Citing Sources in APA Style

The core of an APA citation is the author of the source. That person’s last name links your use of the source in your paper with its full description in your list of references. Next comes the source’s date, which often tells readers its current or classic status. Include both each time you cite the source in parentheses, but don’t repeat the date if you simply refer to the source again unless a reader might mix up sources under discussion.

A common addition is a specific location, such as a page number (using “p.” for “page” or “pp.” for “pages”), that tells where the material appears in the original source. Unless the source lacks page numbers or other locators, this information is required for quotations and recommended for paraphrases and key concepts. When you supply these elements in parentheses, separate them with commas: (Westin, 2013, p. 48). This basic form applies whatever the type of source — article, book, or Web page.

As you check your APA style, keep in mind these three questions:

Citing and Listing Sources in APA Style

Skim the following directory to find sample entries to guide you as you cite and list your sources. Notice that the examples are organized according to questions you might ask and that comparable print and electronic sources are grouped together. See pages 751–59 for a sample paper that illustrates APA style.

CITING SOURCES IN APA STYLE

Who Wrote It?

Individual Author Not Named in Sentence

Individual Author Named in Sentence

Two Authors

Three Authors or More

Organization Author

Author of an Essay from a Reader or Collection

Unidentified Author

Same Author with Multiple Works

Different Authors with Multiple Works

What Type of Source Is It?

Indirect Source

Government or Organization Document

Source without a Date

A Classic

Visual Material

Personal Communication

How Are You Capturing the Source Material?

Overall Summary or Important Idea

Blended Paraphrase and Quotation

Brief Quotation Integrated in Sentence

Long Quotation

LISTING SOURCES IN APA STYLE

Who Wrote It?

Individual Author

Two Authors

Three Authors or More

Same Author with Multiple Works

Organization Author

Author of Edited Work

Author and Translator

Unidentified Author

What Type of Source Is It?

ARTICLE IN A PRINTED OR AN ELECTRONIC PERIODICAL

Article from a Journal Paginated by Volume

Article from a Journal Paginated by Issue

Article from a Journal with a DOI

Article from a Journal without a DOI

Article Accessed through a Library or Subscription Database

Abstract for an Article

Article from a Printed Magazine

Article from an Online Magazine

Article from a Newsletter

Article from a Printed Newspaper

Article from an Online Newspaper

Editorial

Letter to the Editor

Review7

PRINTED OR ELECTRONIC BOOK

Printed Book

Online Book

E-book

Multivolume Work

Revised Edition

Book without a Date

PART OF A PRINTED OR AN ELECTRONIC BOOK

Selection from a Printed Book

Selection from an Online Book

Selection from an E-book

Preface, Introduction, Foreword, or Afterword

Article from a Reference Work

PRINTED OR ELECTRONIC REPORT OR OTHER DOCUMENT

Printed Government Document

Online Government Document

Research Report

Online Research Report

Online Research Report from a Database

Report from an Academic Institution

Pamphlet

Doctoral Dissertation

INTERNET OR ELECTRONIC SOURCE

Section or Page from an Online Document

Document from a Campus Web Site

Computer Software

VISUAL OR AUDIO SOURCE

Audiotape or Recording

Program on Television or Radio

Film

CONVERSATION OR FIELD ARTIFACT

Personal Interview

E-mail or Electronic Posting