Transcript italicizing and abbreviating

APA Guidelines
APA Chapters 2-5
FSE 200
Outline
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Punctuation, Spelling, and Capitalization
Italicizing and Abbreviating
Numbers, Metrication, and Statistics
Displaying Results
Footnotes, Appendices, and Supplemental
Material
Introduction
• Many guidelines set forth within APA
Handbook.
• This presentation will address the high points.
• You MUST be familiar with the remainder of
the requirements in the textbook.
• Know how to look up answers within this text
for future reference.
APA Chapter 2
PUNCTUATION, SPELLING, AND
CAPITALIZATION
When to use a comma
• Between elements (including before and and
or) in a series of 3 or more items
• To set off nonessential or nonrestrictive
clauses
• To separate two independent clauses
• To set off the year in exact dates
• To set off the year in parenthetical citations
When to use a semicolon
• To separate two independent clauses that are
not joined by a conjunction
• To separate items in a series that already
contain commas
When to use a colon
• Between a grammatically complete
introductory clause and a final phrase or
clause that illustrates or extends that clause
• In ratios and proportions
• In references between place of publication
and publisher
Use Quotation Marks to
• Introduce a word or phrase used as an ironic
comment, as slang, or as a coined expression
• To set off the title of an article or chapter in a
book when the title is mentioned in the text
• To reproduce material verbatim
Use Parentheses to
• Set off structurally independent elements (see
Figure 1)
• Set off reference citations in the text
• Introduce an abbreviation or acronym
• Set off letters that identify items in a series
within a sentence or paragraph
• Enclose the citation or page number of a
direct quotation in the text
Quotations
• If quoting less than 40 words, enclose quote
with double quotation marks and incorporate
into text.
• If more than 40 words, use a block quotation,
starting quote on a new line and indenting
block about ½ inch (five spaces) from the left
margin. Double-space entire quote.
Quotations Must be Accurate
• Direct quotations must follow the wording,
spelling, and interior punctuation of the
original source, even if the source is incorrect.
• Insert the word sic italicized and bracketed
immediately after the error in the quotation
• “…even when reel [sic] drugs were
administered.”
Double or Single Quotation Marks
• Use double quotation marks to enclose quotations in
text
• Use single quotation marks within double quotation
marks to set off material that in the original source was
enclosed in double quotation marks.
• Do not use quotation marks to enclose block
quotations
• Place periods and commas within closing single or
double quotation marks.
Parenthetical Citation Placement
• At the end of a sentence, close the quoted material
with quotation marks, cite the source in parentheses
immediately after the quotation marks, and end with
the period or other punctuation outside the final
parenthesis.
• When quoting, always provide the author, year, and
specific page citation in the text (May, 2003, p. 201).
• In a block quote, cite the quoted source in parentheses
after the final punctuation mark.
Other Helpful Hints
• Use Brackets to enclose parenthetical material that is
already within parentheses
• Do not use a hyphen unless it serves a purpose
• Write most words formed with prefixes as one
word,not hyphenated
• When 2 or more compound modifiers have a common
base, this base is sometimes omitted in all but the last
modifier but the hyphens remain (first- and secondgraders)
APA Chapter 3
ITALICIZING AND ABBREVIATING
Use italics for
• Titles of books and periodicals
• Introduction of a new, technical, or key term
or label (only the first time)
• Letters used as statistical symbols
• Periodical volume numbers in reference lists
• Do not use italics for emphasis
Abbreviations
• Use abbreviations sparingly. If you do use
abbreviations, spell it out the first time, then
place the abbreviation in parentheses.
• Abbreviate every time thereafter.
• If you do not save considerable space by using
abbreviations, then do not use them.
Abbreviations
• Some abbreviations appear in Webster’s
Collegiate Dictionary and thus can be used as
words without explanation: IQ, AIDS, HIV
Latin Abbreviations
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e.g. represents for example
etc. , and so forth
i.e. represents that is
vs. represents versus or against
Use the abbreviation v instead of vs for court cases
All of the aforementioned expressions should be set
off with parentheses
• et al. which means “and others”, does not have to
have parentheses
In abbreviations, use periods with:
• Initials of names (J.R. Jones)
• Abbreviation for United States when used as an
adjective
• Reference abbreviations
• Do not use periods with abbreviations of state names,
acronyms, metric and nonmetric measurements (with
the exception of in.)
• Never begin a sentence with a lowercase abbreviation
APA Chapter 4
NUMBERS, METRICATION, AND
STATISTICS
Numbers
• The general rule governing APA style on the
use of numbers is to use figures to express
numbers 10 and above and words to express
numbers nine and below.
Use figures to express
• All numbers 10 and above
• All numbers below 10 that are grouped for comparison
with numbers 10 and above
• Numbers that immediately precede a unit of
measurement
• Numbers that represent statistical or mathematical
functions, fractions, percentages, or ratios
Use figures to express
• Numbers that represent time, dates, ages, sample or
population size, scores and points on a scale, exact
sums of money
• Numbers that denote a specific place in a numbered
series, parts of books and tables, and each number in a
list of four or more numbers
• All numbers in the abstract
Use Words to Express
• Numbers below 10 that do not meet one of
the requirements above
• The numbers zero and one when the words
would be easier to comprehend
• Any number that begins a sentence, title, or
text heading
Decimal Places
• Use a zero before a decimal point when
numbers are less than 1
• Do not use a zero before a decimal fraction
when the number cannot be greater than 1.
General Principles Regarding Decimal
Places
• Round as much as possible while keeping
prospective use and statistical precision in
mind
• Fewer decimal digits are easier to
comprehend than more decimal digits
• Generally, round to two decimal places
APA Chapter 5
DISPLAYING RESULTS
Tables
• Tables usually show exact numerical values
and arrange data in an orderly display of
columns and rows
• Writers should use tables selectively, because
too many tables clutter the paper and make
the text hard to follow
• Do not use tables if the table has two or fewer
rows; describe the numbers in the text
Arranging Data in Tables
• Table entries that are to be compared to one
another should be next to one another
• Different indices (means, standard deviations,
etc.) should be segregated into different parts
of the table
• Make sure every table can stand alone; in
other words, the reader can understand the
table without the text
Tables in Text
• In the text, refer to every table and tell the reader what
to look for
• Refer to tables by their numbers (e.g., see Table 5)
• Use similar formats, headings, titles, and terminology
between tables
• Number all tables with Arabic numerals in the order in
which the tables are first mentioned in the text (Table
1)
• Identify tables in appendix with Capital letters and
Arabic numerals
Tables in Titles and Headings
• Give every table a brief but clear and
explanatory title
• Abbreviations that are not standard are
explained in a general note to the table below
the table.
• Column headings should not be many more
characters in length than the widest entry of
the column they span
Stub Columns
• Each column of a table must have a heading, including
the stub column, or leftmost column of the table
• If you need to subordinate the stub column, you can
indent stub items instead of creating additional
columns
• Some tables may require table spanners, that cover the
entire width of the body of the table
• All headings should normally be singular- only the first
letter of the word in the heading should be capitalized
Other Hints
• Use the same number of decimal places for all
numbers in the table
• If a cell cannot be filled because data are not
applicable, leave that cell blank. If it cannot
be filled because no data were obtained or
reported, use a dash
Notes to a Table
• A general note qualifies, explains, or provides
information relating to a table as a whole and ends
with an explanation of abbreviations, symbols, etc.
• A specific note refers to a particular column, row, or
individual entry and are indicated by superscript lower
case letters
• A probability note indicates the results of tests of
significance. Asterisks indicate those values for which
the null hypothesis is rejected, with the probability
specified in the probability note
Placement of Notes
• All notes begin on the left margin and are
double-spaced
• General notes preceded specific notes, which
precede probability notes
Ruling of Tables
• Limit the rules in a table to those needed for
clarity and use horizontal rather than vertical
rules
• Use generous spacing between columns and
rows and strict alignment for clarity
Figures
• Any type of illustration other than a table is considered
a figure
• Figures can be charts, graphs, photographs, drawings,
or other depictions
• Tables are used instead of figures to present a large
amount of quantitative data
• Figures are especially useful in describing an
interaction between two variables (e.g., X and Y) and
nonlinear relations
Standards for Figures
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Good figures are simple, clear, and continuous
Good figures:
Augment (but not duplicates) text
Convey only essential facts
Omit visually distracting details
Are easy to read and understand
Bar Graphs
• Show comparisons and distributions in a set of data
(values, percentages, index numbers)
• Columns are easy to differentiate by fill pattern
• Zero is indicated on ordinate axis
• Axes are labeled legibly and are just long enough to
accommodate bar length
• Used when the independent variable is categorical
Scatter Plots
• Consist of single dots plotted to represent the
values of single events on the two variables
• Meaningful clusters of dots imply correlations
Line Graphs
• Used to show the relation between two
quantitative variables
• The independent variable is plotted on the
horizontal axis and the dependent variable is
plotted on the vertical axis
• Easily can display more than one comparison
at a time.
Circle (Pie) Graphs
• Used to show percentages and proportions
• The number of items compared should be
kept fewer than five
• Order the segments from large to small, with
largest beginning at 12 o’clock
• Highlight slices from light to dark, with
smallest segments being the darkest segments
Dot and Shaded Maps
• Dot maps show population density and
shaded maps can show averages or
percentages
• In these cases, plotted data are superimposed
on a map
Preparing Figures
• Use a minimum of an eight-point font and a
maximum of a 14-point font
• Use Arial, Futura, or Helvetica font for
lettering
• Point size should vary by no more than 4
points
• Do not use top and side borders if it can be
avoided
Creating Graphs
• Use bright white paper
• Use medium lines for the vertical and
horizontal axes
• Choose the appropriate grid scale
• Indicate units of measurement by placing tick
marks on the lines
• Clearly label each axis with the quantity
measured and the units in which the quantity
is measured
FOOTNOTES, APPENDICES, AND
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL
APA footnotes
• Content footnotes supplement or amplify
substantive information in the text
• Should only be included if they strengthen
the discussion
• Copyright permission footnotes acknowledge
the source of quotations
• All other reference citations should appear in
the reference list
Author Note
• Included with each article to identify the
authors’ departmental affiliations, provide
acknowledgements, state any disclaimers, and
provide a point of contact for the interested
reader.
Paragraphs in the Author’s Note
• The first paragraph should identify the authors’
affiliations at the time of the study; no academic
degrees are given
• The second paragraph should only be included if
one of the authors has changed affiliations
• The third paragraph acknowledges any financial
support received, any colleagues who may have
assisted on the project, and any special
circumstances of authorship or research
• The fourth paragraph provides a complete mailing
address for the correspondence
Appendices
• Appendixes allow the author to provide the reader
with detailed information that would be distracting to
read in the main body of the article and enable
production staff to be more flexible with rules of style
and layout.
• If your paper has only one Appendix, label it Appendix;
if it has more than one, label each one with a capital
letter (Appendix A, Appendix B, etc.)
Acknowledgement
Thanks to Dr. David May for much of the
contents of this presentation.