APA Citation Generator
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What Is Cite This For Meâs APA Citation Generator?
If you are working on a paper in the APA style, you know that formatting APA citations can be a complicated task that requires a lot of patience. Fortunately, referencing has never been so easy. Introducing your new best friend: the Cite This For Me APA citation generator. Using this automated citation machine to create accurate citations allows students to work smarter, leaving them more time to focus on their studies.
The Cite This For Me powerful citation generator fully-formats all of your APA citations in just a click. So if youâre unsure how to accurately create your citations in the APA format, or you need to cite all of your sources in record time, using the Cite This For Me accurate generator will help ensure you donât lose valuable points on your work unnecessarily.
This guide provides you with everything you need to know to help ensure that your paper reflects all your hard work. Read ahead for tips on how to structure and present your work according to the APA formatting guidelines, how to avoid charges of plagiarism, and how to cite sources both in-text and in your reference list and bibliography.
Popular APA Citation Examples
- Dictionary entryÂ
- Edited bookÂ
- Image or video online
- PDF or E-book
- Presentation or lecture
- Video, film, or DVD
Why Do I Need to Cite?
Essentially, citing is the crediting of sources used in academic work. When another source contributes to your work you must acknowledge the original author with an accurate reference, unless it is common knowledge (e.g., the Magna Carta was signed in 1215). Failing to cite all of your sources or citing them incorrectly constitutes plagiarism , which is considered a serious academic offense. It is important to remember that information doesnât just belong to anyone who happens to stumble upon it. If you are caught plagiarizing it is more than likely that you will lose points on your assignment, or even face expulsion from your university.
APA citation format also stipulates that students and researchers should be wary of a type of plagiarism called âself-plagiarism.â This is when you reuse material that you previously wrote for a new writing assignment without signaling to the reader that you have done so by creating an APA format citation for your work. Presenting your own past work as new scholarship is still plagiarism, and could still have serious consequences.
Aside from avoiding plagiarism, attributing your research to its proper source is crucial in ensuring that your work is firmly anchored in academic tradition. Correctly citing your sources validates the statements and conclusions you make in your work by providing supporting evidence. For many students, citing can be a frustrating process, but itâs an excellent way to enhance the quality of your work and inject it with authority.
Imagine if all the stress of referencing simply vanished. Well, Cite This For Meâs APA citation generator is here to help you make that stress disappear – now you can create in-text citations and reference lists in the APA format without all of the usual frustrations of referencing.
What is the APA Citation Style?
The APA citation style is a parenthetical author-date style, meaning that you need to put the authorâs last name and the publishing date into parentheses wherever another source is used in the narrative.
The APA format consists of in-text citations and a reference list, along with guidelines for formatting the paper itself. Both the in-text citations and the reference list can be created in the blink of an eye using the Cite This For Me APA reference generator.
Although primarily used by students and researchers studying the social and behavioral sciences, the APA format is used amongst other scientific publications for its editorial efficiency. The Cite This For Me APA citation generator uses an up to date version of the APA format, helping to ensure accuracy whether you are using the APA format generator for university assignments or are preparing research projects for publishing.
Aside from the APA format, there is a plethora of different citation styles out there – the use of which depends on your discipline, university requirements, your professorâs preference, or the publication you are submitting the work to. It is important to make sure that you are using the correct style – so if youâre unsure, consult your department and follow their guidelines exactly.
It is important to note that APA style citation rules are fundamentally an editorial style, not a writing style per se. An editorial style refers to rules and guidelines a publisher uses to ensure that materials in their publications are presented consistently.
The citation generator above will generate your references in APA format as standard, and can show you how to cite APA sources in a few clicks. You can also sign up to Cite This For Me to select from thousands of widely used global college styles, including individual university variations. So, whether your professor prefers that you use the MLA format , or your discipline requires you to adopt the Chicago style citation , your referencing will be supported. Cite This For Me includes citation generators and handy guides for styles such as ASA , AMA or IEEE .
How Do I Create and Format My Citations?
Ever find yourself searching the web for things like âHow to cite a website APA?â Then youâre in the right place. When you reference a source within an APA style paper; whether it is using a direct quote, repurposing an image, or simply referring to an idea or theory, you should:
- Insert an in-text citation (the authorâs surname and the date of publication within parentheses) straight after a direct quote
- Insert an in-text citation at the end of the sentence where a source has contributed, but was not a direct quote
- If you have already mentioned the authorâs name in the sentence, you only need to insert the date immediately after their surname
- Include page numbers within the parentheses (after the date), if referring to a particular page or section of the source
- When citing a source with three to five authors, include all surnames for the first in-text citation, then use the first authorâs surname followed by et al. for subsequent citations
- When citing six or more authors – use the first author’s surname followed by et al. for all citations
- If you are mentioning both the year and author in the text, donât include an additional citation in parentheses – unless you are referring to a particular section of the source, in which case you should cite the page number
- Provide an alphabetical list (ordered by author’s surname) of all sources used, titled âReferencesâ, on a separate page at the end of the narrative
- Inclusive page numbers for the electronic version of a print source (i.e., a PDF)
- Provide your appendices on a separate page after the reference list
- Use â&â in place of âandâ in both in-text citations and full references
Use the Cite This For Me APA citation maker to create citations with ease; this will allow you to add citations to your project, edit on the spot, and export separate in-text citations as well as fully-formatted reference lists.
APA Citation Examples (7th Edition)
Each APA reference must adhere to the rules set forth in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition . The following examples follow guidelines from Chapter 10 of the manual. Here are a few examples for you to get started:
In-text citation APA examples:
- Page specified, author mentioned in text:
Lutz & Huitt (2010, p. 4) argue that âthe statistical significance of …â
- Page specified, author not mentioned in text:
The results were consistent throughout the study (FernĂĄndez-Manzanal, RodrĂguez-Barreiro, & Carrasquer, 2007).
- Six authors:
The study found that ⌠(Sania et al., 2011)
The data presented …. (âHow sleep enhances memory retentionâ, 2015).
Reference list examples:
- Book citation, one author, multiple editions:
Hawking, S. W. (1998). A brief history of time: From the big bang to black holes (10th ed.). New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group.
- Ebook, online only:
Tyler, G. (n.d.). Evolution in the systems age . Retrieved from http://www.onlineoriginals.com/showitem.asp?itemID=142&action=setvar&vartype=history&varname=bookmark&v1=1&v2=46&v3=2
- Journal article, three authors, with a DOI:
FernĂĄndez-Manzanal, R., RodrĂguez-Barreiro, L., & Carrasquer, J. (2007). Evaluation of environmental attitudes: Analysis and results of a scale applied to university students. Science Education , 91(6), 988â1009. doi:10.1002/sce.20218
* Note: For more information on the different types of journal article citations that can be made under APA 7, see section 10.1 of the Publication Manual, pp. 316-321.
- How to cite a website in APA:
Veterans Affairs Canada. (2019, February 14). Indigenous people in the Second World War . https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/historical-sheets/aborigin
- Online newspaper article:
Smith, D. (2019, October 22). The banner, the rings, the season opener: Champion Raptors return on a night like no other. The Toronto Star . https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2019/10/22/the-banner-the-rings-the-season-opener-champion-raptors-return-on-a-night-like-no-other.html
- Article from an online news website (HuffPost, MSNBC, Vox, etc.):
Wade, L. (2013, March 6). âSunstoneâ crystal from British shipwreck may be vikingsâ legendary navigation aid . HuffPost. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sunstone-british-shipwreck-viking-navigation_n_2818858
- Video, online:
CrashCourse. (2015, April 30). Mars: Crash course astronomy #15 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-88YWx71gE
How Do I Format My Reference List?
Drawing on a range of relevant sources in your work proves that you have read widely around your chosen topic, so itâs a surefire way to impress your reader.
To ensure your readerâs ease of comprehension you must adhere to the styleâs formatting guidelines. In APA format, a list of all the sources that have directly contributed to your work should be placed on a new page at the end of the narrative and titled âReferencesâ (center align the title), otherwise known as an APA works cited list. The references should all have a hanging indentation – the second and subsequent lines of each reference should start ½ inch from the margin.
You may also be required to provide a full APA bibliography. This is a comprehensive list of all the source material you used to complete the assignment, even if it was not cited in the text. It should include any book, journal, article etc. that you may have consulted throughout your research and writing process in order to get a deeper understanding of the subject at hand.
APA Format Example:
Sound like a lot of work? Although the style guidelines are strict in regard to how references should be formatted, the Cite This For Me APA citation machine can help take the weight off your shoulders by quickly compiling your reference list and bibliography.
APA Style Paper Formatting Guidelines (7th Edition)
When following the APA format guidelines, you must pay attention to presentation details such as font type, line spacing, margins and page headers to ensure your work is easily legible. The information below, as well as further formatting details, can be found in Chapter 2 of the APA 7 Publication Manual .
- 1-inch margins on all sides
- Easily readable font – Times New Roman recommended, 12pt. size
- Double-space the entirety of the paper
- Page numbers in the header, aligned to the right
- Title of the paper in all capitals, 50 characters or less, in the header on each page of the body (the ârunning headâ), aligned to the left. Only include a running head if you’re writing a professional paper
- The paper should typically include four major sections – Title Page, Abstract, Main Body and References.
- If infographics (tables, charts) were used in the narrative you should also add Appendices as a separate section at the end of the paper.
APA Title Page
Not all instructors will require a title page, also sometimes called an APA cover page. If they do, include these four parts:
- Title of your paper
- Running head (see above section)
- Authorâs/Your name
- Institutional affiliation
The title of your paper should:
- Be centered on the page and use title case (a combination of lower and uppercase letters).
- Not be italicized, bolded, or underlined
- Use a 12-point font
- Be a maximum of 2 lines and not more than 12 words long
- Not include abbreviations
Underneath the title, place the authorâs name. If you wrote the paper, put your full name here. Thereâs no need to include titles or degrees (e.g., Ms., PhD, etc.).
Under the authorâs name, place the institutional affiliation. For most students, this would be the name of the school, college or university you are attending. The title, authorâs name, and institutional affiliation should all be double spaced. Hereâs an example of an APA format title page:
Writing Guidelines
The American Psychological Association also provides some helpful guidelines regarding overall best practices when writing academic and scientific papers. One important thing to be on the lookout for is bias in your writing. For instance, using the word âmanâ to represent humans as a species is neither scientific nor without potential bias.
Here are some good rules of thumb to help you avoid bias in your paper:
- Always be specific in your writing and avoid generalizations.
- Do not label people or test subjects unnecessarily.
- When writing about participants in your experiment or study, be sure to acknowledge them as such appropriately. Use the term âparticipantsâ instead of âsubjects.â
- Use active voice instead of passive voice in your writing. For example, âthe participants completed the taskâ vs. âthe task was completed by the participants.â
- Always be cautious when discussing topics such as sexual orientation, racial and ethnic identity, disabilities, etc.
- Never change quotations to better serve your own ends or to better fit with your conclusions.
Important Terms for an APA Paper
Have you come across terms such as âabstractâ or âappendicesâ in the manual and been unsure of their meanings? Here are some important terms to know when writing your next APA paper.
- Abstract – A brief and concise summary of your paperâs contents.
- Keywords – A list of significant keywords that the reader should be on the lookout for in your paper.
- Introduction – Generally kicks of the rest of your paper by describing what youâre writing about. In scientific papers, this would outline the problem you are solving and your research strategy.
- References – An APA reference page is the place where you list each source that you have cited via an APA in-text citation within the body of your paper.
- Running Head – Running head is the name of APA headings that are used in research papers. They contain the title of the paper, the page number, and the term âRunning head.â
A Brief History of the APA Format
APA stands for American Psychological Association , the scientific organization that assembles the publishing manual of the APA format. The style was developed in 1929 by a group of scientists to standardize scientific writing. It was created in the hopes that it would provide a coherent and professional manner of citing sources for students and researchers in the fields of social and behavioral sciences.
The first publication manual of the APA format was published in pursuit of a neat and efficient research formatting style, mainly for editorial purposes. Although some contemporary scientists argued that having such strict regulations restricted personal writing styles, the format has since become one of the most popular referencing styles. Today it is adopted in term papers, research reports, literature reviews, theoretical articles, case studies etc.
Whatâs New in the 7th Edition of APA Format?
It is important to note that citation styles and referencing formats change over time as they adapt to new source types and trends in academic publishing. APA format is no different, and in the fall of 2019 released the 7th edition of its Publication Manual.
Are you curious to know what the differences are between the 7th and 6th edition of APA style? Here are some of the important updates listed in the 7th edition of APA citing:
- The location of the sourceâs publisher no longer needs to be included in the citation.
- DOIs are formatted as URLs (i.e. https://doi.org/xxx), and no longer require the label âDOIâ preceding them in the reference.
- When making an APA website citation, URLs no longer need to be preceded by âRetrieved from.â The exception to this is when you include a date of retrieval, which is optional.
- When making an APA book citation for an ebook, you no longer need to include the device or platform that you read the book on (i.e. âKindle) is no longer required in the citation.
- There is more flexibility in the 7th edition regarding APA paper format specifications on font.
- The running head in an APA format title page no longer requires the words âRunning head,â and instead now only requires a page number and a shortened version of your paperâs title.
- You now need to only use one space after each period in your paper.
Before you switch to the newest version, it is a good idea to confirm with your teacher or instructor that this is the version of the style that they prefer you use.
How do I Create Accurate Citations with the Cite This For Me APA Generator?
Referencing giving you a headache? Let the Cite This For Me APA format generator remove the stress caused by citations by helping to turn in any of your sources into a fully-formatted citation. The generator will create your reference in two parts; an in-text citation and a full reference that is ready to be copied straight into your work.
To unlock the full potential of the APA citation maker, simply login to Cite This For Me multi-platform tool. Use the web platform to add and edit citations, export full projects and individual entries, utilize the add-ons, and save all of your citations in the cloud. Or, you can make use of Cite This For Me for Chrome â the browser extension for Google Chrome that allows you to cite APA sources and instantly create and edit a citation for any online web page, without leaving the one youâre viewing.
Cite This For Me gives students the confidence to achieve their full academic potential by encouraging them to research and cite diverse sources. The APA citation generator can help you cite many different kinds of sources; whether it be a PDF report, podcast, a musical score or many more .
Manage All Your Citations in One Place
Create projects, add notes, cite directly from the browser.
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Section 8.17 of the APA Manual, 7 th edition, provides details on the number of authors to be included in in-text citations. As per this section, any work having 3 or more authors will not be written fully. Instead, the Latin words âet alâ meaning âand othersâ have to be used after writing the first authorâs name.
Example In-Text Citation Entry for more than 3 authors:
Almost all suppressed persons end up becoming an oppressed person when the same set of situations is presented in their lives (Camus et al., 1975).
In a rare instance, multiple sets of three or more authors might have the same initial pair or initial author. Under such rare situations, Section 8.18 of the APA manual requires you to write out the names of authors in order to distinguish between such confusing references.
Example In-Text Citation Entries:
Bandopadhyay, Schmidt, Wagner et al. (2000)
Bandopadhyay, Schmidt, Meyer et al. (1975)
Section 2.8 of the APA Manual, 7 th edition, provides details on the running head. A shortened version of the paperâs title (50 characters or fewer, including spaces and punctuation), the running head appears on top of each page so that the readers can connect the paperâs content with the title. While running heads are not required for student papers unless explicitly stated by the organization or instructor, manuscripts for publication absolutely require them.
Running heads should be in all-capital letters, flush left (directly across from the page number, which is flush right), and presented in the page header including the title page. You do not need to use the words, âRunning headâ because it is implied from its presence in the header.
Comparison of Loan Repayment Between Traditional Lending and Online Lending Models (Heading)
COMPARISON OF LOAN REPAYMENT MODELS (Running Head)
Section 2.3 of the APA Manual, 7 th edition provides details on what should appear in a title page for both professionals and students. While students are advised to follow the guidelines from their respective institutions or instructors, the following elements (from top to bottom) are necessary in the absence of any such information.
- Page number at the right hand side top in the header portion (also to be included in all pages)
- Title of the paper in bold, centered and appearing in the middle
- Authorâs name
- Affiliation of the author (this will be the universityâs name along with the departmentâs or divisionâs name)
- Name of the course (format used in the course materials. For example, PSY101)
- Name of the instructor (check with the instructor for their preference of salutation like Dr., Professor, etc.)
- Due date of the assignment with the month spelled out (June 1, 2021, or 1 June, 2021)
Section 2.3 of the APA Manual, 7 th edition provides details on what should appear on a title page for both professional and student papers. The following elements (from top to bottom) are necessary for the professional version of the title page.
- Running head in capitals at the left-hand side of the header portion (included on every page)
- Page number at the right-hand side of the header portion (included on every page)
- Title of the paper in bold, centered, and on the upper portion of the page (usually three or four lines down from the top)
- Authorsâ name(s) in full, including first name, middle initial, and last name
- Affiliation of the authors (the universityâs or institution’s name where the work referenced in the paper was conducted and the departmentâs or divisionâs name)
- Author Note (below the information listed above, this section provides additional pertinent information about authors along with contact information for those interested)
According to section 9.16 of the APA manual, 7th edition, you only need to add “retrieved from” and a retrieval date in a reference entry for web sources designed to be continuously updated. For example, an online reference entry from a dictionary or encyclopedia, or a social media page. Including a retrieval date signals to readers that the source may differ in content if retrieved on a different date. When including the retrieval date, insert it before the URL or DOI at the end of the entry:
Retrieved January 1, 2022, from https://chegg.com
For web sources with stable URLs or DOIs that do not change, do not include a retrieval date. Only include the URL or DOI. Section 9.5 of the APA manual, 7 th edition provides information on how to format DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers) and URLs (Uniform Resource Locators). Both DOIs and URLs are to be presented as hyperlinks (use http:// or https:// as the case may be). Since these are presented as hyperlinks that the readers can use to access the content, it is NOT necessary to have the words, âRetrieved fromâ or âAccessed fromâ before a DOI or an URL. However, test the resource to ensure the hyperlink works.
Section 8.11 of the APA Publication Manual , 7 th edition, provides details on parenthetical citations. A parenthetical citation provides the authorsâ names and publication date of the source within parentheses along with the cited text. If two authors are present in the source, both authorsâ last names should be mentioned in the in-text citation. Their names should be separated by an ampersand (&). The publication date should follow the second surname, separated by a comma.
A parenthetical citation can appear either at the end of the sentence or within the sentence depending on how the sentence is framed. The period or end punctuation appears after the closing parenthesis.
Example parenthetical citation at the end of a sentence:
The reach of fake news is greatly underrated (Rameses & Hudgson, 2021).
If more text appears along with the parenthetical citation, include commas to separate the year and help the reader distinguish the citation from the surrounding text.
Example parenthetical citation with additional text:
The reach of fake news is greatly underrated (see Rameses & Hudgson, 2021, for more detail).
Section 8.11 of the APA Publication Manual , 7 th edition, provides details on narrative citations. A narrative citation provides the authorsâ names in running text, and the publication date appears within parentheses immediately after the names. If two authors are present in the source, both authorsâ last names should be mentioned in the in-text citation. In narrative citations, the word “and” should be spelled out between the two names.
Example narrative citation with two authors:
Crompton and Williams (2020) noted that gut health is of paramount importance in maintaining mental health.
In some circumstances, the year may also appear within the text along with the authors’ names. In such a scenario, the date should not appear within parentheses.
Example narrative citation with two authors and date:
In 2020, Crompton and Williams broke new ground with their hypothesis that mental health is strongly linked with gut health.
As per Section 2.4 of the APA Publication Manual , 7 th edition, the title of a research paper should summarize the main idea in a succinct manner. While there is no prescribed title length in APA style, authors are advised to keep their titles brief and focused. The manual also provides examples between effective and ineffective titles, including âfluffâ words that can be cut from titles and substantive information that should be included in a title to make it relevant to the reader(s).
When the whole book or article is being referenced, there is no need to include a page number. However, when you are referring to a specific page or pages (either in a paraphrase or a direct quote), include the page number(s) in your in-text citation.
If you are referring to information or a quote contained on a single page, add the page number after the author and date, preceded by “p.” If you are citing multiple pages, the page numbers should be preceded by “pp.” and separated by an en-dash.
Example in-text citation with single page number:
(Rayden, 2014, p. 308)
Example in-text citation with page range:
(Rayden, 2014, pp. 308-311)
If there are no page numbers in a work, you can use some other type of locator in in-text citations to help your reader find the information you are citing, like chapter names, headings, or paragraph numbers.
As per Section 8.14 of the APA Publication Manual , 7 th edition, for sources with an unknown author, include the title of the source and year of publication in your in-text citations instead.
If the title of the source is italicized in your reference list, it should also be italicized in your in-text citation. If the title is not in italics in the reference list, it should be in quotation marks in your in-text citation. Titles should be listed in title case (with all important words capitalized) when included in in-text citations.
In-text citation templates:
( Full Name of the Source , year)
(“Full Name of the Source,” year)
In-text citation examples:
( How to Be Awesomely You , 2021)
(“Social Dynamics in US Colleges,” 2018)
If a work’s author is designated as âAnonymous,â use “Anonymous” as the author in in-text citations, as shown below.
(Anonymous, 2020)
As per Section 2.14 of the APA Publication Manual , 7 th edition, an appendix or appendices are included after the references, footnotes, tables, and figures of the paper. In other words, appendices are the last item in your paper. Each appendix should be separately mentioned within the main text (e.g., âsee Appendix Aâ). Appendices are to be self-contained; they should describe the contents and clearly have a label and title.
For a parenthetical in-text citation in APA style, the basic elements needed are the authorâs last name (or the group author’s name) and the publication year. For parenthetical citations, format this information by inputting it in parentheses.
For a narrative in-text citation, include the information in the running text. Usually, this means you include the author’s last name followed by the year in parentheses. However, if needed, you may include both the author’s last name and the year in the running text.
For audio, visual, or audiovisual works, replace the author’s last name with a directorâs last name (for a film), an uploader’s last name (for YouTube), the artistâs name (for an artwork), and so on.
As per section 2 of the APA 7 manual, papers require the following elements presented in the order below. Since the required elements differ depending on whether your paper is a professional or student paper, there are two lists to distinguish the differences. Sections like Figures, Tables, and Appendices may not be relevant to your paper, so you may exclude those.
Professional Papers*
- Title Page (with title, author(s), affiliations, and an author note)
- Page Headers including a running head and page numbers
- Reference List
- Keywords (optional)
- Footnotes (optional)
- Tables (optional)
- Figures (optional)
- Appendices (optional)
- Supplemental Materials (optional)
*Always refer to the professional journal’s instructions or submission guidelines.
Student Papers
- Page Numbers
An APA reference list comprises the publication details of the studies that specifically quote or support the ideas and concepts presented in a paper. Cite sources in the text, with a narrative or parenthetical citation, and include corresponding reference entries in the reference list.
An APA bibliography is similar to a reference list because it also includes full reference entries for sources cited in the text. However, they also include other sources that support or give background for further research related to the listed source.
An APA annotated bibliography includes short annotations below the reference entry in a separate paragraph(s). Annotations summarize and/or describe a source in detail.
Both the 6 th and 7 th editions of APA style are available on the Cite This For Me citation generator .
For a webpage/website, journal article, or book, youâll need 1-2 pieces of basic publication information. For example:
- Website : URL, page title, etc.
- Journal article : Article title, DOI number, author(s), etc.
- Book : Book title, author, date published, etc.
Using those pieces of information, you can search for the source in the Cite This For Me APA citation generator and it will help you to create a citation.
Other source types (newspaper article, video, government document, etc.) will provide a form on which you provide all source information. Using that information, the citation generator will create a properly formatted APA citation for you.
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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / APA Format
APA Format for Students & Researchers
In this guide, students and researchers can learn the basics of creating a properly formatted research paper according to APA guidelines.
It includes information on how to conceptualize, outline, and format the basic structure of your paper, as well as practical tips on spelling, abbreviation, punctuation, and more. The guide concludes with a complete sample paper as well as a final checklist that writers can use to prepare their work for submission.
APA Paper Formatting Basics
- All text should be double-spaced
- Use one-inch margins on all sides
- All paragraphs in the body are indented
- Make sure that the title is centered on the page with your name and school/institution underneath
- Use 12-point font throughout
- All pages should be numbered in the upper right hand corner
- The manual recommends using one space after most punctuation marks
- A shortened version of the title (“running head”) should be placed in the upper left hand corner
Table of Contents
Hereâs a quick rundown of the contents of this guide on how to do APA format.
Information related to writing and organizing your paper:
- Paper and essay categories
General paper length
- Margin sizes
- Title pages
- Running Heads
- APA Outline
- APA Abstract
- The body of papers
- APA headings and subheadings
- Use of graphics (tables and figures)
Writing style tips:
Proper tone.
- Reducing bias and labels
- Abbreviation doâs and donâts
- Punctuation
- Number rules
Citing Your Sources:
- Citing Sources
- In-text Citations
- Reference Page
Proofing Your Paper:
- Final checklist
- Submitting your project
APA Information:
- What is APA
- APA 7 Updates
What you wonât find in this guide: This guide provides information related to the formatting of your paper, as in guidelines related to spacing, margins, word choice, etc. While it provides a general overview of APA references, it does not provide instructions for how to cite in APA format.
For step-by-step instructions for citing books, journals, how to cite a website in APA format, information on an APA format bibliography, and more, refer to these other EasyBib guides:
- APA citation (general reference guide)
- APA In-text citation
- APA article citation
- APA book citation
- APA citation website
Or, you can use our automatic generator. Our APA formatter helps to build your references for you. Yep, you read that correctly.
Writing and Organizing Your APA Paper in an Effective Way
This section of our guide focuses on proper paper length, how to format headings, spacing, and more! This information can be found in Chapter 2 of the official manual (American Psychological Association, 2020, pp. 29-67).
Categories of papers
Before getting into the nitty-gritty details related to APA research paper format, first determine the type of paper youâre about to embark on creating:
Empirical studies
Empirical studies take data from observations and experiments to generate research reports. It is different from other types of studies in that it isnât based on theories or ideas, but on actual data.
Literature reviews
These papers analyze another individualâs work or a group of works. The purpose is to gather information about a current issue or problem and to communicate where we are today. It sheds light on issues and attempts to fill those gaps with suggestions for future research and methods.
Theoretical articles
These papers are somewhat similar to a literature reviews in that the author collects, examines, and shares information about a current issue or problem, by using othersâ research. It is different from literature reviews in that it attempts to explain or solve a problem by coming up with a new theory. This theory is justified with valid evidence.
Methodological articles
These articles showcase new advances, or modifications to an existing practice, in a scientific method or procedure. The author has data or documentation to prove that their new method, or improvement to a method, is valid. Plenty of evidence is included in this type of article. In addition, the author explains the current method being used in addition to their own findings, in order to allow the reader to understand and modify their own current practices.
Case studies
Case studies present information related an individual, group, or larger set of individuals. These subjects are analyzed for a specific reason and the author reports on the method and conclusions from their study. The author may also make suggestions for future research, create possible theories, and/or determine a solution to a problem.
Since APA style format is used often in science fields, the belief is âless is more.â Make sure youâre able to get your points across in a clear and brief way. Be direct, clear, and professional. Try not to add fluff and unnecessary details into your paper or writing. Â This will keep the paper length shorter and more concise.
Margin sizes in APA Format
When it comes to margins, keep them consistent across the left, right, top, and bottom of the page. All four sides should be the same distance from the edge of the paper. Itâs recommended to use at least one-inch margins around each side. Itâs acceptable to use larger margins, but the margins should never be smaller than an inch.
Title pages in APA Format
The title page, or APA format cover page, is the first page of a paper or essay. Some teachers and professors do not require a title page, but some do. If youâre not sure if you should include one or not, ask your teacher. Some appreciate the page, which clearly displays the writerâs name and the title of the paper.
The APA format title page for student papers includes six main components:
- the title of the APA format paper
- names of all authors
- institutional affiliation
- course number and title
- instructor’s name
Title pages for professional papers also require a running head; student papers do not.
Some instructors and professional publications also ask for an authorâs note. If youâre required or would like to include an authorâs note, place it below the institutional affiliation. Examples of information included in an authorâs note include an ORCID iD number, a disclosure, and an acknowledgement.
Here are key guidelines to developing your title page:
- The title of the paper should capture the main idea of the essay, but should not contain abbreviations or words that serve no purpose. For example, instead of using the title âA Look at Amphibians From the Past,â title the paper âAmphibians From the Past.â Delete the unnecessary fluff!
- Center the title on the page and place it about 3-4 lines from the top.
- The title should be bolded, in title case, and the same font size as your other page text. Do not underline or italicize the title. Other text on the page should be plain (not bolded , underlined, or italicized ).Â
- All text on the title page should be double-spaced. The APA format examples paper below displays proper spacing, so go take a look!
- Do not include any titles in the authorâs name such as Dr. or Ms. In contrast, for your instructor’s name, use the form they prefer (e.g., Sagar Parekh, PhD; Dr. Minako Asato; Professor Nathan Ian Brown; etc.).
- The institutional affiliation is the school the author attends or the location where the author conducted the research.
In a hurry? Try the EasyBib title page maker to easily create a title page for free.
Sample of an APA format title page for a student paper:
Sample of title page for a professional paper:
Running heads in APA Format
The 7th edition of the American Psychological Association Publication Manual (p. 37) states that running heads are not required for student papers unless requested by the instructor. Student papers still need a page number included in the upper right-hand corner of every page. The 6th edition required a running head for student papers, so be sure to confirm with your instructor which edition you should follow. Of note, this guide follows the 7th edition.
Running heads are required for professional papers (e.g., manuscripts submitted for publication). Read on for instructions on how to create them.
Are you wondering what is a ârunning headâ? It’s basically a page header at the top of every page. To make this process easier, set your word processor to automatically add these components onto each page. You may want to look for âHeaderâ in the features.
A running head/page header includes two pieces:
- the title of the paper
- page numbers.
Insert page numbers justified to the right-hand side of the APA format paper (do not put p. or pg. in front of the page numbers).
For all pages of the paper, including the APA format title page, include the “TITLE OF YOUR PAPER” justified to the left in capital letters (i.e., the running head). If your full title is long (over 50 characters), the running head title should be a shortened version.
Preparing outlines in APA Format
Outlines are extremely beneficial as they help writers stay organized, determine the scope of the research that needs to be included, and establish headings and subheadings.
There isnât an official or recommended âAPA format for outlineâ structure. It is up to the writer (if they choose to make use of an outline) to determine how to organize it and the characters to include. Some writers use a mix of roman numerals, numbers, and uppercase and lowercase letters.
Even though there isnât a required or recommended APA format for an outline, we encourage writers to make use of one. Who wouldnât want to put together a rough outline of their project? We promise you, an outline will help you stay on track.
Hereâs our version of how APA format for outlines could look:
Donât forget, if youâre looking for information on APA citation format and other related topics, check out our other comprehensive guides.
How to form an abstract in APA
An APA format abstract (p. 38) is a summary of a scholarly article or scientific study. Scholarly articles and studies are rather lengthy documents, and abstracts allow readers to first determine if theyâd like to read an article in its entirety or not.
You may come across abstracts while researching a topic. Many databases display abstracts in the search results and often display them before showing the full text of an article or scientific study. It is important to create a high quality abstract that accurately communicates the purpose and goal of your paper, as readers will determine if it is worthy to continue reading or not.
Are you wondering if you need to create an abstract for your assignment? Usually, student papers do not require an abstract. Abstracts are not typically seen in class assignments, and are usually only included when submitting a paper for publication. Unless your teacher or professor asked for it, you probably don’t need to have one for your class assignment.
If youâre planning on submitting your paper to a journal for publication, first check the journalâs website to learn about abstract and APA paper format requirements.
Here are some helpful suggestions to create a dynamic abstract:
- Abstracts are found on their own page, directly after the title or cover page.
- Professional papers only (not student papers): Include the running head on the top of the page.
- On the first line of the page, center the word âAbstractâ (but do not include quotation marks).
- On the following line, write a summary of the key points of your research. Your abstract summary is a way to introduce readers to your research topic, the questions that will be answered, the process you took, and any findings or conclusions you drew. Use concise, brief, informative language. You only have a few sentences to share the summary of your entire document, so be direct with your wording.
- This summary should not be indented, but should be double-spaced and less than 250 words.
- If applicable, help researchers find your work in databases by listing keywords from your paper after your summary. To do this, indent and type Keywords : in italics. Â Then list your keywords that stand out in your research. You can also include keyword strings that you think readers will type into the search box.
- Active voice: The subjects reacted to the medication.
- Passive voice: There was a reaction from the subjects taking the medication.
- Instead of evaluating your project in the abstract, simply report what it contains.
- If a large portion of your work includes the extension of someone elseâs research, share this in the abstract and include the authorâs last name and the year their work was released.
APA format example page:
Hereâs an example of an abstract:
Visual design is a critical aspect of any web page or user interface, and its impact on a userâs experience has been studied extensively. Research has shown a positive correlation between a userâs perceived usability and a userâs assessment of visual design. Additionally, perceived web quality, which encompasses visual design, has a positive relationship with both initial and continued consumer purchase intention. However, visual design is often assessed using self-report scale, which are vulnerable to a few pitfalls. Because self-report questionnaires are often reliant on introspection and honesty, it is difficult to confidently rely on self-report questionnaires to make important decisions. This study aims to ensure the validity of a visual design assessment instrument (Visual Aesthetics of Websites Inventory: Short version) by examining its relationship with biometric (variables), like galvanic skin response, pupillometry, and fixation information. Our study looked at participants assessment of a webpageâs visual design, and compared it to their biometric responses while viewing the webpage. Overall, we found that both average fixation duration and pupil dilation differed when participants viewed web pages with lower visual design ratings compared to web pages with a higher visual design rating.
Keywords : usability, visual design, websites, eye tracking, pupillometry, self-report, VisAWI
The body of an APA paper
On the page after the title page (if a student paper) or the abstract (if a professional paper), begin with the body of the paper.
Most papers follow this format:
- At the top of the page, add the page number in the upper right corner of all pages, including the title page.
- On the next line write the title in bold font and center it. Do not underline or italicize it.
- Begin with the introduction and indent the first line of the paragraph. All paragraphs in the body are indented.
Sample body for a student paper:
Most scientific or professional papers have additional sections and guidelines:
- Start with the running head (title + page number). The heading title should be in capital letters. The abstract page should be page 2.
- The introduction presents the problem and premise upon which the research was based. It goes into more detail about this problem than the abstract.
- Begin a new section with the Method and use this word as the subtitle. Bold and center this subtitle. The Method section shows how the study was run and conducted. Be sure to describe the methods through which data was collected.
- Begin a new section with the Results . Bold and center this subtitle. The Results section summarizes your data. Use charts and graphs to display this data.
- Draw conclusions and support how your data led to these conclusions.
- Discuss whether or not your hypothesis was confirmed or not supported by your results.
- Determine the limitations of the study and next steps to improve research for future studies.
Sample body for a professional paper:
Keep in mind, APA citation format is much easier than you think, thanks to EasyBib.com. Try our automatic generator and watch how we create APA citation format references for you in just a few clicks. While youâre at it, take a peek at our other helpful guides, such as our APA reference page guide, to make sure youâre on track with your research papers.
Proper usage of headings & subheadings in APA Format
Headings (p. 47) serve an important purpose in research papers â they organize your paper and make it simple to locate different pieces of information. In addition, headings provide readers with a glimpse to the main idea, or content, they are about to read.
In APA format, there are five levels of headings, each with a different formatting:
- This is the title of your paper
- The title should be centered in the middle of the page
- The title should be bolded
- Use uppercase and lowercase letters where necessary (called title capitalization)
- Place this heading against the left margin
- Use bold letters
- Use uppercase and lowercase letters where necessary
- Place this heading against the left side margin
- End the heading with a period
- Indented in from the left margin
Following general formatting rules, all headings are double spaced and there are no extra lines or spaces between sections.
Here is a visual APA format template for levels of headings:
Use of graphics (tables and figures) in APA Format
If youâre looking to jazz up your project with any charts, tables, drawings, or images, there are certain APA format rules (pp. 195-250) to follow.
First and foremost, the only reason why any graphics should be added is to provide the reader with an easier way to see or read information, rather than typing it all out in the text.
Lots of numbers to discuss? Try organizing your information into a chart or table. Pie charts, bar graphs, coordinate planes, and line graphs are just a few ways to show numerical data, relationships between numbers, and many other types of information.
Instead of typing out long, drawn out descriptions, create a drawing or image. Many visual learners would appreciate the ability to look at an image to make sense of information.
Before you go ahead and place that graphic in your paper, here are a few key guidelines:
- Follow them in the appropriate numerical order in which they appear in the text of your paper. Example : Figure 1, Figure 2, Table 1, Figure 3.
- Example: Figure 1, Figure 2, Table 1, Figure 3
- Only use graphics if they will supplement the material in your text. If they reinstate what you already have in your text, then it is not necessary to include a graphic.
- Include enough wording in the graphic so that the reader is able to understand its meaning, even if it is isolated from the corresponding text. However, do not go overboard with adding a ton of wording in your graphic.
- Left align tables and figures
In our APA format sample paper , youâll find examples of tables after the references. You may also place tables and figures within the text just after it is mentioned.
Is there anything better than seeing a neatly organized data table? We think not! If you have tons of numbers or data to share, consider creating a table instead of typing out a wordy paragraph. Tables are pretty easy to whip up on Google Docs or Microsoft Word.
General format of a table should be:
- Table number
- Choose to type out your data OR create a table. As stated above, in APA format, you shouldnât have the information typed out in your paper and also have a table showing the same exact information. Choose one or the other.
- If you choose to create a table, discuss it very briefly in the text. Say something along the lines of, âTable 1 displays the amount of money used towards fighting Malaria.â Or, âStomach cancer rates are displayed in Table 4.â
- If youâre submitting your project for a class, place your table close to the text where itâs mentioned. If youâre submitting it to be published in a journal, most publishers prefer tables to be placed in the back. If youâre unsure where to place your tables, ask!
- Include the table number first and at the top. Table 1 is the first table discussed in the paper. Table 2 is the next table mentioned, and so on. This should be in bold.
- Add a title under the number. Create a brief, descriptive title. Capitalize the first letter for each important word. Italicize the title and place it under the table number.
- Only use horizontal lines.
- Limit use of cell shading.
- Keep the font at 12-point size and use single or double spacing. If you use single spacing in one table, make sure all of the others use single spaces as well. Keep it consistent.
- All headings should be centered.
- In the first column (called the stub), center the heading, left-align the information underneath it (indent 0.15 inches if info is more than one line).
- Information in other columns should be centered.
- General . Information about the whole table.
- Specific . Information targeted for a specific column, row, or cell.
- Probability . Explains what certain table symbols mean. For example, asterisks, p values, etc.
Hereâs an APA format example of a table:
We know putting together a table is pretty tricky. Thatâs why weâve included not one, but a few tables on this page. Scroll down and look at the additional tables in the essay in APA format example found below.
Figures represent information in a visual way. They differ from tables in that they are visually appealing. Sure, tables, like the one above, can be visually appealing, but itâs the color, circles, arrows, boxes, or icons included that make a figure a âfigure.â
There are many commonly used figures in papers. Examples APA Format:
- Photographs
- Hierarchy charts
General format of a figure is the same as tables. This means each should include:
- Figure number
Use the same formatting tables use for the number, title, and note.
Here are some pointers to keep in mind when it comes to APA format for figures:
- Only include a figure if it adds value to your paper. If it will truly help with understanding, include it!
- Either include a figure OR write it all out in the text. Do not include the same information twice.
- If a note is added, it should clearly explain the content of the figure. Include any reference information if itâs reproduced or adapted.
APA format sample of a figure:
Photographs:
We live in a world where we have tons of photographs available at our fingertips.
Photographs found through Google Images, social media, stock photos made available from subscription sites, and tons of other various online sources make obtaining photographs a breeze. We can even pull out our cell phones, and in just a few seconds, take pictures with our cameras.
Photographs are simple to find, and because of this, many students enjoy using them in their papers.
If you have a photograph you would like to include in your project, here are some guidelines from the American Psychological Association.
- Create a reference for the photograph. Follow the guidelines under the table and figure sections above.
- Do not use color photos. It is recommended to use black and white. Colors can change depending on the readerâs screen resolution. Using black and white ensures the reader will be able to view the image clearly. The only time it is recommended to use color photos is if youâre writing about color-specific things. For example, if youâre discussing the various shades of leaf coloration, you may want to include a few photographs of colorful leaves.
- If there are sections of the photograph that are not related to your work, it is acceptable to crop them out. Cropping is also beneficial in that it helps the reader focus on the main item youâre discussing.
- If you choose to include an image of a person you know, it would be respectful if you ask their permission before automatically including their photo in your paper. Some schools and universities post research papers online and some people prefer that their photos and information stay off the Internet.
B. Writing Style Tips
Writing a paper for scientific topics is much different than writing for English, literature, and other composition classes. Science papers are much more direct, clear, and concise. This section includes key suggestions, explains how to write in APA format, and includes other tidbits to keep in mind while formulating your research paper.
Verb usage in APA
Research experiments and observations rely on the creation and analysis of data to test hypotheses and come to conclusions. While sharing and explaining the methods and results of studies, science writers often use verbs.
When using verbs in writing, make sure that you continue to use them in the same tense throughout the section youâre writing. Further details are in the publication manual (p. 117).
Hereâs an APA format example:
We tested the solution to identify the possible contaminants.
It wouldnât make sense to add this sentence after the one above:
We tested the solution to identify the possible contaminants. Researchers often test solutions by placing them under a microscope.
Notice that the first sentence is in the past tense while the second sentence is in the present tense. This can be confusing for readers.
For verbs in scientific papers, the APA manual recommends using:
- Past tense or present perfect tense for the explantation of the procedure
- Past tense for the explanation of the results
- Present tense for the explanation of the conclusion and future implications
If this is all a bit much, and youâre simply looking for help with your references, try the EasyBib.com APA format generator . Our APA formatter creates your references in just a few clicks. APA citation format is easier than you think thanks to our innovative, automatic tool.
Even though your writing will not have the same fluff and detail as other forms of writing, it should not be boring or dull to read. The Publication Manual suggests thinking about who will be the main reader of your work and to write in a way that educates them.
How to reduce bias & labels
The American Psychological Association strongly objects to any bias towards gender, racial groups, ages of individuals or subjects, disabilities, and sexual orientation (pp. 131-149). If youâre unsure whether your writing is free of bias and labels or not, have a few individuals read your work to determine if itâs acceptable.
Here are a few guidelines that the American Psychological Association suggests :
- Only include information about an individualâs orientation or characteristic if it is important to the topic or study. Do not include information about individuals or labels if it is not necessary.
- If writing about an individualâs characteristic or orientation, for essay APA format, make sure to put the person first. Instead of saying, âDiabetic patients,â say, âPatients who are diabetic.â
- Instead of using narrow terms such as, âadolescents,â or âthe elderly,â try to use broader terms such as, âparticipants,â and âsubjects.â
- “They” or “their” are acceptable gender-neutral pronouns to use.
- Be mindful when using terms that end with âmanâ or âmenâ if they involve subjects who are female. For example, instead of using âFiremen,â use the term, âFirefighter.â In general, avoid ambiguity.
- When referring to someoneâs racial or ethnic identity, use the census category terms and capitalize the first letter. Also, avoid using the word, âminority,â as it can be interpreted as meaning less than or deficient. Instead, say “people of color” or “underrepresented groups.”
- When describing subjects in APA format, use the words âgirlsâ and âboysâ for children who are under the age of 12. The terms, âyoung woman,â âyoung man,â âfemale adolescent,â and âmale adolescentâ are appropriate for subjects between 13-17 years old; âMen,â and âwomen,â for those older than 18. Use the term, âolder adults.â for individuals who are older. âElderly,â and âsenior,â are not acceptable if used only as nouns. It is acceptable to use these terms if theyâre used as adjectives.
Read through our example essay in APA format, found in section D, to see how weâve reduced bias and labels.
Spelling in APA Format
- In APA formatting, use the same spelling as words found in Merriam-Websterâs Collegiate Dictionary (American English) (p. 161).
- If the word youâre trying to spell is not found in Websterâs Collegiate Dictionary, a second resource is Websterâs Third New International Dictionary .
- If attempting to properly spell words in the psychology field, consult the American Psychological Associationâs Dictionary of Psychology
Thanks to helpful tools and features, such as the spell checker, in word processing programs, most of us think we have everything we need right in our document. However, quite a few helpful features are found elsewhere.
Where can you find a full grammar editor? Right here, on EasyBib.com. The EasyBib Plus paper checker scans your paper for spelling, but also for any conjunction , determiner, or adverb out of place. Try it out and unlock the magic of an edited paper.
Abbreviation do’s and don’ts in APA Format
Abbreviations can be tricky. You may be asking yourself, âDo I include periods between the letters?â âAre all letters capitalized?â âDo I need to write out the full name each and every time?â Not to worry, weâre breaking down the publication manual’s abbreviations (p. 172) for you here.
First and foremost, use abbreviations sparingly.
Too many and youâre left with a paper littered with capital letters mashed together. Plus, they donât lend themselves to smooth and easy reading. Readers need to pause and comprehend the meaning of abbreviations and quite often stumble over them.
- If the abbreviation is used less than three times in the paper, type it out each time. It would be pretty difficult to remember what an abbreviation or acronym stands for if youâre writing a lengthy paper.
- If you decide to sprinkle in abbreviations, Â it is not necessary to include periods between the letters.
- Example: While it may not affect a patientâs short-term memory (STM), it may affect their ability to comprehend new terms. Patients who experience STM loss while using the medication should discuss it with their doctor.
- Example : AIDS
- The weight in pounds exceeded what we previously thought.
Punctuation in APA Format
One space after most punctuation marks.
The manual recommends using one space after most punctuation marks, including punctuation at the end of a sentence (p. 154). It doesnât hurt to double check with your teacher or professor to ask their preference since this rule was changed recently (in 2020).
The official APA format book was primarily created to aid individuals with submitting their paper for publication in a professional journal. Many schools adopt certain parts of the handbook and modify sections to match their preference. To see an example of an APA format research paper, with the spacing we believe is most commonly and acceptable to use, scroll down and see section D.
For more information related to the handbook, including frequently asked questions, and more, hereâs further reading on the style
Itâs often a heated debate among writers whether or not to use an Oxford comma (p. 155), but for this style, always use an Oxford comma. This type of comma is placed before the words AND and OR or in a series of three items.
Example of APA format for commas: The medication caused drowsiness, upset stomach, and fatigue.
Hereâs another example: The subjects chose between cold, room temperature, or warm water.
Apostrophes
When writing a possessive singular noun, you should place the apostrophe before the s. For possessive plural nouns, the apostrophe is placed after the s.
- Singular : Linda Morrisâs jacket
- Plural : The Morrisâ house
Em dashes (long dash) are used to bring focus to a particular point or an aside. There are no spaces after these dashes (p. 157).
Use en dashes (short dash) in compound adjectives. Do not place a space before or after the dash. Here are a few examples:
- custom-built
- 12-year-old
Number rules in APA Format
Science papers often include the use of numbers, usually displayed in data, tables, and experiment information. The golden rule to keep in mind is that numbers less than 10 are written out in text. If the number is more than 10, use numerals.
APA format examples:
- 14 kilograms
- seven individuals
- 83 years old
- Fourth grade
The golden rule for numbers has exceptions.
In APA formatting, use numerals if you are:
- Showing numbers in a table or graph
- 4 divided by 2
- 6-month-olds
Use numbers written out as words if you are:
- Ninety-two percent of teachers feel as thoughâŚ.
- Hundred Yearsâ War
- One-sixth of the students
Other APA formatting number rules to keep in mind:
- World War II
- Super Bowl LII
- Itâs 1980s, not 1980âs!
Additional number rules can be found in the publication manual (p. 178)
Need help with other writing topics? Our plagiarism checker is a great resource for anyone looking for writing help. Say goodbye to an out of place noun , preposition , or adjective, and hello to a fully edited paper.
Overview of APA references
While writing a research paper, it is always important to give credit and cite your sources; this lets you acknowledge othersâ ideas and research youâve used in your own work. Not doing so can be considered plagiarism , possibly leading to a failed grade or loss of a job.
APA style is one of the most commonly used citation styles used to prevent plagiarism. Hereâs more on crediting sources . Letâs get this statement out of the way before you become confused: An APA format reference and an APA format citation are two different things! We understand that many teachers and professors use the terms as if theyâre synonyms, but according to this specific style, they are two separate things, with different purposes, and styled differently.
A reference displays all of the information about the source â the title, the authorâs name, the year it was published, the URL, all of it! References are placed on the final page of a research project.
Hereâs an example of a reference:
Wynne-Jones, T. (2015). The emperor of any place . Candlewick Press.
An APA format citation is an APA format in-text citation. These are found within your paper, anytime a quote or paraphrase is included. They usually only include the name of the author and the date the source was published.
Hereâs an example of one:
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is even discussed in the book, The Emperor of Any Place . The main character, Evan, finds a mysterious diary on his fatherâs desk (the same desk his father died on, after suffering from a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy attack). Evan unlocks the truth to his father and grandfatherâs past (Wynne-Jones, 2015).
Both of the ways to credit another individualâs work â in the text of a paper and also on the final page â are key to preventing plagiarism. A writer must use both types in a paper. If you cite something in the text, it must have a full reference on the final page of the project. Where there is one, there must be the other!
Now that you understand that, hereâs some basic info regarding APA format references (pp. 281-309).
- Each reference is organized, or structured, differently. It all depends on the source type. A book reference is structured one way, an APA journal is structured a different way, a newspaper article is another way. Yes, itâs probably frustrating that not all references are created equal and set up the same way. MLA works cited pages are unique in that every source type is formatted the same way. Unfortunately, this style is quite different.
- Most references follow this general format:
Authorâs Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year published). Title of source . URL.
Again, as stated in the above paragraph, you must look up the specific source type youâre using to find out the placement of the title, authorâs name, year published, etc.
For more information on APA format for sources and how to reference specific types of sources, use the other guides on EasyBib.com. Hereâs another useful site .
Looking for a full visual of a page of references? Scroll down and take a peek at our APA format essay example towards the bottom of this page. Youâll see a list of references and you can gain a sense of how they look.
Bonus: hereâs a link to more about the fundamentals related to this particular style. If you want to brush up or catch up on the Modern Language Associationâs style, hereâs a great resource on how to cite websites in MLA .
In-text APA citation format
Did you find the perfect quote or piece of information to include in your project? Way to go! Itâs always a nice feeling when we find that magical piece of data or info to include in our writing. You probably already know that you canât just copy and paste it into your project, or type it in, without also providing credit to the original author.
Displaying where the original information came from is much easier than you think.Directly next to the quote or information you included, place the authorâs name and the year nearby. This allows the reader of your work to see where the information originated.
APA allows for the use of two different forms of in-text citation, parenthetical and narrative Both forms of citation require two elements:
- authorâs name
- year of publication
The only difference is the way that this information is presented to the reader.
Parenthetical citations are the more commonly seen form of in-text citations for academic work, in which both required reference elements are presented at the end of the sentence in parentheses. Example:
Harlem had many artists and musicians in the late 1920s (Belafonte, 2008).
Narrative citations allow the author to present one or both of the required reference elements inside of the running sentence, which prevents the text from being too repetitive or burdensome. When only one of the two reference elements is included in the sentence, the other is provided parenthetically. Example:
According to Belafonte (2008), Harlem was full of artists and musicians in the late 1920s.
If there are two authors listed in the source entry, then the parenthetical reference must list them both:
(Smith & Belafonte, 2008)
If there are three or more authors listed in the source entry, then the parenthetical reference can abbreviate with âet al.â, the latin abbreviation for âand othersâ:
(Smith et al., 2008)
The authorâs names are structured differently if there is more than one author. Things will also look different if there isnât an author at all (which is sometimes the case with website pages). For more information on APA citation format, check out this page on the topic: APA parenthetical citation and APA in-text citation . There is also more information in the official manual in chapter 8.
If itâs MLA in-text and parenthetical citations youâre looking for, weâve got your covered there too! You might want to also check out his guide on parenthetical citing .
Would you benefit from having a tool that helps you easily generate citations that are in the text? Check out EasyBib Plus!
References page in APA Format
An APA format reference page is easier to create than you probably think. We go into detail on how to create this page on our APA reference page . We also have a guide for how to create an annotated bibliography in APA . But, if youâre simply looking for a brief overview of the reference page, weâve got you covered here.
Here are some pointers to keep in mind when it comes to the references page in APA format:
- This VIP page has its very own page. Start on a fresh, clean document (p. 303).
- Center and bold the title âReferencesâ (do not include quotation marks, underline, or italicize this title).
- Alphabetize and double-space ALL entries.
- Use a readable font, such as Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, or Lucida (p. 44).
- Every quote or piece of outside information included in the paper should be referenced and have an entry.
- Even though itâs called a âreference page,â it can be longer than one page. If your references flow onto the next page, then thatâs a-okay.
- Only include the running head if it is required by your teacher or you’re writing a professional paper.
Sample reference page for a student paper:
Hereâs another friendly reminder to use the EasyBib APA format generator (that comes with EasyBib Plus) to quickly and easily develop every single one of your references for you. Try it out! Our APA formatter is easy to use and ready to use 24/7.
Final APA Format Checklist
Prior to submitting your paper, check to make sure you have everything you need and everything in its place:
- Did you credit all of the information and quotes you used in the body of your paper and show a matching full reference at the end of the paper? Remember, you need both! Need more information on how to credit other authors and sources? Check out our other guides, or use the EasyBib APA format generator to credit your sources quickly and easily. EasyBib.com also has more styles than just the one this page focuses on.
- 12-pt. Times New Roman
- 11-pt. Calibri, Arial, Georgia
- 10-pt. Lucida, Sans Unicode, Computer Modern
- If you created an abstract, is it directly after the title page? Some teachers and professors do not require an abstract, so before you go ahead and include it, make sure itâs something he or she is expecting.
- Professional paper — Did you include a running head on every single page of your project?
- Student paper — Did you include page numbers in the upper right-hand corner of all your pages?
- Are all headings, as in section or chapter titles, properly formatted? If youâre not sure, check section number 9.
- Are all tables and figures aligned properly? Did you include notes and other important information directly below the table or figure? Include any information that will help the reader completely understand everything in the table or figure if it were to stand alone.
- Are abbreviations used sparingly? Did you format them properly?
- Is the entire document double spaced?
- Are all numbers formatted properly? Check section 17, which is APA writing format for numbers.
- Did you glance at the sample paper? Is your assignment structured similarly? Are all of the margins uniform?
Submitting Your APA Paper
Congratulations for making it this far! Youâve put a lot of effort into writing your paper and making sure the tâs are crossed and the iâs are dotted. If youâre planning to submit your paper for a school assignment, make sure you review your teacher or professorâs procedures.
If youâre submitting your paper to a journal, you probably need to include a cover letter.
Most cover letters ask you to include:
- The authorâs contact information.
- A statement to the editor that the paper is original.
- If a similar paper exists elsewhere, notify the editor in the cover letter.
Once again, review the specific journalâs website for exact specifications for submission.
Okay, so youâre probably thinking youâre ready to hit send or print and submit your assignment. Can we offer one last suggestion? We promise it will only take a minute.
Consider running your paper through our handy dandy paper checker. Itâs pretty simple.
Copy and paste or upload your paper into our checker. Within a minute, weâll provide feedback on your spelling and grammar. If thereâs a pronoun , interjection , or verb out of place, weâll highlight it and offer suggestions for improvement. Weâll even take it a step further and point out any instances of possible plagiarism.
If it sounds too good to be true, then head on over to our innovative tool and give it a whirl. We promise you wonât be disappointed.
What is APA Format?
APA stands for the American Psychological Association . In this guide, youâll find information related to âWhat is APA format?â in relation to writing and organizing your paper according to the American Psychological Associationâs standards. Information on how to cite sources can be found on our APA citation page. The official American Psychological Association handbook was used as a reference for our guide and weâve included page numbers from the manual throughout. However, this page is not associated with the association.
Youâll most likely use APA format if your paper is on a scientific topic. Many behavioral and social sciences use this organizationâs standards and guidelines.
What are behavioral sciences? Behavioral sciences study human and animal behavior. They can include:
- Cognitive Science
- Neuroscience
What are social sciences? Social sciences focus on one specific aspect of human behavior, specifically social and cultural relationships. Social sciences can include:
- Anthropology
- Political Science
- Human Geography
- Archaeology
- Linguistics
What’s New in the 7th Edition?
This citation style was created by the American Psychological Association. Its rules and guidelines can be found in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association . The information provided in the guide above follows the 6th edition (2009) of the manual. The 7th edition was published in 2020 and is the most recent version.
The 7th edition of the Publication Manual is in full color and includes 12 sections (compared to 8 sections in the 6th edition). In general, this new edition differentiates between professional and student papers, includes guidance with accessibility in mind, provides new examples to follow, and has updated guidelines.Weâve selected a few notable updates below, but for a full view of all of the 7th edition changes visit the styleâs website linked here .
- Paper title
- Student name
- Affiliation (e.g., school, department, etc.)
- Course number and title
- Course instructor
- 6th edition – Running head: SMARTPHONE EFFECTS ON ADOLESCENT SOCIALIZATION
- 7th edition – SMARTPHONE EFFECTS ON ADOLESCENT SOCIALIZATION
- Pronouns . âTheyâ can be used as a gender-neutral pronoun.
- Bias-free language guidelines . There are updated and new sections on guidelines for this section. New sections address participation in research, socioeconomic status, and intersectionality.
- Spacing after sentences. Add only a single space after end punctuation.
- Tables and figures . The citing format is now streamlined so that both tables and figures should include a name and number above the table/figure, and a note underneath the table/figure.
- 6th ed. – (Ikemoto, Richardson, Murphy, Yoshida 2016)
- 7th ed. – (Ikemoto et al., 2016)
- Citing books. The location of the publisher can be omitted. Also, e-books no longer need to mention the format (e.g., Kindle, etc.)
- Example: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-019-0153-5
- Using URLs. URLs no longer need to be prefaced by the words âRetrieved from.â
New citing information . There is new guidance on citing classroom or intranet resources, and oral traditions or traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples.
Visit our EasyBib Twitter feed to discover more citing tips, fun grammar facts, and the latest product updates.
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.) (2020). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
Published October 31, 2011. Updated May 14, 2020.
Written and edited by Michele Kirschenbaum and Elise Barbeau. Michele Kirschenbaum is a school library media specialist and the in-house librarian at EasyBib.com. Elise Barbeau is the Citation Specialist at Chegg. She has worked in digital marketing, libraries, and publishing.
APA Formatting Guide
APA Formatting
- Annotated Bibliography
- Block Quotes
- et al Usage
- Multiple Authors
- Paraphrasing
- Page Numbers
- Parenthetical Citations
- Sample Paper
- View APA Guide
Citation Examples
- Book Chapter
- Journal Article
- Magazine Article
- Newspaper Article
- Website (no author)
- View all APA Examples
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We should not use âet al.â in APA reference list entries. If the number of authors in the source is up to and including 20, list all author names and use an ampersand (&) before the final author’s name. If the number of authors is more than 20, list the first 19 authors’ names followed by an ellipsis (but no ampersand), and then add the final author’s name. An example of author names in a reference entry having more than 20 authors is given below:
Author Surname1, F. M., Author Surname2, F. M., Author Surname3, F. M., Author Surname4, F. M., Author Surname5, F. M., Author Surname6, F. M., Author Surname7, F. M., Author Surname8, F. M., Author Surname9, F. M., Author Surname10, F. M., Author Surname11, F. M., Author Surname12, F. M., Author Surname13, F. M., Author Surname14, F. M., Author Surname15, F. M., Author Surname16, F. M., Author Surname17, F. M., Author Surname18, F. M., Author Surname19, F. M., . . . Last Author Surname, F. M. (Publication Year).
Alvarez, L. D., Peach, J. L., Rodriguez, J. F., Donald, L., Thomas, M., Aruck, A., Samy, K., Anthony, K., Ajey, M., Rodriguez, K. L., Katherine, K., Vincent, A., Pater, F., Somu, P., Pander, L., Berd, R., Fox, L., Anders, A., Kamala, W., . . . Nicole Jones, K. (2019).
Note that, unlike references with 2 to 20 author names, the symbol â&â is not used here before the last author’s name.
APA 7, released in October 2019, has some new updates. Here is a brief description of the updates made in APA 7.
Different types of papers and best practices are given in detail in Chapter 1.
How to format a student title page is explained in Chapter 2. Examples of a professional paper and a student paper are included.
Chapter 3 provides additional information on qualitative and mixed methods of research.
An update on writing style is included in Chapter 4.
In chapter 5, some best practices for writing with bias-free language are included.
Chapter 6 gives some updates on style elements including using a single space after a period, including a citation with an abbreviation, the treatment of numbers in abstracts, treatment for different types of lists, and the formatting of gene and protein names.
In Chapter 7, additional examples are given for tables and figures for different types of publications.
In Chapter 8, how to format quotations and how to paraphrase text are covered with additional examples. A simplified version of in-text citations is clearly illustrated.
Chapter 9 has many updates: listing all author names up to 20 authors, standardizing DOIs and URLs, and the formatting of an annotated bibliography.
Chapter 10 includes many examples with templates for all reference types. New rules covering the inclusion of the issue number for journals and the omission of publisher location from book references are provided. Explanations of how to cite YouTube videos, power point slides, and TED talks are included.
Chapter 11 includes many legal references for easy understanding.
Chapter 12 provides advice for authors on how to promote their papers.
For more information on some of the changes found in APA 7, check out this EasyBib article .
APA Citation Examples
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Scribbr Referencing Generator
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- Introduction
- Finding sources
Evaluating sources
- Integrating sources
Referencing sources
Tools and resources, a quick guide to working with sources.
Working with sources is an important skill that youâll need throughout your academic career.
It includes knowing how to find relevant sources, assessing their authority and credibility, and understanding how to integrate sources into your work with proper referencing.
This quick guide will help you get started!
Finding relevant sources
Sources commonly used in academic writing include academic journals, scholarly books, websites, newspapers, and encyclopedias. There are three main places to look for such sources:
- Research databases: Databases can be general or subject-specific. To get started, check out this list of databases by academic discipline . Another good starting point is Google Scholar .
- Your institutionâs library: Use your libraryâs database to narrow down your search using keywords to find relevant articles, books, and newspapers matching your topic.
- Other online resources: Consult popular online sources like websites, blogs, or Wikipedia to find background information. Be sure to carefully evaluate the credibility of those online sources.
When using academic databases or search engines, you can use Boolean operators to refine your results.
Generate Harvard, APA, MLA, and Chicago style references in seconds
Get started
In academic writing, your sources should be credible, up to date, and relevant to your research topic. Useful approaches to evaluating sources include the CRAAP test and lateral reading.
CRAAP is an abbreviation that reminds you of a set of questions to ask yourself when evaluating information.
- Currency: Does the source reflect recent research?
- Relevance: Is the source related to your research topic?
- Authority: Is it a respected publication? Is the author an expert in their field?
- Accuracy: Does the source support its arguments and conclusions with evidence?
- Purpose: What is the authorâs intention?
Lateral reading
Lateral reading means comparing your source to other sources. This allows you to:
- Verify evidence
- Contextualize information
- Find potential weaknesses
If a source is using methods or drawing conclusions that are incompatible with other research in its field, it may not be reliable.
Integrating sources into your work
Once you have found information that you want to include in your paper, signal phrases can help you to introduce it. Here are a few examples:
Following the signal phrase, you can choose to quote, paraphrase or summarize the source.
- Quoting : This means including the exact words of another source in your paper. The quoted text must be enclosed in quotation marks or (for longer quotes) presented as a block quote . Quote a source when the meaning is difficult to convey in different words or when you want to analyze the language itself.
- Paraphrasing: This means putting another personâs ideas into your own words. It allows you to integrate sources more smoothly into your text, maintaining a consistent voice. It also shows that you have understood the meaning of the source.
- Summarizing : This means giving an overview of the essential points of a source. Summaries should be much shorter than the original text. You should describe the key points in your own words and not quote from the original text.
Whenever you quote, paraphrase, or summarize a source, you must include a citation crediting the original author.
Referencing your sources is important because it:
- Allows you to avoid plagiarism
- Establishes the credentials of your sources
- Backs up your arguments with evidence
- Allows your reader to verify the legitimacy of your conclusions
The most common citation styles in the UK are APA, MLA, Harvard, Vancouver, MHRA, and Oscola. Each citation style has specific rules for formatting citations.
Scribbrâs free Reference Generator can generate perfect references and in-text citations in both APA and MLA styles. More citation styles will be available soon!
Scribbr and partners offer tons of tools and resources to make working with sources easier and faster. Take a look at our top picks:
- Reference Generator: Automatically generate Harvard and APA references .
- Plagiarism Checker : Detect plagiarism in your paper using the most accurate Turnitin-powered plagiarism software available to students.
- Proofreading services : Have a human editor improve your writing.
- Knowledge Base : Explore hundreds of articles, bite-sized videos, time-saving templates, and handy checklists that guide you through the process of research, writing, and citation.
Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWLÂŽ College of Liberal Arts
General Format
Welcome to the Purdue OWL
This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.
Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.
Please use the example at the bottom of this page to cite the Purdue OWL in APA.
You can also watch our APA vidcast series on the Purdue OWL YouTube Channel .
General APA Guidelines
Your essay should be typed and double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5" x 11"), with 1" margins on all sides. Include a page header (also known as the “ running head ”) at the top of every page. For a professional paper, this includes your paper title and the page number. For a student paper, this only includes the page number. To create a page header/running head , insert page numbers flush right. Then type "TITLE OF YOUR PAPER" in the header flush left using all capital letters. The running head is a shortened version of your paper's title and cannot exceed 50 characters including spacing and punctuation.
The 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual requires that the chosen font be accessible (i.e., legible) to all readers and that it be used consistently throughout the paper. It acknowledges that many font choices are legitimate, and it advises writers to check with their publishers, instructors, or institutions for guidance in cases of uncertainty.
While the APA Manual does not specify a single font or set of fonts for professional writing, it does recommend a few fonts that are widely available. These include sans serif fonts such as 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, and 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode as well as serif fonts such as 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Georgia, 10-point Computer Modern.
Major Paper Sections
Your essay should include four major sections: the Title Page , Abstract , Main Body , and References .
Note: APA 7 provides slightly different directions for formatting the title pages of professional papers (e.g., those intended for scholarly publication) and student papers (e.g., those turned in for credit in a high school or college course).
The title page should contain the title of the paper, the author's name , and the institutional affiliation . A professional paper should also include the author note . A student paper should also include the course number and name , instructor name , and assignment due date .
Type your title in upper and lowercase letters centered in the upper half of the page. The title should be centered and written in boldface. APA recommends that your title be focused and succinct and that it should not contain abbreviations or words that serve no purpose. Your title may take up one or two lines. All text on the title page, and throughout your paper, should be double-spaced.
Beneath the title, type the author's name : first name, middle initial(s), and last name. Do not use titles (Dr.) or degrees (PhD).
Beneath the author's name, type the institutional affiliation , which should indicate the location where the author(s) conducted the research.
A professional paper should include the author note beneath the institutional affiliation, in the bottom half of the title page. This should be divided up into several paragraphs, with any paragraphs that are not relevant omitted. The first paragraph should include the author’s name, the symbol for the ORCID iD, and the URL for the ORCID iD. Any authors who do not have an ORCID iD should be omitted. The second paragraph should show any change in affiliation or any deaths of the authors. The third paragraph should include any disclosures or acknowledgements, such as study registration, open practices and data sharing, disclosure of related reports and conflicts of interest, and acknowledgement of financial support and other assistance. The fourth paragraph should include contact information for the corresponding author.
A student paper should not include an author note.
Note again that page headers/page numbers (described above for professional and student papers) also appear at the top of the title page. In other words, a professional paper's title page will include the title of the paper flush left in all capitals and the page number flush right, while a student paper will only contain the page number flush right.
Student APA title page
Title page for a student paper in APA 7 style.
Professional paper APA title page
Title page for a professional paper in APA 7 style.
Begin a new page. Your abstract page should already include the page header (described above). On the first line of the abstract page, center and bold the word “Abstract” (no italics, underlining, or quotation marks).
Beginning with the next line, write a concise summary of the key points of your research. (Do not indent.) Your abstract should contain at least your research topic, research questions, participants, methods, results, data analysis, and conclusions. You may also include possible implications of your research and future work you see connected with your findings. Your abstract should be a single paragraph, double-spaced. Your abstract should typically be no more than 250 words.
You may also want to list keywords from your paper in your abstract. To do this, indent as you would if you were starting a new paragraph, type Keywords: (italicized), and then list your keywords. Listing your keywords will help researchers find your work in databases.
Abstracts are common in scholarly journal articles and are not typically required for student papers unless advised by an instructor. If you are unsure whether or not your work requires an abstract, consult your instructor for further guidance.
APA Abstract Page
Abstract page for a student paper in APA 7 style.
Please see our Sample APA Paper resource to see an example of an APA paper. You may also visit our Additional Resources page for more examples of APA papers.
How to Cite the Purdue OWL in APA
Individual resources.
The page template for the new OWL site does not include contributors' names or the page's last edited date. However, select pages still include this information.
In the absence of contributor/edit date information, treat the page as a source with a group author and use the abbreviation "n.d." for "no date":
Purdue Online Writing Lab. (n.d.). Title of resource. Purdue Online Writing Lab. http://Web address for OWL resource
Purdue Online Writing Lab. (n.d.). General Writing FAQs. Purdue Online Writing Lab. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/general_writing_faqs.html
The generic APA citation for OWL pages, which includes author/edit date information, is this:
Contributors' names. (Last edited date). Title of resource . Site Name. http://Web address for OWL resource
Note: This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019. The equivalent resource for the older APA 6 style can be found here .
APA 7th Edition Citation Guide
- APA 7th Edition Home
- Formatting the Paper Itself
- When and What to Cite
- In-Text: Multiple Authors
- In-Text: First and Subsequent Citations
- In-Text: Authors and Dates Matching
- In-Text: Direct Quotations
- In-Text: Secondary Sources
- Reference Examples: Print
- Reference Examples: Electronic
- Reference Examples: Audiovisual Media
- Step 1: Author (Names)
- Step 2: Date
- Step 3: Titles
- Step 4: Source
- Help and Training
- Related Guides
This citation guide is based on The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed., 2020). The contents are accurate to the best of our knowledge.
Content in this guide was copied with permission from Bethel University (TN) Library .
Reference Examples
Your references should begin on a new page separate from the text of the essay; label this page "References" centered at the top of the page in bold. All text should be double-spaced just like the rest of your essay.
Basic Rules
- All lines after the first line of each entry in your reference list should be indented 1/2-inch from the left margin. This is called hanging indentation. You can set up Word to do this automatically.
- If there are 21 or more authors, list the first 19 authors and insert an ellipsis. After the ellipsis, then add the final author's name.
- Reference list entries should be alphabetized by the last name of the first author of each work.
- For multiple articles by the same author (or authors listed in the same order), list the entries in chronological order, from earliest to most recent.
- Present the journal title in full.
- ReCALL , not RECALL
- Knowledge Management Research & Practice , not Knowledge Management Research and Practice
- When referring to the titles of books, chapters, articles, or webpages, capitalize only the first letter of the first word of a title and subtitle, the first word after a colon or a dash in the title, and proper nouns.
- Note that the distinction here is based on the type of source being cited. Academic journal titles have all major words capitalized, while other sources' titles do not.
- Italicize titles of longer works such as books and journals.
- Do not italicize, underline, or put quotes around the titles of shorter works such as journal articles or essays in edited collections.
From the APA Style Blog
Other apa style 7th reference resources.
- << Previous: In-Text: Secondary Sources
- Next: Reference Examples: Print >>
- Last Updated: Feb 16, 2024 4:01 PM
- URL: https://utsouthwestern.libguides.com/APA7
In-text citation
- Reference list
- Artificial intelligence
- Audiovisual
- Books and chapters
- Conferences
- Course materials
- Government and business reports
- Medicine and health sources
- Music scores
- Tables and figures
- Theses and dissertations
- Web and social media
- Other sources
- Print this page
- Other styles AGLC4 APA 7th Chicago 17th (A) Notes Chicago 17th (B) Author-Date Harvard MLA 9th Vancouver
- Referencing home
The APA 7th style uses in-text citations when referring to or quoting people’s work. The essential elements of an in-text citation are the author surname/s and year.
Two types of in-text citations
1. author prominent format.
Use this format if you want to emphasise the author. Their name becomes part of your sentence.
Jones (2018) concluded that the treatment was effective in 74% of cases.
Author prominent citations are also referred to as parenthetical citations.
2. Information prominent format
Use this format if you want to emphasise the information. It cites the author’s name, typically at the end of a sentence.
...as evidenced by a recent Australian study of the treatment's effectiveness (Jones, 2018).
Information prominent citations are also referred to as narrative citations.
The following examples show how to form in-text citations according to number of authors and other considerations.
Surname, Year
Hawkins (2020) reported that the results of the study were inconclusive.
. . . the results of the study were inconclusive (Hawkins, 2020).
Two authors
Both surnames in the order listed on the publication and the year.
For author prominent citations, use âandâ between the author names.
For information prominent citations, & between the author names.
Bovey and Hede (2013) argue that . . .
. . . is a significant factor (Bovey & Hede, 2013).
Three or more authors
Cite the first author followed by et al. and year
Robbins et al. (2017) note that leadership empathy and good communication are key to negotiating successful organisational change.
They may be required to work harder now there are … perform the same tasks (Robbins et al., 2017).
Different authors, same surname
When two or more authors have the same surname, add their initials to distinguish between them
P. R. Smith (1945) adopted a unique approach . . . . . . later in the text . . . This idea was first advanced by S. Smith (1935).
Research conducted by W.O. Brown and Jones (1985) was influenced by the work of S.A. Brown and Smith (1961).
The corresponding information prominent citations would be:
(P.R. Smith, 1945)
(S. Smith, 1935)
(W.O. Brown & Jones, 1985)
(S.A. Brown & Smith, 1961)
Multiple authors, ambiguous citations
Distinguish identical multiple-author citations with the same year by adding an additional surname, followed by a comma and et al.
Instead of just Brown et al. (1998), add additional author surnames to distinguish between separate works that Brown co-authored that year:
Brown, Shimamura, et al. (1998)
Brown, Taylor, et al. (1998).
The corresponding information prominent citations would be (Brown, Shimamura, et al., 1998), and (Brown, Taylor, et al., 1998).
- For further guidance see the APA Style website - Citing multiple worksâŚ
Same author, two or more works
Author surname, then years separated by a commas, in chronological order.
Reimer (2017, 2018, 2019) considered this phenomenon across various studies . . .
. . . this phenomenon was considered across various studies (Reimer, 2017, 2018, 2019).
Same author, multiple works and same year
Assign a suffix of a, b, c, d, etc. after the year, according to alphabetical listing by title in the reference list.
Stairs (1992b) examined . . . . . . later in the text . . . According to Stairs (1992a) . . .
. . . was recently considered (Stairs, 1992b) . . . . . . later in the text . . . . . . the results were inconclusive (Stairs, 1992a).
- For multiple references by the same author with no date, after n.d. add a hyphen and then the suffix e.g. (Dreshcke n.d.-b)
Multiple works from various authors
You may want to cite works from various authors to more strongly support a particular point you are making.
List each work alphabetically by surname in alphabetical order, separated by semicolons.
. . . as proposed by various researchers (Adams et al., 2020; Green, 2019; Hall & Clark, 2021).
Green (2019), Adams et al. (2020), and Hall and Clark (2021) analysed . . .
- In the author prominent citation there is no requirement to order the citations alphabetically
If the author is identified as 'Anonymous'
Use 'Anonymous' as the surname.
Anonymous (2019)
(Anonymous, 2019)
Unknown author
Give the first few words of the title. If the title is from an article or a chapter, use double quotation marks. If the title is from a periodical, book brochure, or report, then use italics.
. . . the worst election loss in the party's history ("This is the end," 1968).
Corporate or group author
If the organisation has a recognisable abbreviation
First listing: Organisation name [Abbreviation], Year Subsequent: Abbreviation, Year
Where the organisation abbreviation is not widely known
Use the name in full every time
Census data gives valuable insights into... (Australian Bureau of Statistics [ABS], 2021).
Australia's next census will be held on 10th August 2021 (ABS, 2021).
Author quoted directly
Occasionally it may be necessary to include in your work a quotation from an author.
Always include a page number when you have to cite directly from a source.
If no page numbers are available (e.g. in a website), include a paragraph number.
Use accepted abbreviations like p. for page and para. for paragraph
Gittins (2006) suggests that "the key to understanding microeconomics is to realise that its overwhelming focus is on the role of price" (p. 18).
Weston (1988) stated "the darkest days were still ahead" (p. 45).
A patient is in pain when they tell you and "it is important to believe the patient so as to build a trusting relationship" (Phipps et al., 1983, p.45).
Personal communications
Private letters, e-mail and conversations require only an in-text citation, which includes the date of the communication (Month DD, YYYY).
Personal communications are not included in reference lists, as they are not accessible to others.
R. Smith (personal communication, January 28, 2020) . . .
. . . (R. Smith, personal communication, January 28, 2020)
Author referred to in a secondary source
The original author is cited together with the secondary author.
Only do this when the original is unavailable and only include what you have actually read.
Farrow (1968, as cited in Ward & Decan, 1988) . . .
Ward and Decan (1988) cited Farrow (1968) as finding . . .
. . . (Farrow, 1968, as cited in Ward & Decan, 1988).
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- Plagiarism and grammar
- Citation guides
Cite a Book
Don't let plagiarism errors spoil your paper
Citing books in apa, print books with one author:.
APA citation format:
Author Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year Published). Title of work . Publisher.
Moriarty, L. (2014). Big little lies . G. P. Putnamâs Sons.
Print books with two or more authors:
Last name, First initial. Middle initial., Last name, First initial. Middle initial., & Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Date). Title . Publisher.
Goldin, C. D., & Katz, L. F. (2008). The race between education and technology . Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
Matthews, G., Smith, Y., & Knowles, G. (2009). Disaster management in archives, libraries and museums . Ashgate.
Full versions of E-books:
E-books are generally read either on a website, on an e-reader, or on a database.
Author Last Name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year Published). Title of work . https://doi.org/xxxx or http://xxxx
Auster, P. (2007). The Brooklyn follies . http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
To cite your ebooks automatically, use the âBookâ form at CitationMachine.com, click âManual entry mode,â and click the âE-bookâ tab. Everything will be properly formatted following APA bibliography guidelines.
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APA Tutorial
- In-text citations
- Articles from Journals, Magazines and Newspapers
- Dictionary or Encyclopedia
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- Data Sets and Statistics
- Paper formatting
opens new window Tutorial: APA Style Reference Citations
Take this tutorial to learn the principles of APA style citations.
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- URL: https://library.oru.edu/APA
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COMM:2010 Communication and Organizational Culture - Conrad, Spring 2024: APA Citation Help
- Searching in InfoHawk+
- Databases and Journals
- APA Citation Help
Citation Basics
When doing research it is often necessary to consult other sources and research. Citations are a way of identifying the sources you have quoted, paraphrased, or used in your research and writing. They let others know that they can trust your work and follow or extend your research.
Citations also help you to build your credibility as a scholar. By citing your sources, you are showing respect for the researchers you got your information from. You are also preventing Academic Misconduct , which can lead to serious consequences, including expulsion from the university.
Scholarly writing about the humanities most often uses Modern Language Association (MLA) guidelines for citations. APA is often used for Communication Studies as well. Other disciplines utilize different citation styles, like Chicago Style. You can find more information, including examples, on the Citation Help guide.
Where to find citation help
One of the most popular and highly respected resources for citation information is the Purdue OWL website. It is an excellent tool for becoming familiar with APA citation formats.
The librarians at the University of Iowa have created a Citation Help guide that covers the most prominent citation styles.
InfoHawk+ will also generate citations for you , but as with all citation managers/ builders - Always Double Check! You can find InfoHawk+'s Citation Generator at the bottom of the resource's record and can select what citation style you need.
Citation: A (Very) Brief Introduction
This video is published under a Creative Commons 3.0 BY-NC-SA US license by the North Carolina State University Libraries. License, credits, and contact information can be found here: https://www.lib.ncsu.edu/videos/citation-very-brief-introduction .
- Transcript of Citation: A (Very) Brief Introduction
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Generate accurate APA citations for free
- Knowledge Base
- How to cite a website in APA Style
How to Cite a Website in APA Style | Format & Examples
Published on November 5, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on January 17, 2024.
APA website citations usually include the author, the publication date, the title of the page or article, the website name, and the URL. If there is no author, start the citation with the title of the article. If the page is likely to change over time, add a retrieval date.
If you are citing an online version of a print publication (e.g. a newspaper , magazine , or dictionary ), use the same format as you would for print, with a URL added at the end. Formats differ for online videos (e.g. TED Talks ), images , and dissertations .
Use the buttons below to explore the format, or use our free APA Citation Generator to automatically create citations.
Cite a website in APA Style now:
Table of contents, citing an entire website, how to cite online articles, websites with no author, websites with no date, how to cite from social media, frequently asked questions about apa style citations.
When you refer to a website in your text without quoting or paraphrasing from a specific part of it, you donât need a formal citation. Instead, you can just include the URL in parentheses after the name of the site:
One of the most popular social media sites, Instagram (http://instagram.com), allows users to share images and videos.
For this kind of citation, you donât need to include the website on the reference page . However, if youâre citing a specific page or article from a website, you will need a formal in-text citation and reference list entry.
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The AI-powered Citation Checker helps you avoid common mistakes such as:
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Various kinds of articles appear online, and how you cite them depends on where the article appears.
Online articles from newspapers, magazines, and blogs
Articles appearing in online versions of print publications (e.g. newspapers and magazines) are cited like their print versions, but with an added URL.
The same format is used for blog posts. Just include the blog name where you would usually put the name of the magazine or newspaper.
Articles from online-only news sites
For articles from news sites without print equivalents (e.g. BBC News, Reuters), italicize the name of the article and not the name of the site.
When a web page does not list an individual author, it can usually be attributed to an organization or government . If this results in the author name being identical to the site name, omit the site name, as in the example below.
If you can’t identify any author at all, replace the author name with the title of the page or article.
In the in-text citation , put the title in quotation marks if it is in plain text in the reference list, or in italics if it is in italics in the reference list. Note that title case is used for the title here, unlike in the reference list. Shorten the title to the first few words if necessary.
When a web page or article does not list a publication or revision date, replace the date with ân.d.â (“no date”) in all citations.
If an online source is likely to change over time, it is recommended to include the date on which you accessed it.
Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.
As social media posts are usually untitled, use the first 20 words of the post, in italics, as a title. Also include any relevant information about the type of post and any multimedia aspects (e.g. videos, images, sound, links) in square brackets.
On some social media sites (such as Twitter ), users go by usernames instead of or in addition to their real names. Where the authorâs real name is known, include it, along with their username in square brackets:
In some cases, youâll want to cite a whole social media profile instead of a specific post. In these cases, include an access date, because a profile will obviously change over time:
When citing a webpage or online article , the APA in-text citation consists of the authorâs last name and year of publication. For example: (Worland & Williams, 2015). Note that the author can also be an organization. For example: (American Psychological Association, 2019).
If you’re quoting you should also include a locator. Since web pages don’t have page numbers, you can use one of the following options:
- Paragraph number: (Smith, 2018, para. 15).
- Heading or section name: ( CDC, 2020, Flu Season section)
- Abbreviated heading:Â ( CDC, 2020, “Key Facts” section)
When you quote or paraphrase a specific passage from a source, you need to indicate the location of the passage in your APA in-text citation . If there are no page numbers (e.g. when citing a website ) but the text is long, you can instead use section headings, paragraph numbers, or a combination of the two:
(Caulfield, 2019, Linking section, para. 1).
Section headings can be shortened if necessary. Kindle location numbers should not be used in ebook citations , as they are unreliable.
If you are referring to the source as a whole, it’s not necessary to include a page number or other marker.
When no individual author name is listed, but the source can clearly be attributed to a specific organizationâe.g., a press release by a charity, a report by an agency, or a page from a company’s websiteâuse the organizationâs name as the author in the reference entry and APA in-text citations .
When no author at all can be determinedâe.g. a collaboratively edited wiki or an online article published anonymouslyâuse the title in place of the author. In the in-text citation, put the title in quotation marks if it appears in plain text in the reference list, and in italics if it appears in italics in the reference list. Shorten it if necessary.
APA Style usually does not require an access date. You never need to include one when citing journal articles , e-books , or other stable online sources.
However, if you are citing a website or online article that’s designed to change over time, it’s a good idea to include an access date. In this case, write it in the following format at the end of the reference: Retrieved October 19, 2020, from https://www.uva.nl/en/about-the-uva/about-the-university/about-the-university.html
Instead of the authorâs name, include the first few words of the workâs title in the in-text citation. Enclose the title in double quotation marks when citing an article, web page or book chapter. Italicize the title of periodicals, books, and reports.
No publication date
If the publication date is unknown , use ân.d.â (no date) instead. For example: (Johnson, n.d.).
Cite this Scribbr article
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the âCite this Scribbr articleâ button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
Caulfield, J. (2024, January 17). How to Cite a Website in APA Style | Format & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved February 15, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-examples/website/
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Updated for 2024 Generate citations in APA format quickly and automatically, with MyBib! đ¤ What is an APA Citation Generator? An APA citation generator is a software tool that will automatically format academic citations in the American Psychological Association (APA) style.
With Scribbr's citation generator, you can search for your source by title, URL, ISBN, or DOI and generate accurate APA citations in seconds. No experience needed. Rely on accurate citations, verified by experts. You don't want points taken off for incorrect citations.
Get help for 7,000+ citation styles including APA 7 Check for 400+ advanced grammar errors Create in-text citations and save them Free 3-day trial. Cancel anytime.*ď¸ Try Citation MachineÂŽ Plus! *See Terms and Conditions A Comprehensive Guide to APA Citations and Format Overview of this guide:
Home Knowledge Base APA Style 7th edition APA format for academic papers and essays APA Formatting and Citation (7th Ed.) | Generator, Template, Examples Published on November 6, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on January 17, 2024. This article reflects the APA 7th edition guidelines. Click here for APA 6th edition guidelines.
Cite Cite with Chrome New Cite manually Scribbr for Chrome: Your shortcut to citations Cite any page or article with a single click right from your browser. The extension does the hard work for you by automatically grabbing the title, author (s), publication date, and everything else needed to whip up the perfect citation. Add to Chrome. It's free!
It can be found on the EasyBib Writing Center page. You can use the APA paper example to help structure your own APA title page and paper. (e.g., that song you heard on the radio this morning) should list the name of the recording artist's name. lists the song's composer (e.g., think Mozart, Beethoven, etc.).
The Cite This For Me powerful citation generator fully-formats all of your APA citations in just a click.
Stay up to date! Get research tips and citation information or just enjoy some fun posts from our student blog. Citation MachineÂŽ helps students and professionals properly credit the information that they use. Cite sources in APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian, and Harvard for free.
Instantly get in-text and full APA citations with Grammarly's auto-citations tool, which works within top source sites like Wikipedia, Frontiers, and ScienceDirect. Never lose points over citation formatting
MyBib is a free bibliography and citation generator that makes accurate citations for you to copy straight into your academic assignments and papers. If you're a student, academic, or teacher, and you're tired of the other bibliography and citation tools out there, then you're going to love MyBib. MyBib creates accurate citations automatically ...
The Basics General guidelines for referring to the works of others in your essay Author/Authors How to refer to authors in-text, including single and multiple authors, unknown authors, organizations, etc. Reference List Resources on writing an APA style reference list, including citation formats Basic Rules
An APA format citation is an APA format in-text citation. These are found within your paper, anytime a quote or paraphrase is included. They usually only include the name of the author and the date the source was published. Here's an example of one: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is even discussed in the book, The Emperor of Any Place. The main ...
Allows your reader to verify the legitimacy of your conclusions. The most common citation styles in the UK are APA, MLA, Harvard, Vancouver, MHRA, and Oscola. Each citation style has specific rules for formatting citations. Scribbr's free Reference Generator can generate perfect references and in-text citations in both APA and MLA styles.
In-text citations are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Chapter 8 and the Concise Guide Chapter 8 Date created: September 2019 APA Style provides guidelines to help writers determine the appropriate level of citation and how to avoid plagiarism and self-plagiarism.
Begin For Free. Our Citation Generator is free! Check out our. for a full list of advantages and perks. Create perfect APA citations for free with our user-friendly APA format generator. Streamline your referencing process using our powerful APA citation generator tool. Try it now!
Citefast is a FREE APA, MLA and Chicago citation generator. Generate references, bibliographies, in-text citations and title pages quickly and accurately. Used by students and professionals.
Purdue OWL Research and Citation APA Style (7th Edition) APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition) In-Text Citations: The Basics In-Text Citations: The Basics Note: This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019.
Please see our Sample APA Paper resource to see an example of an APA paper. You may also visit our Additional Resources page for more examples of APA papers.. How to Cite the Purdue OWL in APA Individual Resources. The page template for the new OWL site does not include contributors' names or the page's last edited date.
Ready to create a citation? Enter the website's URL into the search box above. You'll get a list of results, so you can identify and choose the correct source you want to cite. It's that easy to begin! If you're wondering how to cite a website in APA, use the structure below. Structure: Author Last Name, First initial. (Year, Month Date Published).
More than 100 reference examples and their corresponding in-text citations are presented in the seventh edition Publication Manual.Examples of the most common works that writers cite are provided on this page; additional examples are available in the Publication Manual.. To find the reference example you need, first select a category (e.g., periodicals) and then choose the appropriate type of ...
The APA Citation Checker detects missing references in your document. The interactive report then allows you to fix them quickly and easily, resolving issues in seconds. Take it to the next level: Get help from an expert Books, webpages, articles: each source type has its own reference format.
This citation guide is based on The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed., 2020).The contents are accurate to the best of our knowledge. Content in this guide was copied with permission from Bethel University (TN) Library.
The APA 7th style uses in-text citations when referring to or quoting people's work. The essential elements of an in-text citation are the author surname/s and year. Two types of in-text citations 1. Author prominent format. Use this format if you want to emphasise the author. Their name becomes part of your sentence.
Get help for 7,000+ citation styles including APA 7 Check for 400+ advanced grammar errors Create in-text citations and save them Free 3-day trial. Cancel anytime.*ď¸ Try Citation MachineÂŽ Plus! *See Terms and Conditions Citing books in APA Print books with one author: APA citation format: Author Last name, First initial. Middle initial.
Basic format of citations according to the 7th edition of the APA style manual. APA Style Reference Examples (web) Examples of the most common works that writers cite are provided on this web page.
One of the most popular and highly respected resources for citation information is the Purdue OWL website. It is an excellent tool for becoming familiar with APA citation formats. The librarians at the University of Iowa have created a Citation Help guide that covers the most prominent citation styles.. InfoHawk+ will also generate citations for you, but as with all citation managers/builders ...
APA website citations usually include the author, the publication date, the title of the page or article, the website name, and the URL. If there is no author, start the citation with the title of the article. If the page is likely to change over time, add a retrieval date.