APA STYLE: 5th Edition

NUR 210

General Rules

Double space everything including the reference list.The reference used for spelling is Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate DictionaryIndent 5 to 7 spaces at the beginning of each paragraph. Use tab key for uniform indentations.Word processor print should be 12 point. Do not use settings that decrease the space between letters or words.

General Rules

One sentence paragraphs should be avoided. Paragraphs should be no longer than one page in length.

Papers should be printed dark enough so they are easily read.

Headings

Use centered main headings, flush right headings. Do not use a heading for introduction.

No underlining of headings

Numbers

Use words to express numbers zero through nine, or any number that begins a sentence.

Avoid starting a sentence with a number if at all possible.

Express in figures numbers of two or more digits.

Abbreviations

Use abbreviations sparingly

On the first appearance, spell out the terms completely and follow it with its abbreviation in parentheses: thereafter, the abbreviation is used alone.

Use periods with abbreviations

Initials of names (H.T. Jones)

Abbreviation for the United States when used with an adjective (U.S.Army)

Latin abbreviations (a.m., i.e., e.g.)

Reference abbreviations (Vol. 1, 2nd ed.,p.6)

DO NOT use periods with:

Abbreviations of state names (SC)Capital letter abbreviations and acronyms (APA, NANDA)Metric and nonmetric measurement abbreviations (ft, hr, cm, km)

The exception is with abbreviations that would be misinterpreted as another word (in. for inches)

Routes of administration (IM, PO)

Quotations

Short quotations are incorporated in text and enclosed by double quotation marks. When quotation is > 40 words, display the quotation in a free-standing block and do not use quotation marks. Indent five spaces with no additional indentation of the first line. Entire quotation is double-space.

Punctuation

Comma

Semicolon

Colon

Parentheses

Dash

Brackets

PeriodTo end a complete sentence

Space once after all punctuation

Capitalization

The first word of a sentence

The first word following a colon that begins a complete sentence

Major words in title and headings used in the body of a paper

Proper nouns and trade names

Page Numbers

All pages are numbered consecutively beginning with the title page.

Arabic numbers are used to number pages

Numbers should appear in the upper right hand corner of each page and be at least one inch from the right hand edge of the paper.

Headers

A header consists of the first two or three words from the title of the paper.They are placed in the upper right hand corner of each page of the manuscript between the upper edge of the paper and the first line of text on each page.Located five spaces to the left of the page number

Margins

Should be uniform and at least 1 in. at the top, bottom, and sides of all pagesThe length of each typed line is no more than 6.5 in.A left-flush style should be used. Left hand edge should be straight and the right hand edge of text will be jaggedNo more than 27 lines of text on a page with 1 in. margins

References

Must be double spaced and entries should have a hanging indent.

Citations in text are in an author/date format.

Quotes must have page numbers and they are placed after the year.

Italicize the book, article, etc. Do not underline.

Reference Example:

Streubert, H.J. & Carpenter, D.R. (1995). Qualitative research in nursing: Advancing the humanistic imperative. Philadelphia: Lippincott.