Oh man, let me tell you about my first APA style paper in college. Picture this: 2 AM, empty Red Bull cans everywhere (the sugar-free kind because adulting), and me Googling "how to not fail freshman comp." Spoiler alert – I still messed up the running head. My professor circled it in red with a note that said "Cute effort!" in that passive-aggressive academic tone we all know too well.
Here’s what I wish someone had told me during those panicked library sessions (the ones where I definitely cried near the psychology section):
The Title Page Drama
I spent 45 minutes trying to center my title vertically. Turns out APA doesn’t care about that – it’s just title, name, school, course, date, and that sneaky running head up top. Pro tip: Your instructor probably wants page numbers starting here, not on page 2. I learned this the hard way when my environmental science TA docked points for "formatting creativity."
The Abstract That Wasn’t Abstract Enough
Fun story – my first abstract read like a Netflix show teaser. "In this thrilling exploration of sleep deprivation…" Nope. APA wants 150-250 words of dry facts: problem, method, results, conclusion. Think robot writing a textbook, not Shakespeare. (Though I did slip in a "methinks" once – 0/10 do not recommend)
The Reference Page Nightmare
Microsoft Word’s citation tool became my frenemy. One time it formatted my YouTube source as "[Film]" instead of "[Video file]". My friend Karen (shoutout to the Starbucks study group) showed me Citation Machine – lifesaver for us non-library-science majors. But you still need to check:
- Hanging indents (not regular indents!)
- Italics for journal names BUT NOT ARTICLE TITLES (why though?)
- That "Retrieved from" is dead in 7th edition. Pour one out.
What Actually Worked For Me
After three all-nighters and one panicked call to my cousin (a community college TA), here’s my survival kit:
- Steal Purdue OWL’s template like it’s free Target samples
- Double-space EVERYTHING – even the references page
- Times New Roman 12pt – no Comic Sans "because it’s friendlier"
- Level headings (you know – bold, italics, indents. Google the chart)
- Run it through Grammarly after formatting – trust me
The Turning Point
Last semester, I helped my little brother format his psychology paper. Watching him stress over in-text citations ("Wait, do I put the date before or after the author?") was like looking in a mirror. We used the Scribbr APA guide while eating cold pizza, and he texted me later: "Got an A. They didn’t even notice I used 3 meme sources." (Don’t be my brother.)
Here’s the real talk: APA style is like riding a bike with training wheels that never come off. Just when you think you’ve got it, some new edition changes the rules (looking at you, website citations). But keep a checklist, use the student discount for the APA manual app, and for the love of all that’s holy – don’t try to format as you write. Do it last, like adding sprinkles to a cupcake.
Seriously though? Once you power through 2-3 papers, it becomes muscle memory. Now I can APA format in my sleep – though I still have stress dreams about misplaced semicolons. You’ve got this. And if all else fails, buy your grader a coffee. (Kidding. Maybe.)
(P.S. If your references page starts on page 3 of a 4-page paper? Been there. Hit "Ctrl+T" for hanging indent and pretend you meant to do that.)