APA style facts for kids

APA style is a set of rules for writing and formatting papers, especially for scientific and social science topics. It helps make sure everyone writes in a clear and organized way. It's like a guide book from the American Psychological Association that shows you how to set up your paper, how to write clearly, and how to give credit to the sources you use. This way, readers can easily understand and trust the information.

When you write a paper using APA style, there are three main things to keep in mind:

• How to organize your paper: Your paper needs specific parts like a title page, an introduction, where you explain your methods, your results, a discussion, and a list of all your sources.
• How to write: Your writing should be clear and formal. This means no slang, jokes, or biased language. You should use technical words correctly and get straight to the point.
• Small details: These include things like double-spacing your paper, using specific rules for headings, writing numbers (like "10" instead of "ten"), and making sure your tables and figures (like charts or pictures) are lined up correctly. You also need to show where your information comes from right in the text.

What's New in the Latest APA Manual?

The current guide, called the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, came out in October 2019. Its main goal is to help people write and communicate better. It focuses on being clear, exact, and fair to everyone.

Helpful Resources for Students

This latest guide has many new tools especially for students. For example, it shows you how to create a student title page and different ways to format your papers. It also explains how to list sources that students often use, like materials from classroom courses or websites.

Writing About People Fairly

The manual also updated its rules on how to write about people without showing bias. This means using words that are respectful and fair when talking about different groups of people or their personal traits.

Making Papers Easy to Read for Everyone

For the first time, the manual talks about making papers easy to read for people with disabilities. The APA worked with experts to make sure their style is helpful for everyone. For example, they made the way you cite sources inside your paper shorter. This makes it easier to read for people who use screen readers or have trouble focusing.

Understanding Running Heads

In professional papers, there's something called a "running head." This is a short version of your paper's title that appears at the top of every page, along with the page number. For student papers, usually only the page number is needed at the top, unless your teacher tells you otherwise.

Examples for Your Paper

The manual has hundreds of examples to help you list your sources, including videos, social media posts, and webpages. It also shows many sample tables and figures, like simple bar graphs, that are great for students. Plus, there are full sample papers for both students and professionals.

Since this latest edition, the APA also offers an APA Style website and a blog. These online resources help people with their writing and answer common questions about APA style.

See also

In Spanish: Estilo APA para niños