The American Psychological Association or simply APA is a writing style and format used in used in academic documents among university students and faculty. The APA style outlines aspects such as citation, style, and  page layout, including margins, headings, and page numbers. The style is used in disciplines such as sociology, education, nursing, criminal justice, anthropology, and psychology.

Why are professors so strict with APA style?

Professors and teachers emphasize the use of APA style because it offers a uniform style for use by students, which allows for ease of communication. It allow readers to navigate a written paper with ease and follow through arguments and citations. Also, professors require their students to strictly use APA style to promote accountability by ensuring that students give proper credit to the source of information thus preventing plagiarism. Besides, APA is widely used and accepted in disciplines such as social sciences, nursing, education and thus prepare students with skills required to publish papers in professional journals.

Furthermore, professors and lectrurers teach students precision and attention to detail by requiring that students use APA style. Students who learn APA style are more likely to be accurately in reporting, documentation, and communication.  The other reason why professors are strict with APA writing style is that they use it to create clear expectations for students. This ensures fairness and objectivity in the grading process as the same standard is used for all students.

Besides, professors are strict on the use of APA guidelines because adherence to the style prepares students for future writing of theses, dissertations, and other professional papers. Therefore, although professors and tutors are strict, learning and applying APA style is a valuable skill for academic and professional success. For more information on APA format, visit Purdue Owl website