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Information
How to cite references using apa style.
- Getting Started
- Finding Help
- Books, E-Books (including book chapters & encyclopedia entries) & Dissertations/Theses
- Articles from Scholarly Journals, Magazines & Newspapers (print & online)
- Class Resources (Lectures, PowerPoints, Handouts)
- Webpages, websites & social media
- Government Reports, Legal Citations & Regulations, Lecture Notes, Interviews, ERIC Documents, archival materials and other miscellaneous
- Images, film, music, media
- Citing ChatGPT and Other AI Tools in APA Style
- Sources from Business-Specific Databases
- Formatting Author Names, Abbreviations, Rules & More
- In-text citation help
- APA 6th Edition
APA Examples Handout
- APA References 7th Edition (PDF)
- APA Citation Style Guide (Word) [Handout]
Available for print or download.
Other Relevant Guides
- How to Cite References Using MLA Style
- How to Cite Reference Using Chicago Style/Turabian
- Reference Tools - Citation Style Guides
About Citing References Using APA Style
Welcome to the guide for Citing References Using APA Style!
We hope that you will find this guide a useful starting place for information on APA Style, 7th edition. We have assembled a core collection of resources available through the Wayne State University Library System, as well as high quality, freely available web resources. This guide is a collaborative work-in-progress, developed with the suggestions and feedback from students and faculty.
Note: APA 7th Edition requires Double-Spacing throughout your paper.
AI Disclaimer
Do not use AI to suggest references to read/cite
Please be aware that ChatGPT and other AI services can produce incorrect, made-up references that cannot be sourced. While some individual parts of an AI-generated reference may be accurate (such as the journal name, article or book title or an author) the whole reference does not usually exist so cannot be found by our library team.
If you have a reference that you cannot find, our team may ask where it came from so that we can ensure it is legitimate before attempting to find it. If you need assistance, please use our 24/7 library chat service.
More APA Style Guides
- Academic Writer Tutorial: Basics of Seventh Edition APA Style This tutorial takes you through the basics of writing an APA style paper, from paper format and organization to in-text citations and references.
- APA Style Guide, 7th Ed. This is the website for the 7th edition of the APA Style manual.
- APA Style, 7th ed., Handouts & Guides Instructional aids in PDF format; guides to introduce writers to APA Style or provide a brief overview of specific topics; checklists to use during the writing process; interactive activities to improve APA formatting or writing.
- APA Style and Grammar Guidelines
- Instructional Aids for 7th Edition
- Notable Changes in APA 7th Edition
- Excelsior Online Writing Lab This resource offers examples of the general format for papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and reference pages.
- Sample Papers in APA Style Includes samples of an Annotated Bibliography, a variety of essays, literature review and more.
Citation Management Software
- Citation Management Options Links to citation management software, tutorials, downloads, etc. available to assist you with citing your sources.
- How to Use Refworks Refworks is a cloud-based citation management tool that formats your bibliographies in APA, MLA, and many other citation styles, and use the saved references with Microsoft Word and other word processing software.. It is free to Wayne State University students, faculty, staff and other affiliated users.
- How to Use Zotero Zotero is a free open-source online citation management software that helps you gather, organize, and analyze sources and use the saved references with Microsoft Word and other word processing software.
- How to Use EndNote EndNote citation management software available at a discount to all WSU students, faculty and staff. It allows you to manually enter citation information, or export directly from the library's online databases. EndNote can format bibliographic entries in almost every citation style and works with most word processors to insert citations and build reference lists as you write.
Format and Citation Tools
- Paper Formatting Guide to formatting papers in APA 7th Edition. Developed by University of Texas Arlington Libraries.
- ZoteroBib ZoteroBib creates a bibliography in the style you need, including APA, MLA and Chicago/Turbaian. Just enter the from URL, title, DOI and other information, select your style and Zotero will compile a formatted citation list.
- Next: Finding Help >>
Helpful Videos
Digital Object Identifiers
A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a unique and permanent set of numbers and letters that will always lead you to the location of a document on the Internet.
- Finding & Using DOIs This article explains how to find DOIs and incorporate them in APA citations.
- DOIs & URLs This article explains the difference between DOIs and URLs and when to use them in APA citation.
- Last Updated: Jun 5, 2024 9:57 AM
- URL: https://guides.lib.wayne.edu/apastyle
- Borrowing & Renewals
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- MJC Library & Learning Center
- Research Guides
Format Your Paper & Cite Your Sources
- APA Style, 7th Edition
- Citing Sources
- Avoid Plagiarism
- MLA Style (8th/9th ed.)
APA Tutorial
Formatting your paper, headings organize your paper (2.27), video tutorials, reference list format (9.43).
- Elements of a Reference
Reference Examples (Chapter 10)
Dois and urls (9.34-9.36), in-text citations.
- In-Text Citations Format
- In-Text Citations for Specific Source Types
NoodleTools
- Chicago Style
- Harvard Style
- Other Styles
- Annotated Bibliographies
- How to Create an Attribution
What is APA Style?
APA style was created by social and behavioral scientists to standardize scientific writing. APA style is most often used in:
- psychology,
- social sciences (sociology, business), and
If you're taking courses in any of these areas, be prepared to use APA style.
For in-depth guidance on using this citation style, refer to Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association , 7th ed. We have several copies available at the MJC Library at the call number BF 76.7 .P83 2020 .
APA Style, 7th ed.
In October 2019, the American Psychological Association made radical changes its style, especially with regard to the format and citation rules for students writing academic papers. Use this guide to learn how to format and cite your papers using APA Style, 7th edition.
You can start by viewing the video tutorial .
For help on all aspects of formatting your paper in APA Style, see The Essentials page on the APA Style website.
- sans serif fonts such as 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, or 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode, or
- serif fonts such as 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Georgia, or normal (10-point) Computer Modern (the default font for LaTeX)
- There are exceptions for the title page , tables , figures , footnotes , and displayed equations .
- Margins : Use 1-in. margins on every side of the page.
- Align the text of an APA Style paper to the left margin . Leave the right margin uneven, or “ragged.”
- Do not use full justification for student papers.
- Do not insert hyphens (manual breaks) in words at the end of line. However, it is acceptable if your word-processing program automatically inserts breaks in long hyperlinks (such as in a DOI or URL in a reference list entry).
- Indent the first line of each paragraph of text 0.5 in . from the left margin. Use the tab key or the automatic paragraph-formatting function of your word-processing program to achieve the indentation (the default setting is likely already 0.5 in.). Do not use the space bar to create indentation.
- There are exceptions for the title page , section labels , abstract , block quotations , headings , tables and figures , reference list , and appendices .
Paper Elements
Student papers generally include, at a minimum:
- Title Page (2.3)
- Text (2.11)
- References (2.12)
Student papers may include additional elements such as tables and figures depending on the assignment. So, please check with your teacher!
Student papers generally DO NOT include the following unless your teacher specifically requests it:
- Running head
- Author note
For complete information on the order of pages , see the APA Style website.
Number your pages consecutively starting with page 1. Each section begins on a new page. Put the pages in the following order:
- Page 1: Title page
- Page 2: Abstract (if your teacher requires an abstract)
- Page 3: Text
- References begin on a new page after the last page of text
- Footnotes begin on a new page after the references (if your teacher requires footnotes)
- Tables begin each on a new page after the footnotes (if your teacher requires tables)
- Figures begin on a new page after the tables (if your teacher requires figures)
- Appendices begin on a new page after the tables and/or figures (if your teacher requires appendices)
Sample Papers With Built-In Instructions
To see what your paper should look like, check out these sample papers with built-in instructions.
APA Style uses five (5) levels of headings to help you organize your paper and allow your audience to identify its key points easily. Levels of headings establish the hierarchy of your sections just like you did in your paper outline.
APA tells us to use "only the number of headings necessary to differentiate distinct section in your paper." Therefore, the number of heading levels you create depends on the length and complexity of your paper.
See the chart below for instructions on formatting your headings:
Use Word to Format Your Paper:
Use Google Docs to Format Your Paper:
Placement: The reference list appears at the end of the paper, on its own page(s). If your research paper ends on page 8, your References begin on page 9.
Heading: Place the section label References in bold at the top of the page, centered.
Arrangement: Alphabetize entries by author's last name. If source has no named author, alphabetize by the title, ignoring A, An, or The. (9.44-9.48)
Spacing: Like the rest of the APA paper, the reference list is double-spaced throughout. Be sure NOT to add extra spaces between citations.
Indentation: To make citations easier to scan, add a hanging indent of 0.5 in. to any citation that runs more than one line. Use the paragraph-formatting function of your word processing program to create your hanging indent.
See Sample References Page (from APA Sample Student Paper):
Elements of Reference List Entries: (Chapter 9)
References generally have four elements, each of which has a corresponding question for you to answer:
- Author: Who is responsible for this work? (9.7-9.12)
- Date: When was this work published? (9.13-9.17)
- Title: What is this work called? (9.18-9.22)
- Source: Where can I retrieve this work? (9.23-9.37)
By using these four elements and answering these four questions, you should be able to create a citation for any type of source.
For complete information on all of these elements, checkout the APA Style website.
This infographic shows the first page of a journal article. The locations of the reference elements are highlighted with different colors and callouts, and the same colors are used in the reference list entry to show how the entry corresponds to the source.
To create your references, you'll simple look for these elements in your source and put them together in your reference list entry.
American Psychological Association. Example of where to find reference information for a journal article [Infographic]. APA Style Center. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/basic-principles
Below you'll find two printable handouts showing APA citation examples. The first is an abbreviated list created by MJC Librarians. The second, which is more comprehensive, is from the APA Style website. Feel free to print these for your convenience or use the links to reference examples below:
- APA Citation Examples Created by MJC Librarians for you.
- Common References Examples (APA Handout) Printable handout from the American Psychological Association.
- Journal Article
- Magazine Article
- Newspaper Article
- Edited Book Chapter
- Webpage on a Website
Classroom or Intranet Sources
- Classroom Course Pack Materials
- How to Cite ChatGPT
- Dictionary Entry
- Government Report
- Legal References (Laws & Cases)
- TED Talk References
- Religious Works
- Open Educational Resources (OER)
- Archival Documents and Collections
You can view the entire Reference Examples website below and view a helpful guide to finding useful APA style topics easily:
- APA Style: Reference Examples
- Navigating the not-so-hidden treasures of the APA Style website
- Missing Reference Information
Sometimes you won't be able to find all the elements required for your reference. In that case, see the instructions in Table 9.1 of the APA style manual in section 9.4 or the APA Style website below:
- Direct Quotation of Material Without Page Numbers
The DOI or URL is the final component of a reference list entry. Because so much scholarship is available and/or retrieved online, most reference list entries end with either a DOI or a URL.
- A DOI is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies content and provides a persistent link to its location on the internet. DOIs can be found in database records and the reference lists of published works.
- A URL specifies the location of digital information on the internet and can be found in the address bar of your internet browser. URLs in references should link directly to the cited work when possible.
When to Include DOIs and URLs:
- Include a DOI for all works that have a DOI, regardless of whether you used the online version or the print version.
- If an online work has both a DOI and a URL, include only the DOI.
- For works without DOIs from websites (not including academic research databases), provide a URL in the reference (as long as the URL will work for readers).
- For works without DOIs from most academic research databases, do not include a URL or database information in the reference because these works are widely available. The reference should be the same as the reference for a print version of the work.
- For works from databases that publish original, proprietary material available only in that database (such as the UpToDate database) or for works of limited circulation in databases (such as monographs in the ERIC database), include the name of the database or archive and the URL of the work. If the URL requires a login or is session-specific (meaning it will not resolve for readers), provide the URL of the database or archive home page or login page instead of the URL for the work. (See APA Section 9.30 for more information).
- If the URL is no longer working or no longer provides readers access to the content you intend to cite, try to find an archived version using the Internet Archive , then use the archived URL. If there is no archived URL, do not use that resource.
Format of DOIs and URLs:
Your DOI should look like this:
https://doi.org/10.1037/a0040251
Follow these guidelines from the APA Style website.
APA Style uses the author–date citation system , in which a brief in-text citation points your reader to the full reference list entry at the end of your paper. The in-text citation appears within the body of the paper and briefly identifies the cited work by its author and date of publication. This method enables your reader to locate the corresponding entry in the alphabetical reference list at the end of your paper.
Each work you cite must appear in the reference list, and each work in the reference list must be cited in the text (or in a table, figure, footnote, or appendix) except for the following (See APA, 8.4):
- Personal communications (8.9)
- General mentions of entire websites, whole periodicals (8.22), and common software and apps (10.10) in the text do not require a citation or reference list entry.
- The source of an epigraph does not usually appear in the reference list (8.35)
- Quotations from your research participants do not need citations or reference list entries (8.36)
- References included in a statistical meta-analysis, which are marked with an asterisk in the reference list, may be cited in the text (or not) at the author’s discretion. This exception is relevant only to authors who are conducting a meta-analysis (9.52).
Formatting Your In-Text Citations
Parenthetical and Narrative Citations: ( See APA Section 8.11)
In APA style you use the author-date citation system for citing references within your paper. You incorporate these references using either a parenthetical or a narrative style.
Parenthetical Citations
- In parenthetical citations, the author name and publication date appear in parentheses, separated by a comma. (Jones, 2018)
- A parenthetical citation can appear within or at the end of a sentence.
- When the parenthetical citation is at the end of the sentence, put the period or other end punctuation after the closing parenthesis.
- If there is no author, use the first few words of the reference list entry, usually the "Title" of the source: ("Autism," 2008) See APA 8.14
- When quoting, always provide the author, year, and specific page citation or paragraph number for nonpaginated materials in the text (Santa Barbara, 2010, p. 243). See APA 8.13
- For most citations, the parenthetical reference is placed BEFORE the punctuation: Magnesium can be effective in treating PMS (Haggerty, 2012).
Narrative Citations
In narrative citations, the author name or title of your source appears within your text and the publication date appears in parentheses immediately after the author name.
- Santa Barbara (2010) noted a decline in the approval of disciplinary spanking of 26 percentage points from 1968 to 1994.
In-Text Citation Checklist
- In-Text Citation Checklist Use this useful checklist from the American Psychological Association to ensure that you've created your in-text citations correctly.
In-Text Citations for Specific Types of Sources
Quotations from Research Participants
Personal Communications
Secondary Sources
Use NoodleTools to Cite Your Sources
NoodleTools can help you create your references and your in-text citations.
- NoodleTools Express No sign in required . When you need one or two quick citations in MLA, APA, or Chicago style, simply generate them in NoodleTools Express then copy and paste what you need into your document. Note: Citations are not saved and cannot be exported to a word processor using NoodleTools Express.
- NoodleTools (Login Full Database) This link opens in a new window Create and organize your research notes, share and collaborate on research projects, compose and error check citations, and complete your list of works cited in MLA, APA, or Chicago style using the full version of NoodleTools. You'll need to Create a Personal ID and password the first time you use NoodleTools.
See How to Use NoodleTools Express to Create a Citation in APA Format
Additional NoodleTools Help
- NoodleTools Help Desk Look up questions and answers on the NoodleTools Web site
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- Next: Chicago Style >>
- Last Updated: Jul 10, 2024 5:03 PM
- URL: https://libguides.mjc.edu/citeyoursources
Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 and CC BY-NC 4.0 Licenses .
APA Style (7th ed.)
- Cite: Why? When?
- Book, eBook, Dissertation
- Article or Report
- Business Sources
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools
- In-Text Citation
- Format Your Paper
American Psychological Association (APA) Style is used by writers in the social sciences:
Business, Communications, Education, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology & Anthropology, and Women's & Gender Studies
Editable Template Documents for Student Papers
- APA 7th ed. Template Document This is an APA format template document in Google Docs. Click on the link -- it will ask for you to make a new copy of the document, which you can save in your own Google Drive with your preferred privacy settings.
- APA 7th ed. Template Document A Microsoft Word document formatted correctly according to APA 7th edition.
- APA 7th ed. Annotated Bibliography template A Microsoft Word document formatted correctly for an annotated bibliography.
Example Student Paper
- APA Example Paper An annotated sample student paper from APA.
Printable Handouts & Tutorial
- Citing References: APA Style [PDF]
Get the Book
- << Previous: Cite: Why? When?
- Next: Book, eBook, Dissertation >>
- Last Updated: Aug 19, 2024 4:18 PM
- URL: https://libguides.uww.edu/apa
Welcome to the new OASIS website! We have academic skills, library skills, math and statistics support, and writing resources all together in one new home.
- Walden University
- Faculty Portal
Reference List: Common Reference List Examples
Article (with doi).
Alvarez, E., & Tippins, S. (2019). Socialization agents that Puerto Rican college students use to make financial decisions. Journal of Social Change , 11 (1), 75–85. https://doi.org/10.5590/JOSC.2019.11.1.07
Laplante, J. P., & Nolin, C. (2014). Consultas and socially responsible investing in Guatemala: A case study examining Maya perspectives on the Indigenous right to free, prior, and informed consent. Society & Natural Resources , 27 , 231–248. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2013.861554
Use the DOI number for the source whenever one is available. DOI stands for "digital object identifier," a number specific to the article that can help others locate the source. In APA 7, format the DOI as a web address. Active hyperlinks for DOIs and URLs should be used for documents meant for screen reading. Present these hyperlinks in blue and underlined text (the default formatting in Microsoft Word), although plain black text is also acceptable. Be consistent in your formatting choice for DOIs and URLs throughout your reference list. Also see our Quick Answer FAQ, "Can I use the DOI format provided by library databases?"
Jerrentrup, A., Mueller, T., Glowalla, U., Herder, M., Henrichs, N., Neubauer, A., & Schaefer, J. R. (2018). Teaching medicine with the help of “Dr. House.” PLoS ONE , 13 (3), Article e0193972. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0193972
For journal articles that are assigned article numbers rather than page ranges, include the article number in place of the page range.
For more on citing electronic resources, see Electronic Sources References .
Article (Without DOI)
Found in a common academic research database or in print.
Casler , T. (2020). Improving the graduate nursing experience through support on a social media platform. MEDSURG Nursing , 29 (2), 83–87.
If an article does not have a DOI and you retrieved it from a common academic research database through the university library, there is no need to include any additional electronic retrieval information. The reference list entry looks like the entry for a print copy of the article. (This format differs from APA 6 guidelines that recommended including the URL of a journal's homepage when the DOI was not available.) Note that APA 7 has additional guidance on reference list entries for articles found only in specific databases or archives such as Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, UpToDate, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, and university archives. See APA 7, Section 9.30 for more information.
Found on an Open Access Website
Eaton, T. V., & Akers, M. D. (2007). Whistleblowing and good governance. CPA Journal , 77 (6), 66–71. http://archives.cpajournal.com/2007/607/essentials/p58.htm
Provide the direct web address/URL to a journal article found on the open web, often on an open access journal's website. In APA 7, active hyperlinks for DOIs and URLs should be used for documents meant for screen reading. Present these hyperlinks in blue and underlined text (the default formatting in Microsoft Word), although plain black text is also acceptable. Be consistent in your formatting choice for DOIs and URLs throughout your reference list.
Weinstein, J. A. (2010). Social change (3rd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield.
If the book has an edition number, include it in parentheses after the title of the book. If the book does not list any edition information, do not include an edition number. The edition number is not italicized.
American Nurses Association. (2015). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice (3rd ed.).
If the author and publisher are the same, only include the author in its regular place and omit the publisher.
Lencioni, P. (2012). The advantage: Why organizational health trumps everything else in business . Jossey-Bass. https://amzn.to/343XPSJ
As a change from APA 6 to APA 7, it is no longer necessary to include the ebook format in the title. However, if you listened to an audiobook and the content differs from the text version (e.g., abridged content) or your discussion highlights elements of the audiobook (e.g., narrator's performance), then note that it is an audiobook in the title element in brackets. For ebooks and online audiobooks, also include the DOI number (if available) or nondatabase URL but leave out the electronic retrieval element if the ebook was found in a common academic research database, as with journal articles. APA 7 allows for the shortening of long DOIs and URLs, as shown in this example. See APA 7, Section 9.36 for more information.
Chapter in an Edited Book
Poe, M. (2017). Reframing race in teaching writing across the curriculum. In F. Condon & V. A. Young (Eds.), Performing antiracist pedagogy in rhetoric, writing, and communication (pp. 87–105). University Press of Colorado.
Include the page numbers of the chapter in parentheses after the book title.
Christensen, L. (2001). For my people: Celebrating community through poetry. In B. Bigelow, B. Harvey, S. Karp, & L. Miller (Eds.), Rethinking our classrooms: Teaching for equity and justice (Vol. 2, pp. 16–17). Rethinking Schools.
Also include the volume number or edition number in the parenthetical information after the book title when relevant.
Freud, S. (1961). The ego and the id. In J. Strachey (Ed.), The standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud (Vol. 19, pp. 3-66). Hogarth Press. (Original work published 1923)
When a text has been republished as part of an anthology collection, after the author’s name include the date of the version that was read. At the end of the entry, place the date of the original publication inside parenthesis along with the note “original work published.” For in-text citations of republished work, use both dates in the parenthetical citation, original date first with a slash separating the years, as in this example: Freud (1923/1961). For more information on reprinted or republished works, see APA 7, Sections 9.40-9.41.
Classroom Resources
Citing classroom resources.
If you need to cite content found in your online classroom, use the author (if there is one listed), the year of publication (if available), the title of the document, and the main URL of Walden classrooms. For example, you are citing study notes titled "Health Effects of Exposure to Forest Fires," but you do not know the author's name, your reference entry will look like this:
Health effects of exposure to forest fires [Lecture notes]. (2005). Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com
If you do know the author of the document, your reference will look like this:
Smith, A. (2005). Health effects of exposure to forest fires [PowerPoint slides]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com
A few notes on citing course materials:
- [Lecture notes]
- [Course handout]
- [Study notes]
- It can be difficult to determine authorship of classroom documents. If an author is listed on the document, use that. If the resource is clearly a product of Walden (such as the course-based videos), use Walden University as the author. If you are unsure or if no author is indicated, place the title in the author spot, as above.
- If you cannot determine a date of publication, you can use n.d. (for "no date") in place of the year.
Note: The web location for Walden course materials is not directly retrievable without a password, and therefore, following APA guidelines, use the main URL for the class sites: https://class.waldenu.edu.
Citing Tempo Classroom Resources
Clear author:
Smith, A. (2005). Health effects of exposure to forest fires [PowerPoint slides]. Walden University Brightspace. https://mytempo.waldenu.edu
Unclear author:
Health effects of exposure to forest fires [Lecture notes]. (2005). Walden University Brightspace. https://mytempo.waldenu.edu
Conference Sessions and Presentations
Feinman, Y. (2018, July 27). Alternative to proctoring in introductory statistics community college courses [Poster presentation]. Walden University Research Symposium, Minneapolis, MN, United States. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/symposium2018/23/
Torgerson, K., Parrill, J., & Haas, A. (2019, April 5-9). Tutoring strategies for online students [Conference session]. The Higher Learning Commission Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, United States. http://onlinewritingcenters.org/scholarship/torgerson-parrill-haas-2019/
Dictionary Entry
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Leadership. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary . Retrieved May 28, 2020, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leadership
When constructing a reference for an entry in a dictionary or other reference work that has no byline (i.e., no named individual authors), use the name of the group—the institution, company, or organization—as author (e.g., Merriam Webster, American Psychological Association, etc.). The name of the entry goes in the title position, followed by "In" and the italicized name of the reference work (e.g., Merriam-Webster.com dictionary , APA dictionary of psychology ). In this instance, APA 7 recommends including a retrieval date as well for this online source since the contents of the page change over time. End the reference entry with the specific URL for the defined word.
Discussion Board Post
Osborne, C. S. (2010, June 29). Re: Environmental responsibility [Discussion post]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com
Dissertations or Theses
Retrieved From a Database
Nalumango, K. (2019). Perceptions about the asylum-seeking process in the United States after 9/11 (Publication No. 13879844) [Doctoral dissertation, Walden University]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses.
Retrieved From an Institutional or Personal Website
Evener. J. (2018). Organizational learning in libraries at for-profit colleges and universities [Doctoral dissertation, Walden University]. ScholarWorks. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6606&context=dissertations
Unpublished Dissertation or Thesis
Kirwan, J. G. (2005). An experimental study of the effects of small-group, face-to-face facilitated dialogues on the development of self-actualization levels: A movement towards fully functional persons [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center.
For further examples and information, see APA 7, Section 10.6.
Legal Material
For legal references, APA follows the recommendations of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation , so if you have any questions beyond the examples provided in APA, seek out that resource as well.
Court Decisions
Reference format:
Name v. Name, Volume Reporter Page (Court Date). URL
Sample reference entry:
Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954). https://www.oyez.org/cases/1940-1955/347us483
Sample citation:
In Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the Supreme Court ruled racial segregation in schools unconstitutional.
Note: Italicize the case name when it appears in the text of your paper.
Name of Act, Title Source § Section Number (Year). URL
Sample reference entry for a federal statute:
Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq. (2004). https://www.congress.gov/108/plaws/publ446/PLAW-108publ446.pdf
Sample reference entry for a state statute:
Minnesota Nurse Practice Act, Minn. Stat. §§ 148.171 et seq. (2019). https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/148.171
Sample citation: Minnesota nurses must maintain current registration in order to practice (Minnesota Nurse Practice Act, 2010).
Note: The § symbol stands for "section." Use §§ for sections (plural). To find this symbol in Microsoft Word, go to "Insert" and click on Symbol." Look in the Latin 1-Supplement subset. Note: U.S.C. stands for "United States Code." Note: The Latin abbreviation " et seq. " means "and what follows" and is used when the act includes the cited section and ones that follow. Note: List the chapter first followed by the section or range of sections.
Unenacted Bills and Resolutions
(Those that did not pass and become law)
Title [if there is one], bill or resolution number, xxx Cong. (year). URL
Sample reference entry for Senate bill:
Anti-Phishing Act, S. 472, 109th Cong. (2005). https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/472
Sample reference entry for House of Representatives resolution:
Anti-Phishing Act, H.R. 1099, 109th Cong. (2005). https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/1099
The Anti-Phishing Act (2005) proposed up to 5 years prison time for people running Internet scams.
These are the three legal areas you may be most apt to cite in your scholarly work. For more examples and explanation, see APA 7, Chapter 11.
Magazine Article
Clay, R. (2008, June). Science vs. ideology: Psychologists fight back about the misuse of research. Monitor on Psychology , 39 (6). https://www.apa.org/monitor/2008/06/ideology
Note that for citations, include only the year: Clay (2008). For magazine articles retrieved from a common academic research database, leave out the URL. For magazine articles from an online news website that is not an online version of a print magazine, follow the format for a webpage reference list entry.
Newspaper Article (Retrieved Online)
Baker, A. (2014, May 7). Connecticut students show gains in national tests. New York Times . http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/08/nyregion/national-assessment-of-educational-progress-results-in-Connecticut-and-New-Jersey.html
Include the full date in the format Year, Month Day. Do not include a retrieval date for periodical sources found on websites. Note that for citations, include only the year: Baker (2014). For newspaper articles retrieved from a common academic research database, leave out the URL. For newspaper articles from an online news website that is not an online version of a print newspaper, follow the format for a webpage reference list entry.
OASIS Resources
Oasis webpage.
OASIS. (n.d.). Common reference list examples . Walden University. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/apa/references/examples
For all OASIS content, list OASIS as the author. Because OASIS webpages do not include publication dates, use “n.d.” for the year.
Interactive Guide
OASIS. (n.d.). Embrace iterative research and writing [Interactive guide]. Walden University. https://academics.waldenu.edu/oasis/iterative-research-writing-web
For OASIS multimedia resources, such as interactive guides, include a description of the resource in brackets after the title.
Online Video/Webcast
Walden University. (2013). An overview of learning [Video]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com
Use this format for online videos such as Walden videos in classrooms. Most of our classroom videos are produced by Walden University, which will be listed as the author in your reference and citation. Note: Some examples of audiovisual materials in the APA manual show the word “Producer” in parentheses after the producer/author area. In consultation with the editors of the APA manual, we have determined that parenthetical is not necessary for the videos in our courses. The manual itself is unclear on the matter, however, so either approach should be accepted. Note that the speaker in the video does not appear in the reference list entry, but you may want to mention that person in your text. For instance, if you are viewing a video where Tobias Ball is the speaker, you might write the following: Tobias Ball stated that APA guidelines ensure a consistent presentation of information in student papers (Walden University, 2013). For more information on citing the speaker in a video, see our page on Common Citation Errors .
Taylor, R. [taylorphd07]. (2014, February 27). Scales of measurement [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDsMUlexaMY
OASIS. (2020, April 15). One-way ANCOVA: Introduction [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/_XnNDQ5CNW8
For videos from streaming sites, use the person or organization who uploaded the video in the author space to ensure retrievability, whether or not that person is the speaker in the video. A username can be provided in square brackets. As a change from APA 6 to APA 7, include the publisher after the title, and do not use "Retrieved from" before the URL. See APA 7, Section 10.12 for more information and examples.
See also reference list entry formats for TED Talks .
Technical and Research Reports
Edwards, C. (2015). Lighting levels for isolated intersections: Leading to safety improvements (Report No. MnDOT 2015-05). Center for Transportation Studies. http://www.cts.umn.edu/Publications/ResearchReports/reportdetail.html?id=2402
Technical and research reports by governmental agencies and other research institutions usually follow a different publication process than scholarly, peer-reviewed journals. However, they present original research and are often useful for research papers. Sometimes, researchers refer to these types of reports as gray literature , and white papers are a type of this literature. See APA 7, Section 10.4 for more information.
Reference list entires for TED Talks follow the usual guidelines for multimedia content found online. There are two common places to find TED talks online, with slightly different reference list entry formats for each.
TED Talk on the TED website
If you find the TED Talk on the TED website, follow the format for an online video on an organizational website:
Owusu-Kesse, K. (2020, June). 5 needs that any COVID-19 response should meet [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/kwame_owusu_kesse_5_needs_that_any_covid_19_response_should_meet
The speaker is the author in the reference list entry if the video is posted on the TED website. For citations, use the speaker's surname.
TED Talk on YouTube
If you find the TED Talk on YouTube or another streaming video website, follow the usual format for streaming video sites:
TED. (2021, February 5). The shadow pandemic of domestic violence during COVID-19 | Kemi DaSilvalbru [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGdID_ICFII
TED is the author in the reference list entry if the video is posted on YouTube since it is the channel on which the video is posted. For citations, use TED as the author.
Walden University Course Catalog
To include the Walden course catalog in your reference list, use this format:
Walden University. (2020). 2019-2020 Walden University catalog . https://catalog.waldenu.edu/index.php
If you cite from a specific portion of the catalog in your paper, indicate the appropriate section and paragraph number in your text:
...which reflects the commitment to social change expressed in Walden University's mission statement (Walden University, 2020, Vision, Mission, and Goals section, para. 2).
And in the reference list:
Walden University. (2020). Vision, mission, and goals. In 2019-2020 Walden University catalog. https://catalog.waldenu.edu/content.php?catoid=172&navoid=59420&hl=vision&returnto=search
Vartan, S. (2018, January 30). Why vacations matter for your health . CNN. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/why-vacations-matter/index.html
For webpages on the open web, include the author, date, webpage title, organization/site name, and URL. (There is a slight variation for online versions of print newspapers or magazines. For those sources, follow the models in the previous sections of this page.)
American Federation of Teachers. (n.d.). Community schools . http://www.aft.org/issues/schoolreform/commschools/index.cfm
If there is no specified author, then use the organization’s name as the author. In such a case, there is no need to repeat the organization's name after the title.
In APA 7, active hyperlinks for DOIs and URLs should be used for documents meant for screen reading. Present these hyperlinks in blue and underlined text (the default formatting in Microsoft Word), although plain black text is also acceptable. Be consistent in your formatting choice for DOIs and URLs throughout your reference list.
Related Resources
Knowledge Check: Common Reference List Examples
Didn't find what you need? Email us at [email protected] .
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A step-by-step guide for creating and formatting APA Style student papers
The start of the semester is the perfect time to learn how to create and format APA Style student papers. This article walks through the formatting steps needed to create an APA Style student paper, starting with a basic setup that applies to the entire paper (margins, font, line spacing, paragraph alignment and indentation, and page headers). It then covers formatting for the major sections of a student paper: the title page, the text, tables and figures, and the reference list. Finally, it concludes by describing how to organize student papers and ways to improve their quality and presentation.
The guidelines for student paper setup are described and shown using annotated diagrams in the Student Paper Setup Guide (PDF, 3.40MB) and the A Step-by-Step Guide to APA Style Student Papers webinar . Chapter 1 of the Concise Guide to APA Style and Chapter 2 of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association describe the elements, format, and organization for student papers. Tables and figures are covered in Chapter 7 of both books. Information on paper format and tables and figures and a full sample student paper are also available on the APA Style website.
Basic setup
The guidelines for basic setup apply to the entire paper. Perform these steps when you first open your document, and then you do not have to worry about them again while writing your paper. Because these are general aspects of paper formatting, they apply to all APA Style papers, student or professional. Students should always check with their assigning instructor or institution for specific guidelines for their papers, which may be different than or in addition to APA Style guidelines.
Seventh edition APA Style was designed with modern word-processing programs in mind. Most default settings in programs such as Academic Writer, Microsoft Word, and Google Docs already comply with APA Style. This means that, for most paper elements, you do not have to make any changes to the default settings of your word-processing program. However, you may need to make a few adjustments before you begin writing.
Use 1-in. margins on all sides of the page (top, bottom, left, and right). This is usually how papers are automatically set.
Use a legible font. The default font of your word-processing program is acceptable. Many sans serif and serif fonts can be used in APA Style, including 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, 12-point Times New Roman, and 11-point Georgia. You can also use other fonts described on the font page of the website.
Line spacing
Double-space the entire paper including the title page, block quotations, and the reference list. This is something you usually must set using the paragraph function of your word-processing program. But once you do, you will not have to change the spacing for the entirety of your paper–just double-space everything. Do not add blank lines before or after headings. Do not add extra spacing between paragraphs. For paper sections with different line spacing, see the line spacing page.
Paragraph alignment and indentation
Align all paragraphs of text in the body of your paper to the left margin. Leave the right margin ragged. Do not use full justification. Indent the first line of every paragraph of text 0.5-in. using the tab key or the paragraph-formatting function of your word-processing program. For paper sections with different alignment and indentation, see the paragraph alignment and indentation page.
Page numbers
Put a page number in the top right of every page header , including the title page, starting with page number 1. Use the automatic page-numbering function of your word-processing program to insert the page number in the top right corner; do not type the page numbers manually. The page number is the same font and font size as the text of your paper. Student papers do not require a running head on any page, unless specifically requested by the instructor.
Title page setup
Title page elements.
APA Style has two title page formats: student and professional (for details, see title page setup ). Unless instructed otherwise, students should use the student title page format and include the following elements, in the order listed, on the title page:
- Paper title.
- Name of each author (also known as the byline).
- Affiliation for each author.
- Course number and name.
- Instructor name.
- Assignment due date.
- Page number 1 in the top right corner of the page header.
The format for the byline depends on whether the paper has one author, two authors, or three or more authors.
- When the paper has one author, write the name on its own line (e.g., Jasmine C. Hernandez).
- When the paper has two authors, write the names on the same line and separate them with the word “and” (e.g., Upton J. Wang and Natalia Dominguez).
- When the paper has three or more authors, separate the names with commas and include “and” before the final author’s name (e.g., Malia Mohamed, Jaylen T. Brown, and Nia L. Ball).
Students have an academic affiliation, which identities where they studied when the paper was written. Because students working together on a paper are usually in the same class, they will have one shared affiliation. The affiliation consists of the name of the department and the name of the college or university, separated by a comma (e.g., Department of Psychology, George Mason University). The department is that of the course to which the paper is being submitted, which may be different than the department of the student’s major. Do not include the location unless it is part of the institution’s name.
Write the course number and name and the instructor name as shown on institutional materials (e.g., the syllabus). The course number and name are often separated by a colon (e.g., PST-4510: History and Systems Psychology). Write the assignment due date in the month, date, and year format used in your country (e.g., Sept. 10, 2020).
Title page line spacing
Double-space the whole title page. Place the paper title three or four lines down from the top of the page. Add an extra double-spaced blank like between the paper title and the byline. Then, list the other title page elements on separate lines, without extra lines in between.
Title page alignment
Center all title page elements (except the right-aligned page number in the header).
Title page font
Write the title page using the same font and font size as the rest of your paper. Bold the paper title. Use standard font (i.e., no bold, no italics) for all other title page elements.
Text elements
Repeat the paper title at the top of the first page of text. Begin the paper with an introduction to provide background on the topic, cite related studies, and contextualize the paper. Use descriptive headings to identify other sections as needed (e.g., Method, Results, Discussion for quantitative research papers). Sections and headings vary depending on the paper type and its complexity. Text can include tables and figures, block quotations, headings, and footnotes.
Text line spacing
Double-space all text, including headings and section labels, paragraphs of text, and block quotations.
Text alignment
Center the paper title on the first line of the text. Indent the first line of all paragraphs 0.5-in.
Left-align the text. Leave the right margin ragged.
Block quotation alignment
Indent the whole block quotation 0.5-in. from the left margin. Double-space the block quotation, the same as other body text. Find more information on the quotations page.
Use the same font throughout the entire paper. Write body text in standard (nonbold, nonitalic) font. Bold only headings and section labels. Use italics sparingly, for instance, to highlight a key term on first use (for more information, see the italics page).
Headings format
For detailed guidance on formatting headings, including headings in the introduction of a paper, see the headings page and the headings in sample papers .
- Alignment: Center Level 1 headings. Left-align Level 2 and Level 3 headings. Indent Level 4 and Level 5 headings like a regular paragraph.
- Font: Boldface all headings. Also italicize Level 3 and Level 5 headings. Create heading styles using your word-processing program (built into AcademicWriter, available for Word via the sample papers on the APA Style website).
Tables and figures setup
Tables and figures are only included in student papers if needed for the assignment. Tables and figures share the same elements and layout. See the website for sample tables and sample figures .
Table elements
Tables include the following four elements:
- Body (rows and columns)
- Note (optional if needed to explain elements in the table)
Figure elements
Figures include the following four elements:
- Image (chart, graph, etc.)
- Note (optional if needed to explain elements in the figure)
Table line spacing
Double-space the table number and title. Single-, 1.5-, or double-space the table body (adjust as needed for readability). Double-space the table note.
Figure line spacing
Double-space the figure number and title. The default settings for spacing in figure images is usually acceptable (but adjust the spacing as needed for readability). Double-space the figure note.
Table alignment
Left-align the table number and title. Center column headings. Left-align the table itself and left-align the leftmost (stub) column. Center data in the table body if it is short or left-align the data if it is long. Left-align the table note.
Figure alignment
Left-align the figure number and title. Left-align the whole figure image. The default alignment of the program in which you created your figure is usually acceptable for axis titles and data labels. Left-align the figure note.
Bold the table number. Italicize the table title. Use the same font and font size in the table body as the text of your paper. Italicize the word “Note” at the start of the table note. Write the note in the same font and font size as the text of your paper.
Figure font
Bold the figure number. Italicize the figure title. Use a sans serif font (e.g., Calibri, Arial) in the figure image in a size between 8 to 14 points. Italicize the word “Note” at the start of the figure note. Write the note in the same font and font size as the text of your paper.
Placement of tables and figures
There are two options for the placement of tables and figures in an APA Style paper. The first option is to place all tables and figures on separate pages after the reference list. The second option is to embed each table and figure within the text after its first callout. This guide describes options for the placement of tables and figures embedded in the text. If your instructor requires tables and figures to be placed at the end of the paper, see the table and figure guidelines and the sample professional paper .
Call out (mention) the table or figure in the text before embedding it (e.g., write “see Figure 1” or “Table 1 presents”). You can place the table or figure after the callout either at the bottom of the page, at the top of the next page, or by itself on the next page. Avoid placing tables and figures in the middle of the page.
Embedding at the bottom of the page
Include a callout to the table or figure in the text before that table or figure. Add a blank double-spaced line between the text and the table or figure at the bottom of the page.
Embedding at the top of the page
Include a callout to the table in the text on the previous page before that table or figure. The table or figure then appears at the top of the next page. Add a blank double-spaced line between the end of the table or figure and the text that follows.
Embedding on its own page
Embed long tables or large figures on their own page if needed. The text continues on the next page.
Reference list setup
Reference list elements.
The reference list consists of the “References” section label and the alphabetical list of references. View reference examples on the APA Style website. Consult Chapter 10 in both the Concise Guide and Publication Manual for even more examples.
Reference list line spacing
Start the reference list at the top of a new page after the text. Double-space the entire reference list (both within and between entries).
Reference list alignment
Center the “References” label. Apply a hanging indent of 0.5-in. to all reference list entries. Create the hanging indent using your word-processing program; do not manually hit the enter and tab keys.
Reference list font
Bold the “References” label at the top of the first page of references. Use italics within reference list entries on either the title (e.g., webpages, books, reports) or on the source (e.g., journal articles, edited book chapters).
Final checks
Check page order.
- Start each section on a new page.
- Arrange pages in the following order:
- Title page (page 1).
- Text (starts on page 2).
- Reference list (starts on a new page after the text).
Check headings
- Check that headings accurately reflect the content in each section.
- Start each main section with a Level 1 heading.
- Use Level 2 headings for subsections of the introduction.
- Use the same level of heading for sections of equal importance.
- Avoid having only one subsection within a section (have two or more, or none).
Check assignment instructions
- Remember that instructors’ guidelines supersede APA Style.
- Students should check their assignment guidelines or rubric for specific content to include in their papers and to make sure they are meeting assignment requirements.
Tips for better writing
- Ask for feedback on your paper from a classmate, writing center tutor, or instructor.
- Budget time to implement suggestions.
- Use spell-check and grammar-check to identify potential errors, and then manually check those flagged.
- Proofread the paper by reading it slowly and carefully aloud to yourself.
- Consult your university writing center if you need extra help.
About the author
Undergraduate student resources
Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts
APA Sample Paper
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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 .
Media Files: APA Sample Student Paper , APA Sample Professional Paper
This resource is enhanced by Acrobat PDF files. Download the free Acrobat Reader
Note: The APA Publication Manual, 7 th Edition specifies different formatting conventions for student and professional papers (i.e., papers written for credit in a course and papers intended for scholarly publication). These differences mostly extend to the title page and running head. Crucially, citation practices do not differ between the two styles of paper.
However, for your convenience, we have provided two versions of our APA 7 sample paper below: one in student style and one in professional style.
Note: For accessibility purposes, we have used "Track Changes" to make comments along the margins of these samples. Those authored by [AF] denote explanations of formatting and [AWC] denote directions for writing and citing in APA 7.
APA 7 Student Paper:
Apa 7 professional paper:.
- Writing Support
- Referencing
- Research Support
CU Group Referencing in APA : A-Z Referencing Examples
- Introduction to Referencing
A-Z Referencing Examples
This page explains how to write references. See the Introduction to Referencing page for guidance on in-text citations.
Click on a source below to find out how to reference it in your reference list. Frequently referenced items can be found at the top of the list, followed by an A-Z. If a source is not listed, visit the APA Style Blog , or consult the APA manual .
Frequently Referenced Items
For a full list of items see A-Z Reference Examples.
Author, N. (Year). Title (Edition.). Publisher. https://doi.org/xxxxx
- Author's family name
- Author’s initial(s)
- [Full stop]
- Year (in round brackets)
- Title of book (in sentence case and in italics )
- Edition (in round brackets, if there is one)
- DOI (if there is one)
Ninagawa, C. (2023). AI time series control system modelling . Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-4594-6
Example 2 (Book with two authors and an edition)
Mankiw, N. G., & Taylor, M. P. (2023). Economics (6th ed.). Cengage.
- The title is in sentence case and in italics .
- If there is no edition, leave it out (see Example 1).
- If the book chapters have different authors, see the Chapter in an edited book section.
- Print and e-books are referenced in the same way. If there is a DOI , add it to the end of the reference (see Example 1).
This is a simplified version of image referencing using APA. All taught students are permitted to use this simplified guidance but should not be marked down for using the official APA format.
Format and Examples
(Image copied from another source) | (Image copied from a website) |
|
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(Image adapted from another source) | (Diagram created using information from a book) |
|
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(Image you have created yourself) | (Image you have created yourself) |
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Reference list
Images cited in your work need a full reference in your reference list, except for images created by yourself. For example, reference an image from a website as a website reference.
- The figure number is in bold. Number your figures based on their order within your assignment.
- The descriptive title is in title case and in italics .
- Follow the normal in-text citation rules when referencing multiple authors.
- If you have created the image yourself (and not adapted it using information found in another source), you do not need a citation under the image (see Example 3).
- If you are working on an artistic assignment, poster, or presentation, you may be able to reference in a different way. See: Images in posters, presentations, and artistic assignments .
Author, N. (Year). Article title. Journal Title, volume (issue), pages. https://doi.org/xxxx
- Title of article (in sentence case)
- Title of Journal (in title case and italics )
- Volume number (in italics ), issue number (in round brackets)
- Page numbers
Example 1 (Journal article with a DOI)
Chen, H. C., & Pang, N. S. (2022). Sustaining the ecosystem of higher education in China: Perspectives from young researchers. Perspectives in Education, 40 (3), 95-117. https://doi.org/10.18820/2519593X/pie.v40.i3.7
Example 2 (Journal article without a DOI or issue number, accessed through Locate or a library database)
Cairns, J. (2024). Phases of the Buddhist approach to the environment. Journal of Buddhist Ethics, 31 , 1-33.
Example 3 (Journal article without a DOI, accessed on a website, but not via Locate or a library database)
Nield, S. (2022). Accessible podcasts. ALISS Quarterly, 18 (1), 13-15. https://alissnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/aliss-vol-18-no.1-oct-2022-draft.pdf
- Journal article title is in sentence case .
- Journal title and volume number are in title case and in italics.
- If there is no volume or issue number, leave it out (see Example 2).
- Some online articles have article numbers instead of page numbers. After the issue number, write the word Article and then the article number, e.g. Article e0230193.
- If the article does not have a DOI and the article is from Locate or a library database (e.g. ProQuest, EBSCO, JStor etc.), there is no need to include a link (see Example 2).
- If the article is from another website with no DOI, use the web link (see Example 3).
Named author
Author, N. (Year). Report title . Organisation. https://doi.org/xxxxx or https://www.website.com/report
- Report title (in sentence case and in italics )
- Organisation
- Website link
If no author, use the organisation’s name as the author
Organisation. (Year). Report title . https://doi.org/xxxxx or https://www.website.com/report
Example 1 (Named author, a DOI, and published as part of a series)
Russell, H., & E. Smyth, E. (2024). Caregiving among young adults in Ireland (ESRI Research Series 168). Economic & Social Research Institute. https://doi.org/10.26504/rs168
Example 2 (Report with the organisation as author. Date written in full)
National Audit Office. (2024, March 15). Use of artificial intelligence in government (Session 2023-24 HC 612). https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/use-of-artificial-intelligence-in-government.pdf
Example 3 (No DOI. The web link is to the home page as it is a subscription database which requires a login)
Shao, D. (2023). Supermarkets, China 2023 . Mintel. https://clients.mintel.com/
- The report title is in sentence case and in italics .
- If using the organisation's name as the author, do not repeat the organisation's name after the title (see Example 2).
- Where there is a report number, include it after the title in brackets, not in italics (see Example 1).
- Use the full publication date if written on the report (See Example 2).
- Use the DOI where available rather than a web link (see Example 1).
- If accessing a report on a subscription database that requires a login, use the link to the homepage (see Example 3).
- For more information on Government reports, see the Government reports section.
Website with named author
Author, N. (Date). Title of the specific webpage . Website Name. https://www.website.com/page
- Title of the specific webpage (in sentence case and in italics )
- Organisation or website’s name
Website Name. (Date). Title of the specific webpage . https://www.website.com/page
Example 1 (Named author)
Sakai, C. (2023, September 18). Nurturing creative confidence in early years: A virtual conversation. Victoria and Albert Museum. https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/museum-life/coventrys-coundon-court-school-wins-inaugural-va-innovate-national-schools-challenge
Example 2 (Organisation as the author)
Health and Care Professions Council. (2023). The standards of proficiency for paramedics . https://www.hcpc-uk.org/standards/standards-of-proficiency/paramedics/
Example 3 (Website changing regularly. Web link is to the home page as it is a subscription database which requires a login)
Fame. (n.d.). [Telecommunications companies in the West Midlands]. Retrieved May 16, 2024, from https://fame4.bvdinfo.com/
- The title of the webpage is in sentence case and in italics .
- If no date has been given, use n.d. (see Example 3).
- If using the website name as the author, do not repeat the website name after the title (see Example 2).
- Use the date the page was published – this could be (Year), (Year, Month) or (Year, Month Day) depending on the information available (see Examples 1 and 2).
- If a website changes regularly (e.g. a data dashboard), include the specific date you accessed the website (Month Day, Year) before the web address (see Example 3).
- If there is no clear title, provide a description of the web page in [square brackets] and do not use italics (see Example 3).
- If the site requires a login, use the link to the homepage (see Example 3).
A-Z Reference Examples
Act Title Year
In-text citation: Section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 allows victims of privacy invasions to bring actions against public authorities.
- The Act title is in title case and not in italics.
- The year is not in brackets as it is part of the title.
- Do not include a link, even if the Act is found online.
- It is best practice to use a narrative citation. Avoid putting Acts of Parliament in brackets (see Example 1b).
This guidance is for students who have been given permission by their module leader to use generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, QuillBot, Chimp Rewriter, DALL-E etc.).
If permitted to use AI, you must:
1) Cite and reference any information generated by AI.
2) Follow all instructions in your assignment brief regarding its use.
Organisation. (Year). Title of software (Version information) [Type of software]. https://www.website.com/
In-text citation
Details of prompt used and response (Name of AI, year).
- In your assignment provide the prompt you have used and integrate the response into your sentence (see Example).
Ancient or classic work read in a book
Author, N. (Year of the version you read). Title (N. Translator, Trans. or N. Editor, Ed.). Publisher. (Original work published Year)
Ancient or classic work read on a website
Author, N. (Year of the version you read). Title (N. Translator, Trans. or N. Editor, Ed.). Website Name. https://doi.org/xxxxx (Original work published Year)
In-text citations
( Author, Year of original publication/Year of the version you read)
Author (Year of original publication/Year of the version you read)
Example 1 (A book with an estimated date of original publication)
Example 2 (A website)
- If the original date of publication is an estimate, write ca. before the date. This stands for ‘circa’.
- Ancient and classic works may not have typical page numbers. To pinpoint a specific piece of information, use the numbering system in the publication when creating an in-text citation. See the guidance on missing information in references.
- If there are multiple editors use ‘Eds.’ (see Example 2).
- Use the web link when no DOI is available.
Articles (see: Journal articles, Magazine articles, or Newspaper articles)
Artists' book, photobook, or zine with a single author, and self-published
Author, N. (Year). Title . [Format].
Artists' book, photobook, or zine with a single author, and commercially published
Author, N. (Year). Title. [Format]. Publisher .
Example 1 ( Zine with a single author, and self-published )
Sillars, J. (2019). Euphoriacs: A zine surrounding trans people and our relationships with clothing. [Zine].
Example 2 ( Artists' book with a single author, and commercially published )
Poulain, D. (2023). Birds. [Artists' book]. Éditions du livre.
- The title is in sentence case and in italics.
- Zines and artists' books are often self-published. Therefore no publisher name is needed at the end of the reference (see Example 1).
Artist, N. (Year). Artwork title [Type of artwork]. Gallery/Museum or Website Name, Location. https://www.website.com/page
van Gogh, V. (1889). The starry night [Painting]. The Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA. https://www.moma.org/collection/works/79802
- The artwork title is in sentence case and in italics .
- Describe the item type in square brackets, for example, [Painting], [Oil on canvas], [Sculpture] after the title (see Example).
Author, N. (Year, Month Day). Title of post. Blog Title. https://www.website.com/page
Winfield, J. (2021, July 8). From clearing to global management internship in China. Coventry University. https://www.coventry.ac.uk/blog/jimmys-clearing-story/
- Use the full date for the post: (Year, Month Day).
- The post title is in sentence case .
- The blog title is in title case and in italics .
Cases (see: Law reports)
Author, N. (Year). Chapter title. In N. Editor (Ed.), Book title (pp. x-x). Publisher. https://doi.org/xxxxx
Example 1 (First edition of a book with a DOI)
Barker, S. (2021). Painting the plague, 1230-1640. In C. Lynteris (Ed.), Plague image and imagination from medieval to modern times (pp. 37-68). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-72304-0
Example 2 (Subsequent edition of a print book with multiple authors and editors)
Perrin, D., & Simpson, D. (2021). Where and how you will learn. In R. Helyer, T. Wall, A. Minton & A. Lund (Eds.), The work-based learning student handbook (3rd ed., pp. 24-44). Bloomsbury Academic.
- In the in-text citation, use the author(s) of the chapter, not the editor(s).
- The book title is in sentence case and in italics .
- The edition, where second edition or above, is included in the same brackets as the page numbers (see Example 2).
- Include the page numbers of the whole chapter in the reference, not just the pages you have used.
Online command paper
Organisation. (Year). Title of the paper (Command paper reference number). https://www.website.com/report
Print command paper
Organisation. (Year). Title of the paper (Command paper reference number). Publisher.
Example 1 (Online command paper)
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero. (2024). Civil nuclear: Roadmap to 2050 (Cp 1009). https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65c0e7cac43191000d1a457d/6.8610_DESNZ_Civil_Nuclear_Roadmap_report_Final_Web.pdf
Example 2 (Print command paper)
Law Commission. (2002). Sharing homes: A discussion paper (Cm 5666). The Stationery Office.
- The abbreviation used to denote a command paper will change depending on the year of the document. You may see C, Cd, Cmd, Cm, Cp, or Cmnd.
- Use the full publication date if written on the report.
Author, N. (Year, Month Day(s) of the conference). Conference presentation title [Type of presentation]. Conference Name, Location. www.website.com/page
Motherwell, S., Heeney, C., & Sloan, P. (2023, September 6-8). 'Text me when you get home!' Research on the safety of women and girls on public transport in Scotland [Paper presentation]. European Transport Conference, Milan, Italy. https://www.therrc.co.uk/sites/default/files/files/Conference/2023/Presentations/2_marc_naura.pdf
- A conference presentation may be in the form of a paper, poster, keynote speech etc.
- Include the full date of the conference (see Example).
- After the title, describe the presentation in square brackets, e.g. [Paper presentation], [Poster presentation], [Keynote speech] (see Example).
- If the presentation has a DOI , use this instead of a web link.
- If the presentation is published in a journal or book, follow the guidance for a journal article or chapter in an edited book.
Confidential documents (see: Unpublished documents)
Published data set
Author, N. (Year). Title (Numerical identifier; version) [Description]. Publisher. https://doi.org/xxxxx
Unpublished raw data
Author, N. (Year). Title [Unpublished raw data]. Source of unpublished data.
Untitled unpublished raw data
Author, N. (Year). [Description of untitled data] [Unpublished raw data]. Source of unpublished data.
Example 1 (Published data set)
Leland, J. & Kickstarter. (2024). Kickstarter data, global, 2009-2023 (ICPSR 38050; Version V3) [Data Set]. ICPSR. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR38050.v3
Example 2 (Unpublished raw data)
Boole, G. (2024). Librarian biscuit consumption [Unpublished raw data]. National Centre for Librarians.
Example 3 (Untitled unpublished raw data)
Dewey, M. (2023). [Correlation between student focus and screen time] [Unpublished raw data]. Coventry University.
- If the data has no title, provide a description of the data in [square brackets] and the title is not in italics (see Example 3).
- The description is flexible e.g., [Data set] or [Data set and code book].
- Version is written in full, followed by the version number.
- If the data set has a DOI , use this instead of a web link.
- If the data is from a report, website, book, or journal, reference that source and not the data set itself.
Named author
Author, N. (Year). Entry title. In N. Editor (Ed.), Dictionary or encyclopaedia title (Edition.). Publisher. https://www.website.com/entry
If no author, use the organisation’s name as the author
Organisation. (Year). Entry title. In Dictionary or encyclopaedia title . https://www.website.com/entry
dos Santos Leffa, P. (2023). Ultra-processed foods. In B. Caballero (Ed.), Encyclopedia of human nutrition (4th ed.). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-821848-8.00009-3
Example 2 (Organisation as the author, with regular updates to the entries)
Oxford English Dictionary. (n.d.). Life admin. In The Oxford English dictionary . Retrieved May 1, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/7327882606
- The title of the entry is in sentence case .
- The title of the dictionary or encyclopaedia is in sentence case and in italics .
- When a work is continuously updated, include a retrieval date and use ‘n.d.’ for the publication date (see Example 2).
Unpublished dissertation or thesis (available from the awarding institution)
Author, N. (Year). Dissertation or thesis title [Unpublished master’s dissertation or Unpublished doctoral thesis]. Name of University.
Published dissertation or thesis (available from databases such as EThoS or ProQuest, or Google Scholar)
Author, N. (Year). Dissertation or thesis title [Master’s dissertation or Doctoral dissertation, Name of University]. Database. https://www.database.com/dissertation
Example 1 (Unpublished dissertation)
Miyamoto, S. (2024). Student perceptions of engagement events in university libraries [Unpublished master's dissertation]. Coventry University.
Example 2 (Published doctoral thesis)
Benhamou, E. (2019). Genre in contemporary Disney animated features (2008-2016) [Doctoral thesis, University of Bristol]. EThOS. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?did=1&uin=uk.bl.ethos.782581
- Use square brackets for the dissertation or thesis description.
Ebooks (see: Books)
Encyclopaedias (see: Dictionaries)
Institutional Origin | Legislation Type | Number | Title
In-text citation: According to Article 50 of Regulation 2002/178/EC . . .
- The legislation title is in sentence case and not in italics.
- Do not include a link, even if the legislation is found online.
- In the in-text citation, give the type of legislation and the number.
- It is best practice to use a narrative citation. Avoid putting legislation in brackets (see Example 1b).
Facebook (see: Social Media)
Figures (see: Images)
Director, N. (Director). (Year). Film title [Film]. Production Company.
Example 1 (Film with two production companies)
Nolan, C. (Director). (2023). Oppenheimer [Film]. Syncopy; Atlas Entertainment.
Example 2 (Translation of title in square brackets)
Bayona, J. A. (Director). (2023). La sociedad de la nieve [Society of the snow] [Film]. El Arriero Films; Misión de Audaces Films; Netflix.
- The title is in sentence case and in italics .
- Separate the production company with a semi-colon where there is more than one company (see Example 1).
- When the film’s title is in a different language, include a translation of the title in square brackets (see Example 2).
Author, N. (Year). Title of report (Source type and report number). Organisation. https://www.website.com/report
If no author, use the organisation’s name as the author
Organisation. (Year). Title of report (Source type and report number). https://www.website.com/report
Example 1 (Command paper)
Department for Work and Pensions. (2024). Modernising support for independent living: The health and disability green paper (Cp 1061). https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/modernising-support-for-independent-living-the-health-and-disability-green-paper/modernising-support-for-independent-living-the-health-and-disability-green-paper
Example 2 (Library briefing paper with an individual author)
Keep, M. (2024). The Barnett formula and fiscal devolution (House of Commons Library Briefing Paper no. 7386). https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7386/CBP-7386.pdf
Example 3 (House of Commons paper with a specific department as author. Date written in full)
Example 4 (Briefing paper with an individual author and a government department as the organisation)
Sugars, R. (2024, July 11). Early years strategy. Coventry City Council. https://edemocracy.coventry.gov.uk/documents/s61101/Early%20Years%20Strategy.pdf
- Most government reports are authored by a government department, agency or committee (see Examples 1 and 3).
- If there is a hierarchy of departments listed in a report, use the most specific government department, relevant to the report, as the author.
- If the government department is included in the report number, put this in round brackets after the title (see Example 2).
- For government reports where no department is specified, use the name of the government as the author. For the UK, this will be UK Government. Do not use GOV.UK.
- If there is no source type or report number, leave it out.
- If a publisher is available, include it after the paper number. It is likely to be either HMSO, The Stationery Office or the individual government department.
Graphs (see: Images)
HC/HL Deb vol xx col xx (Year, Month Day). Hansard. https://www.website.com/page
In-text citation within a sentence: "The UK has driven down emissions by more than 45%" (HC Deb, 2022).
- Use HC Deb for a House of Commons debate, and HL Deb for a House of Lords debate.
Instagram (see: Social Media)
In-text citations and references are the formatted in the same way for law reports. For further Information see: Neutral citations and law reports
Neutral citation
Case Name(s) [Year] Abbreviation for Court Name | Case Number
Case Name(s) [(Year)] Volume | Abbreviation for Law Report Name | Page number
Example 1 (Neutral citation)
Charalambous v Welding [2009] EWCA Civ 1578
Example 2a (Law report)
Douglas v Hello! Magazine [2001] 2 WLR 992
Example 2b (Narrative in-text citation)
In Douglas v Hello! Magazine [2001] 2 WLR 992, the Court of Appeal stressed that equal weighting be given to both rights and that any case should be determined by adopting the principles of proportionality.
Example 2c (Parenthetical in-text citation)
The Court of Appeal stressed that equal weighting be given to both rights and that any case should be determined by adopting the principles of proportionality ( Douglas v Hello! Magazine [2001] 2 WLR 992).
Example 2d (Subsequent in-text citations)
Douglas v Hello! Magazine (2001)
- The party names are in title case and in italics .
- Use the neutral citation OR law report citation , and copy this directly from the source.
- Copy the style of brackets around the year from the source. If the source uses [square brackets], use them in the in-text citation and reference.
- Subsequent in-text citations should use (round brackets).
- Do not include a link, even if the case/report is found online.
Leaflets (see: Reports)
Lecturer, N. (Date). Title of lecture [Format]. Website. https://www.website.com/page/
Torres, M. (2024, March 12). Seven psychological perspectives [PowerPoint slides]. Aula. https://coventry.aula.education/
- Use the date the lecture was delivered. This could be (Year), (Year, Month) or (Year, Month Day) depending on the information available.
- Describe the format of the document after the title and place in square brackets (e.g., [Presentation], [Word], [Excel]).
- If the hosting site requires a login such as Aula, use the homepage link, not the link to the module page (see Example).
Print magazine
Author, N. (Year, Month Day). Article title. Magazine Title , pages.
Online magazine
Author, N. (Year, Month Day). Article title. Magazine Title . https://www.website.com/page
Example 1 (Print magazine)
Taylor, H. (2024, April 26). Is UK inflation still on track? Investors Chronicle , 14-16.
Example 2 (Online magazine)
Adler, T. (2024, July 25).The United States of pizza. Vogue. https://www.vogue.com/article/united-states-of-pizza-restaurant-guide
- The article title is in sentence case .
- The magazine title is in title case and in italics .
- If the magazine has a volume and part, follow the format for journal articles.
Traditional maps
Author, N. (Year). Map title [Map]. Publisher. https://www.website.com/page
Dynamically created maps (e.g. Google Maps, Apple Maps)
Organisation. (n.d.). [Map description in square brackets]. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from https://www.website.com/page
Example 1 (Traditional map)
Mudge, W. (1801). An entirely new and accurate survey of the county of Kent, with part of the county of Essex [Map]. Board of Ordnance. http://mapco.net/kent1801/kent1801.htm
Example 2 (Dynamic map)
Google. (n.d.). [Google Maps directions for driving from Coventry University to Stratford-upon-Avon]. Retrieved May 21, 2024, from https://maps.app.goo.gl/r9wcCyc1Lx3YZEeX8
- The author for dynamically created maps should be the organisation name (e.g. Google), rather than the application name (Google Maps).
- If the map is dynamically created, use n.d. instead of the year. After the title, give the retrieval date (see Example 2).
- If there is no clear title (e.g. directions on Google Maps) give a description of the map in square brackets and not in italics (see Example 2).
Movies (see: Films)
Music score with a composer
Composer, N. (Year). Music score title [Type of score]. Publisher.
Republished music score with a composer
Composer, N. (Year). Music score title [Type of score]. Publisher. (Original work published Year)
In-text citation (Republished music score)
(Composer, Year of the republication/Year originally published)
Example 1 (Music score with a composer)
Marianelli, D. (2006). Pride and prejudice: Music from the motion picture soundtrack [Musical score]. Wise Publications.
Example 2 (Republished music score with a composer)
- Specify the type of score in square brackets (e.g., [Musical score], [Piano score], [Vocal score], [Study score]).
- For a republished score, include the year it was republished as the main date of the reference. At the end of reference in round brackets, write the words 'Original work published' and the year of original publication (see Example 2).
Music album
Artist, N. (Year). Album title [Album]. Production Company.
Artist, N. (Year). Song title [Song]. On Album title . Production Company.
Example 1 (Music album)
Linkin Park. (2003). Meteora [Album]. Warner Bros.
Example 2 (Song)
Dion, C. (1996). Because you loved me [Song]. On Falling into you . Columbia; Epic.
- The song title is in sentence case .
- The album title is in sentence case and in italics .
- Include [Album] or [Song] after the album or song title.
- Separate the production company with a semi-colon where there is more than one company (see Example 2).
Author, N. (Year, Month Day). Article title. News Website. https://www.website.com/page
If no author, use the news website as the author
News Website. (Year, Month Day). Article title . https://www.website.com/page
Example 1 (Article with a named author)
Nachiappan, A. (2023, December 20). AI cannot be named as the inventor, Supreme Court rules in patent dispute. Sky News. https://news.sky.com/story/ai-cannot-be-named-as-the-inventor-supreme-court-rules-in-patent-dispute-13034816
Example 2 (Article without a named author)
BBC News. (2024, May 29). Lost John Lennon guitar sets record at auction . https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy00eppxk80o
- The article title is in sentence case and in italics .
- To reference the online version of a newspaper which is also published in print (e.g. The Financial Times) see the Newspaper articles section below.
Plimmer, G., Mooney, A., & Bott, I. (2024, May 8). Holding back the floods for 40 years: Thames Barrier is due an upgrade. Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/027a0d94-90f6-4841-94c1-b974ac895adb
- The newspaper title is in title case and in italics .
- If the newspaper article is in print, not online, use the same format but leave out the link.
Your own work (primary data) does not require citation and referencing if you have not submitted or published it on any platform (e.g. Turnitin) before.
If you want to include material that you have submitted or published before, check with your lecturer first , and then follow the format below.
Author, N. (Year). Title [Unpublished name of assignment and module code]. University Name.
Jones, A. (2024) The pitch presentation [Unpublished assignment submitted for 6016MFH]. Coventry University.
- The unpublished information is in [square brackets].
Inventor, N. (Year Patent Issued). Patent title (Patent Number). Patent Office. https://www.website.com/page
Dalgarno, M. R. (2015). Fire resistant ducting systems (GB2517476). UK Intellectual Property Office. https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?DB=EPODOC&II=0&ND=3&adjacent=true&FT=D&date=20150225&CC=GB&NR=2517476A&KC=A#
- Use the inventor as the author.
- The patent title is in sentence case and in italics .
A PDF is a file format rather than a source type and there are no specific APA guidelines. Instead, identify the source type, whether a report, journal article, leaflet, etc. and follow the guidance for that source.
Personal communications include emails, interviews, phone calls and unrecorded lectures. Where these have been published (e.g. an interview published in a magazine) follow the referencing guidelines for that type of resource.
Personal communications are only referenced using in-text citations. You do not give an entry in the list of references, as the information has not been published anywhere for you to reference.
Narrative citation
N. Author (personal communication, Month Day, Year)
Parenthetical citation
(N. Author, personal communication, Month Day, Year)
Example 1 (Narrative citation)
J. Clewes (personal communication, May 3, 2024) suggested that…
Example 2 (Parenthetical citation)
(K. Dodhia, personal communication, June 15, 2024)
- Authors’ names are formatted with the initial(s) of their given name(s), a full stop, and then their family name/surname.
- If you interviewed someone as part of your data collection for your own primary research, you do not need to provide an in-text citation.
Photobooks (see: Artists’ books)
To reference a photograph, you must first identify where the photograph has come from, and its intended use in your assignment.
- Photograph from another source (book, journal article, website): see Images
- Photograph from social media (Instagram, X etc.): see Social media
- Photograph in an art gallery or museum: see Artwork in a gallery or museum
- Photograph you have taken yourself: see Images
- Photographs used to decorate your work, rather than to demonstrate a point: see Images in presentations, posters and artistic assignments.
A whole podcast series
Host, N. (Host). (Year-Year). Podcast title [Audio podcast]. Production Company. https://www.website.com/page
A specific episode
Host, N. (Host). (Year, Month Day). Episode title (No. x) [Audio podcast episode]. In Podcast title . Production Company. https://www.website.com/page
Example 1 (A whole podcast series)
Rachman, G. (Host). (2019–present). Rachman review [Audio podcast]. Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/rachman-review
Example 2 (A specific episode)
Campbell, A., & Stewart, R. (Hosts). (2024, April 10). What Britain really thinks of politics (No. 253) [Audio podcast episode]. In The rest is politics. Goalhanger Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/what-britain-really-thinks-of-politics/id1611374685?i=1000651929901
- The episode title is in sentence case .
- The whole podcast title is in sentence case and in italics .
- If the host is unclear, give the executive producers as the authors and write (Executive producers) after their names.
- If you do not have a link (e.g. because you have listened to the podcast through an app), leave it out.
- If the podcast episodes do not use numbers, leave it out.
Presentations (see: Lectures or Conference papers and presentations)
Presenter, N. (Year, Month Day). Title [Radio broadcast]. Radio Station. https://www.website.com/page
Razzle, K. (2024, May 29). The media show: Is this the TikTok election? [Radio broadcast]. BBC Radio 4. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001zngb
- Give the radio presenter (host) as the author. If the presenter is not obvious, give the executive producer as the author.
- If you do not have a link (e.g. because you have listened live or through an app), leave it out.
Religious work read in a book
Title (N. Translator, Trans.; Edition). (Year). Publisher.
Religious work read on a website
Title . (Year). Website Name. https://www.website.com/page (Original work published Year)
Title (Year of original publication/Year of the version you read)
( Title , Year of original publication/Year of the version you read)
Example 1 (Religious work read in a book, including a translator and edition)
In-text citation: ( The Bhagavad Gita , 2007) or The Bhagavad Gita (2007) discusses . . .
Example 2 (Religious work read on a website, including an original published date)
In-text citation: ( King James Bible , 1769/2017) or King James Bible (1769/2017) states . . .
- Religious works are usually treated as having no author. Use the title as the author in both the in-text citation and reference. In the in-text citation, the title should remain in italics .
- The title is in title case and in italics .
- If there is no edition, or original published date, leave it out.
Author, N. [Username]. (Year, Month Day). Title or first 20 words of post [Type of post]. Social Media Site. www.socialmedia.com/user/post
Example 1 (Instagram photo)
National Geographic [@natgeo]. (2020, December 10). A 1912 replica of West Virginia's Stonewall Jackson has recently been removed at the Virginia Military Institute [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CImHuqcMJUL/
Example 2 (X post with image attached)
Paralympic Games [@paralympics]. (2024, April 1). It's our #ParaCanoe sports week! Get to know more about this Para sport as we head into the @Paris2024 Paralympic [Image attached] [Post]. X. https://twitter.com/Paralympics/status/1774776204903469364
Example 3 (TikTok video)
Coventry University Library [@covunilibrary]. (2024, March 7). Today is World Book Day and we just want you to read a book! 📚💛💙 It doesn't matter [Video]. TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@covunilibrary/video/7343537583827275041
Example 4 (A whole profile)
Swift, T. [@taylorswift]. (n.d.). Posts [Instagram profile]. Instagram. Retrieved June 9, 2024, from https://www.instagram.com/taylorswift
- For the author, use the profile name followed by the username in [square brackets].
- Use the caption/text of the post as the title. Only use the first 20 words of the post as the title (see Example 3).
- The title is in whichever case is used in the post and in italics . Emojis should not be in italics.
- Each emoji is counted as one word.
When to reference software
You do not need to reference software if it is commonly used in your field (e.g. Microsoft Word or SPSS) unless you have quoted or paraphrased from the software. You also do not need to reference programming languages (e.g. Python or C#). Just state the name of the software or programming language in your assignment. If a piece of software is not in common use, or if you have quoted or paraphrased from it, include a reference.
Console games
APA 7th edition provides guidance for referencing computer software and mobile apps, but does not cover console games. If you need to reference a video game, particularly if it is available across multiple consoles, you may need to adapt the format below to make it clear which version you have used.
Author, N. (Year). Title of software (Version number) [Type of software]. Publisher. https://www.website.com/app
Example 1 (Computer software)
Barone, E. (2024). Stardew Valley (Version 1.6.8) [Computer software]. ConcernedApe. https://store.steampowered.com/app/413150/Stardew_Valley/
Example 2 (Mobile app)
Nintendo. (2020). Animal crossing: Pocket camp (Version 3.2.0) [Mobile app]. Google Play Store. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nintendo.zaca&hl=en_GB
- Version in brackets, e.g. (Version 1.0).
- Type of software in square brackets, e.g. [Computer software] or [Mobile app].
Organisation. (Year). Standard title (Standard number). Publisher. https://www.website.com/standard
British Standards Institution. (2022). Project, programme and portfolio management. Guidance on programme management (BS ISO 21503:2022). British Standards Institution. https://bsol.bsigroup.com/Bibliographic/BibliographicInfoData/000000000030437073
- The standard number is in brackets.
Title Year, SI Year/Number
Subsequent in-text citation: Regulation 4 of SI 2013/2996 states that . . .
- The title is in title case and not in italics.
- Do not include a link, even if the statutory instrument is found online.
- It is best practice to use a narrative citation. Avoid putting statutory instruments in brackets (see Example 1b).
- For subsequent in-text citations, use just the SI Year/Number (see Example 1c).
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How to Cite in APA Format (7th edition) | Guide & Generator APA Style is widely used by students, researchers, and professionals in the social and behavioral sciences. Scribbr's APA Citation Generator automatically generates accurate references and in-text citations for free.
Reference List Resources on writing an APA style reference list, including citation formats Basic Rules Basic guidelines for formatting the reference list at the end of a standard APA research paper Author/Authors Rules for handling works by a single author or multiple authors that apply to all APA-style references in your reference list, regardless of the type of work (book, article ...
References provide the information necessary for readers to identify and retrieve each work cited in the text. Consistency in reference formatting allows readers to focus on the content of your reference list, discerning both the types of works you consulted and the important reference elements with ease.
Learn the essentials of APA format for your paper, including title page setup, headings, references, and citations.
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) is available at any Wayne State library reference desk. Call number is BF 76.7 .P83 2020. This tutorial takes you through the basics of writing an APA style paper, from paper format and organization to in-text citations and references. APA Style Guide, 7th Ed.
On the APA reference page, you list all the sources that you've cited in your paper. The list starts on a new page right after the body text. Follow these instructions to set up your APA reference page: Place the section label "References" in bold at the top of the page (centered). Order the references alphabetically. Double-space all text.
Basic Principles of Citation APA Style uses the author-date citation system, in which a brief in-text citation directs readers to a full reference list entry. The in-text citation appears within the body of the paper (or in a table, figure, footnote, or appendix) and briefly identifies the cited work by its author and date of publication. This enables readers to locate the corresponding ...
Provides examples of references for periodicals; books and reference works; edited book chapters and entries in reference works; reports and gray literature; conference presentations and proceedings; dissertations and theses; unpublished and informally published works; data sets; audiovisual media; social media; and webpages and websites.
APA Format Citation Guide This is a complete guide to APA (American Psychological Association) in-text and reference list citations. This easy-to-use, comprehensive guide makes citing any source easy. Check out our other citation guides on MLA 8 and Harvard referencing.
APA Tutorial In October 2019, the American Psychological Association made radical changes its style, especially with regard to the format and citation rules for students writing academic papers. Use this guide to learn how to format and cite your papers using APA Style, 7th edition.
APA Citation Basics. When using APA format, follow the author-date method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the year of publication for the source should appear in the text, like, for example, (Jones, 1998). One complete reference for each source should appear in the reference list at the end of the paper.
Learn how to cite various sources in APA Style (7th ed.) with examples and tips from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater librarians.
Reference List: Basic Rules This resourse, revised according to the 7 th edition APA Publication Manual, offers basic guidelines for formatting the reference list at the end of a standard APA research paper. Most sources follow fairly straightforward rules.
Do you need help with formatting your reference list in APA style? Whether you are citing books, articles, websites, or other sources, this webpage from Walden University's Academic Guides provides clear and comprehensive examples of how to create accurate and consistent reference list entries. You will also find useful tips on how to cite online materials using doi numbers and URLs.
Write the word "In" and the initials and last name (not inverted) of each editor. Use "(Ed.)" for one ... academic research databases. Include a URL for ebooks from other websites. Do not put a period after the DOI or URL. ... APA Style Reference Guide for Journal Articles, Books, and Edited Book Chapters, APA Style 7th Edition
APA reference entries provide detailed information about a source. They're listed on the reference page at the end of your paper and correspond to APA in-text citations in the body text.
The start of the semester is the perfect time to learn how to create and format APA Style student papers. This article walks through the formatting steps needed to create an APA Style student paper, starting with a basic setup that applies to the entire paper (margins, font, line spacing, paragraph alignment and indentation, and page headers). It then covers formatting for the major sections ...
APA Sample Paper 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.
This page explains how to write references. ... If a source is not listed, visit the APA Style Blog, or consult the APA manual. Frequently Referenced Items. For a full list of items see A-Z Reference Examples. ... Title of the paper (Command paper reference number). Publisher. Examples. Example 1 ...
How to Cite a Reference in Academic Writing. A citation consists of two pieces: an in-text citation that is typically short and a longer list of references or works cited (depending on the style used) at the end of the paper. "In-text citations immediately acknowledge the use of external source information and its exact location," Geary said.
This page contains reference examples for journal articles, including articles with article numbers, articles with missing information, retractions, abstracts, online-only supplemental material, and monographs as part of a journal issue.
An APA-style paper includes the following sections: title page, abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion, and references. Your paper may also include one or more tables and/or figures. Different types of information about your study are addressed in each of the sections, as described below.
Different citation styles present this information differently. The main citation styles are APA, MLA, and Chicago style. You can use the interactive example generator to explore the format for APA and MLA journal article citations.
APA style. Title. In the APA style, the TOC should be named "Table of Contents" and centered at the top. Headings. While compiling your APA table of contents, you must Include all major sections like abstract, foreword, method, conclusions, discussion, references, and supplements. Formatting. APA has stricter requirements for formatting rules.
Student Paper Setup Guide This guide will help you set up an APA Style student paper. The basic setup directions apply to the entire paper. Annotated diagrams illustrate how to set up the major sections of a student paper: the title page or cover page, the text, tables and figures, and the reference list.
For student papers or research articles, cite the AI language tool as a footnote. Don't cite AI tools in a bibliography or reference list unless you can provide a public link to the conversation. Footnote example (if information about the prompt has been included within the text of your paper): 1.
To cite a website or online article in APA Style, you need the author, title, date, website name, and URL.
Consistency in the order, structure, and format of a paper allows readers to focus on a paper's content rather than its presentation. To format a paper in APA Style, writers can typically use the default settings and automatic formatting tools of their word-processing program or make only minor adjustments.