APA 7 style is a comprehensive formatting and citation system widely used in academic and professional writing. This essay will cover key aspects of APA 7, including in-text referencing, reference list formatting, and reporting statistical results, tables, and figures.
In-Text Referencing
In-text citations in APA 7 style provide brief information about the source directly in the text. The basic format includes the author’s last name and the year of publication. For example:
- One author: (Smith, 2020)
- Two authors: (Smith & Jones, 2020)
- Three or more authors: (Smith et al., 2020)
When quoting directly, include the page number: (Smith, 2020, p. 25).
Reference List
The reference list appears at the end of the paper on a new page. Key formatting rules include:
- Double-space all entries
- Use a hanging indent for each entry
- Alphabetize entries by the first author’s last name
Example reference list entry for a journal article:
Smith, J. D., & Jones, A. B. (2020). Title of the article. Journal Name, 34, 123-145. https://doi.org/10.1234/example
Reporting Statistical Results
When reporting statistical results in APA 7 style:
- Use italics for statistical symbols (e.g., M, SD, t, F, p)
- Report exact p values to two or three decimal places
- Use APA-approved abbreviations for statistical terms
Example: The results were statistically significant (t(34) = 2.45, p = .019).
Tables and Figures
Tables and figures in APA 7 style should be:
- Numbered consecutively (Table 1, Table 2, Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.)
- Referenced in the text
- Placed after the reference list
Table example:
| Variable | Group A | Group B |
|---|---|---|
| Mean | 25.3 | 28.7 |
| SD | 4.2 | 3.9 |
Table 1. Comparison of means between Group A and Group B.
For figures, include a clear and concise caption below the figure.