2. APA Stylistics
or
Editorial Style
Presentation by Michael Scanlon, Sheryl Scanlon,
and Kate Cottle

3. Conventions…
…Where grammar examples are given
• Subjects are underlined once
• Verbs are underlined with a dotted line
• Correct sentences are in white
• Incorrect Sentences are in orange

4. AvoidingWordiness
▪ The aim of APA editorial style is to write well, using
words efficiently and for maximum impact
– Clear: be specific in descriptions and explanations
Incorrect: a lot of attendees
Correct: 67% of all attendees
– Concise: condense information when you can
Incorrect: the students in the 6thth grade with learning
challenges
Correct: the 6th grade, learning-challenged students
(APA, 2009; Paiz, et al., 2011b; and Perrin, 2012)

5. Avoiding Wordiness
– Jargon: Avoid using words that people outside your profession
would not understand.
Incorrect: sponge activities for the classroom
Correct: short activities for students who finish lessons quickly
– Noun Clusters: a bunch of nouns grouped together to modify
another noun can be confusing
▪ Either rewrite as phrases or use the abbreviation, once correctly
noted
Incorrect: state urban traffic pattern analysis center
Correct: state center for analyzing urban traffic patterns
(APA, 2009; Paiz, et al., 2011b; and Perrin, 2012)

6. Avoiding Wordiness
– Colloquialisms: avoid slang.
▪ Use formal and standard English.
Incorrect:The group of kids at the mall looked totally emo.
Correct:The adolescents observed were between the ages of 14-
18; they wore black clothes, hair, make-up and accessories.
– Plain: use simple, descriptive adjectives and minimize the
figurative language
Incorrect:The mice had a plethora of fur colors, like the tiniest
terriers ever seen.
Correct:The mice had brown, black and white fur.
(APA, 2009; Paiz, et al., 2011b; and Perrin, 2012)

7. AvoidingWordiness
– Use: abbreviations only as needed
▪ The first time you use the word to be abbreviated, spell it
out completely the first time, followed immediately by the
abbreviation
▪ Some abbreviations are always acceptable. They are
detailed in the APA Publication Manual, 6th ed. on pp. 107-
109
Incorrect: The NCTE is the academic body for ELA teachers.
Correct:The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) is
the academic body for English Language Arts (ELA) teachers.
(APA, 2009; Paiz, et al., 2011b; and Perrin, 2012)

8. Avoiding Bias
▪ Avoid using words that label people
– Racism, ageism, xenophobia, etc.
Incorrect: Old people do not know how to use technology.
Correct:The participants of this study, aged 65-80,
experienced greater difficulties when programming aTV
remote.
▪ Avoid making generalizations
Incorrect:Young people do not read and are less literate as a
result.
Correct:When the participants in the study, aged 18-24, listed
their favorite leisure time activity, 15% listed reading.
(APA, 2009; Paiz, et al., 2011a; and Perrin, 2012)

9. Avoiding Bias
▪ Avoid language that points out gender
Incorrect: Every nurse has to pass her anatomy and physiology
tests before moving onto more specialized classes.
Correct: Every nurse has to pass anatomy and physiology tests
before moving onto more specialized classes.
▪ Always choose the most specific language possible in order to
avoid generalizations and wordiness
Incorrect: I was feeling some kind of way seeing those test
results.
Correct:The test results were very positive.
(APA, 2009; Paiz, et al., 2011a; and Perrin, 2012)

10. References
American Psychological Association. (2009.) Publication manual of the American
Psychological Association (6th ed.).Washington, DC: Author.
Paiz, J.M., Angeli, E.,Wagner, J., Lawrick, E., Moore, K., Anderson, M., Soderlund,
L., Brizee, A., & Keck, R. (2011). APA stylistics:Avoiding Bias. Retrieved
from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/14/
Paiz, J.M., Angeli, E.,Wagner, J., Lawrick, E., Moore, K., Anderson, M., Soderlund,
L., Brizee, A., & Keck, R. (2011). APA stylistics: Basics. Retrieved from
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/15/
Perrin, R. (2012). Pocket guide to APA style (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth.