Is anthropomorphism allowed in APA style?

In academic writing, anthropomorphism results in ambiguous and imprecise phrasing and thus should be avoided. Although APA style recommends avoiding anthropomorphism, it also notes that if a construction is in widespread use and its meaning is unambiguous, it does not constitute anthropomorphism.

The best approach is to familiarise yourself with acceptable phrasings by reading academic articles. For example, the phrase “the study found that …” may be anthropomorphic since the study cannot find anything, only researchers can. However, it is an acceptable phrase in academic writing.

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Types of editing	Available at Scribbr?
Proofreading Correction of superficial mistakes, such as typos, misspellings, punctuation errors and consistency errors.	Yes! This is the “proofreading” in Scribbr’s standard service. It can only be selected in combination with editing.
Copy editing Focus on grammar, syntax, style, tone and the conventions of the field. The editor also considers the internal logic of the text and flags any obvious contradictions.	Yes! This is the “editing” in Scribbr’s standard service. It can only be selected in combination with proofreading.
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Developmental editing (i.e. content editing, substantive editing) This is the first step of the editing process and applies to very early drafts. The editor helps you structure your ideas, decide what story to tell and find direction for your writing.	No. This kind of editing involves heavy rewriting and restructuring. Our editors cannot help with this.

Frequently asked questions

Is anthropomorphism allowed in APA style?

Questions?

Ask our team

Frequently asked questions

How does the sample edit work?