• Please don't even hand in anything if it is single spaced. APA style requires all material, including titles and bibliography, to be double spaced (unless otherwise requested by the SMU faculty member). Assignments that are single spaced will immediately lose one letter grade and will be returned to the student to be retyped before further grading.

2. Be consistent in always using a comma before "and" in a series of three or more nouns. Although other styles call for leaving the comma out, APA style calls for commas. (Note that most students use both styles, inconsistently, in the same paper!)

• I have a son, a daughter, and a pet - not - I have a son, a daughter and a pet.
• You enjoy great food, fast action movies, sex and passion, and a good book (notice that "sex and passion" is only one paired item in a longer string).

3. Distinguish between essential and non-essential clauses. Non-essential clauses are set off with a pair of commas.

• The MAC program is a course of study that is fun. (essential clause)
• The MAC program, which is fun, is expensive. (non-essential clause)

4. Avoid using second person when referring to a general third person.

• I believe that, in this life, people are destined to find happiness - not - I believe that, in this life, you're destined to find happiness.
• One (or "people" or "an individual") needs to show compassion to children - not - You need to show compassion to children.
• A therapist needs to be careful... - not - You should be careful...

5. Be consistent in plurality and gender. This problem has increased because of the awkwardness of avoiding gender specific references. However, this is no excuse for writing with poor grammar.

• An abused child may exhibit some disturbance in his or her later life - not - An abused child may exhibit some disturbance in their later life.
• In the MAC program, students are compelled to do their best - not - In the MAC program, one is compelled to do their best.
• Neither a man or a woman should ever hit his or her partner - not - A man or a woman should never hit their partner.
• Men should treat their wives with respect - not - Men should treat his wife with respect.
• A therapist can ask family members what they see as their roles in the family - not - A therapist can ask family members what they see as their role in the family.
• My philosophy is that a person needs to find his/her own path in life - not - My philosophy is that a person needs to find their own path in life.
• A therapist needs to explore his or her own sexual issues - not - A therapist needs to explore their own sexual issues.

6. Avoid colloquial expression in technical writing.

• I was overwhelmed with work - not - I was up to my butt in work. (This example was drawn from an actual MAC term paper.)
• Clients with depression are painful (difficult, a challenge, etc.) to work with - not - Clients with depression are a pain in the neck to deal with.
• I didn't want to reward her for angrily running away from (or disrespectfully leaving) her foster home - not - I didn't want to reward her for blowing out of her foster home.

7. Always put commas and periods within any quotation marks (APA style). Put exclamation marks and question marks within the quotes if they pertain only to the quoted material. Otherwise, put them outside the quotation marks.

• She felt "locked out." - not - She felt "locked out".
• The couples carried on a "dialogue." - not - The couples carried on a "dialogue".
• The case study, "Night Terrors," was very interesting - not - The case study, "Night Terrors", was very interesting.
• I said, "Are you there?" - not - I said, "Are you there"?
• Did I say, "You are there"? - not - "Did I say, "You are there?"

8. An apostrophe in the word "it's" is a contraction for the phrase "it is" and does not show possession. This is a common error because the apostrophe often indicates possession.

• Its widespread applicability - not - It's widespread applicability.
• It's a problem (even better: "it is a problem") - not - Its a problem.
• The mother cat fed its young - not - The mother cat fed it's young.

9. Distinguish carefully between cognition and emotions. In other words, avoid saying "I feel that" when you mean "I think (or judge, conclude, assume, believe, hope, etc.) that." Murray Bowen, an important family systems theorist, has written extensively on the mental health issues of those who are not able to discriminate accurately between a thought or cognition and an emotion. If the word "feel" can be followed by the word "that," it is usually not an emotion.

• I concluded that (or "judged that," "thought that," "decided that," "assumed that," or any other word indicating a cognition) he was faced with two clear options - not - I felt that (indicating emotion) he was faced with two clear options.
• I thought that this would be correct - not - I felt that this would be correct.
• I decided that I should do it - not - I felt that I should do it.
• I assume that you're going to argue - not- I feel that you're going to argue.

10. "Mother" (or "father," "uncle," etc.) take upper case when the word substitutes for a proper name and lower case when the word describes a social position. Avoid using "mom" or "dad" instead of "the mother" or "the father" when describing a social position.

• When I was little, Mom was there for me - not - When I was little, mom was there for me.
• When she was little, the mother was there for her - not - When she was little, the Mom (or even, "the mom") was there for her.
• The mother ignored little Suzie - not - The mom ignored little Suzie.

11. Spell check your document before handing it in.

• Students have complained that they "can't afford a word processor with a spelling program." Use the Computer Center at SMU (it's free) or, if you definitely can't get access to a computerized spelling program, open a dictionary.

Return to Current Student Handout