APA format - hard to crack!

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In graduate schools, the use of APA format is a terror that needs to be learned and used frequently. Everything is APA! Well, i learned about PERRLA APA programs. If you can use it, that would help you ALOOOT!

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Specializes in Emergency, ICU.

It is much better to learn APA than to rely on a program to do it for you. It's not that hard. Many programs are banning the use if such software.

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Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.

I use NoodleTools.com to make my references page for me, but all of the rest of APA I've had to learn to do for myself. I even made a blank APA paper template for myself which has really helped a lot, especially when fussing with the headers and footers.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

Google Scholar can auto-format your references.

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Specializes in Addictions/Mental Health, Telemetry.

I do not know how programs can ban the use of a formatting software if they do not know you are using it!!! If someone were to use it, it would only be useful as a time saver because the best way to use it would be to have a working knowledge of the APA style to begin with. You really should learn and understand APA, but if something helps save time, why not? It reminds me of the statistics instructor in college many years ago who banned calculators from the classroom. Yep! You heard me correctly! We had to manually figure out square roots, etc.! That is how I see formatting software today....it's a time saver...just like a calculator!

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
I do not know how programs can ban the use of a formatting software if they do not know you are using it!!!

Academic honesty was a big part of my graduate education.

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Were academic style guidelines such as APA, MLA, and Chicago part of your undergraduate composition classes? I’m confused because, at least in my school, they drilled these into our heads our freshman year ad-nauseam.

There are a couple of style guidelines out there – Perdue has a great set for both APA and MLA – that are really helpful (https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/).

Once you get the formatting down it almost becomes second nature (at least it did for me). Set up a template in Microsoft Word or whatever word processing software you use and continuously use that. As for citing sources, Microsoft Word has a great citations and bibliography tool that allows you to keep track of multiple sources. While it doesn't do all of the formatting for you (as it shouldn't), it does help 'tame the beast' so to speak.

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Specializes in Emergency, ICU.
Academic honesty was a big part of my graduate education.

Exactly.

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Specializes in Trauma 4yr Flight 8mn.

They know if you use a program because the instructors have a hard time leaving feedback on the papers. Speaking from personal experience. I used Microsoft word newest editions APA document. My instructor was okay with it, but she knew I had used it without me saying anything

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Google Scholar can auto-format your references.

This. So does CINHL. Can't say the same for pubmed.

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Specializes in Trauma 4yr Flight 8mn.

They all auto format, pubmed ect. But its not always right. Capitalizations in the wrong place, missing commas or periods...still have to check it

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Why is not honest to utilize a program that would just format the paper to APA for you as in the computer? I do not understand.

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