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punctuation italics guide clear writing tips
Concise Guide to APA Style: 7th Edition (OFFICIAL)
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Punctuation, Lists, and Italics: A Detailed Guide
This excerpt focuses on the correct usage of punctuation, lists, and italics in academic writing, particularly within the context of citing sources and presenting information clearly.
Let’s break down the key points:
Citing Periodical Articles and Book Chapters
The text emphasizes the importance of proper formatting when referring to periodical articles or book chapters within your writing.
It specifically addresses how to handle the title of these works:
“to set off the title of a periodical article or book chapter when the title is used in the text or in a copyright attribution (do not use quotation marks around the article or book chapter title in the reference list entry)”
This means that within the body of your text, you should *not* use quotation marks around the title of an article or chapter.
However, the reference list entry has its own specific formatting rules, which are different.
The text provides examples:
“In text:
Oerlemans and Bakker’s (2018) article, “Motivating Job Characteristics and Happiness at Work: A Multilevel Perspective,” described . . .”
Notice that quotation marks *are* used in this example.
This is because the title of the article is contained within a larger sentence.
“In the reference list:
Oerlemans, W.
G.
M., & Bakker, A.
B. (2018).
Motivating job characteristics and happiness at work: A multilevel perspective.
Journal of Applied Psychology, 103(11), 1230-1241. https://doi.org/10.1037/ap|0000318″
Here, in the reference list, quotation marks are *not* used.
The title is simply presented as part of the bibliographic information.
“In a copyright attribution:
Adapted from “Motivating Job Characteristics and Happiness at Work: A Multilevel Perspective,” by W.
G.
M.
Oerlemans and A.
B.
Bakker, 2018, Journal of Applied Psychology, 103(11), p. 1236 (https://doi.org/10.1037/ ap|0000318).
Copyright 2018 by the American Psychological Association.”
Again, quotation marks are present in the copyright attribution due to the sentence structure.
When *Not* to Use Double Quotation Marks
The excerpt goes on to list several situations where double quotation marks should be avoided:
“Do not use double quotation marks in the following cases:
to highlight a key term or phrase (e.g., around a term for which you are going to provide a definition); instead, use italics (see Section 4.15)”
Instead of using quotation marks to emphasize a term you’re defining, use italics.
“to identify the anchors of a scale; instead, use italics (see Section 4.15)”
Similarly, use italics for scale anchors.
“to refer to a numeral as itself because the meaning is sufficiently clear without quotation marks
The numeral 2 was displayed onscreen.”
Numbers usually don’t require quotation marks unless the context is unclear without them.
“to hedge or downplay meaning (do not use any punctuation with these expressions)
Correct: The teacher rewarded the class with tokens.
Incorrect: The teacher “rewarded” the class with tokens.”
Avoid using quotation marks to subtly imply doubt or skepticism about a word or phrase.
This often comes across as sarcastic and is generally discouraged in formal writing.
The Role of Parentheses
The final section briefly touches on the correct use of parentheses:
“Use parentheses in the following cases:
to set off structurally independent elements
The patterns were statistically significant (see Figure 5).”
Parentheses are useful for adding supplementary information or references that are not essential to the main sentence’s meaning.
The example shows how to reference a figure in parentheses.
Key Takeaways
This excerpt is a valuable guide for anyone writing academic or formal documents.
The proper use of punctuation, especially quotation marks, and the correct application of italics and parentheses are crucial for clarity and professionalism.
Pay close attention to the context and purpose of your writing to ensure you are using these elements effectively.
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