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Question: Reference examples in the fourth edition of the Publication Manual show a regular, paragraph-type indent instead of a hanging indent. (In a hanging indent, the second and subsequent lines are indented under a longer first line.) Why did APA make this change?

Answer: APA received many comments since the third edition was published that a hanging indent is difficult to achieve with some word-processing software. In response to these comments, in the fourth edition we ask that reference lists in manuscripts be prepared with a simple tab indent so that setting up a reference entry is as easy as starting a new paragraph. When typeset in APA publications, the references are coded to appear in their usual hanging-indent style. As an example, the bibliography for the Publication Manual (chap. 7) presents references in this finished, hanging-indent form. If you are preparing a manuscript in final form, meaning that the manuscript will not later be typeset and published, you may prefer to format references with a hanging indent to enhance readability. 

Question: In the reference examples for periodicals, why did APA decide to switch to a continuous underline running from the journal title through the volume number and including accompanying punctuation? My citation software won't let me do this.

Answer: Again, this change to the third edition has to do with the use of word processors to prepare manuscripts. This change saves the typist keystrokes, minimizing the number of times the typist must turn the underlining function on and off within a reference entry. Continuous underlining is also consistent with what happens when a manuscript is typeset, as punctuation is typeset to match what immediately precedes it—italics in the case of punctuation after titles of works in references. APA does not return manuscripts on the basis of whether a continuous underline is used in references. If you are using a program that won't underline punctuation, that's okay; the typeset product will look the same either way. APA does not endorse any existing software packages that format in APA style, although APA is developing software that will meet our standards. 

Question: Why shouldn't I use italics in preparing a manuscript?

Answer: If you are preparing a manuscript to be submitted for publication, use underlining. Underlining on a manuscript signals the typesetter to set italics (so even if you use an italic font, the APA copyeditor will need to insert an underline). If your manuscript is in final form, meaning that it will not later be typeset, you may wish to use the italicizing function of your word processor to mimic what would be typeset in italics and to improve the appearance of your manuscript. Consult with your professor or committee before using anything not specified in the manual. 

Question: As a student, I use the sample paper in chapter 4 quite a bit, and I've noticed that some of my colleagues' versions of the Publication Manual show a different graphic for the title page of a manuscript. Which is correct—the one with the title in the middle of the page or the one with the title closer to the top of the page?

Answer: Either one is correct. The typing instructions within chapter 4 (section 4.15) state that the title of the manuscript should be centered on the page and are not explicit about whether the title must be centered between top and bottom margins. However, the graphic in the third edition shows the title centered between left and right and top and bottom margins. When the first copies of the fourth edition were distributed, APA received many comments from people comparing the sample title pages in the third and fourth editions who were concerned that APA had introduced a style change without informing the users. Therefore, for subsequent printings we revised the graphic to appear similar to the graphic of the third edition. 

We have heard from many students about committees that monitor application of style quite closely. As a publisher, APA does not return manuscripts on the basis of placement of elements on a page. What is important is the content of the title page; that is, it must include the title of the article, a byline with the author's affiliation, a running head for publication, a page number 1, and a manuscript page header, which is repeated on each subsequent page of the manuscript. If you are submitting a paper for a course, you may want to ask your instructor to be explicit about university requirements that differ from Publication Manual guidelines: double-spacing, margins, indention of references, placement of tables and figures, appearance of title page, author note, use of italic fonts, and so forth. 

Question: In typing class I learned that two spaces always follow a period, but your fourth edition says one space should follow all punctuation. How come?

Answer: Word-processing software makes available to the user fonts that result in proportional spacing, so additional spacing around periods is no longer necessary. Uniform spacing around punctuation also saves a step in preparing word-processing files for electronic editing. As a publisher, APA does not return manuscripts on the basis of the spacing around punctuation. 

Question: In referencing periodicals, I'm confused about when to use "p." or "pp." for page numbers and when not to. Please clarify.

Answer: If a periodical includes a volume number, underline it and then give the page range without "pp." If the periodical does not use volume numbers, include "pp." before the page numbers so the reader will understand that the numbers refer to pagination. 

Question: I publish frequently in APA journals, and I've noticed that subjects is being routinely changed in copyediting, most often to participants. Why?

Answer: A couple of guidelines in chapter 2's Guidelines to Reduce Bias in Language are at work here. One is to acknowledge human participation. The other is to be specific. Subjects is a fairly nondescriptive, passive term. Identifying human subjects as participants, respondents, children, patients, clients, and so forth increases specificity.