What Are the Two Most Important Features of APA?

APA Style: Clean, Consistent, and Sometimes Confusing

Honestly, when I first had to write a paper in APA format, I thought, "Okay, how hard can it be? Just follow some rules, right?" But then I opened the APA manual and… yeah. I nearly threw my laptop out the window. There are a lot of rules.

But here’s the thing — once you get past the initial chaos, it actually makes sense. APA isn't just about annoying you for fun (even though it sometimes feels that way). It’s about clarity and credibility. And those are, in my opinion, the two most important features of APA style.

Let’s break that down.

Feature #1: Clarity – So Your Reader Isn’t Lost in the Sauce

Straightforward structure = stress-free reading

APA is all about making sure your reader doesn’t have to guess what you’re saying or what point you’re trying to make. The structure is super linear — title page, abstract, intro, method, results, discussion… boom, done.

I remember helping my cousin write his psych paper. He had all the data, but it was scattered like puzzle pieces in a tornado. Once we followed APA’s structure? Suddenly the whole thing made sense. It read like a story, not a messy brain dump.

Simple language is actually encouraged

What surprised me most was that APA wants you to write plainly. No Shakespearean fluff. Just clear, precise wording. And that’s honestly refreshing.

There was a time I thought sounding smart meant using big words and long sentences (ugh, so embarrassing in hindsight). But APA kind of snapped me out of that. It taught me that if people can’t understand you, it doesn’t matter how “intellectual” you sound.

Feature #2: Credibility – Show Me Your Sources, Buddy

In-text citations are everything

You know that person who shares a wild fact and you're like, “Where did you hear that?” And they’re like, “I read it somewhere.” Yeah, APA doesn’t do that. If you say something in an APA paper, you have to back it up — usually with a parenthetical citation like (Smith, 2020).

I messed this up once in college — left out a couple citations 'cause I thought the info was “general knowledge.” My professor, Dr. Greene, did not agree. She wrote in red pen, “This is not your opinion blog.” Oof. Never forgot that.

Reference list = your receipt pile

The reference page is like your proof of purchase. Every source you cite in-text has to be listed in full at the end. Author, year, title, publisher — all the nitty-gritty. It’s kind of tedious, yeah, but it gives your work weight. Like: “Look, I did my homework.”

Honestly, once I started seeing citations as a way of building trust with my reader (instead of just a requirement), it got easier. It’s not about “rules” — it’s about showing respect for the work you're referencing.

But Wait — Isn't Formatting a Big Deal Too?

Well… yeah. APA has tons of formatting quirks: running heads, double spacing, hanging indents, the works. But honestly, formatting isn’t why APA matters. It’s the wrapping paper. The real gift is what’s inside: a paper that’s clear, well-structured, and credible.

Actually, my friend Jess and I were arguing about this last week. She was like, “The font size doesn’t make it important.” And I was like, “Exactly. That’s why I think clarity and sourcing matter more.” So yeah — even APA nerds like us debate this stuff.

Final Thoughts: More Than Just a Style Guide

So, what are the two most important features of APA? Clarity and credibility. Everything else — the page numbers, the italics, the exact placement of a comma — sure, they matter, but they’re supporting characters. Not the main plot.

If you focus on making your writing easy to follow and backing up what you say with solid sources, you're already doing APA right — even if your margins are off by 0.1 inch (shhh, I won’t tell).

Just remember: APA isn’t trying to make your life hard. It’s trying to make your ideas clear and trustworthy. And in a world full of BS? That actually matters.

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