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What is APA Style?

What is APA Style?

The APA (American Psychological Association) style format is the preferred citation style for social science research papers. What does APA style mean? APA style is a set of guidelines for writing and formatting research papers in psychology and related fields. APA is frequently used in the fields of economics, criminology, political science, sociology, business, and pedagogy. When we talk about APA style in research, we are talking about the rules for what a research paper must contain and how it should be written. APA provides specific guidelines for nearly all aspects of manuscript formatting, from font choice to margins and punctuation.

Why Do We Use APA Style? We use APA style for several important reasons. First, APA is referred to as a citation style because it includes specific rules for how the references you cite should be formatted and indicated in your research paper. Proper citation ensures that you will never be accused of plagiarism and lets others who read your paper understand where you got your information. Second, APA style provides style and writing guidelines to make sure that your research paper is easy to read and has all of the necessary elements. The primary purpose of APA style is to promote scientific communication by facilitating clarity of expression and standardizing the organization and content of manuscript formatting.

What Does APA Style Include? So, what is included in an APA style research paper? In fact, APA style has three levels. The first level dictates organization. The second level addresses writing style and language use. The third level deals with mechanics such as punctuation. Let’s begin with the first level - organization.

Level 1 - Organization

An APA style research paper must include:

  • A title page - limit your title to a maximum of 12 words and avoid the use of abbreviations and unnecessary words
  • An abstract - the abstract should discuss the topic under study, the research questions, any subjects of the research, your research methods, the findings/results, analysis of the data, and your conclusions
  • An introduction - address the problem and premise upon which the research was based
  • Your methodology - explain in detail how you did your research
  • Your results - explain what you found
  • A discussion - talk about what your findings mean
  • References - a list of the sources you cited

There are more specific guidelines for the manuscript formatting of abstracts and title pages, many examples of which can easily be found by referring to the APA Manual of Style.

Level 2 - Writing Style

An APA style research paper should be written formally. Your intended audience is other academics, your colleagues, and you want to communicate with them very clearly and professionally. This means:

  • No pop culture references
  • Minimize literary devices (metaphors, irony, imagery, etc.)
  • Be direct and straightforward
  • Use technical terms, but only where appropriate
  • Avoid biased language

In other words, your writing should sound as clear and neutral as possible. It is recommended that you avoid using colorful language to try to sound fancy. For example, if you had your research subjects jump up and down on one leg for ten minutes, say so. Don’t try to use complex phrasing like “participants utilized a unipedal movement to propel themselves off of the ground and then return to land.” With regard to biased language, always use gender-inclusive language (firefighters vs. firemen). Use specific group labels (Asian Americans vs. minorities) and avoid euphemisms (adults with learning disabilities vs. special adults). It’s always a good idea to Google search any terms you want to use if you aren’t sure whether they are offensive or not.

Level 3 - Mechanics

APA style manuscript formatting demands the use of double-spacing and 8.5 x 11 paper with 1-inch margins. Times New Roman 12pt font is recommended. There are a large number of specific recommendations for proper manuscript formatting of an APA style paper, which can be found in the APA Manual of Style. Some of the most common recommendations include:

  • Use title case for headings
  • Use numerals for numbers 10 and above
  • Hyphenate compound adjectives that precede a noun (fact-checking organization, not fact checking organization)
  • Spell out a term before introducing its abbreviation in parentheses (the United Nations (UN))
  • Left align all tables and figures
  • Use in-text citations for sources
  • Use footnotes sparingly

What is APA Citation?

Citation in APA style follows a specific format. In general, you should cite citations in the text and then provide the full citation in the “References” section at the end of your paper. Note that APA style requires this section to be titled “References.” “Works Cited” or “Bibliography” is not an acceptable alternative in APA style manuscript formatting .

Citation style will differ somewhat depending on whether you are citing a journal article, book, blog entry, news article, conference paper, social media post, or some other type of media. For the sake of a simple example, we will cite a journal article here.

In-text Citation Example

  • According to some scholars (Lee, 2005), civil society in South Korea plays a divisive rather than a unifying role in the nation’s fledgling democracy.
  • Lee (2005) argues that civil society in South Korea plays a divisive rather than a unifying role in the nation’s fledgling democracy.

References Citation Example

Lee, S. J. (2005). Democratization and polarization in Korean society. Asian Perspective , 99-125.

Fortunately, you don’t need to worry about memorizing the tricky details of APA citation for every media format you might cite in your research paper. Citation generators abound online that can do the job for you. However, it’s always a good idea to double-check the APA Manual of Style to make sure your references are cited correctly.

Now that you know what APA style is all about, you’re ready to write a great research paper! Remember, there are numerous online sources that can help you format your citations. Always check the APA Manual of Style or ask your professor or advisor for help if you need it. Once you get the hang of it, writing in APA style will come naturally to you.

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  • APA Referencing (7th Ed.) Quick Guide | In-text Citations & References

APA Referencing (7th Ed.) Quick Guide | In-text Citations & References

Published on 18 January 2021 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on 17 January 2024.

APA 7th edition publication manual

This citation guide outlines the most important citation guidelines from the 7th edition APA Publication Manual (2020). Scribbr also offers free guides for the older APA 6th edition , MLA Style , and Chicago Style .

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Table of contents

Apa in-text citations, apa references, formatting the apa reference page, free lecture slides.

In-text citations are brief references in the running text that direct readers to the reference entry at the end of the paper. You include them every time you quote or paraphrase someone else’s ideas or words.

An APA in-text citation consists of the author’s last name and the year of publication (also known as the author-date system). If you’re citing a specific part of a source, you should also include a locator such as a page number or timestamp. For example: (Smith, 2020, p. 170) .

Parenthetical vs. narrative citation

The in-text citation can take two forms: parenthetical and narrative. Both types are generated automatically when citing a source with Scribbr’s APA Citation Generator.

  • Parenthetical citation: According to new research … (Smith, 2020) .
  • Narrative citation: Smith (2020) notes that …

Multiple authors and corporate authors

The in-text citation changes slightly when a source has multiple authors or an organization as an author. Pay attention to punctuation and the use of the ampersand (&) symbol.

Missing information

When the author, publication date or locator is unknown, take the steps outlined below.

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meaning of apa style of referencing

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APA references generally include information about the author , publication date , title , and source . Depending on the type of source, you may have to include extra information that helps your reader locate the source.

Reference examples

Citing a source starts with choosing the correct reference format. Use Scribbr’s Citation Example Generator to learn more about the format for the most common source types. Pay close attention to punctuation, capitalization, and italicization.

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It is not uncommon for certain information to be unknown or missing, especially with sources found online. In these cases, the reference is slightly adjusted.

APA Reference Page (7th edition)

On the first line of the page, write the section label “References” (in bold and centred). On the second line, start listing your references in alphabetical order .

Apply these formatting guidelines to the APA reference page:

  • Double spacing (within and between references)
  • Hanging indent of ½ inch
  • Legible font (e.g. Times New Roman 12 or Arial 11)
  • Page number in the top-right header

Which sources to include

On the reference page, you only include sources that you have cited in the text (with an in-text citation ). You should not include references to personal communications that your reader can’t access (e.g. emails, phone conversations or private online material).

Are you a teacher or professor looking to introduce your students to APA Style? Download our free introductory lecture slides, available for Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint.

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Streefkerk, R. (2024, January 17). APA Referencing (7th Ed.) Quick Guide | In-text Citations & References. Scribbr. Retrieved 15 February 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/referencing/apa-style/

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meaning of apa style of referencing

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What is APA referencing?

Why do i need to master apa, what do i use apa style for, what are the key components of apa for my work at gihe, what is an in-text citation, what is the end of text reference list, what is the overall format of the end of text reference list, what does a correctly formatted reference list look like.

Watch this   short video  as a brief overview on the subject.

meaning of apa style of referencing

You need to master APA referencing for your GIHE studies

The American Psychological Association (APA) style is a set of rules and guidelines used to communicate in a standardized way.  According to the APA , “APA Style provides a foundation for effective scholarly communication because it helps writers present their ideas in a clear, precise, and inclusive manner.” (APA, para 1, n.d.).

There are many different referencing systems, but APA is the style required by GIHE for all your assessed projects.

Academic and business communication should be evidence based and data driven. To produce top quality work, you need to base your arguments on sources, the work of the experts in the specific area. You incorporate source information into your work through paraphrasing (or more rarely, through quoting directly). You use APA style to give credit to your expert sources, to avoid issues of originality and plagiarism, and to demonstrate that your work is based on authoritative and reliable sources.

The two key components of APA style required by GIHE are the  in-text citation  and the  end of text reference list.

An in-text citation is the family name(s) of the author(s) and the year of publication of the source material. The in-text citation always comes immediately before or after your paraphrase of the source information. The in-text citation can be in parentheses (parenthetical) or included in your paraphrased sentence (narrative):

Parenthetical: Revenue management is the key to a profitable business (Zhang, 2021).

Narrative: Zhang (2021) believes that revenue management is the key to a profitable business.

You can find a table showing all the possible  formats for in-text citations on the official APA style website

Every source you cite in your text must be fully referenced in a list at the end of your text. This full reference allows the readers of your written work or the audience of your oral presentation to find the source of your information. The format of each individual reference list entry depends on the type of source, but all entries follow the basic structure of four elements:

WHO. (WHEN). WHAT. WHERE

WHO  = the name of the organization or the family name(s) and initials of the author(s)

WHEN  = the year – the month and day if appropriate – the source was published

WHAT  = the title of the source e.g. title of journal article, book, webpage on a website

WHERE  = the place where your reader or audience can find your source themselves e.g. academic journal, book publisher, website URL

You can find the details about  how to format the reference list entries for different types of sources on the APA style website.

There are six key points to format your end of text reference list correctly:

  • Start on a new page  at the end of your document. To do this, make sure you insert a page break at the end of your text.
  • Use a consistent font.  APA style recommends  11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode, 12-point Times New Roman, or 11-point Georgia.
  • Title . The title of your reference list is the single word  References  in bold and centered at the top of the page.
  • Line spacing.  You should use double line spacing.
  • Indentation.  Each individual reference list entry should be formatted with a hanging indent.
  • Alphabetical order . Your reference list should be ordered alphabetically by author family name, or organization name.

Refer to the official APA style website for  a sample student paper with  a correctly formatted end of text reference list  .

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What is APA?

In this section we are going to look at how you can set up a paper in APA style. Specifically, we are going to look at citing books and journal articles within your research paper.

APA is the style of documentation of sources used by the American Psychological Association. This form of writing research papers is used mainly in the social sciences, like psychology, anthropology, sociology, as well as education and other fields.

How Does APA Style Work?

When working with APA there are two things to keep in mind: in-text citations and the reference page. In-text citations will use the author's name and the date within your research paper. These citations will refer back to the reference page at the end, which lists all the sources that you may have used in your research paper.

Note: If you are assigned a research paper in APA style for one of your courses, it's a good idea to ask your instructor the questions below. He or she will be able to explain details about the requirements for the paper. For now, we will go over the basic instructions of how to use in-text citations and how to set up the reference page.

When Would I Have to Cite a Source in APA?

Anytime you summarize, paraphrase, or quote information from another source, like passages from books or articles in an academic journal, you are required to list within your text the author's name and the year the article was published. There are a couple of ways this can be arranged. Here are a few examples.

  • Another theory came from the idea of the “matching hypothesis.” This was presented by Goffman (1952), who believed that men had the tendency to choose spouses who were of similar social status. The sums of these attributes include are social skills, wealth, power, intelligence, attractiveness, and other skills that are valued in society.

With the example above, the writer puts the author's last name in the text and immediately after it puts the date in parentheses.

  • In 1971 Berscheid, Dion, Walster, and Walster conducted another “computer date” dance. This time they paired similar attractive persons together for the date. An independent panel of judges assessed the attractiveness of each of the subjects.

Here, the authors' names and the date of publication are both put into the body of the text, without using parentheses.

Citing a Journal Article

If i cite a journal article in the body of my text does it mean that the authors of that journal article agree with the arguments in my paper.

No, not necessarily. Dr. Sadler, a professor in the psychology department at IUP, states that you can cite articles that will agree or disagree with your ideas. He goes on to say:

  • The agreement or disagreement should be conveyed by your wording. For example, “This interpretation is consistent with findings by Smith and Jones (1999) . . . .” Or, you might say, “If my prediction is confirmed, it would falsify the theory of episodic memory proposed by Tulving (1984)” Or, “A number of researchers do not agree with this view (e.g., Brown, 1993; Stevens, 1992; Treisman, 1994).”

So, not only can you use journal articles to support your ideas, but you can also use them to show that some authors do not agree with your ideas or have ideas different from yours.

Preparing to Cite A Source

How do i let the reader know that i am about to cite a source.

To let the reader know that a journal article is about to be cited in the body of your paper, you can use signal phrases that are appropriate for the ideas you want to express. These words include: adds, argues, claims, denies, illustrates, grants, notes, observes, suggests, etc. You could also use the standard “said.”

This is expressed in the sample below:

  • In an influential article, Terrace, Petitto, Sanders and Bever (1979) argued that the apes in the language experiments were not using language spontaneously but were merely imitating their trainers, responding to conscious or unconscious cues.

References Page

What is the references page and how is it put together.

The References page lists all the sources you have cited in your paper. The entry for a journal article should look like this:

  • Berscheid, E., Dion, K. K., Walster, E., and Walster, G. W. (1971). Physical attractiveness and dating choice: A test of the matching hypothesis. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology , 7, 173-189.

As you can see in the example above, the authors' names appear first (last name, first name). Then the year of publication is given in parentheses. Then the title is listed (with only the first word of the title, the first word after the colon, and proper nouns capitalized). Then the name of the journal (in italics) is listed, the volume number, and finally, the pages of the article.

For a book, the entry looks like this:

  • Schaller, G. B. (1993). The Last Panda . Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

In the example above, the author's name is listed (last name, first name), then the date, followed by the title with only the first word capitalized, the city of publication, and then the name of the publisher.

Written by Mariel Lorenz This guide for APA was adapted from: Hacker, D. (2003). A Writer' Reference . (5th ed.). Boston: St. Martin's. American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association . (5th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Updated January 28, 2005 by Renee Brown

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Getting started

This APA 7th style guide is based on the citing and referencing sections of the  Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association  (7th edition ) and the APA Style website ( https://apastyle.apa.org ). This guide is designed to help you:

meaning of apa style of referencing

Our interactive online tutorials can help you understand the basics of citing and referencing, and why it's important.

Elements of citing and referencing in APA 7th style

There are two places in your assignments and other academic work you need to cite and reference- in the body of your writing ( in-text citations ) , and   at the end of your work (in the  reference list ) where you provide full details of the works you have cited. 

The Quick Start Guide (below) will help you quickly become familiar with the key features of APA 7th, and their application.

Additional resources

Quick start guide [pdf 0.2mb].

A printable two-page introduction with key examples.

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APA Style – Definition, Overview & Examples

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APA-style-01

APA style is one of the most widely recognized and implemented writing formats in academic writing . Predominantly adopted within the social sciences, it is used by writers and researchers to structure their papers, articles, and academic essays , and format their references.

The guidelines address aspects such as the structure of a paper, citation style, use of headers, choice of language, and presentation of statistical data.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

  • 1 In a Nutshell – APA Style
  • 2 Definition: APA Style
  • 3 General overview of the APA style
  • 4 APA style in your thesis
  • 5 APA style: In-text citation
  • 6 APA style: Citation in the reference list
  • 7 What is special about an APA citation?
  • 8 Secondary quotes in APA style
  • 9 Overview of all APA style articles

In a Nutshell – APA Style

Just as in any other citation system, the APA style is fairly simple to follow once you become acquainted with the basic rules. If you want to use the APA style in your thesis, you should bear in mind the following:

  • The APA style is an author-year-system and does not require the use of footnotes for source citations.
  • There are different sets of rules when quoting in APA style based on the number of authors of a source, as well as the difference between short references in the text and full references in the reference list.
  • In order to properly quote using APA style, it is essential to stick to the order of information for each source citation. As well as ensure to include all necessary information to provide a complete reference list (the same is true for any other citation system)

Definition: APA Style

The APA style is an author-year-system (just like Harvard referencing and the Chicago Style ). This is to ensure that the sources you are referencing in your work can be tracked easily.

A reference using the APA style contains the following components:

  • Author’s surname
  • Publication year
  • Page number

General overview of the APA style

Proper referencing involves giving your reader essential information about the sources quoted in your text. Thus, the reader of your paper or thesis can easily trace back your sources and access them if needed. The APA style is just one of many referencing systems that can be used as a guideline for referencing.

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (short: APA) was originally developed for the field of psychology. However, it is widely used in other fields of study as well.

Even though the APA style originated in the natural sciences, it is now commonly used in the humanities.

You should know that the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) provides detailed guidelines for writing academic research papers, addressing all formal requirements. This overview, however, focuses on how to quote in the APA format and does not present the Manual in its entirety.

APA style in your thesis

As you already know, the APA style is an author-year-system . To cite properly in APA style, these components are crucial:

  • publication year

Make sure to stick to the order of elements and the punctuation marks as presented here. If your citation marks the end of a sentence, it must be put before the full stop, as it is part of the quote.

  • […] this is one of many reasons, why sports as well as a healthy diet are essential.

How to quote in APA style in the reference section

  • Gaddes, W. (1991). Lernstörungen und Hirnfunktionen. Eine neuropsychologische Betrachtung . Berlin: Springer.
  • Whitney, E., & Rolfes, S. (2011). Understanding nu trition (12 th ed.). Australia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
  • Smart, I.M. (1995). Fun with psychology . Green Hill, IL: Green Publishing Co.

APA style: In-text citation

The following table presents an overview of how to quote in APA style in-text, as well as provides full references in the reference list . Make sure you pay attention to the number of authors of each source you would like to quote in your bachelor’s thesis , master’s thesis , or dissertation as shown below.

What is distinct about the APA style is the above categorization, which is based on the number of authors of a source. Moreover, the latter also distinguishes the APA style from other citation styles.

The table above shows that the APA style requires you to list all the authors of a source for full reference (in your reference section). Only sources with eight or more authors are treated differently.

Note: Using the APA style is not a general norm in all faculties and for all fields of study. As a matter of fact, many faculties and departments have compiled their own style sheets which might be based on other citation manuals (e.g., Harvard referencing , Chicago Style , etc.).

Thus, it is recommended that you check with your supervisor whether using the APA style is acceptable in your bachelor’s thesis .

The new APA style guidelines (9 th ed.) do not require that you indicate the date when you last accessed the online sources being quoted. However, you must provide the last date of access if the contents of a particular website quoted are likely to be edited over time or even deleted.

It is recommended that you check the requirements of the APA style for internet sources you are not sure about (UCOL 2015). The best practice is to be consistent and always provide the date of last access, and not just when in doubt.

Furthermore, if you are unsure about quoting a specific source in APA style, check with your supervisor.

APA style: Citation in the reference list

The following table lists the most common and important types of sources you will come across in your bachelor’s thesis. It is essential to check the format required by the APA style in order to cite those sources in the reference section below.

If in doubt, you should definitely look things up in the APA style manual. For instance, maybe you would like to quote a rather specific source that is not listed below. The APA style manual is a detailed guideline that includes rules on how to deal with such special cases.

Where can you find this manual? Every university library should have a number of copies of the APA style manual, as well as manuals for other style guides. However, the table below provides you with a solid foundation on APA style basics. Moreover, quoting sources that are not among the most common ones as listed here is the exception rather than the rule.

Note: You should never type the author’s first and middle names, but only use their initials, leaving a space between. Don’t forget that each entry of your reference list in APA style should begin with a hanging indent.

If you would like to quote using APA style, you have to make sure that the first line of each reference is left-justified and all following lines are indented:

You should never type the author’s first and middle names, but only use their initials, leaving a space between them. Don’t forget that each entry of your reference list in APA style should begin with a hanging indent.

If you would like to quote using APA style, you have to make sure that the first line of each reference is left-justified and all following lines are indented.

APA-Style-Citation-Reference-List

Citing literature in different languages in APA style

If you are writing your paper in another language, e.g. German, but you are quoting an English source, the APA style prescribes sticking to the abbreviations used in the source language.

For example, Eds. (Editors) remains Eds., Hrsg. (Herausgeber, the German word for editors) remains Hrsg. while quoting using APA style, even if this might not seem very intuitive (and you feel this should be translated). In the same vein, n.d. (no date) and o.J. (ohne Jahr = no year, the German equivalent for n.d.) must remain the way they are when using the APA style.

Internet sources in APA style

Citing internet sources in APA style follows a set of rules. To be on the safe side, you should definitely check what the APA style manual says about a particular source you wish to quote in your text. However, while quoting in APA style, you should bear two things in mind.

Let’s assume that you used the following internet source, and it appears in your reference section as follows:

If you are quoting this source for the first time in your text, you should use the full name as well as providing an acronym:

(Ministry of Health [MOH], 2014)

But from then onwards, you will only have to use the acronym to quote correctly in APA style:

(MOH, 2014):

Ministry of Health (2014). Ebola: Information for the public. Available here: https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/diseases-and-illnesses/ebola-information-public.

What is special about an APA citation?

When using the APA style in a term paper, a bachelor’s thesis , or a master’s thesis, you will have to use a reference list instead of a bibliography . The difference between a bibliography and a reference list lies in the sources that make up each list.

Regarding the APA style, you have to provide a reference list —i.e., you only have to list the sources actually quoted in your text. The table below is an overview of the main differences (APA Style 2018) between a reference list for APA style and a bibliography :

If you have to quote using APA style, the citations in the text follow an author-year-system, just like Harvard referencing. However, the Harvard referencing style requires a reference list which should also contain the sources that were used during the literature research but were not quoted.

In contrast to this, it is sufficient to list the sources cited in the text for APA style. Using an author-year-system like the APA style only requires that the source citations are included in the text as such and do not appear in footnotes.

Specific reference list

There are a few characteristics of compiling a reference list that is specific to the APA style. If you are planning to quote using APA style in your thesis, you should check your reference list to make sure it meets the following rules:

  • The year of publication and edition are to be put in brackets
  • The ampersand (‘&’) is used before the name of the last author in a row of authors
  • The title of monographs, journals, or edited volumes must be italicized
  • “In” only introduces edited volumes
  • ‘[Video]’ must be placed after the year of publication in cases where video material is quoted
  • The edition/revised edition number must be put in brackets
  • The issue number of a journal must not be put in brackets

Secondary quotes in APA style

Drawing on secondary quotes is never ideal, irrespective of whether you are using the APA citation style or any other citation system. You should always try to access the original sources if possible. If you are unable to find or access the original source, you can then insert a secondary quote in APA style, but bear in mind to use these sparingly:

Fawcett (as quoted in Polit & Beck, 2008)

You will only have to list the source of the original quote:

Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2008). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (8 th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Ireland

Overview of all APA style articles

  • APA 6th edition
  • APA 6th edition abstract
  • APA 6th edition book citation
  • APA 6th edition dictionary citation
  • APA 6th edition format
  • APA 6th edition headings
  • APA 6th edition journal article citation
  • APA 6th edition movie citation
  • APA 6th edition newspaper citation
  • APA 6th edition references
  • APA 6th edition running head
  • APA 6th edition table of contents
  • APA 6th edition tables and figures
  • APA 6th edition title page
  • APA 6th edition website citation
  • APA 6th edition YouTube video citation
  • APA 7th edition
  • APA abstract
  • APA appendix
  • APA citation
  • APA direct quotes
  • APA footnotes
  • APA headings
  • APA in-text citation
  • APA language guidelines
  • APA methods section
  • APA reference
  • APA references order
  • APA results section
  • APA running head
  • APA tables and figures
  • Reporting statistics in APA

What is an APA citation?

The APA style is the American Psychological Association style. It uses an author-year system of citation to ensure that the sources referenced by a writer can be tracked easily by anybody. It is one of the major referencing and citation styles and is mostly used for Education, Psychology, and Science writings. The complete APA reference list can be found at the end of a piece of writing – there are no footnotes.

How do you cite in APA format?

The APA format follows the author-year system of in-text citation. This means the author’s last name and the publication year are used in the text. Thereafter, one full reference for each source should be made in the reference list at the end of the research paper .

The APA in-text citation style takes the following format:

  • (Author(s) last name, publication year)
  • (Howard, 2010)

Why is APA style important?

The APA style is important because it helps give clarity to the contents of a research paper. This, in turn, helps the writer organize the sources used in their research for the academic writing project. The readers of the text also have no trouble finding more significant information about the sources used in the text.

Why is APA style used for sciences?

Using the APA citation style for scientific papers like psychology and social sciences is great because it ensures that sources and information in these research papers are presented in a consistent format. This consistent form is particularly useful because the topics covered in the sciences are usually complex and multifaceted. Historically, the APA citation style was designed to standardize the process of scientific writing.

What is an example of APA citation?

The basic format of APA citation requires an in-text citation and a citation in the reference list, which can be found at the end of a piece of academic writing such as a dissertation .

The in-text citation uses the author’s last name and publication year, for example:

We have also provided numerous other examples of APA style below.

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meaning of apa style of referencing

APA (7th ed.) Citation Style Guide: Four Elements of a Reference

  • Paper Format Guidelines

Four Elements of a Reference

  • Missing Reference Information
  • In-Text Citations
  • Secondary Sources
  • Tables and Figures
  • Book Sections (Chapters)
  • Reference Works
  • Business Sources
  • Audiovisual Material
  • Social Media & Software
  • Government Documents
  • Open Textbooks
  • Course Related Material
  • Personal Communications
  • Further Examples
  • Legal Citation
  • Nursing Resources

APA, 7th ed., bases its reference on the four elements . The four reference elements answer four questions:

Author - Who?

Date - When?

Title - What?

Source - Where?

Basic Principles of Reference List Entries

https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/basic-principles

For further information, see pages 283-301 of the  Publication manual of the American Psychological Association , 7th ed., 2020.

Author Types - Who?

Who is responsible for the work?

Use one space between author initials.

Hyphenated names . For given names retain the hyphen and include a period but no space (e.g. Mary-Jane Smith becomes Smith, M.-J.) unless the second element of the name is lowercase in which case you treat it as a single name (e.g. Ella-ann Fonseca becomes Fonseca, E.). For surnames write the name as it appears in the published work retaining the hyphen for hyphenated surnames (double-barrelled) or the space for two-part surnames (e.g. Louis-Dreyfus, J. or Lloyd Webber, A.). 

If the author and the publisher are the same , omit the publisher.

If the author can not be determined, move the title of the work to the author position.

For further information on authors, refer to  Publication manual of the American Psychological Association , 7th ed., 2020, pp. 286-289.

Date Types - When?

Books - Use the copyright date given on the book's copyright page.

Webpages - Make sure the date applies to the webpage you are citing. Copyright dates from website footers may not indicate when the content was published. Use the 'last updated' date if that is relevant to the webpage you are citing.

The date may take one of the following forms depending on the type of item being cited.

  • year, month, and day
  • year and month
  • range of dates

While most references use only the year of publication, works published more frequently such as newspapers, include the year, month and day.  For these types of works, put the year first in the following format.

(2020, December 15)

(2020, Summer)

When the publication date is unknown, use (n.d.).

For sources where the content changes frequently , provide a retrieval date.

Retrieved August 22, 2020, from https://xxxx

For further information on authors, refer to  Publication manual of the American Psychological Association , 7th ed., 2020, pp. 289-291).

Title Types - What?

For works that stand alone such as books , italicize the title. Use sentence case -Capitalize the first word of the title and subtitle and proper nouns.

Rodl, S. (2018). Self-consciousness and objectivity: An introduction to absolute idealism . Harvard University Press.

For works that are part of a greater whole such as articles in journals or edited book chapters , do not italicize the title.

Goor, J., Sools, A. M., Westerhof, G. J., & Bohlmeijer, E. T. (2020). Wonderful life: Exploring wonder in meaningful moments.  Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 60 (2), 147-167. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167817696837

Use bracketed descriptions to help identify works other than books, articles, reports etc. Provide a description of the work in square brackets after the title and before the period.

  Russell Brand's definition of God  [Video].

For further information on authors, refer to  Publication manual of the American Psychological Association , 7th ed., 2020, pp. 291-293).

Source Types - Where?

Periodicals (e.g. journals, magazines, newspapers, newsletters, blogs etc.)

e.g.  Periodical, Volume (issue), page or a range of page

Edited book with chapters or a reference book such as an encyclopedia

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of chapter. In A. A. Editor (Ed.), Title of book (pp. chapter page numbers). Name of Publisher.

e.g. Routlege

  • Do not include Inc., Ltd., or LLC in the publisher name
  • If the work is published by an imprint or division, use the imprint or division as the publisher.
  • If the author and the publisher are the same, omit the publisher from the reference.

Social Media

e.g. Facebook. URL 

Webpages or websites

Website name. URL or Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL

Conferences

Conference Name, Location. DOI or URL

Do not include the database name for most research databases. Provide database or online archive information in a reference only when it is necessary for readers to retrieve the cited work from that exact database or archive... URLs from database or library-provided services usually require a login and/or are session specific, meaning they will not be accessible to most readers and are not suitable to include in a reference list." (Publication manual of the American Psychological Association , 7th ed., 2020, p. 317)

e.g. https://doi.org/10/1061/j.jebo.2019.03.023

https://xxx or Retrieved Month Day, Year, from https://xxxx

The retrieval date is only required for online resources that change their content frequently. 

For further information on authors, refer to  Publication manual of the American Psychological Association , 7th ed., 2020, pp. 293-301).

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Reference List: Basic Rules

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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. However, because sources obtained from academic journals  carry special weight in research writing, these sources are subject to special rules . Thus, this page presents basic guidelines for citing academic journals separate from its "ordinary" basic guidelines. This distinction is made clear below.

Note:  Because the information on this page pertains to virtually all citations, we've highlighted one important difference between APA 6 and APA 7 with an underlined note written in red.  For more information, please consult the   Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association , (7 th  ed.).

Formatting a Reference List

Your reference list should appear at the end of your paper. It provides the information necessary for a reader to locate and retrieve any source you cite in the body of the paper. Each source you cite in the paper must appear in your reference list; likewise, each entry in the reference list must be cited in your text.

Your references should begin on a new page separate from the text of the essay; label this page "References" in bold, centered at the top of the page (do NOT underline or use quotation marks for the title). All text should be double-spaced just like the rest of your essay.

Basic Rules for Most Sources

  • All lines after the first line of each entry in your reference list should be indented one-half inch from the left margin. This is called hanging indentation.
  • All authors' names should be inverted (i.e., last names should be provided first).
  • For example, the reference entry for a source written by Jane Marie Smith would begin with "Smith, J. M."
  • If a middle name isn't available, just initialize the author's first name: "Smith, J."
  • Give the last name and first/middle initials for all authors of a particular work up to and including 20 authors ( this is a new rule, as APA 6 only required the first six authors ). Separate each author’s initials from the next author in the list with a comma. Use an ampersand (&) before the last author’s name. If there are 21 or more authors, use an ellipsis (but no ampersand) after the 19th author, and then add the final author’s name.
  • Reference list entries should be alphabetized by the last name of the first author of each work.
  • For multiple articles by the same author, or authors listed in the same order, list the entries in chronological order, from earliest to most recent.
  • Note again that the titles of academic journals are subject to special rules. See section below.
  • Italicize titles of longer works (e.g., books, edited collections, names of newspapers, and so on).
  • Do not italicize, underline, or put quotes around the titles of shorter works such as chapters in books or essays in edited collections.

Basic Rules for Articles in Academic Journals

  • Present journal titles in full.
  • Italicize journal titles.
  • For example, you should use  PhiloSOPHIA  instead of  Philosophia,  or  Past & Present   instead of  Past and Present.
  • This distinction is based on the type of source being cited. Academic journal titles have all major words capitalized, while other sources' titles do not.
  • Capitalize   the first word of the titles and subtitles of   journal articles , as well as the   first word after a colon or a dash in the title, and   any proper nouns .
  • Do not italicize or underline the article title.
  • Deep blue: The mysteries of the Marianas Trench.
  • Oceanographic Study: A Peer-Reviewed Publication

Please note:  While the APA manual provides examples of how to cite common types of sources, it does not cover all conceivable sources. If you must cite a source that APA does not address, the APA suggests finding an example that is similar to your source and using that format. For more information, see page 282 of the   Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association , 7 th  ed.

  • AUT Library
  • Library Guides
  • Referencing styles and applications

APA 7th Referencing Style Guide

Elements of a reference.

  • Referencing & APA style
  • In-text citation

Italics, space, en dash

Dois and urls.

  • Format & examples of a reference list
  • Conferences
  • Reports & grey literature
  • Figures (graphs and images)
  • Theses and dissertations
  • Audio works
  • Films, TV & video
  • Visual works
  • Computer software, games & apps
  • Lecture notes & Intranet resources
  • Legal resources
  • Personal communications
  • PowerPoint slides
  • Social media
  • Specific health examples
  • Standards & patents
  • Websites & webpages
  • Footnotes and appendices
  • Frequently asked questions

A reference is the bibliographic information of a work cited. In APA, a reference includes four core elements.

Four elements

The following video may help you identify the information needed for referencing different types of sources:

  • Finding the information for my APA references

Use of Italics

  • Italicise the title of a stand alone work, e.g. books, reports, webpages, websites, etc.
  • Italicise the titles of periodicals, e.g. journals, magazines, newspapers
  • When a chapter of an edited book is cited, include the editor and book title in reference. Italicise the title of the book.

Spacing after punctuation marks

Insert one space after full stops in a reference list.

Use an en dash for page ranges

Use an en dash, not a hyphen, for page ranges, e.g. 21–27.  An en dash (–) is wider than a hyphen (-).  Do not insert a space before or after the en dash.

To add an en dash in Microsoft Word if you are using a full PC keyboard, hold the Control key and type the minus sign on the numeric keypad.  Ctrl and - 

meaning of apa style of referencing

  • If your keyboard will not produce an en dash, it is acceptable to use a hyphen instead.  See the APA Manual p.157 for more details on the use of hyphens and dashes in APA style.

In a reference the author refers to the person(s) or group responsible for the work.

  • Use one space between initials
  • If given names are hyphenated, retain the hyphen, with no space between the first initial and the hyphen. e.g., Su, D.-P. for Dong-Po Su
  • See the APA Manual   p. 286, s9.8 for more details
  • When the author is not clear you can use a group as the author
  • If the author and the publisher are the same you can omit the publisher
  • If the author cannot be identified, move the title of the work to the author position
  • If a work is signed "Anonymous", use "Anonymous" as the author

Works with the same author and same date

  • Use 'a' and 'b' after the year

Two authors

  • Use "&" before the final author

Three to twenty authors

List all author up to and including the 20th author in the order they appear. Use an ampersand ("&") before the final author. 

Twenty-one or more authors 

  • List the first 19 authors in the order they appear, insert an ellipsis "...", and then the final author

Group author (organisation)

Pseudonyms (if the author has only one name).

Select the type of resource in the menu to find more reference examples.

In a reference the date refers to the date of publication.

  • For more information see the APA Manual pp. 289–291

Journal article - date of the volume

Newspaper - include full date, article in press.

​ Select the type of resource in the menu to find more reference examples.

  • Use sentence case capitalisation  for Titles (capitalise the first word of a title, or sub-title, and proper nouns)
  • Additional information for a title, such as edition, volume number or report number, should not be italicised. Enclose this information in parentheses right after the title, with no intervening period
  • Finish the title element with a period. If parenthetical information is included, the period should be placed after the parentheses
  • For more information see the APA Manual pp. 291–293
  • Periodical: Italicise the name of the periodical and the volume number (but not the issue number if present). Periodical names use  Title Case capitalisation  (capitalise the first word of a Title or Subtitle, and also capitalise all major words).
  • Edited book chapters or a dictionary: Italicise the title of the book or the dictionary, using Sentence Style capitalisation  (capitalise only the first word of a title or sub-title, and nay proper nouns). Use (Eds.) for more than one editor
  • If a work is published by an imprint or division, use the imprint or division as the publisher. Do not include Inc. or Ltd for the publisher. 
  • When the author and publisher / website are the same, omit the publisher /the name of the website
  • Do not include database information for works from most research databases or platforms, e.g. EBSCO databases, Ovid, Scopus, etc.
  • Retrieval date is only required for online resources that are changed frequently  

Select the type of resource in the menu to find more reference examples.

See the APA Style blog for full details

General tips.

Use Hyperlinks :

  • Present both DOIs and URLs as hyperlinks
  • Links should be live if the work will be published or read online.  You can use the default setting in your word processing programme (usually this is blue font, underlined). 
  • Do not include "Retrieved from" or "Accessed from" before a DOI or URL

Use DOI : Always use the DOI if available (for print/online articles and books).

DOI or URL : If both DOI and URL are available, use only the DOI.

No DOI : If there is no DOI, use the URL.

No full stop : Do not add a full stop after the DOI or URL because it may interfere with link functionality.

No DOI or URL : If the work is from a research database but does not have a DOI, do not include the database URL or name. Treat it as a print work.

DOI = digital object identifier

  • A DOI commonly identifies a journal article   but it can also be found on other publication types, including books
  • The DOI provides a permanent internet address for the item
  • It is possible to search for DOIs in Library Search or on the Internet
  • Use https://doi.org/ before the DOI number in your reference
  • Articles from a library database may include the text "ezproxy.aut.ac.nz" within the DOI link. This should be removed in your reference. For example: https://doi.org .ezproxy.aut.ac.nz /10.1093/pubmed/fdv045

Find more examples of references with DOIs on the  Articles   page.

A journal article or ebook reference should include a URL if:

  • An article has no DOI, but has a URL that a general reader could access (not a database URL)
  • An ebook or audiobook has no DOI, but has a URL that a general reader could access (not a database URL)

Provide a URL that links directly to the cited work where possible.

Retrieval date: only include this if you are referencing online content that is designed to change over time and the page is not archived. If a version of the online content is archived, a retrieval date is not needed.

Use short DOI and URL

Long or complex DOIs or URLs can be shortened for your references. 

  • Create a short DOI: use  http://shortdoi.org/  (the International DOI Foundation)
  • Create a short URL: use  https://bitly.com/  or  https://tinyurl.com/

Always check all short URLs in your reference list to ensue they link to their correct locations!

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Generate accurate APA citations for free

  • Knowledge Base
  • APA Style 7th edition
  • Beginner’s guide to APA in-text citation

APA In-Text Citations (7th Ed.) | Multiple Authors & Missing Info

Published on November 4, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on September 30, 2022.

In-text citations briefly identify the source of information in the body text. They correspond to a full reference entry at the end of your paper.

APA in-text citations consist of the author’s last name and publication year. When citing a specific part of a source, also include a page number or range, for example (Parker, 2020, p. 67) or (Johnson, 2017, pp. 39–41) .

Generate accurate APA citations with Scribbr

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Run a quick check to see how many APA citation errors your paper contains before submitting your work.

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Table of contents

Apa in-text citations explained in 4 minutes, parenthetical vs. narrative citations, apa in-text citations with multiple authors, no author, date or page number, multiple sources in one parenthesis, avoiding ambiguity in apa in-text citations, citing indirect sources (“as cited in”), citing personal communication, general mentions of websites and software, example paragraph with in-text citations, frequently asked questions.

The in-text citation can be placed in parentheses or naturally integrated into a sentence.

  • Parenthetical : There is a correlation between social media usage and anxiety symptoms in teenagers (Parker, 2019) .
  • Narrative: Parker (2019) found a correlation between social media usage and anxiety symptoms in teenagers.

The publication year appears directly after the author’s name when using the narrative format. The parenthetical citation can be placed within or at the end of a sentence, just before the period. Check out a full example paragraph with in-text citations .

If a work has two authors, separate their names with an ampersand (&) in a parenthetical citation or “and” in a narrative citation. If there are three or more authors, only include the first author’s last name followed by “et al.”, meaning “and others”.

Group authors known by their abbreviations (e.g., CDC) are written in full the first time and are abbreviated in subsequent citations.

If the author of a source is unknown, try to determine if there is an organization or government responsible for creating the content. If so, include its name in the in-text citation (and reference entry).

Alternatively, use the source title in place of the author. Italicize the title if it’s italicized in the reference entry (except for court cases , which are italicized in the in-text citation but not the reference entry). Otherwise, enclose it in double quotation marks.

Apply title case capitalization, and shorten long titles. The first word of the title should always be included so readers can easily locate the corresponding reference entry.

  • (“U.S. Flood Risk,” 2015)
  • ( Thinking, Fast and Slow , 2017)

No publication date

If the publication date is unknown, write “n.d.” (no date) in the in-text citation.

No page number (alternative locators)

Page numbers are only required with direct quotes in APA . If you are quoting from a work that does not have page numbers (e.g., webpages or YouTube videos ), you can use an alternative locator, such as:

  • (Liu, 2020, 03:26 )
  • (Johnson, 2019, Chapter 3 )
  • (McCombes, 2016, para. 4 )
  • (Davis, 2016, Slide 15 )
  • (Flores, 2020, Table 5 )
  • (Streefkerk, 2020, “No page number” section )

Note that Bible citations always use chapter and verse numbers, even when page numbers are available:

If a statement is supported by multiple sources, the in-text citations can be combined in one parenthesis. Order the sources alphabetically, and separate them with a semicolon.

When citing multiple works from the same author, list the years of publication separated by a comma.

When in-text citations are ambiguous because they correspond to multiple reference entries, apply the solutions outlined in the table below.

If you want to refer to a source that you have found in another source, you should always try to access the original or primary source .

However, if you cannot find the original source , you should cite it through the secondary source that led you to it, using the phrase “as cited in”.

If the publication date of the primary source is unknown, include only the year of publication of the secondary source.

Only include a reference entry for the secondary source, not the primary source.

Personal communications , such as phone calls, emails, and interviews, are not included in the reference list because readers can’t access them. The in-text citation is also formatted slightly differently.

Include the initials and last name of the person you communicated with, the words “personal communication,” and the exact date in parentheses.

General mentions of a website or software don’t have to be cited with an in-text citation or entry in the reference list. Instead, incorporate relevant information into the running text.

  • The website of Scribbr (www.scribbr.com) contains various useful resources.
  • Statistical software SPSS (version 25) was used to analyze the data.

When citing a webpage or online article , the APA in-text citation consists of the author’s last name and year of publication. For example: (Worland & Williams, 2015). Note that the author can also be an organization. For example: (American Psychological Association, 2019).

If you’re quoting you should also include a locator. Since web pages don’t have page numbers, you can use one of the following options:

  • Paragraph number: (Smith, 2018, para. 15).
  • Heading or section name: ( CDC, 2020, Flu Season section)
  • Abbreviated heading:  ( CDC, 2020, “Key Facts” section)

Instead of the author’s name, include the first few words of the work’s title in the in-text citation. Enclose the title in double quotation marks when citing an article, web page or book chapter. Italicize the title of periodicals, books, and reports.

If the publication date is unknown , use “n.d.” (no date) instead. For example: (Johnson, n.d.).

The abbreviation “ et al. ” (meaning “and others”) is used to shorten APA in-text citations with three or more authors . Here’s how it works:

Only include the first author’s last name, followed by “et al.”, a comma and the year of publication, for example (Taylor et al., 2018).

Always include page numbers in the APA in-text citation when quoting a source . Don’t include page numbers when referring to a work as a whole – for example, an entire book or journal article.

If your source does not have page numbers, you can use an alternative locator such as a timestamp, chapter heading or paragraph number.

If you cite several sources by the same author or group of authors, you’ll distinguish between them in your APA in-text citations using the year of publication.

If you cite multiple sources by the same author(s) at the same point , you can just write the author name(s) once and separate the different years with commas, e.g., (Smith, 2020, 2021).

To distinguish between sources with the same author(s) and  the same publication year, add a different lowercase letter after the year for each source, e.g., (Smith, 2020, 2021a, 2021b). Add the same letters to the corresponding reference entries .

In an APA in-text citation , you use the phrase “ as cited in ” if you want to cite a source indirectly (i.e., if you cannot find the original source).

Parenthetical citation: (Brown, 1829, as cited in Mahone, 2018) Narrative citation: Brown (1829, as cited in Mahone, 2018) states that…

On the reference page , you only include the secondary source (Mahone, 2018).

An APA in-text citation is placed before the final punctuation mark in a sentence.

  • The company invested over 40,000 hours in optimizing its algorithm (Davis, 2011) .
  • A recent poll suggests that EU membership “would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters” in a referendum (Levring, 2018) .

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Education Blog

Apa vs. mla understanding citation styles for academic writing.

In the world of academic writing, mastering the art of citation is not just a requirement; it’s a skill that underscores the credibility and integrity of your work. Whether you’re penning a research paper, thesis, or any scholarly article, knowing when and how to use APA (American Psychological Association) or MLA (Modern Language Association) format is crucial. An essay writing service can help ensure that your work adheres to these essential standard

But why is proper citation so important? It not only gives credit where it’s due but also allows readers to trace the genesis of ideas, fostering a transparent and interconnected academic dialogue.

APA vs. MLA: A Comparative Overview

  • Origin and Application

APA and MLA stand as the two colossi in the field of academic citation, each with distinct origins and applications. APA, predominantly used in the social sciences, emphasizes the date of publication, reflecting the importance of recent research in these fields. MLA, on the other hand, is favored in the humanities, particularly for its more flexible approach to authorship and source integration.

  • General Formatting Guidelines

Before diving into specifics, understanding the general layout each style adheres to can illuminate the broader differences. APA champions a more structured format, with precise headings and subheadings, while MLA offers a bit more freedom, focusing on the fluid integration of sources into the text.

Understanding APA Format

  • In-text Citation

APA format requires the author’s last name and the year of publication within the text, catering to the style’s emphasis on the timeliness of research.

  • Reference List

The reference list is a staple of APA, offering a comprehensive overview of every source cited in the paper. This list not only includes books and journal articles but extends to audiovisual and electronic sources, reflecting the modern landscape of research.

Navigating MLA Format

MLA’s in-text citation style is more reader-friendly, often incorporating the author’s name into the narrative of the paper, which can enhance the flow of arguments.

  • Works Cited Page

Unlike APA’s reference list, MLA uses a works cited page, emphasizing the work over the publication date. This approach caters to the humanities’ focus on the evolution of ideas over time.

Key Differences Between APA and MLA

  • Citation in Text

The most noticeable difference lies in how each style approaches in-text citations. APA’s author-date format contrasts sharply with MLA’s author-page method, reflecting their differing emphases on timeliness and narrative flow, respectively.

  • Reference List vs. Works Cited

The terminology and structure of the final list of sources also differ, with APA focusing on a comprehensive reference list and MLA on a more selective works cited page.

When to Use APA and MLA

  • Subject Matter Consideration

Choosing between APA and MLA often comes down to the subject matter of your paper. Social sciences, education, and psychology lean towards APA, while literature, arts, and humanities prefer MLA.

  • Journal or Publisher Requirements

Always consider the requirements of the journal or publisher. Some are strict about citation styles, so knowing the expected format is essential.

Practical Tips for Effective Citation

  • Use Software

Modern citation and reference management software can automate much of the formatting process, allowing scholars to focus more on content than citation styles.

  • Stay Updated on Style Guidelines

Both APA and MLA periodically update their guidelines. Staying abreast of these changes ensures your citations remain current and accurate.

  • Keep a Detailed Research Log

As you gather sources, maintain a detailed log that includes all necessary citation information. This practice saves time and ensures accuracy when you’re ready to cite. Include notes on key points from each source to help integrate quotes and ideas seamlessly into your writing.

  • Understand the Purpose of Each Citation

Each citation style serves a different academic purpose. APA’s focus on dates highlights the timeliness of research, while MLA’s emphasis on page numbers facilitates reader engagement with primary sources. Recognizing this can help you choose the most effective way to incorporate and highlight your research.

  • Consistency is Key

Ensure that every citation follows the same format throughout your document. Inconsistencies can distract readers and undermine your work’s professionalism. Pay special attention to punctuation, capitalization, and italicization.

  • Use Direct Quotes Sparingly

While direct quotes can strengthen your argument, relying too heavily on them can disrupt the flow of your paper. Summarize or paraphrase where appropriate, and use direct quotes to highlight particularly impactful or unique phrases. Remember to always cite the original source, even when paraphrasing.

  • Cross-Check Your Citations

Before submitting your work, double-check your citations against the latest version of the citation style guide. Small errors, such as misplaced commas or incorrect publication years, can compromise your paper’s credibility.

  • Cite as You Write

Instead of leaving citations as the last step, cite sources as you incorporate them into your paper. This approach prevents accidental plagiarism and ensures you don’t overlook any sources.

  • Seek Feedback

Have peers, mentors, or writing centers review your citations. Fresh eyes can catch mistakes you might have overlooked and provide suggestions for improvement.

The choice between APA and MLA formatting styles is not merely a matter of preference but a strategic decision that reflects the nature of your work, its audience, and the norms of your academic discipline. By understanding the key differences and applications of each style, you can navigate the complex landscape of academic writing with greater ease and precision.

IMAGES

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  2. APA Referencing Guide

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  3. APA Reference Page: How to Format Works Cited

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COMMENTS

  1. APA style

    APA style (also known as APA format) is a writing style and format for academic documents such as scholarly journal articles and books. It is commonly used for citing sources within the field of behavioral and social sciences, including sociology, education, nursing, criminal justice, and anthropology, as well as psychology.

  2. References

    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.

  3. APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition)

    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, electronic resource, etc.) Articles in Periodicals

  4. How to Cite in APA Format (7th edition)

    An APA in-text citation consists of the author's last name and the year of publication (also known as the author-date system). If you're citing a specific part of a source, you should also include a locator such as a page number or timestamp. For example: (Smith, 2020, p. 170). Parenthetical vs. narrative citation

  5. What is APA Style? Everything You Need to Know

    First, APA is referred to as a citation style because it includes specific rules for how the references you cite should be formatted and indicated in your research paper. Proper citation ensures that you will never be accused of plagiarism and lets others who read your paper understand where you got your information.

  6. APA Formatting and Citation (7th Ed.)

    Published on November 6, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on January 17, 2024. This article reflects the APA 7th edition guidelines. Click here for APA 6th edition guidelines. The 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual provides guidelines for clear communication, citing sources, and formatting documents.

  7. APA Style

    expand all What is APA Style? Where can I get help on APA Style? Last updated: October 2021 Date created: 2015 Learn about APA Style references, how to cite secondary sources and websites, and software available.

  8. APA Referencing (7th Ed.) Quick Guide

    The basics In-text citations are brief references in the running text that direct readers to the reference entry at the end of the paper. You include them every time you quote or paraphrase someone else's ideas or words. An APA in-text citation consists of the author's last name and the year of publication (also known as the author-date system).

  9. What is APA Referencing?

    The American Psychological Association (APA) style is a set of rules and guidelines used to communicate in a standardized way. According to the APA, "APA Style provides a foundation for effective scholarly communication because it helps writers present their ideas in a clear, precise, and inclusive manner." (APA, para 1, n.d.).

  10. PDF APA Style Reference Citations

    WHAT IS APA'S STYLE OF REFERENCE CITATION? APA style uses the author/date method of citation in which the author's last name and the year of the publication are inserted in the actual text of the paper. It is the style recommended by the American Psychological Association and used in many of the social sciences.

  11. What is APA?

    Specifically, we are going to look at citing books and journal articles within your research paper. APA is the style of documentation of sources used by the American Psychological Association. This form of writing research papers is used mainly in the social sciences, like psychology, anthropology, sociology, as well as education and other fields.

  12. Reference examples

    More than 100 reference examples and their corresponding in-text citations are presented in the seventh edition Publication Manual.Examples of the most common works that writers cite are provided on this page; additional examples are available in the Publication Manual.. To find the reference example you need, first select a category (e.g., periodicals) and then choose the appropriate type of ...

  13. Getting started

    Elements of citing and referencing in APA 7th style. There are two places in your assignments and other academic work you need to cite and reference- in the body of your writing (in-text citations), and at the end of your work (in the reference list) where you provide full details of the works you have cited.. The Quick Start Guide (below) will help you quickly become familiar with the key ...

  14. APA Style Introduction

    APA (American Psychological Association) style is most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences. This resource, revised according to the 7 th edition of the APA manual, offers examples for the general format of APA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the reference page.

  15. Setting Up the APA Reference Page

    Annotated bibliography Creating APA references Setting up the APA reference page Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check. Try for free APA alphabetization guidelines References are ordered alphabetically by the first author's last name.

  16. About APA Style

    APA Style covers the aspects of scholarly writing most pertinent to writing in psychology, nursing, business, communications, engineering, and related fields. It specifically addresses the preparation of draft manuscripts being submitted for publication in a journal and the preparation of student papers being submitted for a course assignment.

  17. APA Style

    The APA style is the American Psychological Association style. It uses an author-year system of citation to ensure that the sources referenced by a writer can be tracked easily by anybody. It is one of the major referencing and citation styles and is mostly used for Education, Psychology, and Science writings.

  18. APA (7th ed.) Citation Style Guide: Four Elements of a Reference

    Provide database or online archive information in a reference only when it is necessary for readers to retrieve the cited work from that exact database or archive... URLs from database or library-provided services usually require a login and/or are session specific, meaning they will not be accessible to most readers and are not suitable to ...

  19. Reference List: Basic Rules

    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. However, because sources obtained from academic journals carry special weight in research writing, these sources are subject to special ...

  20. Elements of a reference

    In a reference the author refers to the person (s) or group responsible for the work. Include all 20 authors' name, use "&" before the final author's name. 21 or more authors: the first 19 authors, ...the final author's name. Name of Group. Name of Group & Name of Group.

  21. APA Style

    APA Style Write With Clarity, Precision, and Inclusion APA Style is used by writers in many disciplines around the world for concise, powerful, and persuasive scholarly communication. About APA style 7th Edition now available Inclusive Language Guide APA has released its second edition of the Inclusive Language Guide.

  22. APA In-Text Citations (7th Ed.)

    APA in-text citations with multiple authors. If a work has two authors, separate their names with an ampersand (&) in a parenthetical citation or "and" in a narrative citation. If there are three or more authors, only include the first author's last name followed by "et al.", meaning "and others".

  23. APA vs. MLA Understanding Citation Styles for Academic Writing

    Each citation style serves a different academic purpose. APA's focus on dates highlights the timeliness of research, while MLA's emphasis on page numbers facilitates reader engagement with primary sources. Recognizing this can help you choose the most effective way to incorporate and highlight your research.

  24. Book/ebook references

    Home Style and Grammar Guidelines References Examples Book/Ebook References Use the same formats for both print books and ebooks. For ebooks, the format, platform, or device (e.g., Kindle) is not included in the reference. This page contains reference examples for books, including the following: Whole authored book Whole edited book

  25. PDF Using "et al." in APA 7: A Quick Rundown

    referencing the primary author (e.g., Jackson et al. (2017) state…). According to the APA Style Manual 7. th. Edi on (Sec ons 8.10-8.36), whenever you're referring to a work with three or more authors, you should always use et al., even in the first cita on. This is a departure from previous edi ons of APA.

  26. Elements of Reference List Entries

    Home Style and Grammar Guidelines References Elements of Reference List Entries Reference list entries include the four elements of the author, date, title, and source. This page describes each element in detail: the author element, including the format of individual author names and of group author names

  27. White paper references

    This page contains reference examples for white papers with an individual or group author. A white paper is a persuasive document that is written by a person or group to convince readers of their position and philosophy on a topic. ... which are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Section 10.4 and the ...