Writing a Paper in APA (or any other) Format

Writing a Paper in APA (or any other) Format
“Had I been present at the creation, I would have given some useful hints for the better ordering of the universe.” -- Alphonso X 'the Wise' (Spanish King of Castile & Leon 1252-1282; patron of learning. 1221-1284)

Formatting the references you cite in the papers you submit to journals and conferences can be as grueling as writing the paper itself.

Here are a couple of helpful hints on using MS Word that can ease the pain.

Tip #1: Use the right Word template
If you are using the APA Sixth Edition rules, for example, click File, New.  Then search for APA.  Select the appropriate template, and click Download.  The result will be a document preformatted along APA guidelines. 

Tip # 2: Use the Reference tab
Imagine that you want to cite the following article …


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Particuology
Volume 10, Issue 4, August 2012, Pages 468–474
Hydrodesulfurization catalyst prepared by urea-matrix combustion method
Dongmei Jiao (a), Yeyong Ma (b), Fahai Cao (c)
a School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, China
b Luoyang Petrochemical Complex of SINOPEC, 1 Zhongyuan Road, Luoyang, China
c Petro-Cyber Works Information Technology Co., Ltd., 192 Eshan Road, Shanghai, China
Source: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2012.01.001
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In Word, click the References tab.  In the Style drop down box, select APA Sixth Edition, if that is the style you are following.  In the Insert Citation drop down box, click Add New Source. 

This produces a form with labeled boxes for each of the items of information you need for the particular Type of Source you are citing.  Select the appropriate Type of Source, fill in the form, and click OK.

When you click OK, the cited source will appear in APA approved form within the text of your paper.

Continue adding sources in this way until you are at the end of your paper.

The final step is to create your APA formatted references page.  To do so, click Bibliography, then click Insert Bibliography (see screen shot below).  Magically, every source you inserted during the course of your paper will appear on your References page in accordance with APA rules.

Writing a paper is difficult.  Ease the burden with intelligent use of MS-Word.