The APA style manual will govern a number of aspects of your writing, including:
To help you learn APA style, this guide contains information on each of these three elements.
REMEMBER: This help guide is intended to familiarize students with the basics of APA style and formatting; it is by no means a comprehensive resource. For more information on APA style, please refer to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, or browse through some of the following resources:
Abstract: a brief summary of an information source, such as a journal article or paper. An abstract appears at the beginning of the work, and it outlines the work's key points and arguments.
Citation: a quotation from or a reference to a book, paper, author, etc.
Journal: a type of perioda quote or a reference to a book, article, passage, or other text or author; in academic writing, citations are typically used in defense of an argument.ical which is usually considered more scholarly than a popular magazine. Journals contain scholarly articles, they are often published by academic associations, and their subject matter is specific to certain fields of study.
Magazine: a type of periodical which is generally not scholarly in nature and which may or may not have an author.
Encyclopedia: a general information resource that contains articles on many subjects. An encyclopedia can be generalized, and provide information on many subjects, or it may be subject specific, and provide detailed information on one subject.
Periodical: a magazine, journal, newsletter, or other annual publication that is published at least 3 times a year.