Three ambiguous APA writing style rules you should know

Many students are required to submit essays, research treatises, and other assignments written in APA style. Academic papers written in APA style writing must strictly follow APA guidelines, even if they are ambiguous, in order to achieve good results. To use the APA writing style, you need more than a reference or citation form. Some complex requirements may not be apparent to those who are unfamiliar with the APA style or who have used it when writing academic papers. Below are three ambiguous APA rules you should know about.

APA writing style prefix

Most of the use of APA style is the proper use of prefixes. In casual English, it is common to use a hyphen after the prefix. However, this goes against APA style lighting. Words such as underdeveloped, hypertext, and underscores should not be hyphenated when writing academic papers using APA-style writing. You may be able to use the prefix when writing academic papers using APA style. If you use the prefix self-, you should always add a prefix such as self-esteem, self-employed. Similarly, you can use a hyphen if the word after the prefix is ​​a proper noun or number.

Anthropomorphic in APA style writing

Anthropomorphization refers to the situation in which a writer attribute human characteristics and behaviors to non-living things. Anthropomorphism is commonly used in all levels of research when writing academic papers. Many tutors, professors, or reviewers may not mind mentioning it. However, you should avoid it when writing academic papers. The most commonly used examples of anthropomorphism include “considered in this article …” or “explained in this treatise …”. Therefore, the best alternative is to say “researchers discussed …” or “… discussed in this treatise.”

APA writing style numbers

Many students and scholars are confused about using numbers when creating documents using APA style. Many students and scholars are familiar with APA-style numbering rules, but they misuse them. It is important to note that numbers from 1 to 10 must be spelled when including on paper formatted with APA style text. For example, you shouldn’t write, “It took me seven years to figure out how to cite a treatise using APA.” Instead, write, “It took me seven years to figure out how to cite a treatise using APA.”

Tips for properly formatting and editing documents using APA

Before writing an academic writing paper, it is important to get a copy of the APA Writing Style Guidelines and review it thoroughly. Available from popular websites such as Purdue OWL and reputable college writing centers. You can also get help from professional writers and editors who help you format academic papers and books with APA-style writing.