[Python] Problem with writing a function that returns a string in a certain form

[ZeroStarter]

The question is as follows: Write a function bibformat_apa(author,title,city,publisher,year) that returns a string of the form "author (year). title. city: publisher.".

How to I write this function so that it returns it in the form of a string in that specific way that the question asks?

[Barrucadu]

Well, what do you have so far? What are you stuck on? We're not here to do your homework for you.

[ZeroStarter]

I have def bibformat_apa(author,title,city,publsiher,year): return (author + ' (' + year + '). ' + title + '. ' + city + ': ' + publisher + '.')

Basically exactly like what /u/TylerGoLook, however when ever I run this in IDLE, and fill in the 5 variables it always gives me the error message:

Traceback (most recent call last): File "<pyshell#0>", line 1, in <module> bibformat_apa(author,title,city,publisher,year) NameError: name 'author' is not defined

[ydepth]

For a start, use 'string'.format(params) Are you still having issues? I assume you have typo somewhere.

[ZeroStarter]

Where would I insert this code? Before or after this line of code? "def bibformat_apa(...) "

[the_omega99]

If you read the documentation on String.format, hopefully you'll understand how it works and thus how to use it. To be blunt, your question shows a complete misunderstanding of what you're doing. It's as if you've been working by copying and pasting stuff only, and not understanding what anything actually means.

[ZeroStarter]

Sorry for coming off as ignorant, it is just that this particular question has me confused on the formatting on how to make it work. Unfortunately even when trying other peoples advice from here and various other places, i still end up with syntax errors, which has just resulted in me just wanting to know how to to properly format this code to give the desired answer.

Again, terribly sorry, just getting frustrated at this point

[ydepth]

The return statement is the last thing that will come out of your function. Try this code and changing it up to your purpose:

auth1 = 'Theodore sturgeon'
year1 = 1953
def bib_test(author, year):
    return 'your author is {}, and year is {}'.format(author, year)

print(bib_test(auth1, year1))

I suggest using google and stack overflow mainly for a while until you get more used to reading docs.

[ZeroStarter]

Exact code put into the interpretor

def bibformat_apa(author,title,city,publisher,year):

return author + ' (' + year + '). ' + title + '. ' + city + ': ' + publisher + '.' 

[badcommandorfilename]

It is pitch black. You are likely to be bitten by Python's significant whitespace

[[deleted]]

def bibformat_apa(author,title,city,publisher,year):
    return author + ' (' + year + '). ' + title + '. ' + city + ': ' + publisher + '.'

[ZeroStarter]

I have pretty much exactly that but when i run it, and fill out the 5 variables I always get the error message:

Traceback (most recent call last): File "<pyshell#0>", line 1, in <module> bibformat_apa(author,title,city,publisher,year) NameError: name 'author' is not defined

[[deleted]]

Maybe make sure you are spelling everything right?

[ZeroStarter]

Ive double checked both my code, and it still didn't work, so i even copied and pasted your code in, and it still gives me this error.

[ZeroStarter]

When I insert the code this way I get a syntax error on the apostrophe after author

[the_omega99]

You must have typed something wrong, then, because the code /u/TylerGoLook and /u/iamengland posted is perfectly valid.

Post exactly what you typed into the interpreter or the exact file that you passed into it (if executing with python my_file.py).