Which aspect of formatting is NOT a characteristic of APA style?

The correct answer identifies that the use of serif fonts throughout the document is not a characteristic of APA style. In APA format, only specific types of fonts are recommended, such as 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Arial, 11-point Calibri, or 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode. Among these, Times New Roman is a serif font, but the APA style guidelines allow for non-serif font options as well. Therefore, while the use of serif fonts can be utilized, the APA style does not mandate their use consistently throughout the document.

In contrast, double spacing throughout all pages is a staple of APA formatting and applies to the entire document, including the references. Additionally, using a title page for all works submitted is a requirement for most APA-style papers, providing essential information about the work. Minimizing the use of footnotes is also an important aspect of APA style, as it encourages the use of in-text citations in order to keep the writing clear and concise. Therefore, the principle concerning serif fonts does not align with the core characteristics of APA formatting.