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American Psychological Association (APA) style is very useful for writing and editing in the social sciences – psychology, sociology, education, social work, adult education, and nursing. Academics may be very skilled in their subject matter but not necessarily skilled at writing. APA provides an excellent framework for expressing straightforward, factual information, helping authors to express themselves. For editors of dissertations, journal articles, and other scholarly texts, APA provides strict rules, which have their place.

This seminar will provide basic information on how to use APA style to your advantage, whether you are a writer or an editor. We will examine the APA 6th edition – please bring your copy to the seminar, as some time will be spent learning how to use the book. The seminar envisions onscreen editing and will be taught from an onscreen perspective. Participants may wish to bring their computers with them.

Our major focus will be APA style for the reference list and the in-text citations. Topics will include: basic APA style for entering titles in the reference list; how to set different types of references, including Internet entries; how to use APA’s author/date system. Some pointers will be given for situations not covered by APA.

APA copy editing mechanics will also be discussed, particularly where they may differ from other styles. Among others, these will include APA style for verb tenses in the literature review, block quotations, hyphenation of compound words, capitalization, and numerals or written-out numbers. Some basics on how to edit onscreen will be given, with a focus on Track Changes. Some global editing and formatting techniques may also be discussed.

As not all APA content can be covered in one half-day seminar, Mary Anne will welcome emailed suggestions for topics people want covered and thorny problems they want solutions for. Please send to toronto@editors.ca with APA Topics as the subject line.

Instructor: Mary Anne Carswell started writing in APA style in 1995. For the last 12 years, she has been editing academic documents in the style, on everything from industrial engineering to education. She knows the style deeply and has a love/hate relationship with it.

Saturday, November 19
9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Registration - $140 members, $165 non-members (HST extra)
Early Registration (to November 11) - $110 members, $135 non-members (HST extra) 
Northrop Frye Hall, Room 007
73, Queen's Park Crescent East, Victoria College, University of Toronto