Correct use of formatting and punctuation:
• Paragraph Indentation:
Indent the first line of each new paragraph 1/2” from the
left-hand margin. To achieve this, use the Tab key rather than pressing the space bar
numerous times.
• Only use
quotation marks
when citing directly from another source. Do not use them
when displaying titles of other written works or to indicate emphasis.
• Proofread thoroughly to ensure proper punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.
Style and Voice:
• Use only
third person pronouns
(
it
,
he
,
she
, etc.) in your writing. Avoid use of personal
pronouns (
I
,
me
,
my
,
you
,
your
, etc.).
• Avoid
colloquialisms and clichés
; write in an elevated, clear, and concise manner.
• Write out all
numbers
below 100 in word form. (For example, “
five
” instead of “
5
”)
Quotations and Citations:
•
Short quotations
(taking up four lines or less)
1.
Introduce your quotation followed by a
comma
.
2.
Enclose the quotation with
quotation marks
and insert into your paper.
Eliminate the punctuation mark at the end.
3.
Place the
parenthetical reference
after the quotation with punctuation following the
closing parenthesis. Each in-text citation should contain the author’s last name, the
year of publication, and the page number on which you found the quotation.
EXAMPLE:
Charlie Nussbaum stated, “aliens will one day rule our planet” (Rickels, 1999, p. 234),
and he pointed up to the heavens as he said this.
• Long quotations: (longer than 40 words)
Place long quotations inside a free-standing block of text and omit quotation marks
1.
Follow the introduction of your quotation with a
colon
.
2.
Start quotation on a new line and indent 1/2” from the left margin.
3. Double-space
the quotation.
4.
Indent
the first line of each new paragraph inside the quotation an additional 1/2”.
5.
Place a
period
at the end of the quotation.
6.
The
parenthetical reference
is placed after the period.
EXAMPLE:
Edward Markinston (1976) discovered the following:
I was wandering through the woods one rainy night in May a few years ago and
I saw something that made me question my previous findings. The tree branches
shivered when the wind blew.
I believe that this is not the result of the air currents moving the branches;
rather, I believe that trees react to changes in temperature in the same way that
humans react to changes in temperature. (p. 56)
ENGLISH
APA Guidelines Cheat Sheet
170
