The American Psychological Association (APA) released the 7th Edition of its Publication Manual in October 2019, bringing a wave of updates designed to improve accessibility, inclusivity, and clarity in scholarly communication. For students, researchers, and professionals, understanding these changes is crucial for accurate and compliant writing. This guide breaks down the most significant revisions, offering practical advice and examples to help you transition smoothly.
General Formatting and Document Structure Updates
The 7th Edition introduces several fundamental changes to document layout and presentation, particularly differentiating between student and professional papers.
Student vs. Professional Papers
One of the most welcome changes is the clear distinction between student and professional papers regarding formatting requirements.
- Title Page:
Student Papers: Now simpler, requiring only the paper title, author name, affiliation (university), course number and name, instructor name, and assignment due date. A running head is not required. Professional Papers: Still requires a professional title page with the paper title, author name(s), affiliation(s), author note, and a running head.
- Running Head:
Student Papers: No longer required. This simplifies the formatting for the vast majority of student assignments. Professional Papers: Still required, but simplified to just the title of the paper (in all caps) and the page number. The phrase "Running head:" is removed.
Font Flexibility
APA 7th Edition provides more flexibility in font choices, recognizing that different fonts can enhance readability and accessibility. Acceptable fonts now include:
- Sans serif fonts such as Calibri 11, Arial 11, and Lucida Sans Unicode 10.
- Serif fonts such as Times New Roman 12 and Georgia 11.
This flexibility allows authors to choose a font that best suits their needs and institutional requirements, provided it is legible and consistent throughout the document.
Streamlined In-Text Citations
The rules for in-text citations have been simplified, particularly for sources with multiple authors, reducing clutter and improving readability.
Citing Sources with Three or More Authors
This is a significant simplification from APA 6th Edition.
- APA 6th Edition: Required listing all authors for the first in-text citation if there were three to five authors, then `et al.` for subsequent citations. For six or more authors, `et al.` was used from the first citation.
- APA 7th Edition: For all sources with three or more authors, use `et al.` from the very first citation.
Example:
- First and Subsequent Citations: (Smith et al., 2020)
This change significantly streamlines the citation process for multi-authored works, making it consistent across various author counts.
Sources with No Author or No Date
- No Author: Use the source title (or a shortened version if long) in place of the author, enclosed in quotation marks for an article/chapter title or italicized for a book/report title.
Example: ("New Research on AI," 2023) or ( The Future of Work*, 2022)
- No Date: Use the abbreviation "n.d." (for "no date") in place of the year.
* Example: (Jones, n.d.)
Key Revisions to the Reference List
The reference list saw numerous updates aimed at standardizing entries, improving clarity, and reflecting the evolving nature of digital scholarship.
Listing More Authors
The maximum number of authors to include in a reference list entry has increased.
- APA 6th Edition: Listed up to seven authors. If there were more than seven, the first six were listed, followed by an ellipsis (`...`), and then the last author.
- APA 7th Edition: Now lists up to 20 authors. If a source has 21 or more authors, list the first 19, then an ellipsis (`...`), and finally the last author.
This change ensures that more contributors are acknowledged directly in the reference list.
DOIs and URLs: Standardized and Simplified
The formatting and inclusion rules for Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) and URLs have been clarified.
- DOIs: Should always be presented as hyperlinked URLs. The label "DOI:" is no longer needed.
* Example: `https://doi.org/10.1037/a0040251` (instead of `doi:10.1037/a0040251`)
- URLs:
Include a URL for any source without a DOI that you retrieved online, unless it's from a widely available academic research database (e.g., PsycINFO, JSTOR) that doesn't require a URL for retrieval by others. The phrase "Retrieved from" is no longer used before a URL or DOI. * URLs should be live links.
This standardization makes it easier for readers to access sources directly.
Publisher Location No Longer Required
For books and reports, the publisher's location (e.g., New York, NY) is no longer included in the reference entry.
- APA 6th Edition Example: American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
- APA 7th Edition Example: American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).
This reduces unnecessary information, as publisher locations are often not relevant for retrieval.
Website and Online Content Citations
Citing websites and other online content has been simplified.
- The "Retrieved from" phrase is removed.
- If the content is likely to change over time, include a retrieval date. Otherwise, it's not needed.
Example (Webpage): Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Site name. URL
Ebook Citations
Ebook citations are now treated more like print books, with less emphasis on the specific format or platform.
- If an ebook has a DOI, include it.
- If it's from an academic database and doesn't have a DOI, treat it like a print book (no URL needed).
- If it's a consumer ebook (e.g., Kindle, Google Books) and lacks a DOI, include the publisher and the URL of the platform if direct access is required. The format (e.g., "Kindle edition") is generally omitted unless crucial for understanding the content.
Emphasis on Bias-Free Language
The 7th Edition places a strong emphasis on using bias-free and inclusive language, reflecting a broader movement towards respectful and equitable communication.
Singular "They"
The singular "they/them/their" is now officially endorsed as a gender-neutral pronoun. This is a significant shift that supports inclusivity for individuals who identify as nonbinary or whose gender is unknown.
- Example: "A researcher should always ensure they cite their sources correctly."
Person-First Language
The manual strongly advocates for person-first language, which emphasizes the individual, not their condition or characteristic.
- Instead of: "diabetic patients"
- Use: "patients with diabetes"
- Instead of: "the disabled"
- Use: "people with disabilities"
This guideline promotes respect and avoids reducing individuals to their conditions.
Sensitivity to Identity
The manual provides updated guidance on language related to various demographic characteristics, including:
- Age: Use specific age ranges rather than broad categories when possible.
- Disability: Focus on abilities and person-first language.
- Gender: Use gender-neutral terms where appropriate, avoid gender stereotypes.
- Racial and Ethnic Identity: Use specific, self-identified terms, capitalize racial and ethnic group names (e.g., Black, White, Indigenous).
- Sexual Orientation: Use precise terms (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, queer) rather than umbrella terms like "homosexual."
- Socioeconomic Status: Use terms like "people experiencing poverty" instead of "the poor."
Adhering to these guidelines ensures that your writing is respectful, accurate, and inclusive of all individuals.
Figures and Tables
While the core principles remain, there are minor adjustments to how figures and tables are presented.
- Placement: Figures and tables can now be embedded within the text where they are first mentioned or placed on separate pages after the reference list.
- Titles: Table titles are placed above the table, and figure titles are placed above the figure. Both should be brief, clear, and italicized.
- Notes: Notes are placed below the table or figure and provide additional information.
Staying updated with the nuances of citation styles can be challenging, especially when juggling multiple assignments. Platforms like EssayMatrix can help by providing professional editing and formatting services, ensuring your papers are perfectly compliant with the latest APA guidelines.
Conclusion
The APA 7th Edition brings forth a comprehensive set of changes designed to make academic writing more accessible, inclusive, and streamlined. From flexible font options and simplified running heads for student papers to revised in-text citation rules and extensive guidance on bias-free language, these updates reflect contemporary best practices in scholarly communication. By understanding and implementing these significant changes, you can ensure your academic work meets the highest standards of clarity, accuracy, and respect.
Resources
- American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).
- Purdue University. (n.d.). Purdue OWL: APA style guide. Retrieved from https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_style_introduction.html