a new tab or window will open in your browser].
Citing and Referencing Websites in APA [links to APA Style Blog]
The APA Style Blog is the best resource for learning the fundamentals of citing and referencing a website as a source. This link contains the search results for "website" in the blog. Review each blog post carefully, and you can't get your APA website references wrong. Click here to visit this resource [a new tab or window will open in your browser].
Citing Websites with No Author in APA [links to APA Style Blog]
Because so many students ask me how to style references that are websites without an author, I am posting separately this resource. Click here to visit this resource [a new tab or window will open in your browser].
Citing Mobile Apps and Other Online Sources in APA [links to APA Style Blog]
Today's academic resources are more and more frequently taking the form of electronic resources, including mobile apps and videos. Click here to visit this resource [a new tab or window will open in your browser].
Citing and Referencing Websites in APA [links to APA Style Blog]
The APA Style Blog is the best resource for learning the fundamentals of citing and referencing a website as a source. This link contains the search results for "website" in the blog. Review each blog post carefully, and you can't get your APA website references wrong. Click here to visit this resource [a new tab or window will open in your browser].
Citing Websites with No Author in APA [links to APA Style Blog]
Because so many students ask me how to style references that are websites without an author, I am posting separately this resource. Click here to visit this resource [a new tab or window will open in your browser].