Navigating Compound Adjectives in APA 7: The En Dash Dilemma
As academic writers, we often grapple with the intricacies of APA formatting. One area that frequently causes confusion is the use of compound adjectives. Let's demystify this topic by focusing on a key change in APA 7: the use of the en dash.
Consider the term "evidence–based practice."
In APA 6, you might have written this as "evidence-based practice" with a hyphen. However, APA 7 introduces a subtle but important change.
APA 7 Rule: Use an en dash (–) instead of a hyphen (-) in a compound adjective when at least one of the elements is itself a compound term or a phrase.
Why? The en dash shows a more complex relationship between the terms. It indicates that "evidence" is modifying "based practice," not just "based."
Other examples:
Cognitive–behavioral therapy
Mixed–methods research
Theory–practice gap
Remember:
Use an en dash (–), not a hyphen (-) or em dash (—).
No spaces before or after the en dash.
This rule applies to compound adjectives before nouns.
Pro Tip: On most computers, you can type an en dash by holding Alt and typing 0150 on the numeric keypad, or by typing a hyphen between spaces and letting your word processor auto-correct it.
By mastering these nuances, you're enhancing the clarity and professionalism of your academic writing.
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