Editorial Style

To begin your investigation into APA editorial style, review the APA Research Style Crib Sheet. Fully explore this website, follow relevant links, and print key reference pages. 

As indicated by the Publication Manual, editorial style refers to the preferences set forth by the APA concerning consistent presentation of the printed word. The APA Publication Manual puts forth specific rules concerning:

• Punctuation
• Spelling
• Capitalization
• Italics
• Abbreviations
• Headings and Series
• Quotations
• Numbers
• Metrication
• Statistical and Mathematical Copy
• Tables
• Figures
• Footnotes and Notes
• Appendixes
• Reference Citations in Text

The writing recommendations put forth by the APA Publication Manual are not simply guidelines; they are specific rules that MUST be followed when writing in APA style. You should review these rules carefully and be aware of all areas that are dictated by the Publication Manual. While you do not have to memorize the specific rules, you should be familiar with the common rules that you will frequently use in your writing. For a discussion of the common errors in APA style, see Refining Use of APA Style: Eliminating Common Errors.

In addition to the writing guidelines and guidelines for reporting statistical information, you should be familiar with the requirements for formatting tables and figures. When including tables or figures in your manuscript, refer to the Table Checklist (page 150 of the APA Publication Manual) and the Figure Checklist (page 167 of the APA Publication Manual) to ensure that your supplemental information is necessary, appropriate, and formatted correctly. 

For style tips on frequently asked questions, see the APA Style website. In addition, review the highlights of the APA Editorial Guidelines. You will also find the Examples of APA Editorial Style helpful in formatting your writing.