New apa style of referencing

The American Psychological Association (APA) has updated its style of referencing, which is commonly used in social sciences, education, and business fields. The new APA style, also known as APA 7th edition, was released in 2020 and includes several changes to the formatting and citation guidelines.

Here are some key changes and updates:

Changes to In-Text Citations

  1. Author-Date Format: The author-date format is now used consistently throughout the text, with the author's last name and publication year separated by a comma (e.g., Smith, 2020).
  2. No Commas Before "et al.": When citing multiple authors, the "et al." abbreviation is used after the first author's name, without a comma (e.g., Smith et al., 2020).
  3. No Commas Before "a" or "the": Commas are no longer used before "a" or "the" in in-text citations (e.g., Smith, a, 2020).

Changes to Reference List Entries

  1. Author Order: The author order in the reference list is now consistent, with the last name followed by the first initial (e.g., Smith, J.).
  2. Journal Titles: Journal titles are now italicized in the reference list (e.g., Journal of Psychology).
  3. DOI and URL: Both DOI (digital object identifier) and URL (uniform resource locator) are included in the reference list, with the DOI preferred if available.
  4. No Commas Before "a" or "the": Commas are no longer used before "a" or "the" in reference list entries (e.g., Smith, a, 2020).

Other Changes

  1. Abstract: The abstract is now limited to 150-250 words.
  2. Headings: Headings are now formatted with a maximum of five levels, using bold font and title case.
  3. Tables and Figures: Tables and figures are now formatted with a maximum of three levels of headings, using bold font and title case.
  4. Accessibility: The APA style now includes guidelines for making documents more accessible to readers with disabilities.

Tools and Resources

  1. APA Style Guide: The APA Style Guide is available online and provides detailed guidelines and examples for formatting and citing sources.
  2. APA Publication Manual: The APA Publication Manual is available in print and online and provides detailed guidelines and examples for formatting and citing sources.
  3. APA Citation Builder: The APA Citation Builder is an online tool that helps you create in-text citations and reference list entries.

Remember to always check the APA website for the latest updates and guidelines on referencing and formatting.