APA style guide necessary?

Published

Hi all, I am getting ready to start my ABSN program at the end of May and one of my required books for the summer is the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association -- for writing papers, I assume.

I'm wondering if buying this book is really necessary? Usually, when I cite papers I just look up the correct formatting online. Has anyone been required to buy this book and not really ended up using it, or vice versa?

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

My school required a smaller reference guide to APA format. I chose to buy the APA manual as a supplemental reference. And yes, I used it. Not everything was covered in the reference guide that I needed. And while some websites are reputable, they may be out of date- information from the APA 5th edition instead of the current 6th edition that I was required to adhere to. However, the final decision is yours to make, and if it makes a difference, this was for my MSN and not undergraduate courses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in nursing education.

I bought it and have gotten so much use out of it (every semester, every class).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, in my program we use it a lot.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

This site was all we ever used.

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I didn't have to buy it and everything I have needed (thus far) has been online. If I were you I'd wait and then if you find you need it then go to barnes and noble and look up what you need and finish the assignment.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You should purchase a copy as you will no doubt use it throughout your program. Also, I personally would not rely on any of these online APA sites (other than the APA Style Blog) as many of them contain discrepancies.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
I didn't have to buy it and everything I have needed (thus far) has been online. If I were you I'd wait and then if you find you need it then go to barnes and noble and look up what you need and finish the assignment.

That is a bit unethical. It's also why many of the more popular books, including NCLEX review guides, are kept behind the counter.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thats what I thought too but an employee of Barnes and Noble told me that they don't mind and that lots of people hang out in their coffee shops and read on a regular basis without purchasing the books. I personally wouldn't do that but I do think its okay to go look at one thing in a reference book and not buy it because I give them a lot of my business. I do understand why it would be considered unethical. Also, some books can be found online as "previews" from websites that sell them. You could look up the one thing and then not purchase the book in paper form. Its the same thing. I guess its just personal preference/opinion.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Also, I'm guessing your school's library or the public local library would have a copy of updated APA guides. That would be a better alternative.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

You can use Purdue owl....https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi all, I am getting ready to start my ABSN program at the end of May and one of my required books for the summer is the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association -- for writing papers, I assume.

I'm wondering if buying this book is really necessary? Usually, when I cite papers I just look up the correct formatting online. Has anyone been required to buy this book and not really ended up using it, or vice versa?

Thanks!

I use mine a lot. I also use OWL but I think when writing APA it's not all about citations. There are weird formatting rules the book covers like what headers look like or rules for tables, etc. I think it was worth the purchase for me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion