1) Italics are used for titles of works, new or key terms, words that could be misread, letters used as variables, and some test scores and scales. Brackets are used to enclose inserted quotations or parenthetical information. Parentheses are used to set off independent elements, reference citations, abbreviations, lettered series, and statistical or mathematical values. 2) Specific formatting guidelines are provided for using italics, brackets, and parentheses in APA Style, including when to italicize titles and new terms, when to use brackets to enclose inserted text in quotations, and proper use of parentheses for citations, numbers identifying formulas, and statistical values. 3) The document provides

1. APA Style
Italics
Brackets
Parenthesis

2. Use of Italics
• Titles of books, periodicals, films, videos, TV
shows, and microfilm publications
American Psychologist
• Genera, species, and varieties
Macaca mulatta
• Introduction of a new, technical, or key term or label
(after a term has been used once, do not italicize it)
The term backward masking
box labeled empty
• A letter, word, or phrase cited as a linguistic example
words such as big and small

3. Use of Italics (continued)
• Words that could be misread
the small group
[meaning a designation, not group size]
• Letters used as statistical symbols or algebraic variables
a/b = c/d
• Some test scores and scales
MMPI scales: Hs, Pd
• Periodical volume numbers in reference lists
American Psychologist, 26, 46 – 67
• Anchors of a scale
health ratings ranged from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)

4. Do Not Use Italics
• Foreign phrases and abbreviations common in
English
a priori per se
• Chemical terms
NaCl
• Trigonometric terms
sin, tan, log
• Nonstatistical subscripts to statistical symbols or
mathematical expressions
Fmax S +S
A B

5. Do Not Use Italics (continued)
• Greek letters
β
• Mere emphasis (Italics are acceptable if emphasis
might otherwise be lost; in general, however, use
syntax to provide emphasis)
Incorrect:
it is important to bear in mind…
• Letters used as abbreviations
intertrial interval (ITI)

6. Use Brackets
• To enclose the values that are limits of a
confidence interval
95% Cls [-7.2, 4.3], [9.2, 12.4],
and [-1.2, -0.5]
• To enclose material inserted in a quotation by
some person other than the original writer
“when *his own and others’+ behaviors
were studied”

7. Use Brackets (continued)
• To enclose parenthetical material that is already
within parentheses
(The results for the control group [n = 8] are
also presented in Figure 2.)
Exception 1: Do not use brackets if the material can be
set of easily with commas.
(as lmai, 1990, later concluded)
Exception 2: In mathematical material, the placement
of brackets and parentheses is reversed; that
is, patentheses appear within brackets.

8. Do Not User Brackets
• To set off statistics that already include
parentheses
Correct:
was statistically significant, F(I, 32) = 4.37, p = 0.45
Incorrect:
was statistically significant (F[I, 32] = 4.37, p = 0.45)

9. Use Parentheses
• To set off structurally independent elements
The patterns were statistically significant
(see Figure 5).
• To set of reference citations in text
Dumas and Dore (1991) reported
• To introduce an abbreviation
effect on the galvanic skin response (GSR)
• To set off letters that identify items in a series within a
sentence of paragraph
The subject areas included (a) synonyms associated
with cultural interactions, (b) descriptors for ethnic
group membership, and © psychological symptoms.

10. Use Parentheses (continued)
• To group mathematical expressions
(k – 1)/(g – 2)
• To enclose the citation or page number of a direct
quotation
The author stated, “The effect disappeared
within minutes” (Lopez, 1993, p.311)
• To enclose numbers that identify displayed
formulas and equations
a = b + c (1)

11. Use Parentheses (continued)
• To enclose statistical values
was statistically significant (p = .031)
• To enclose degrees of freedom
F(2, 116) = 3.71

12. Do Not User Parentheses
• To enclose material within other parentheses
(the Beck Depression Inventory [BDI])
[Use brackets to avoid nested parentheses.]
• Back to back
Correct:
(e.g. defensive pessimism; Norem &
Cantor, 1986)
Incorrect:
(e.g. defensive pessimism) (Norem &
Cantor, 1986)