APA Chapter 3: Writing Clearly and Concisely (first half)

When it comes to the length of your papers, the rule is -

• The more the merrier
• Keep it simple
• The longer the better
• Less is more

Which of the following is NOT one of the strategies recommended for reducing the length of a paper?

• Delete or combine data displays.
• Use passive voice in your writing.
  
• State points clearly and directly.
  
• Eliminate repetition across sections.

Writers should avoid having only one subsection heading and subsection within a section. Instead they should use at least two subsection headings, or use none.

• True
• False

What level is a heading that is indented, boldface, lowercase paragraph heading ending with a period?

• Level 1
• Level 2
• Level 3
• Level 4

The introduction to a manuscript does not carry a heading that labels it as the introduction.

• True
• False

Which of the following seriation approaches is recommended by APA style?

• Identify separate paragraphs in a series using Arabic numerals followed by a period but not enclosed in or followed by parentheses.
• Identify elements in a series within a paragraph or sentence using lowercase letters in parentheses.
• Separate three or more elements in a sentence using commas or semicolons.
• All of the above are acceptable approaches to seriation in APA style papers.

At which point in the manuscript should authors use present tense in their scientific writing?

• During the literature review.
• When discussing implications of the results and offering conclusions.
  
• When describing the procedure (i.e., methods).
  
• When describing the results.

Which of the following is NOT an example of redundancy in writing?

• absolutely essential
• has been previously found
• in other words
• the reason is because

The continuous use of a technical vocabulary, even in places where that vocabulary is not relevant, is part of which element of precision and clarity in scientific writing?

• Jargon
• Word choice
  
• Comparisons
  
• Colloquial expressions

Which of the following is NOT recommended in this chapter as a strategy to improve writing style?

• Ask a colleague to review and critique the draft for you.
  
• Read a lot of articles that are similar to yours.
  
• Write from an outline.
• Set your paper aside for a few days before returning to it with fresh eyes.