What is APA or APA Style?

What is APA Style? The American Psychological Association (APA) developed a set of standards that writers in the social sciences follow to create consistency throughout publications. These rules address: • Crediting sources • Document formatting • Writing style and organization APA's guidelines assist readers in recognizing a writer's ideas and information, rather than having to adjust to inconsistent formatting. In this way, APA allows writers to express themselves clearly and easily to readers. Most universities and colleges use APA, relying on the 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. However, some undergraduate and master's students may use the 3rd edition of Robert Perrin's Pocket Guide to APA Style. Why APA Style? When you are writing as a student, you are entering into a new writing community just as you would need to learn the customs and rules of any new country you visit, you need to learn the customs and rules of academic writing. These guidelines will be different than guidelines for writing in other environments (such as letters to friends, e-mails to coworkers, or writing for blogs). The academic community has its own rules. These standards help writers: • Improve clarity • Avoid distracting the reader • Indicate sources for evidence • Provide uniform formatting To learn more about transitioning into academic writing, view " Remember that it’s your job as the author to engage your readers, and inconsistencies in formatting and citations distract the reader from the content of your writing. By using APA style, you allow your readers to focus on the ideas you are presenting, offering a familiar format to discuss your new ideas.