Many students are required to submit essays, research papers, and other assignments written in APA writing style. Academic papers written in the APA writing style must strictly follow APA guidelines, even those that are little known, to earn good grades. Using the APA writing style requires more than just the form of references and citations. Some complex requirements may be unfamiliar to those who are unfamiliar with the APA writing style or have some experience using this style when preparing their academic papers. Below are the three obscure APA rules you should know:
Prefixes in APA writing style
A big part of using the APA writing style is the proper use of prefixes. It is common to use hyphens after prefixes in casual English. However, this goes against the writing style of the APA. Words such as underdevelopment, hypertext, underscore should not be hyphenated when writing an academic paper using the APA writing style. There are certain circumstances in which you will be allowed to use prefixes when writing an academic paper using the APA style. When using the prefix self-, you should always add prefixes such as self-esteem, self-employment among others. On the same note, you are allowed to use a hyphen when the word after the prefix is a proper noun or a number.
Anthropomorphism in the APA writing style
Anthropomorphism refers to a situation in which a writer attributes human features or actions to non-living beings. Anthropomorphism is commonly used at all levels of study when writing an academic article. Many tutors, teachers, or reviewers may not bother to mention it; however, it should be avoided when writing an academic article. Examples of the most commonly used anthropomorphism include “This article examines …” or “This article examines …” Be that as it may, it is not technically possible for an article to discuss anything. Therefore, the best alternative is to say “The researcher discussed …” or “… is discussed in this article.”
Numbers in APA writing style
Many students and scholars get confused by the use of numbers when writing APA-style documents. Many students and academics are familiar with APA-style numbering rules, but end up using them incorrectly. It is important to note that you must spell the numbers one through ten when including them in a document formatted in the APA writing style. For example, you should not write “It took me 7 years to understand how to cite an article using APA.” Instead, write: “It took me seven years to figure out how to cite an article using APA.”
Tips for correctly formatting and editing a document with APA
It is important to obtain a copy of the APA Writing Style Guidelines and review them thoroughly before writing an academic article. You can get them from popular websites like Purdue OWL and reputable university writing centers. You can also get help from professional writers and editors who can help you format your academic work or book in the APA writing style.