Appendix B
APA Pitfalls and Wickmanisms
1. Use the word “the” as infrequently as possible, generally no
more than once per sentence. If it doesn’t need the “the” eliminate the “the.”
2. APA prefers that “stories” be told in past tense. Say what happened
rather than what happens or will happen.
3. In a series of three or more items, put a comma before the
“and”(e.g., Lions, Tigers, and Bears are sports
teams.)
4. One space between sentences and after punctuation.
5. Headings: Use them early and often! You can almost never
have too many headings. Headings are kind of an outlline
that helps the reader
follow much more clearly. By the way, the title doesn’t
count as a heading.
6. APA
now prefers italics instead of underline. That is, always italicize
and never underline.
7. When
citing references within text, put the author(s)’ last name(s) and the year in
parentheses.
Example
One: The leader must fall (Yalom, 1995).
Example
Two: Yalom (1995) wrote that heterogeneous groups had
the most
potential for growth.
(a)
If a citation has one or two authors, there is no change on second and further
citations.
(b)
If a citation has three to five authors, list all authors on the first citation
within
your paper and the “First Author’s Surname, et al.” in place
of all authors’ names
on subsequent references. Of course still list all authors
in the references section.
(c)
If a citation has six or more authors, ALWAYS only use the “First Author’s
Surname,
et al.” format in place of all authors’ names even the first time
mentioned. Of course still list all authors in the
references section.
8. When
presenting a “laundry list” of items, use (a), (b), (c), (d) or (1), (2), (3),
(4)
9. When
using a direct quote, put the page number at the end of the quote.
Example:
Yalom (1995) wrote, “If the group is so conducted
that members can
behave in an unguarded, unself-conscious manner, they will
most vividly
recreate and display their pathology in the group” (p. 39).
10. Use a
block quote for material of 40 words or more. The page number and/or
citation goes AFTER the last period, in parenthesis, and is
NOT followed by a
period.
11. Commas
and periods ALWAYS go “inside the quotes,” as does “most other
punctuation.”
12. The
words “while” and “since” are used ONLY in reference to “time.”
Example:
They whistled while they worked.
Note
that when contrasting two ideas, use “although” or “whereas” instead of
“while.”
Example:
Although they were uncomfortable with the here and now, they still
enjoyed their T-group.
Example:
He has been there since he arrived.
Note
that when “since” means “because,” you should use “because.”
13. When
citing references in parentheses, use the &
(ampersand).
Example:
Groups go through stages (Corey & Corey, 2002).
14. Also
use the & on the reference page citations.
15. In a
compound sentence, if each clause has a subject use a comma before the
conjunction (and, but, or).
For example: Yalom describes
the potential for greater depth of hetereogenous
groups, and the Coreys emphasize the efficiency of
homogeneous groups.
The
TRAC model is non-linear, and it provides more flexibility in understanding
group type.
However,
if one subject has two verbs, do not use a comma.
They
spent a lot of time processing and arrived home late.
16. When
introducing a new term, it is helpful to italicize its first use.
Universality
was evident as the group began focusing on their common plight.
17. Ellipses:
(a)
No elipses are needed at the beginning or end of a
sentence.
(b)
When deleting words in mid-sentence, use the format
“(Beginning
of sentence)(space)(dot)(space)(dot)(space)(dot)(space)(end
of
sentence).”
“Oh what a gift . . . to see ourselves as others see us.”
(c)
When eliminating words BETWEEN sentences, end the first sentence with a
period. Then stick in (space)(dot)(space)(dot)(space)(dot)(space)
and lastly put in
your next sentence.
“For
modernists, the truth simply is out there, available for observation. . . . For
postmodernists, all observations are framed by the culture
and language through
which they’re being interpreted, and there is no objective
‘truth.’”
18. The
word is “empathic,” similar to “preventive” and “orient.” Remember, the
main rule of APA is that “less is more.”
19. Without
exception, everything in an APA-style paper is double spaced. This
includes all references, block quotes, and even the title
page. I prefer not having
extra spaces between sections, but APA provides the writer a
choice on that.
20. Some
sample reference citations:
Book:
Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors we live by.
Book Chapter:
Rogers, C. R. (1984). Gloria--A
historical note. In R. F. Levant & J. Shlien
(Eds.), Client-
centered therapy and the person-centered approach: New
directions in theory,
research, and practice, (pp. 423-425).
Film:
Shostrom, E. L. (Producer). (1965). Three
approaches to psychotherapy. [Film].
CA:
Psychological Films.
Journal article:
Wickman, S. A., Daniels, M. J., Fesmire, S. A., & White, L. J. (1999). A primer in
conceptual metaphor for counselors. Journal of Counseling
and Development, 77,
389-394.
Class handout written by the professor:
Wickman, S. A. (Fall, 2004). Review
of interpersonal learning in groups. [Class
handout]. Northern
Class handout with unknown author:
Anonymous. (Fall, 2004). Member roles in group counseling. [Class
handout].
Northern
Something I said in class or from your notes is cited
WITHIN THE TEXT ONLY and NOT on the reference page:
“One often overlooked stage of group counseling is the
“zero stage” (Scott Wickman, personal
communication,
Article from Website:
Campbell, C, &
friends chatting online. M/C: A Journal of Media and
Culture, 3(4),
<http://www.media-culture.org.au/0008/friends.html>, (
means the date you last accessed it.
21. Most
Latin abbreviations, such as “etc.,” “e.g.,” “i.e.,” and “cf.” can appear
ONLY within parentheses.
Outside of parentheses, spell out the phrase they stand
for, such as “and so forth,”
“for example,” “in other words,” and “contrast
with.”
22. THE
TITLE DOES NOT COUNT AS A HEADING.
Last updated August 26, 2004