Dr.

Lincoln

List of Common Errors

Double space everything. Insert page numbers; upper right corner of each page Be careful not to omit verbs, conjunctions, pronouns. Contractions avoid them whenever you can. o I have, not Ive. o He is, not hes. Avoid slang, jargon, etc. Say children, not kids. Keep verb tense consistent. Practice the use of Headings in APA format. Source citations: In text paraphrasing requires author and date. o Quotes require author, date and exact page number.

Long urls (web addresses) are not to go in the source citation; if information from a source has been obtained from a database, just list the retrieval date and the name of the database. o Example: Retrieved on January 11, 2009 from ProQuest database. ***For all web addresses - - - Be sure the links work!! o If the reader cannot retrieve the information then the link is no good. Review the proper use of semicolons. o Use a semicolon as a soft period. By using a semicolon instead of a period between two sentences, you show that those two sentences have a closer relationship to each other than they do to the sentences around them. o Think of a comma as a brief pause, a semicolon as a more moderate pause, and a period as a stop. Use commas to break up compound sentences. o Avoid using commas when a semicolon is needed. The final period goes before the end quote mark, unless there is a source citation immediately following the quote; then the final period goes after the citation. Avoid long and run-on sentences. Citations are needed in the exact place you refer to the source. o Dont wait until the end of the paragraph to cite the source. Do not use the headings of introduction or conclusion; the first paragraph is the introduction and the final paragraph is the conclusion. o Be sure that all your papers include an introduction and conclusion. On the Reference page, list all authors of each source do not use et. al. o This is only to be used in the in-text citation. Use 1 margins on all sides. Do not have an introductory paragraph on one page, and begin the rest of the paper on the next.
Rev. 5-2009

Dr. Lincoln The first sentence of each new paragraph is indented 5 to 7 spaces. Paragraphs should be about 4-7 sentences and should take up about 1/3 to 2/3 of a page. They should contain one main idea. On the Reference page: The title of a book or a journal and the volume number are both in italics. Provide examples to illustrate your ideas. Seek deeper insights avoid superficial statements. On the Reference page, use a hanging indent: The first line is flush to the left margin and be sure to indent the second and all subsequent lines 5-7 spaces. Everything is double-spaced. When a source has no date listed, then you cite it as (n.d.) When a source has two authors, use & not and For a citation in the text of the paper, use only the last name of the author (not the first name initials), the date, and if it is a quote, also include the exact page number of the quote. Be sure the information on the cover page is centered and double spaced. When you are citing one source in a paper, and are using quotes, you must list the page number each and every time you use a quote. One way to cite one source more easily is your first sentence a shown below: o According to the information contained in the article by Jones (2006), . . . . then continue your sentence. Use a title on the first page of the text of all papers this is a level 1 heading. o Titles should be short and concise. Avoid making statements of fact, or broad generalizations, without citing sources Example - - o Stress in the workplace has increased in the last few years Or o According to several studies . . . . . Or o Stress is defined as . . . . . . ***You need to cite where you obtained this type of information. Numbers less than 11 are written out in words: three, eight, ten Numbers 11 and greater are written out as numerals: 11, 15, 26, 345, 9,188, 74,912 Be sure you have carefully read all assignment guidelines. Use the university library databases for your research. Proofread your work carefully to catch errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.

Rev. 5-2009