Identify the incorrect sentence according to APA style guidelines.

Identify the incorrect sentence according to APA style guidelines.

• A. The ages of the participants ranged between 2.0-3.5 years.
• B. The ages of the participants ranged between 2.0 and 3.5 years.
• C. The ages of the participants ranged between 2.5 and 3.5 yrs.
• D. All of the above are incorrect.

Answer: (A)

The correct option identifies that the sentence stating "The ages of the participants ranged between 2.0-3.5 years" does not conform to APA style guidelines primarily due to its use of a dash instead of the word "and" to indicate the range. In APA style, when expressing a range, it is essential to use "and" to clearly articulate the span of ages between two values. This enhances clarity and is a fundamental aspect of proper expression in academic writing. In terms of the notation of years, APA suggests using "years" instead of the abbreviation "yrs," which appears in another option. This preference for using full terms aims to maintain clarity and professionalism in scholarly writing. Thus, while the other sentences may also contain minor issues, option A is specifically incorrect because of its structural format not adhering to the APA guidelines for presenting ranges.

The correct option identifies that the sentence stating "The ages of the participants ranged between 2.0-3.5 years" does not conform to APA style guidelines primarily due to its use of a dash instead of the word "and" to indicate the range. In APA style, when expressing a range, it is essential to use "and" to clearly articulate the span of ages between two values. This enhances clarity and is a fundamental aspect of proper expression in academic writing.

In terms of the notation of years, APA suggests using "years" instead of the abbreviation "yrs," which appears in another option. This preference for using full terms aims to maintain clarity and professionalism in scholarly writing. Thus, while the other sentences may also contain minor issues, option A is specifically incorrect because of its structural format not adhering to the APA guidelines for presenting ranges.