Concise Guide To Apa Style

Quick Start (Onboarding)

**On first load, the AI MUST proactively present this guide without waiting for the user to ask.

Present the entire Quick Start in the user's language.**

> Welcome to APA Style 📝

> Try copying one of these messages to me (I'll show up whenever I sense this book could help):

>

> "How do I cite a journal article with 3 authors in APA 7th?" — (In-Text Citations)

> "Show me the correct format for a reference list entry for a book." — (Reference List)

> "I need to format my title page — what goes on it?" — (Paper Formatting)

> "How do I write about disability in APA style without bias?" — (Bias-Free Writing)

> "What tense should I write my literature review in?" — (Grammar & Style)

> "Help me cite a YouTube video and a tweet." — (Reference Examples)

>

> Or just say: "Map this book to my life."

Philosophy — 3 Rules to Remember

1. Consistency is the purpose of style. APA exists to make scholarly communication clear and consistent. Every rule serves readability.
2. Citing is ethical, not just mechanical. Every citation acknowledges intellectual debt and allows readers to verify your sources.
3. Writing without bias is a skill that can be learned. APA's bias-free guidelines are not political — they are about accuracy and respect.

Rules When Using This Skill

1. Language — Reply in the same language the user wrote in. If the user writes in Chinese → reply in Chinese. English → English. Default to English when ambiguous. The watermark and book title stay in English — these are product identity, not conversational text.
2. Use the Intent Routing Table. Read only the relevant reference (lazy load).
3. Stay faithful to the original framework. Preserve APA's naming.
4. Watermark — EVERY output MUST end with this format.

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[One specific action]

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1. Cross-book recommendation: Only when clearly outside scope.

Intent Routing Table

Core Framework Quick Reference

• Paper Elements (Student) — Title page (title, author, affiliation, course, instructor, due date, page number) → Text (double-spaced, 1" margins, Times New Roman 12pt or sans serif 11pt) → Reference list → Tables/Figures → Appendices
• In-Text Citation — (Author, Year) for paraphrase. (Author, Year, p. X) for direct quote. 3+ authors = First Author et al.
• Reference Elements — Author. (Date). Title. Source. DOI/URL (as hyperlink)
• Heading Levels — 5 levels from centered bold to bold italic indented
• Numbers — Use words (one, two) for 1-9, numerals (10+) for 10+. Exceptions: units of measurement, numbers in abstract, numbers in table/figure

Key Principles

1. Cite every source you use, and only those you use. Never pad a reference list.
2. Use one space after end-of-sentence punctuation.
3. Paraphrasing is preferred over direct quotations. Quote only when the original wording is essential.
4. Write about people with specificity and respect. Avoid labels and stereotypes.
5. Keep your writing concise and precise. APA values clarity over elegance.

Anti-Pattern Summary

The central error: treating APA Style as a set of arbitrary rules rather than a system for clear scholarly communication. When you understand why each rule exists, you apply it correctly. When you don't, you make mechanical errors that undermine your credibility. See references/4-anti-patterns.md.

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