apa

IPA/ˌeɪ.piːˈeɪ/
IPA/ˌeɪ.piːˈeɪ/

apa — noun

  • apasingular
  • apasplural

1. the largest US-based professional organization for experts who study the mind, e

1.名詞
釋義

the largest US-based professional organization for experts who study the mind, emotions, and human behavior — widely known for its rules on how to format academic writing

例句

Kwame formatted his research paper according to APA style guidelines.

APA style as citation format

Dr. Hui presented new APA findings on teen social-media use at a press conference in Denver.

APA used attributively: APA findings

同義詞
  • MLA

    Modern Language Association — another citation style, more common in humanities

  • Chicago

    Chicago Manual of Style — used in history and some social sciences

文法句型

APA + style/format/citation

the APA + verb

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 3 (American Psychiatric Association). This sense is frequently encountered in academic settings through 'APA style' — a standard format for citations, headings, and page layout used across many disciplines.

常見錯誤

❌Cite your sources in the American Psychiatric Association style.
✅Cite your sources in APA style.
💡APA style comes from the American Psychological Association (sense 1), not the American Psychiatric Association (sense 3).

2. a person of Asian or Pacific Island heritage living in the US, used as a demogra

2.名詞
釋義

a person of Asian or Pacific Island heritage living in the US, used as a demographic and identity label

例句

Emeka joined the APA student group at his university in Chicago.

APA used attributively: APA student group

The APA community in Seattle organized a food festival last spring.

同義詞
  • AAPI

    Asian American and Pacific Islander — more common today; APA is an older variant

  • Asian American

    narrower; excludes Pacific Islanders

文法句型

APA + noun

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 and sense 3, which refer to professional organizations. This sense describes a demographic group and is always used as a noun modifier or identity label.

常見錯誤

❌She is an APA.
✅She identifies as APA.' or 'She is an APA student.
💡APA is almost never used as a standalone countable noun for a person; it typically appears before another noun.

3. the main American professional organization for medical doctors who specialize i

3.名詞
釋義

the main American professional organization for medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating mental illness

例句

The APA published new guidelines on cognitive behavioral therapy for teenagers with social anxiety.

APA as organizational author: published guidelines

Dr. Hassan attended the APA annual conference in San Francisco this May.

文法句型

the APA + verb

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (American Psychological Association), which represents psychologists rather than psychiatrists. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medication; psychologists typically provide therapy and conduct research.

常見錯誤

❌The APA said psychologists should follow this rule.' (when referring to psychiatrists' guidelines)
✅The APA issued treatment guidelines for psychiatrists.
💡sense 3 refers only to the American Psychiatric Association, whose members are medical doctors, not psychologists.