Re: QUESTION: Reference List Indents in APA style

[anne mullin <mullanne@isu.edu>]

Expertise needed -- Our Writing Lab handouts have always shown the APA
reference list with the author's last name flush to the left margin, and
any subsequent lines of reference information coming in 2 spaces. (Our
MLA list looks like that, too, but with a 5 space indent on the second
and following lines.) But the APA Publication Manual (4th ed., 1995)
itself calls for the reverse -- in other words, the author's name is in
(5 spaces) and the subsequent lines go out flush left.  BECAUSE, as the
manual explains, "the paragraph indent in a reference entry will be
converted to a hanging indent when typeset" (194).  And their own
reference list (starting on p. 319) shows the list the way our handouts
do.  So -- a couple of students have pointed out the discrepancy, and
yet the instructors I've talked to are happy to have the list look like
the printed version (after the hanging indent has taken effect) -- but
I'm wondering what you all handle this.  I'm sure you'll tell me to look
at a website -- but I'd really like to have your words about this,
also.  Thanks!!!