Spelling Principles

Spelling in APA Style papers should match the Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. The spellings of psychological terms should match the APA Dictionary of Psychology. Thus, to determine how to spell a particular word in APA Style, first consult one of these dictionaries. The dictionary shows the proper hyphenation and capitalization to use in the word as well.

If a word appears differently in these two dictionaries, follow the spelling in the APA Dictionary of Psychology. If a word is not in either of these dictionaries, consult an unabridged edition of Webster’s dictionary. For some common technology terms, we also provide preferred spellings.

If the dictionary offers a choice of spellings, select one and use it consistently throughout your paper.