Writing conventions based on the first journal article reviews (Fall 2021)

Numbers - Use words for numbers below 10 and numerals for numbers 10 and above. Do
not begin a sentence with a numeral or <Page 225 includes…>.

Decades - APA format does not use an apostrophe when pluralizing a number. For
example, it would be correct to use the 1970s instead of the 1970's.

Contractions - It is generally good practice to avoid contractions in academic writing, no

matter the style being used. Exceptions should be made when quoting sources directly.

In-text citation - use the author's last name and the year of publication, e.g., (Field,
2005). For direct quotations, include the page number as well (Field, 2005, p. 14).

In-text citation vs in-text writing

 (Powell & Powell, 2018) – in an in-text citation
 Powell and Powell (2018) – in a sentence

Any direct quotes (anything you put in quotation marks) must be cited. Quotes must
always be cited with a page number. There is always a space after the period (p. 361).

Multiple authors - Depending on the number of authors a source has, an APA in-text
citation is shortened using “et al.” (meaning “and others”). In this case you only include the
first author's last name followed by “et al.”. Sources with 3-5 authors are written in full the
first time and shortened from the second citation onwards.

Intenting - Begin every line of text from the left margin, except for the first line of each
paragraph. Indent each line of a new paragraph one tab space, which should be set at 1.27
cm or 0.5 inch.

Parallel structures in lists or series - Parallel structure means that coordinate parts of a
sentence, such as items in a series or list, have the same grammatical form. Items in a
series must be all nouns, all verbs, or all participles.
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/mechanics/parallel_structure.html

Tenses - Be careful not to mix tenses (past and present).

Paragraphs - Aim for three to five or more sentences per paragraph. Never have a
paragraph of only one or two sentences.

Pronouns - Make sure that the antecedent for pronouns is clear. This is especially true when you use
<this> or <it>. Generally, it is much better to use <this xxx>.
 Make sure the antecedent is in the same paragraph and not earlier in the essay. This happens
often when using a pronoun for the author.
 Avoid using too many pronouns before repeating the noun.

Compound adjective - Generally, hyphenate two or more words when they come before a
noun they modify (compound adjective) and act as a single idea, e.g., world-renowned,
well-known. When a compound adjective follows a noun, a hyphen is usually not necessary.
Abbreviations - When abbreviating a term, use the full term the first time you use it,
followed immediately by the abbreviation in parentheses, e.g., World Youth Choir (WYC).

The possessive form of a proper noun which ends in <s>, e.g., Hess’s

Titles are not used in academic writing, e.g., Dr. Gregory Springer

e.g., - exempli gratia (Latin). Means ‘for example’ or ‘as such’

i.e., - id est (Latin). Means ‘in other words’
Both abbreviations are written with periods, no spaces, and a comma at the end.

Multiple citing of the same study - If you are citing only one study within the same
paragraph multiple times, then you can alternate between a parenthetical citation and an
in-text citation to aid in the flow and readability of your paper for the reader. You may also
use language that continues to point out to the reader additional thoughts or ideas that
came from the same previously cited study. Using personal pronoun (they) and other third
person language, such as "the author also found...", "the researcher continued....", "he or
she informed....", "they strongly advised....", etc. should be enough to let the reader know
where the information was originally coming from.

Questions are always good in a review or an essay.

Academic language – Avoid colloquial language.

 Talked about – mentioned
 Going into this study – An analysis of this study
 Something to base their thoughts off of – something to base their thought on
 Very unique – unique
 program put on in – program offered/presented in/developed in
 the authors bring up – the authors present/offer
 this goal ties into – this goal relates to
 this article breaks down – this article outlines

Still… I can’t believe it!

its vs it’s
complement vs compliment
their/there/they’re
then/than