Writers often must use one of several different formats when writing an article. For the behavioral and social sciences, as well as for education, APA format is the preferred option. This format was created by the American Psychological Association in 1929 to establish rules in structuring a document that will make reading easier for both editors and readers. There are several advantages to using this format in your work.
APA format is widely used in many fields of academia. By using APA formatting in your article, you are less likely to have to restructure your article when submitting it to your professor, journal editor, or publisher. It also means that you don’t need to learn a lot of formats when writing about different topics. APA formatting also gives structure and order to your work, making it more professional and formal. It also lends credibility to the article because many readers, particularly in scientific fields, are used to reading papers in this format. And those who do not comply are sometimes met with doubt and shock.
Another advantage of using APA style is that it leaves no room to wonder how content should be structured. The rules established within this format detail the size of the margins, the space required, and even what font should be used. It also gives the writer instructions on how sources should be cited within body paragraphs and in the references section. Page numbers, headings, and even abbreviations are also discussed in the APA format manual. Knowing how to structure your document will allow you to focus more on your content.
Using APA format also allows the writer to further develop their writing skills. While many know that the format has established rules for structuring an article, it also breaks down the ins and outs of grammar that will help any writer. Furthermore, it also helps in developing the critical thinking skills of a person. It promotes unbiased writing and asks writers to make sure their article has a neutral perspective. This includes avoiding the use of gendered pronouns and making sure there is no bias in any of the text.
Writers can also use images in their article in APA style. The guidelines include how writers can insert and use charts, tables, and graphs in their article to make the data easier to read and understand. While written text can be a powerful thing, images allow readers to quickly understand the concepts presented in the document, particularly in scientific fields where a large number of numbers may be required to present data.
The last, but certainly not the least, advantage of using APA format is the presence of numerous materials that will help writers learn and use the format. The APA manual is easily accessible through the APA website, which also has various tutorials and examples for writers. Due to its widespread use, there are also many other sources of information that can be found online on how to use this format. While it can be challenging to use at first, the popularity of the format helps writers learn more easily with so many guides to choose from.