APA Practice Guidelines
This document outlines the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th Edition standards that all Aevum Encyclopedia contributors must follow when writing, citing, and formatting encyclopedia articles.
01 Overview
Aevum Encyclopedia adheres to the APA Publication Manual, 7th Edition, for all matters of citation, reference formatting, and academic writing style. These guidelines ensure consistency across our 2.4 million+ articles and maintain the scholarly integrity our readers expect.
Whether you are writing a new article, editing an existing entry, or adding multimedia content, these standards apply universally. Our AI verification system cross-checks citations against APA 7th Edition rules, so familiarity with these guidelines is essential for all contributors.
The APA style was chosen for its clarity, widespread adoption in academic institutions, and comprehensive coverage of both traditional and digital source types — making it ideal for a multilingual, globally accessible encyclopedia.
02 Scope & Purpose
These guidelines govern all user-generated content on the Aevum Encyclopedia platform, including:
- Article creation — new encyclopedia entries across all disciplines
Article editing — revisions, updates, and expansions of existing entries - Infobox data — structured factual information and reference citations
- Discussion pages — editorial conversations and peer reviews
- External links — URLs and web resource annotations
Failure to follow these guidelines may result in article rejection, reverting of edits, or, in repeated cases, suspension of contributor privileges. When in doubt, consult the full APA 7th Edition Manual.
03 APA 7th Edition — Key Changes
The 7th Edition introduced several updates from the 6th Edition. Contributors should be aware of the following key changes:
| Change | 6th Edition | 7th Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Author affiliations | Required on title page | Optional for student papers |
| DOI format | https://doi.com/prefix/suffix | https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxx |
| Retrieval dates | Often required for web sources | Only when content may change |
| Publisher location | City & state required | No longer required |
| Inclusive language | Traditional pronouns | Singular "they" endorsed |
| Reference list | Hang indent 0.5" | Hang indent 0.5" (unchanged) |
04 In-Text Citations
Every factual claim, statistic, direct quote, or paraphrased idea in an Aevum Encyclopedia article must be supported by an in-text citation. Citations follow the (Author, Year) format.
Paraphrased Content
When paraphrasing a source, include the author's last name and year of publication:
Direct Quotes
For direct quotations, include a page number (p.) or paragraph number (para.) for sources without pagination:
Multiple Authors
| Number of Authors | In-Text Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 author | (Author, Year) | (Johnson, 2021) |
| 2 authors | (Author1 & Author2, Year) | (Lee & Patel, 2022) |
| 3–20 authors | (Author1 et al., Year) | (Martinez et al., 2023) |
| 21+ authors | (Author1 et al., Year) | (Chen et al., 2024) |
| Organizational author | (Organization, Year) | (WHO, 2023) |
| No author | (Title, Year) | (Climate Report, 2024) |
In the 7th Edition, use "et al." for works with 3 or more authors on every citation — including the first citation. This is a change from the 6th Edition, which required listing up to 5 authors on the first citation.
05 Reference List Formatting
Every source cited in-text must appear in the reference list at the end of the article. Aevum Encyclopedia uses a structured reference panel that automatically formats entries according to APA 7th Edition rules.
General Rules
- Alphabetical order — by first author's last name or title if no author
- Hanging indent — first line flush left, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches
- Italics — for book titles, journal names, and volume numbers
- Capitalization — sentence case for article titles; title case for journal/book names
- DOI preferred — use DOI when available; otherwise provide a URL
- Complete information — include all required elements for each source type
Common Reference Formats
Journal Article
Book
Website
Chapter in an Edited Book
06 Accepted Source Types
Aevum Encyclopedia prioritizes scholarly, peer-reviewed, and primary sources. The following source types are ranked by reliability:
| Tier | Source Type | Examples | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Peer-reviewed journals | Nature, JAMA, PNAS | Always accepted |
| Tier 1 | Academic books | University press publications | Always accepted |
| Tier 2 | Government reports | Census data, WHO reports | Accepted |
| Tier 2 | Reputable news outlets | Reuters, AP, BBC | Context-dependent |
| Tier 2 | Institutional websites | Universities, NGOs | Accepted |
| Tier 3 | Preprint servers | arXiv, bioRxiv | With caution |
| Tier 4 | Self-published content | Blogs, social media | Not accepted |
Do not cite Wikipedia, Wikipedia mirrors, personal blogs, social media posts (unless the post itself is the subject), press releases, or any self-published material as primary evidence. These may be used only to describe their own content or as examples of public discourse.
07 Digital & Online Sources
With the increasing prevalence of digital research materials, Aevum Encyclopedia follows APA 7th Edition guidelines for online sources with particular attention to DOIs, URLs, and retrieval dates.
DOI Usage
A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) should always be used when available. DOIs are formatted as live hyperlinks:
URL Guidelines
- Provide URLs only when the source is not available via DOI
- Use the most direct link to the source (not a search page)
- Remove tracking parameters (utm_source, ref, etc.) from URLs
- Test all URLs before submission to ensure they are functional
- For archived content, use the Wayback Machine URL with a retrieval date
Retrieval Dates
Per APA 7th Edition, include a retrieval date only when:
- Content may change over time (e.g., wikis, live dashboards)
- The source has been removed and is accessed via an archive
- Preprint versions that may be updated
08 Tone & Writing Style
Aevum Encyclopedia articles must maintain an encyclopedic, neutral tone consistent with APA guidelines for scholarly writing.
Language Guidelines
- Use active voice when the actor is known and relevant: "Researchers found that..." rather than "It was found that..."
- Avoid first-person pronouns (I, we, our) in article content
- Use inclusive language — avoid gendered terms; use "they" as singular pronoun when gender is unknown
- Write for accessibility — use clear, concise sentences; define technical terms on first use
- Maintain formal register — avoid colloquialisms, slang, and emotional language
- Use the Oxford comma in serial lists
The quantum mechanical model of the atom describes electron behavior through probability distributions known as orbitals, which replaced the deterministic orbits of earlier models (Schrodinger, 1926).
I think Schrödinger's model is way better than the old Bohr model because electrons are basically everywhere and nowhere at the same time, which is super cool.
09 Article Structure
All Aevum Encyclopedia articles follow a standardized structure to ensure consistency and navigability:
| Section | Description | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Lead Paragraph | Concise summary defining the topic and its significance | Yes |
| Background / History | Historical context and origins of the topic | Yes |
| Main Content | Core subject matter organized by logical subheadings | Yes |
| Applications / Impact | Real-world relevance and significance | Recommended |
| See Also | Links to related encyclopedia articles | Recommended |
| References | Complete APA-formatted reference list | Yes |
| External Links | Curated links to reputable external resources | Optional |
10 APA Heading Levels
Aevum Encyclopedia follows the five-level APA heading hierarchy. Use headings to organize content logically and progressively:
| Level | Format | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Centered, Bold, Title Case | Major sections (e.g., Introduction, Methods) |
| Level 2 | Flush Left, Bold, Title Case | Subsections within Level 1 |
| Level 3 | Flush Left, Bold Italic, Title Case | Subsections within Level 2 |
| Level 4 | Indented, Bold, Title Case, ending with period | Subsections within Level 3 |
| Level 5 | Indented, Bold Italic, Title Case, ending with period | Subsections within Level 4 |
Most encyclopedia articles will use Level 1 and Level 2 headings. Level 3+ headings should be used sparingly for highly detailed technical articles only.
11 Neutrality & Point of View
Aevum Encyclopedia articles must present information neutrally, without advocating for any particular point of view. This aligns with APA's emphasis on objectivity in scholarly communication.
Key Principles
- Present multiple viewpoints on contested topics, giving proportional weight to each perspective based on scholarly consensus
- Attribute claims to sources rather than stating opinions as facts
- Avoid loaded language — use descriptive rather than evaluative terms
- Use attribution phrases: "According to...", "Research suggests...", "Scholars debate whether..."
- Do not use original research — all content must be sourced from published, verifiable materials
Instead of writing "Climate change is catastrophic," write "The IPCC (2023) characterizes current climate trends as posing catastrophic risks to global ecosystems." Always ground assertions in cited sources.
12 Plagiarism Policy
Plagiarism is strictly prohibited and constitutes the most serious violation of contributor guidelines. All submissions are screened using automated plagiarism detection and peer review.
What Constitutes Plagiarism
- Copying text from any source without quotation marks and proper citation
- Paraphrasing too closely to the original without attribution
- Submitting content written by another person (including AI-generated text) as your own
- Self-plagiarism — reusing your own previously published work without disclosure
- Citing sources you have not actually consulted
While AI tools may be used for editing, grammar checking, and brainstorming, articles must be written by human contributors. AI-generated drafts submitted without substantial human authorship and editing will result in immediate content removal and contributor suspension. If AI tools are used, this must be disclosed in the article's contribution notes.
Consequences
- First offense: Article reversion, mandatory plagiarism education module
- Second offense: 90-day contributor suspension
- Third offense: Permanent ban from the platform
13 Fact Verification
Aevum Encyclopedia employs a three-tier verification system to ensure the accuracy and reliability of all published content:
Tier 1: Automated Checks
Our AI engine performs real-time analysis including:
- Citation format validation against APA 7th Edition rules
- DOI and URL verification
- Plagiarism detection against a database of 50+ billion documents
- Statistical claim verification against known datasets
Tier 2: Peer Review
Every new article and major revision undergoes review by at least two verified subject-matter experts in the relevant discipline.
Tier 3: Editorial Oversight
Our editorial board conducts periodic audits and maintains quality standards across all content categories.
14 Pre-Submission Checklist
Before submitting your article or major edit, verify that all of the following criteria are met:
- Article follows the standard structure (lead paragraph, background, main content, references)
- Every factual claim includes an in-text citation in APA 7th Edition format
- All in-text citations have corresponding entries in the reference list
- Reference list is alphabetized with proper hanging indent
- DOIs are formatted as live https://doi.org/ links
- All URLs are tested and functional
- Writing maintains neutral, encyclopedic tone throughout
- No original research or unsourced opinions are presented
- Heading levels follow APA hierarchy rules
- Article includes a "See Also" section with relevant internal links
- Technical terms are defined on first use
- Infobox (if applicable) contains accurate, sourced data
- Article includes at least one image or diagram with proper attribution
15 Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Aevum Encyclopedia welcomes multilingual sources. When citing non-English sources, provide the original citation in its original language, followed by an English translation in brackets. Example:
Cite internal Aevum articles using the article title, author(s) if listed, and access date (since content may be updated):
New articles should include a minimum of 5 verifiable, Tier 1 or Tier 2 sources. Longer or more complex topics (2,000+ words) should include at least 10 references. Every substantive claim must be cited regardless of the total count.
Only use images and media that are:
- In the public domain
- Licensed under Creative Commons (with proper attribution)
- Original work created by you (the contributor)
- Fair use for commentary/criticism (with clear justification)
All media must include a source attribution in APA format in the caption or file description.
Yes. AI citation tools, reference managers, and grammar checkers are encouraged for improving efficiency. However, you are ultimately responsible for verifying that all citations conform to APA 7th Edition standards. Our AI verification system will flag any formatting discrepancies.
16 Recommended Tools
The following tools are recommended to help contributors maintain APA compliance:
| Tool | Type | Use Case | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| APA Style Website | Official Reference | Authoritative guidelines and examples | Free (paid manual) |
| Zotero | Reference Manager | Collect, organize, and cite sources | Free |
| Mendeley | Reference Manager | PDF annotation and citation | Free |
| Grammarly | Writing Assistant | Grammar, tone, and clarity | Free / Premium |
| Unpaywall | Browser Extension | Find legal open-access versions | Free |
| Cite Them Right | Citation Guide | Quick reference for source types | Free online |
For the most comprehensive and authoritative reference, consult the official APA Style website and the PPublication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th Edition).