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:

1. Use an en dash (–), not a hyphen (-) or em dash (—).

2. No spaces before or after the en dash.

3. 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.

Have questions about APA 7 formatting? Drop them in the comments below! Don't forget—blog subscribers get a 15% discount on all editing services. Ready to get started on your editing journey with JHMES? Click here to start the process today.