APA 6 and APA 7 are the two most recent versions of the American Psychological Association (APA) style guide. They are both widely used in academic and professional writing and have many similarities, but there are also some key differences. In this article, we will explore the main differences between APA 6 and APA 7, as well as provide advice on which one to use when preparing your document.

Formatting

The first major difference between the two versions of APA is the formatting. APA 6 uses the traditional author-date method for in-text citations, while APA 7 has adopted the author-date-page (ADP) format. The ADP format means that each in-text citation includes the author’s name, year of publication, and page number. This is especially helpful for long documents with multiple sources.

The formatting of references is also different in the two versions. In APA 6, the references list is formatted using a hanging indent, while in APA 7 it is formatted using a flush left margin. Additionally, the formatting of titles is different in the two versions. APA 6 uses sentence case for titles, while APA 7 uses title case.

Headings

In APA 6, headings are used to organize information and make it easier to read. Headings are formatted using a combination of upper- and lower-case letters. APA 7, on the other hand, has adopted a new system of headings. This system uses five levels of headings, with each level distinguished by a different font size and style.

Additionally, APA 7 requires that the first word of each heading is capitalized and that the remaining words in the heading are in title case. This is different from APA 6, which did not require the first word of a heading to be capitalized. Furthermore, APA 7 requires that each heading is followed by a period, while APA 6 did not.

Abbreviations

In APA 6, abbreviations and acronyms are used sparingly and only when necessary. In APA 7, however, abbreviations and acronyms are encouraged and can be used more liberally. This is because APA 7 recognizes that some readers may not be familiar with technical jargon and may benefit from the use of abbreviations and acronyms.

APA 7 also has guidelines for when to use abbreviations. For instance, abbreviations should only be used after the full term has been written out at least once. Additionally, when using abbreviations, the term should be written out in full, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses.

Quotes

In APA 6, all quotes must be enclosed in quotation marks and the author’s name must be included in the in-text citation. In APA 7, however, quotes may be presented without quotation marks if the quote is brief (fewer than 40 words). Additionally, the author’s name does not need to be included in the in-text citation if the author has already been introduced in the sentence.

Numbers

In APA 6, numbers are formatted using numerals when they are greater than nine. In APA 7, however, numbers are formatted using words when they are fewer than 10 and numerals when they are greater than 10. Additionally, APA 7 requires that fractions are formatted using numerals, while APA 6 allowed for fractions to be formatted using words.

Figures

In APA 6, figures are formatted using italics. In APA 7, however, figures are formatted using regular font. Additionally, APA 7 requires that figures are labeled using numbers, while APA 6 allowed for figures to be labeled using words.

Tables

In APA 6, tables are formatted using a combination of upper- and lower-case letters. In APA 7, however, tables are formatted using a combination of upper- and lower-case letters and italics. Additionally, APA 7 requires that tables are labeled using numbers, while APA 6 allowed for tables to be labeled using words.

In-text Citations

In APA 6, in-text citations are formatted using parenthetical citations. In APA 7, however, in-text citations are formatted using an author-date-page (ADP) format. This means that each in-text citation includes the author’s name, year of publication, and page number.

References

In APA 6, the references list is formatted using a hanging indent. In APA 7, however, the references list is formatted using a flush left margin. Additionally, APA 7 requires that all references are listed in alphabetical order, while APA 6 allowed for references to be listed in the order in which they were cited.

Fonts

In APA 6, fonts are limited to Times New Roman, Courier, or Arial. In APA 7, however, fonts are no longer limited and authors may use any font that is easy to read. Additionally, APA 7 requires that the font size be 12-point, while APA 6 allowed for the font size to be 10-point.

Spacing

In APA 6, double spacing is used throughout the document. In APA 7, however, the document is single-spaced, with the exception of quotations, which are still double-spaced. Additionally, APA 7 requires that the document is left-aligned, while APA 6 allowed for documents to be justified.

Margins

In APA 6, margins are set to 1 inch on all sides. In APA 7, however, the margins are set to 1.5 inches on the left side and 1 inch on the right side. Additionally, APA 7 requires that the title page is formatted using one-inch margins, while APA 6 allowed for the title page to be formatted using one and a half-inch margins.

Page Numbers

In APA 6, page numbers are not required. In APA 7, however, page numbers are required on all pages, including the title page and references page. Additionally, APA 7 requires that page numbers are placed in the top right corner of the page, while APA 6 allowed for page numbers to be placed in the top left corner of the page.

Title Page

In APA 6, the title page is formatted using one-inch margins. In APA 7, however, the title page is formatted using one and a half-inch margins. Additionally, APA 7 requires that the title page include the author’s name, institutional affiliation, running head, and page number, while APA 6 did not require the author’s name or institutional affiliation.

Language

In APA 6, gender-neutral language is encouraged but not required. In APA 7, however, gender-neutral language is required. Additionally, APA 7 requires that first-person pronouns are avoided, while APA 6 allowed for first-person pronouns.

Online Sources

In APA 6, online sources are formatted using the traditional author-date format. In APA 7, however, online sources are formatted using the author-date-page (ADP) format. Additionally, APA 7 requires that all online sources include a digital object identifier (DOI), while APA 6 did not.

Images

In APA 6, images are not included in the references list. In APA 7, however, images must be included in the references list. Additionally, APA 7 requires that images are labeled using numbers, while APA 6 allowed for images to be labeled using words.

Conclusion

APA 6 and APA 7 are the two most recent versions of the APA style guide. While they share many similarities, there are also some key differences. This article has explored the main differences between the two versions, including formatting, headings, abbreviations, quotes, numbers, figures, tables, in-text citations, references, fonts, spacing, margins, page numbers, title page, language, online sources, and images. Understanding the differences between the two versions will help you ensure that your document is properly formatted and meets the requirements of the APA style guide.

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