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This guide is based on the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual. APA stands for the American Psychological Association, which is the association that regulates the rules and use of this formatting style.
APA formatting is often used in the sciences, social sciences (psychology, economics, sociology), business and health fields. This guide will review the general format of an research paper, in-text citations, and the Reference page. It also has guidelines about headings, tables, and figures. Finally, APA focuses on word choice intended to reduce bias and present facts in scientific writing.
Teachers ask students format their papers in the same style so both the writer and reader are not distracted by style choices a student may make. The consistency allows the teacher to focus on the student's work and not on the look of the paper.
Teachers may adapt these guidelines for their own purposes. Always follow your teacher's requirements.