The 7th Edition APA Manual: What's New and Important?

TLDRThe 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual introduces significant changes in citing sources, formatting papers, and writing inclusively. This summary highlights the 17 most notable changes, including changes in referencing, in-text citations, inclusive language, and paper formatting.

Key insights

📚The 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual introduces 17 notable changes in citing sources, formatting papers, and writing inclusively.

💻Changes in referencing include omitting publisher location, shortening in-text citations, and including surnames and initials for up to 20 authors.

🌐Online source types, such as podcast episodes and YouTube videos, now have specific formatting guidelines.

🎓The 7th edition provides clear guidelines for writing inclusively and using bias-free language, including the endorsement of the singular 'they' as a gender-neutral pronoun.

📝Paper formatting changes include increased flexibility in font options and updated heading levels.

Q&A

When was the 7th edition APA Manual introduced?

The 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual was introduced in October 2019.

What are some changes in referencing?

Some changes include omitting publisher location, shortening in-text citations, and including surnames and initials for up to 20 authors.

What are the guidelines for inclusive language?

The guidelines include the endorsement of the singular 'they' as a gender-neutral pronoun and using descriptive phrases instead of adjectives as nouns to label groups of people.

What are the changes in paper formatting?

Some changes include increased flexibility in font options, omission of the running head in student papers, and updates to heading levels.

When will people start using the 7th edition APA Manual?

The APA expects people to start using the 7th edition in the spring of 2020, but it's recommended to check with your supervisor or journal publisher for the specific edition to adhere to.

Timestamped Summary

00:00In October 2019, the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual was introduced, replacing the 6th edition published in 2009.

00:26The 7th edition brings notable changes in citing sources, formatting papers, and writing inclusively.

00:29Changes in referencing include omitting publisher location and shortening in-text citations.

01:00Surnames and initials for up to 20 authors are now included in the reference list.

01:14DOIs are now formatted as URLs, and the label 'DOI:' is no longer necessary.

01:22You no longer need to write 'Retrieved from' in front of URLs, unless a retrieval date is needed.

01:29For ebooks, the format, platform, or device is no longer included in the reference.

02:13Clear guidelines are provided for including contributors other than authors and editors.