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J. JOHN SEKAR
THE AMERICAN COLLEGE

APA Documentation
Periodicals
Author, A.A., & Author, C.C. (year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, 24(2), 38-
48. doi:

Magazine Article
Author, A.A. (2018 May). Title of article. Title of Magazine, 39(5), 26-29.

Newspaper article
Name. (2018 May 7). Title of article. The Hindu, p./pp.

Book
Author, A.A. (2018). Title of work. Publisher.

Editor, A.A. (Ed.). (2018). Title of work. Publisher.

Chapter in a book
Author, A.A., & Author, B.B. (2018). Title of chapter. In A. Editor, B. Editor, & C.
Editor. (Eds.). Title of book (pp.212-225). Publisher. Retrieved from http://www.
Or doi:

Dissertation
Author, A.A. (2018). Title of doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis (Doctoral
dissertation). Name of Institution.

In text citation

1. If the quotation comprises fewer than 40 words, incorporate it into text

and enclose the quotation with double quotation marks.
2. If the quotation appears in mid-sentence, end the passage with quotation
marks, cite the source in parentheses immediately after the quotation
marks, and continue the sentence.
Reviewing the results, John (2018) suggested that “…” (p.541).
3. If the quotation appears at the end of a sentence, close the quoted passage
with quotation marks, cite the source in parentheses immediately after the
quotation marks ad end with a period.
“…” (John & Jane, 2018, p. 112).
4. If the quotation comprises 40 or more words, display it in a freestanding
block of text and omit the quotation marks. Start such a block quotation
on a new line and indent the block about a half inch from the left margin
(in the same position as a new paragraph). Double space the entire
quotation. At the end of a block quotation, cite the quoted source and the
page in parentheses after the final punctuation mark.
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……
……
…… . (John, 2018, pp. 111-112)

Grammar & Usage

1. Prefer active voice
2. Use the past tense while discussing another researcher’s work
3. If there is a continuity, then use the present perfect tense form

Mechanical Style
Punctuation
1. Insert one space after
• commas, colons, and semicolons
• periods that separate parts of a reference citation; and
• periods of the initials in personal names

2. do not insert a space after internal periods in abbreviations (e.g., a.m.)

Period
1. Use a period to end a complete sentence
2. Use period with initials of names, abbreviations
3. Do not use periods with capital letter abbreviations (APA)

Comma
1. Use a comma between elements in a series of three or more items (the
height, width, or depth) (in a study conducted by Abi, John, and Isaac
(2018)
2. To set off a nonessential clause

Quotation Marks
1. Use double for a quote
2. Use single quote within a double quote

Capital Letters
1. The first word after colon that begins a complete sentence
2. Capitalize major words in titles of books and articles within the body of the
paper
3. Capitalize only the first word and the first word after a colon and proper
noun in titles of books and articles in reference lists
4. Capitalize major words in article headings and subheadings
5. In table headings and figure captions, capitalize only the first word and
proper nouns
6. Capitalize references to sections within the same article (as explained in
the Method section/the Data Analysis subsection)
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Numbers Expressed in Words

1. Use words to express any number that begins a sentence, title or text
heading; common fractions (one fifth of the class, two-thirds majority)

Bold
1. Titles of Chapters
2. Subheadings
3. Figure 5.1