what is apa

APA stands for the American Psychological Association. It is a writing style and format for academic documents such as scholarly journal articles and books, commonly used for citing sources within the field of behavioral and social sciences, including sociology, education, nursing, psychology, anthropology, and related fields. APA Style uses an author–date reference citation system in the text with an accompanying reference list, making the point of an argument clear and simple to the reader. It provides a foundation for effective scholarly communication, helping writers present their ideas in a clear, precise, and inclusive manner. The American Psychological Association (APA) is a scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States, with a mission to promote the advancement, communication, and application of psychological science and knowledge to benefit society and improve lives.