What is APA?

APA stands for the American Psychological Association, which is an organization that focuses on
psychology. They are responsible for creating this specific citation style. They are not associated
with this guide, but all of the information here provides guidance to using their style and follows
the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

What is APA Citing?

APA style is used by many scholars and researchers in the behavioral and social sciences, not just
psychology. There are other citation formats and styles such as MLA and Chicago citation style, but
this one is most popular in the fields of science.
Following the same standard format for citations allows readers to understand the types of sources
used in a project and also understand their components.
The information in this guide follows the 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association. It outlines proper ways to organize and structure a research paper,
explains grammar guidelines, and how to properly cite sources. This webpage was created solely by
BibMe to help students and researchers focus on how to create APA citations.
The 7th edition of the Publication Manual was released in 2020. We address differences between
the 6th and 7th editions at the end of this guide.
For more information, please consult the official Publication Manual.
We cite sources for many reasons. One reason is to give credit to the authors of the work you used
to help you with your own research. When you use another person's information to help you with
your project, it is important to acknowledge that individual or group. This is one way to prevent
plagiarism. Another reason why we create citations is to provide a standard way for others to
understand and possibly explore the sources we used. To learn more about citations, check out this
page on crediting work. Also, read up on how to be careful of plagiarism.

What Does it Look Like?

There are two types of citations:
• In-text/Parenthetical citations: Those that are found in the body of a project are called in-
text/parenthetical citations. They're added into a project when a direct quote or paraphrase has been
added into your work. These citations only include the name(s) of the author(s), date, and page
number(s), if applicable.
• References: Those that are found on the final part of a project are called references. They're are
found in the reference list (sometimes called APA works cited by some teachers), which is at the end
of the assignment. It includes the full information of all sources used in a project. These types of
references show the author's name, date published, title, publisher, URL, and other key pieces of
information.
Depending on the types of sources used for your project, the structure for each citation may look
different. There is a certain format or structure for books, a different one for journal articles, a
different one for websites, and so on. Scroll down to find the appropriate APA format structure for
your sources.
Even though the structure varies across different sources, see below for a full explanation of in-text
citations and reference citations.
 Still wondering, "What is APA format?" To learn more about APA referencing, including access to the
American Psychological Association\'s blog, formatting questions, & referencing explanations, click
on this link for further reading on the style. To learn more about using the BibMe service
(BibMe.com) to help build APA citation website references, see the section below titled, "Using the
BibMe Online Writing Center to Create Citations for your Reference List or APA Bibliography."

Citing Basics
In-Text Citations Overview
When using a direct quote or paraphrasing information from a source, include an in-text or
parenthetical citation into the body of your project, immediately following it.
An APA in-text citation may look similar to this:
Author's Last name (Year) states that "direct quote" or paraphrase (page number).
Parenthetical citations look like this:
"Direct quote" or paraphrase (Author's Last name, Year, Page number).
These types of APA citations always have the author and the date together.
Only direct quotes need a page number. For paraphrased information, it isn't necessary, but helpful
for the reader.
See the section below titled, "In-Text or Parenthetical Citations," for a full explanation and
instructions.

Full References Overview

Each source used in your project is listed as a full citation on the APA reference page, which is
usually the last part of a project.
The structure for each citation is based on the type of source used. Scroll down to see APA format
examples of some common source formats.
Most print and offline citations include the following pieces of information, commonly in this
order:
Author's Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Date published). Title of source. Publisher.
Most online citations include the following pieces of information, commonly in this order:
Author's Last name, First Initial. Middle initial. (Date published). Title of source. URL
To see how to format each section, scroll down to the appropriate areas of this guide. There is a
section on authors, one on publication dates, another on titles, publishers, and on online information.
To determine the exact APA citation format for your full citations, scroll down to the section titled,
"Common Examples."
For a detailed explanation on formatting your reference list, scroll down to the section titled, "Your
Reference List."

Here's a quick snapshot of the basics:

 All in-text citations included throughout the paper should have a corresponding full reference at the
end of the project.
Full references go on their own page at the end of a project. Title the page "References"
References are listed in alphabetical order by the first word in the reference (usually the author's last
name, sometimes the title).
1. If the reference begins with the words A, An, or The, ignore them and alphabetize the reference by
the word following it.
If you're looking for an easy way to create your references and citations, use BibMe's free APA
citation machine, which automatically formats your sources quickly and easily.

Citation Components
How to Structure Authors
Authors are displayed in reverse order: Last name, First initial. Middle initial. End this information
with a period.
APA format example:
Kirschenbaum, M. A.
In an APA citation, include all authors shown on a source. If using the BibMe APA citation builder,
click "Add another contributor" to add additional author names. Our free citation creator will format
the authors in the order in which you add them.
Multiple authors, same last name:
If your reference list has multiple authors with the same last name and initials, include their first
name in brackets.
Example:
Brooks, G. [Geraldine]. (2005). March. Viking.
Brooks, G. [Gwendolyn]. (1949). Annie Allen. Harper & Brothers.
No author:
When no author is listed, exclude the author information and start the citation with the title followed
by the year in parentheses.
Editors:
When citing an entire edited book in APA format, place the names of editors in the author position
and follow it with Ed. or Eds. in parentheses. See below for examples of citing edited books in their
entirety and also APA citation format for chapters in edited books.
Comparison chart:
Use this handy chart to determine how to format author names in citations and references.
 How to Structure Publication Dates
General structure is:
• Year, Month Day
• Example: 1998, March 22
Place the date that the source was published in parentheses after the name of the author. In APA
format for periodicals, include the month and day as well. If no date is available, place n.d. in
parentheses, which stands for no date. For more details, see Section 9.14 of the Publication Manual.

How to Structure the Title

For book titles: Only capitalize the first letter of the first word in the title and the same for the
subtitle. Capitalize the first letter for any proper nouns as well. Place this information in italics. End it
with a period.
Example:
Gone with the wind.
For articles and chapter titles: Only capitalize the first letter of the first word in the title and the
same for the subtitle. Capitalize the first letter for any proper nouns as well. Do not italicize the title
or place it in quotation marks. End it with a period.
Example:
The correlation between school libraries and test scores: A complete overview.
For web pages on websites: Same as above. The web page title is italicized.
Example:
Simmons, B. (2015, January 9). The tale of two Flaccos. Grantland. http://grantland.com/the-
triangle/the-tale-of-two-flaccos/
For magazine, journal, and newspaper titles: Each important word should start with a capital
letter.
Example:
The Boston Globe
If you believe that it will help the reader to understand the type of source, such as a brochure, lecture
notes, or an audio podcast, place a description in brackets directly after the title. Only capitalize the
first letter.
Example:
New World Punx. (2014, February 15). A state of trance 650 [Audio file].
https://soundcloud.com/newworldpunx/asot650utrecht

How to Structure Publication Information

Publisher Location
In previous editions of the publication manual, books and sources that were not periodicals indicated
the city and state of publication. However, in the 7th edition, the location of publication is no longer
given except “for works associated with specific locations, such as conference presentations” (p.
297).
For conference presentations, give the city, state/province/territory, and country. If in the US,
abbreviate the state name using the two-letter abbreviation. Place a colon after the location.
Examples:
• Philadelphia, PA:
• Rotterdam, Netherlands:
Periodical Volume and Number
For journals, magazines, newspapers, and other periodicals, place the volume number after the title.
Italicize this information. Place the issue number in parentheses and do not italicize it. Afterwards,
include page numbers.
Example:
Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 57(1), 79-82.
If you're citing a newspaper article, include p. or pp. before the page numbers.

How to Structure the Publisher

The names of publishers are not necessary to include for newspapers, magazines, journals, and
other periodicals.
For books and other sources: It is not necessary to type out the name of the publisher exactly as it is
shown on the source. Use a brief, but understandable form of the publisher's name. Exclude the
terms publishers, company, and incorporated. Include Books and Press if it is part of the publisher's
name. End this information with a period (See Section 9.29 in the Publication manual for more
details).
Example:
Little Brown and Company would be placed in the APA citation as: Little Brown.
Oxford University Press would be placed in the citation as: Oxford University Press.

How to Structure Online Sources

For sources found online:
• include the URL at the end of the citation
• do not place a period after the URL
If you're citing a periodical article found online, there might be a DOI number attached to it. This
stands for Direct Object Identifier. A DOI, or digital object identifier, is a unique string of numbers and
letters assigned by a registration agency. The DOI is used to identify and provide a permanent link to
its location on the Internet. The DOI is assigned when an article is published and made
electronically. If your article does indeed have a DOI number, use this instead of the URL as the DOI
number is static and never changes. If the source you're citing has a DOI number, after the
publication information add a period and then http://dx.doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxxx. The x's indicate
where you should put the DOI number. Do not place a period after the DOI number. See sections
9.35-36 in the Publication manual for more details.
If you're using the automatic BibMe APA reference generator, you will see an area to type in the DOI
number.
Example:
Lobo, F. (2017, February 23). Sony just launched the world's fastest SD card.
http://mashable.com/2017/02/23/sony-sf-g-fastest-sd-card/?utm_cid=mash-prod-nav-sub-
st#ErZKV8blqOqO
Chadwell, F.A., Fisher, D.M. (2016). Creating open textbooks: A unique partnership between Oregon
State University libraries and press and Open Oregon State. Open Praxis, 8(2), 123-130.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5944/openpraxis.8.2.290
Looking for more help and clarification? Check out this great resource!
 Citations and Examples
Citations for Print Books
Author's Last name, First name initial. Middle name initial. (Year published). Title of book. Publisher.
Example:
Finney, J. (1970). Time and again. Simon and Schuster.
Looking for an APA formatter? Don't forget that the BibMe APA citation generator creates citations
quickly and easily.
Notes: When creating an APA book citation, keep these in mind:
• Capitalize the first letter of the first word of the title and any subtitles, as well as the first letter of any
proper nouns.
• The full title of the book, including any subtitles, should be stated and italicized.

Citations for Edited Books

Most edited books state on the cover or title page that they are edited by an author or multiple
authors. The format is the same as a print book, except the editor's name is in the author's position.
Include a parentheses afterwards with the abbreviation (Ed.) for an edited book by one author or
(Eds.) for an edited book with two or more authors.
Editor, F. M. (Ed.). (Year published). Title of edited book. Publisher.
Example:
Gupta, R. (Ed.). (2003). Remote sensing geology. Springer-Verlag.

Citations for Chapters in Edited Books

Some edited books contain chapters written by various authors. Use the format below to cite an
author's individual chapter in an edited book.
Chapter author's Last name, F. M. (Year published). Title of chapter. In F. M. Last name of Editor
(Ed.), Title of book (p. x or pp. x-x). Publisher.
Notice that for APA style, the title of the chapter is not italicized, while the title of the book is. In
addition, the chapter author's name is reversed at the beginning of the reference, but the editor's
name is written in standard order.
Example:
Longacre, W. A., & Ayres, J. E. (1968). Archeological lessons from an Apache wickiup. In S. R. Binford
& L. R. Binford (Eds.), Archeology in cultural systems (pp. 151-160).
https://books.google.com/books?id=vROM3JrrRa0C&lpg=PP1&dq=archeology&pg=PR9#v=onepag
e&q=archeology&f=false
In the above example, Longacre and Ayers are the authors of the individual chapter and Binford &
Binford are the editors of the entire book.

Citing an E-book from an E-reader

 E-book is short for "electronic book." It is a digital version of a book that can be read on a computer,
e-reader (Kindle, Nook, etc.), or other electronic devices. Include the DOI or URL if one exists for the
e-book.
Author's Last name, F. M. (Year published). Title of work. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxxx or URL
https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxxx is used when a source has a DOI number. If the e-book you're citing
has a DOI number, use it in the APA citation. DOIs are preferred over URLs.
How to cite in APA (an e-book example):
Eggers, D. (2008). The circle. https://www.amazon.com

Citing an E-book Found in a Database and

Online
Use this format when citing an e-book that is either found on a website, or found on a subscription
database. APA formatting for this is very similar to the structure of a print book. The only difference?
Instead of the publisher information, include the DOI number or URL.
Author's Last name, F. M. (Year published). Title of work. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxxx OR URL
When citing an online book or e-book, keep in mind:
• A DOI (digital object identifier) is an assigned number that helps link content to its location on the
Internet. It is therefore important, if one is provided, to use it when creating a citation. In place of the
x's in the DOI format, place the 10 digit DOI number.
• Notice that for e-books, publication information is excluded from the citation.
Example:
Sayre, R. K., Devercelli, A. E., Neuman, M. J., & Wodon, Q. (2015). Investment in early childhood
development: Review of the world bank's recent experience. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-
0403-8

Citations for Chapters in E-books

Need to cite a chapter in an e-book? No problem! Citing a chapter in an e-book is very similar to
citing a chapter in a print book. Instead of including the publisher information, include a DOI number
(if one is displayed) or the URL.
Chapter author's Last name, F. M. (Year published). Title of chapter. In F. M. Last name of Editor
(Ed.), Title of book (p. x or pp. x-x). https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxxx or URL
Epstein W. M. (1999). The ineffectiveness of psychotherapy. In C. Feltham (Ed.), Controversies in
psychotherapy and counselling (pp. 65-73). https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446217801.n8

Citations for Websites

How to cite a web page on a website in APA:
Author's Last name, F. M. (Year, Month Day published). Title of article or page. Site Name. URL
APA website citation example:
Simmons, B. (2015, January 9). The tale of two Flaccos. Grantland. http://grantland.com/the-
triangle/the-tale-of-two-flaccos/
Citing a web page with a group author:
Group Name. (Year, Month Date published). Title of wep page. Saite Name included if different from
Group Name. URL
 Examples:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, February 3). Be prepared to stay safe and
healthy in winter. https://www.cdc.gov/features/winterweather/index.html
National Park Service. (n.d.). Enchanting landscapes beneath the parks.
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/caves/index.htm
Note: "n.d." stands for "no date" and is used when there is no publication date.
The above follows Section 10.16 of the Publication manual.
Still wondering how to cite a website in APA? Check out BibMe.com! It's quick, simple, and free! Our
APA citation machine also builds references for many other styles as well!

Citations for Journal Articles Found in Print

Today, most journal articles are found online, but you may be lucky enough to score a copy of a print
version for your research project. If so, use the structure below for your reference:
Author's Last name, F. M. (Year published). Article title. Periodical Title, Volume(Issue), pp.-pp.
Notice that the article's title is only capitalized at the beginning. If there are any proper nouns or
subtitles, capitalize the first letter for those words as well. The journal article's title and the volume
number are both italicized. In addition, the title of the journal is in title case form (all important words
are capitalized).
Example:
Nevin, A. (1990). The changing of teacher education special education. Teacher Education and Special
Education: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional
Children,13(3-4), 147-148.

Citations for Journal Articles Found Online

Databases are a popular place to find high quality journal articles. These references are formatted
the same way as the print versions, except the DOI or URL is included at the end. If the article has a
corresponding DOI number, use it instead of the URL. No URL? Use the homepage of the journal's
website for the URL. See Section 10.1 in the Publication manual for additional examples.
Author's Last name, F. M. (Year published). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume number(issue
number), page range. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxxx OR URL
Example:
Spreer, P., & Rauschnabel, P. A. (2016). Selling with technology: Understanding the resistance to
mobile sales assistant use in retailing. Journal of Personal Selling & Sales Management, 36(3), 240-
263. https://doi.org/10.1080/08853134.2016.1208100
Notes: When creating your online journal article citation, keep in mind:
• This citation style does NOT require you to include the date of access/retrieval date or database
information for electronic sources.
• Use the URL of the journal homepage if there is no DOI assigned and the reference was retrieved
online. * If the journal article has a DOI number assigned to it, include that number in the citation
instead of a URL.
• Don't forget, our free BibMe APA generator is simple to use! Check out BibMe Plus while you're at it!
If you have a noun, conjunction, or preposition out of place, we'll flag it and offer suggestions for
quick writing fixes!

Citations for a Newspaper Article in Print

 Similar to journal articles, most individuals use online newspaper articles for research projects.
However, if you're able to get your hands on a print version, use this structure for your reference:
Author's Last name, F. M. (Year, Month Day of Publication). Article title. Newspaper Title, pp. xx-xx.
Example:
Rosenberg, G. (1997, March 31). Electronic discovery proves an effective legal weapon. The New York
Times, p. D5.
Notes: When creating your newspaper citation, keep in mind:
• Begin page numbers with p. (for a single page) or pp. (for multiple pages).
• Even if the article appears on non-consecutive pages, include all page numbers, and use a comma
to separate them. Example: pp. C2, C5, C7-C9.
• Include the full date of publication, not just the year like in most references.

Citations for Newspapers found Online

Use this structure when referencing a newspaper article found on a website or database:
Author's Last name, F. M. (Year, Month Day of Publication). Title of article. Title of Newspaper. URL of
newspaper's homepage
Example:
Rosenberg, G. (1997, March 31). Electronic discovery proves an effective legal weapon. The New York
Times. http://www.nytimes.com
Notes: When citing a newspaper, keep in mind:
• If the article was found on the newspaper's website, include the URL for the newspaper's homepage.
For databases, include whatever URL is provided.
• Multiple lines: If the URL runs onto a second line, only break URL before punctuation (except for
http://).
• This style does NOT require you to include the date of access for electronic sources. If you
discovered a newspaper article via an online database, the database's information is NOT required
for the citation either. If you're using the BibMe APA formatter, we make it easy for you by only
including what you need in your references!

Citations for Magazines

Citing a magazine article in print:
Author's Last name, F. M. (Year, Month of publication). Article title. Magazine Title, Volume(Issue), page
range.
APA format citation:
Tumulty, K. (2006, April). Should they stay or should they go? Time, 167(15), 3-40.
Notes: When citing a magazine, keep in mind:
• You can find the volume number with the other publication information of the magazine.
• You can typically find page numbers at the bottom corners of a magazine article.
• If you cannot locate an issue number, simply don't include it in the citation.
Citing a magazine article found online:
Author's Last name, F. M. (Year, Month of publication). Article title. Magazine Title, Volume(Issue). URL
Example:
Tumulty, K. (2006, April). Should they stay or should they go? Time, 167(15).
http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1179361,00.html
Notes: When creating an online magazine citation, keep in mind:
*The volume and issue number aren't always on the same page as the article. Check out the other
parts of the website before leaving it out of the citation.
 Citations for Blogs
Blogs are found on websites and display continuously updated content and posts by a single author,
group, or company. A blog shows news updates, ideas, information, and many other types of
entries. Similar to journal entries, a blog begins with the date the information was added followed by
the content.
If you’re wondering how to cite a blog entry, look no further! Citing a blog is very similar to citing a
website.
Citing a blog post:
Last name of Author, First initial. Middle initial. (Year, Month Day blog post was published). Title of blog
post. Title of Blog. URL
Example:
Gonzalez, J. (2019, February 3). Let’s give our teaching language a makeover. Cult of
Pedagogy. https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/language-makeover/
Notice that the blog title only has a capital letter at the beginning. If there are any proper nouns in the
title, capitalize the first letter for those as well.
Cite a blog post in the text of the paper:
(Author’s last name, Year)
OR
Author’s last name (Year)

Citations for Research Reports

A research, or technical report, is a piece of work that provides insight into research done by an
individual researcher, a group of researchers, or a company or organization.
Citing a research report in print:
Author’s Last Name, F. M. or Organization. (Year published). Title of research report (Report No.).
Publisher.
Note: If the publisher is the same as the author, use the name as the the “Author” and don't list the
publisher.
Example:
Michigan Venture Capital Association. (2018). Annual research report.
Citing an online research report:
Author’s Last Name, F. M. or Organization. (Year published). Title of research report (Report No.).
URL
Example:
Newson, S. E. & Berthinussen, A. (2019). Improving our understanding of the distribution and status
of bats within the Ryevitalise Landscape Partnership Scheme area (BTO Research Report No. 716).
https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/publications/btorr716finalwebsite.pdf

Citations for Films

Producer's Last name, F. M. (Producer), & Director's Last name, F. M. (Director). (Release Year). Title
of motion picture [Motion picture]. Studio.
Example:
Bender, L. (Producer), & Tarantino, Q. (Director). (1994). Pulp fiction [Film]. Miramax.
Citations for Online Films & Videos:
Person who posted the video's Last name, F. M. [User name]. (Year, Month Day of posting). Title
of video [Video]. Publishing site. URL
If the name of the individual who posted the YouTube video is not available, begin the citation with
the user name and do not place this information in brackets.
Smith, R. [Rick Smith] (2013, September 20). Favre to Moss! [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOP_L6hBjn8
Note: If you're discussing a certain part of the film or video in the body of your project, include a
timestamp in the in-text or parenthetical citation. (Pulp Fiction, 1994, 1:15:30). The time stamp is
Hours:Minutes:Seconds.

Citations for Images

Citing an image found in a print publication (such as a book or magazine) or museum:
Creator's Last name, F. M. (Year of Publication). Title of image [Format]. Publisher/Museum.
Including the format helps the reader understand and visualize the type of image that is being
referenced. It can be [Photograph], [Painting], or another medium.
Example:
Roege, W. J. (1938). St. Patrick's Cathedral, Fifth Avenue from 50th St to 51st Street [Photograph]. New
York Historical Society.
Citing an image retrieved online:
Similar to citing an image in print, when citing an image found online, place the medium, or format, in
the brackets. Capitalize the first letter.
Photographer, F. (Year of Publication). Title of photograph [Photograph]. Publisher. URL
Example:
Ferraro, A. (2014). Liberty enlightening the world [Digital image]. Flickr.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/afer92/14278571753/in/set-72157644617030616

Citations for TV/Radio Broadcasts

Writer's Last name, F. M. (Writer), & Director's Last name, F. M. (Director). (Year of Airing). Episode title
[TV series episode]. In F. M. Executive Producer's Last name (Executive Producer), TV series name.
Channel.
Kand, K. (Writer), & Fryman, P. (Director). (2006). Slap bet [TV series episode]. In C. Bays (Executive
Producer), How I met your mother. CBS.
TV/Radio Broadcasts found online:
Writer, F. M. (Writer), & Director, F. M. (Director). (Year of Airing). Episode title [Television series
episode]. In F. M. Executive Producer's Last name (Executive Producer), TV series name. URL
Kand, K. (Writer), & Fryman, P. (Director). (2006). Slap bet [Television series episode]. In C. Bays
(Executive Producer), How I met your mother. https://www.hulu.com/watch/1134858#i0,p30,d0
Note: When citing a TV show or episode, keep in mind:
• IMDB is a great resource for finding the information needed for your citation (Director, Writer,
Executive Producer, etc.) * This information can also be found in the opening and closing credits of
the show.
Type what you find into the BibMe APA formatter. We'll do the work for you and structure your
references properly!
 Citations for Songs
To cite in APA a song from an album listened to online, use the following structure:
Songwriter's Last name, F. M. (Copyright year). Title of song [Song recorded by F. M. Last name].
On Album title. Publisher. URL
Notes:
• If the song is done by a band or group, include the band or group's name instead of an individual's
name.
• Only include the "Recorded by F. M. Last name" portion if it's a different individual than the writer.
• The format can be CD, Online song, mp3, or any other simple description to allow the reader to
understand the format.
Swift, T. (2008). Love Story [Song]. On Fearless. Big Machine Records.
If you're using the BibMe APA citation generator to build your references, choose "Music/Audio" from
the source options.

Citations for Interviews

A personal interview should NOT be included in a reference list. They are not considered
recoverable data (they cannot be found by a researcher). You should reference personal interviews
as citations in the body of the project instead.
Example:
(J. Doe, personal communication, December 12, 2004)

Citations for Encyclopedia and Dictionary

Entries
Encyclopedia/Dictionary in print:
Author's Last name, F. M. (Publication Year). Entry title. In F. M. Last name of Editor (Ed.), Title of
encyclopedia or dictionary (pp. xx-xx). Publisher.
Example:
Kammen, C., & Wilson, A. H. (2012). Monuments. Encyclopedia of local history. (pp. 363-364). AltaMira
Press.
Encyclopedia/Dictionary online with author(s):
Author’s Last name, F. M. (Publication Year or n.d.). Entry title. In F. M. Last name of Editor (Ed.), Title
of encyclopedia or dictionary. Publisher. Retrieved date, from URL
Encyclopedia/Dictionary online with group author:
Publisher or group name (Publication Year or n.d.). Entry title. In Title of encyclopedia or dictionary.
Retrieved date, from URL
Example:
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Taciturn. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved February 10, 2020,
from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taciturn
If an entry looks like it goes through many updates, use “n.d.” as the publication date and show the
date you retrieved it. If using an archived version, no retrieval date is needed.

How to Reference a Lecture

 This style of reference would be used if you were citing a set of notes from a lecture (e.g.,
PowerPoint or Google slides provided by your instructor).
Citing online lecture notes or presentation slides:
Author's Last name, F. M. (Publication year). Name or title of lecture [Lectures notes or PowerPoint
slides]. URL
Example:
Saito, T. (2012). Technology and me: A personal timeline of educational technology [PowerPoint slides].
http://www.slideshare.net/Bclari25/educational-technology-ppt
Tip: If you want to cite information from your own personal notes from a lecture, this is considered
personal communication. The notes may not be available online for others outside of the class to
access. Refer to it only in the body of your essay or project. You can follow the style guide for
personal communication available in the Interview section.

Citing Social Media

Social media is everywhere, even in research projects. Many influencers post thoughts, inspirational
quotes, and intriguing stories in their profiles.
If you need to cite a post from a social media platform, use this structure:
Last name, F. M. or Group Name who posted the content [@Username]. (Year, Month Day
posted). First 20 words of the post [Format]. Social Media Site Name. URL
Last name, F. M. or Group Name who posted the content [@Username]. (Year, Month Day
posted). First 20 words of the post [Format]. Social Media Site Name. URL
A retrieval date (date you saw the page) is needed for profile pages since the contents are likely to
change over time (e.g., Instagram profile, Facebook page etc.). The structure for that is:
Last name, F. M. or Group Name who posted the content [@Username]. (n.d.). Tweets or
Home [Format]. Social Media Site Name. Retrieved from month day, year, URL
Some things to keep in mind:
• If the name of the individual or group is unknown, begin the citation with the handle and remove the
brackets.
• If the post only includes an image or video without any text, instead of including the first 40 words of
the post provide a description of the post and place it in brackets: [video of a NASA rocket leaving
the atmosphere].
• The format, in brackets, can be [Tweet], [Facebook status update], [Facebook page], [Instagram
photo], [Instagram video], or for a Reddit post, use [Online forum comment].
Citing a Tweet from Twitter:
Example:
BibMe [@BibMe]. (2020, January 22). How to cite primary sources ow.ly/fUb950vG3N5 [Tweet]. Twitter.
https://twitter.com/bibme/status/1219976780746043392
Citing a Twitter profile:
BibMe [@BibMe] (n.d.). Tweets [Twitter profile]. Twitter. Retrieved February 18, 2020, from
https://twitter.com/BibMe
Citing a Facebook post:
Example:
DeGeneres, E. (2018, December 21). Holiday party goals [Facebook status update]. Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/ellentv/photos/a.182755292239/10157188088077240/?type=3&theater
Citing a Facebook page:
Example:
Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. (n.d.) Home [Facebook page].
Facebook. Retrieved July 22, 2019, from https://www.facebook.com/nationalzoo
Citing an Instagram post:
Example:
Lipa, D. [@dualipa]. (2018, December 2). A lil Hollywood glam brunch! Thank you @variety for by
Breakthrough Artist of the Year award and thank you for [Instagram photo]. Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq33SC2BAsr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Tables
Since this citation style is commonly used in science-related disciplines, it makes sense that many
students and scholars include tables in their projects.
It's a good idea to include a table in your project when:
• There is a good amount of quantitative information
• A table would promote understanding
Do not write out the information from the table in the text of your paper. Including the same
information in two spots is repetitive. Either type out the quantitative information in your paper or use
a table.
If you choose to include a table, make sure to:
• Refer to it in the text and provide a brief overview or snapshot of its contents.
• Refer to the table in the text using numbers. For example, "Table 3 shows the countries with the
highest amount of spending per pupil."
• Every table should be numbered. The table mentioned closest to the beginning of the paper should
be Table 1. The next table referred to in the paper is Table 2.
• If you're submitting your project for publication in a journal or elsewhere, place all of your tables, in
number order, at the end of your project, after the reference list. If you're submitting your project for a
class, most professors prefer tables to be situated close to mentions in text. Ask your teacher or
professor which one they prefer.
• Each table needs a title. The title of the table should match the content displayed in it. Create a
name for your table that is easy to understand. Italicize the title and capitalize the first letter of all
major key words.
• Do not include any vertical lines, only horizontal. Your horizontal lines should be over and above any
column headings.
o Capitalize the first letter of every important word.
• Your table can either be single or double spaced. Keep the spacing in tables consistent throughout
your project.
• If you believe your table needs further explanation, or if it needs additional information to help the
reader with understanding, include a note below the table.
o A general note provides an overview of any information related to the table as well as an explanation
of any abbreviations or unique characters. If you reproduced any portion of the table, include that
information in the general note as well. Begin your general note with "Note." in italics and ending with
period.
o A specific note explains information in a row, column, or individual cell. Place a tiny letter in the top
right corner of the area to specify, and include information regarding it in the note below.
o A probability note displays the number of possibilities in the table. Use an asterisk symbol in the
table, and show the probability in the notes.
Sample Table:
Prior to adding your table into your paper, use this handy checklist to confirm you have all of the
requirements:
__ Is it necessary to include the table?
__ Are only horizontal lines included?
__ Did you include a simple, straightforward title? Is it in italics?
__ Did you use either single spaces or double spaces? APA paper format requires you to keep your
tables consistent across your project.
__ Are column headings included?
__ Are notes included below the table to provide understanding? Are the notes in the proper order?
Start with general notes, then include specific notes, and end with probability notes.
__ Did you refer to the table in the written portion of your paper?
Still have questions? See Chapter 7 of the Publication manual.

In-Text and Parenthetical Citations

What is an In-Text Citation or Parenthetical
Citation?
The purpose of in-text and parenthetical citations is to give the reader a brief idea as to where you
found your information, while they're in the middle of reading or viewing your project. You may
include direct quotes in the body of your project, which are word-for-word quotes from another
source. Or, you may include a piece of information that you paraphrased in your own words. These
are called parenthetical citations. Both direct quotes and paraphrased information include a citation
next to it. You also need to include the full citation for the source in the reference list, which is
usually the last item in a project.

In-Text Citations for Direct Quotes

In-text and parenthetical citations are found immediately following any direct quotes or paraphrases.
They should include the page number or section information to help the reader locate the quote
themselves.
Example:
Buck needed to adjust rather quickly upon his arrival in Canada. He stated, "no lazy, sun-kissed life
was this, with nothing to do but loaf and be bored. Here was neither peace, nor rest, nor a moment's
safety" (London, 1903, p. 25).

Paraphrased Information
When taking an idea from another source and placing it in your own words (a paraphrase), it is not
necessary to include the page number, but you can add it if the source is large and you want to
direct readers right to the information.
Example:
At the time, papyrus was used to create paper, but it was only grown and available in mass
quantities in Egypt. This posed a problem for the Greeks and Romans, but they managed to have it
exported to their civilizations. Papyrus thus remained the material of choice for paper creation
(Casson, 2001).
 How to Format In-Text and Parenthetical
Citations
An in-text citation in APA displays the author's name directly in the sentence, or text, of the paper.
Always place the year directly after the author's name. Authors and dates stick together like peanut
butter and jelly! If you're citing a direct quote, place the page number at the end of the quote.
Parenthetical citations display the author's name and year in parentheses after a quote or
paraphrase. If you're citing a direct quote, include the page number as well. If you're paraphrasing, it
is up to you whether or not you'd like to include a page number.
Example of various ways to cite in the body of a project:
Smith (2014) states that, "the Museum Effect is concerned with how individuals look at a work of art,
but only in the context of looking at that work along with a number of other works" (p. 82).
"The Museum Effect is concerned with how individuals look at a work of art, but only in the context of
looking at that work along with a number of other works" (Smith, 2014, p. 82).
If your source has two authors, always include both names in each in-text or parenthetical citation.
Example: (Franks & Beans, 2019)
If your source has three or more authors, only include the first author's name and follow it with et al.
Example: (Gilley et al., 2015)
If your source was written by a company, organization, government agency, or other type of group,
include the group's name in full in the first in text or parenthetical citation. In any APA citations
following it, it is acceptable to shorten the group name to something that is simple and
understandable.
Example:
1st citation:
(American Eagle Outfitters /[AEO/], 2017)
2nd and subsequent citations:
(AEO, 2017)
Still wondering how to in-text cite in APA? How about citing parenthetically? Check out this page to
learn more about parenthetical citations. Also, BibMe writing tools can help create your in-text and
parenthetical citations quickly and easily. Towards the end of creating a full reference citation, you'll
see the option to create a citation for the body of your project (in-text) in the APA format generator.
Need help with your writing? Give the BibMe Plus paper checker a whirl! Upload your paper or copy
and paste it into the text box on the page. We'll run it through our innovative technology and let you
know if there is an adjective, verb, or pronoun out of place, plus much, much more!

Your Reference List

The listing of all sources used in your project are found in the reference list, which is the last page or
part of a project. Included in this reference list are all of the sources you quoted or paraphrased in
the body of your paper. This means that every reference found in the reference list should have a
matching in-text or parenthetical citation in your project. Where there is one, there has to be the
other. Here are general guidelines:
• Your reference page in APA should be titled "References"
• Place the title in the center of the page and bold it.
• It is not necessary to include personal communications in the reference list, such as personal emails
or letters. These specific sources only need in-text citations, which are found in the body of your
project.
• All references are listed in alphabetical order by the author's last name.
• The entire page should be double spaced.
• Use a hanging indent for all citations. The first line of each citation needs to be flush against the left
margin. Any additional lines are indented in a half inch.
• If you have two sources by the same author, place them in order by the year of publication.
• Refer to the section titled, "How to Structure the Title," for rules regarding capitalization of source
titles.
Example:
Thompson, H. S. (1971). Fear and loathing in Las Vegas: A savage journey to the heart of the American
dream. Random House.
Thompson, H. S. (1998). The rum diary. Simon & Schuster.
If there are multiple sources with the same author AND same publication date, place them in
alphabetical order by the title.
Example:
Dr. Seuss. (1958). The cat in the hat comes back. Random House.
Dr. Seuss. (1958). Yertle the turtle. Random House.
If a source does not have an author, place the source in alphabetical order by the first main word of
the title.
Need help creating the citations in your APA reference list? BibMe.com helps you generate citations!
Begin by entering a keyword, URL, title, or other identifying information. Try it out!
Sample Reference List:
 Here's more information with sample papers and tutorials. Further information acan be found in
Chapter 9 of the Publication manual.

How to Format Your Paper in APA:

Need to create APA format papers? Follow these guidelines:
In an APA style paper, the font used throughout your document should be in Times New Roman, 12
point font size. The entire document should be double spaced, even between titles and APA
headings. Margins should be 1 inch around the entire document and indent every new paragraph
using the tab button on your keyboard. See Chapter 2 of the Publication manual for more details on
paper formatting.
Place the pages in the following order:
1. Title page (Page 1)
2. Abstract page (page 2)
3. Text or body of research paper (start on page 3)
4. Reference list
5. Page for tables (if necessary)
6. Page for figures (if necessary)
7. Appendices page (if necessary)
Page numbers: The title page counts as page 1. Number subsequent pages using Arabic numbers
(1, 2, 3, 4...).

Title Page in APA

Your title page should grace the front cover of your paper. It's sometimes called an APA cover page.
Included on this page are seven items:
1. Page number
2. Title of paper
3. Name of authors
4. Affiliation; name of your school or institution
5. Course name
6. Instructor's name
7. Date paper is due
What is a running head?
The running head shows the title of your paper. It is only required for professional papers (e.g.,
dissertations, journal submissions, etc.).
Student papers do not need a running head (but do need the page number).
If you use one, place the running head in the top left corner of your project and place it in capital
letters. Use your word processor's "header" option. It will automatically place your running head in
the appropriate position, against the left margin.
Across from the running head, against the right margin, include the page number. The APA title
page is 1.
Title page example:
• QUALITY LIBRARY PROGRAMS
Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and many other word processing programs allow you to set up page
numbers and a repeated running head. Use these tools to make this addition easier for you!
Need help determining the title of your paper? Keep it simple and straight to the point. Exclude
unnecessary terms such as "An Analysis of...." or "A Study of..." If your paper ends up being
digitized and added to your school's research collection or a research database, a simple and
effective title will help researchers locate it. It is recommended to keep it under 12 words and avoid
abbreviations.
Order | Element | Format & Notes --- | --- | --- 0 | All elements, except page number | Centered,
double-spaced lines 1 | Page number | Place “1” in the upper right corner of the page. Professional
papers only: Include a running head. 2 | Title of paper | 3-4 lines from the top of the page; bolded,
and title case 3 | Name of author(s) | Two double-spaced lines under the title. No font formatting (no
bold italics, underline). Exclude any titles (such as Dr. or Ms.) and degrees (such as PhD). List all
contributors; if there is more than one include the word “and” between the second to last and last
names. 4 | Affiliation (school, department, etc.) | No font formatting. Usually includes the name of
your department and university. 5 | Course name | No font formatting. Write the course name and
number on your class materials: ENG 102, JPN301. 6 | Instructor | No font formatting. Show their
name as they prefer, including titles and degrees. 7 | Date paper is due | Month Day, Year. Example:
February 14, 2020
Example Title Page - Student Paper:

Example Title Page - Professional Paper:

If you're looking for an APA sample paper, check out the other resources found on BibMe.com.
Levels of Headings:
There are a lot of rules to follow when it comes to styling the header and title page, but there are
even more rules when it comes to styling the various headings and sections in your research paper.
There are five sizes and styles, and they follow a top down approach.
In most cases, science-related papers and case studies have three sections: Method, Results, and
Discussion. These three sections are considered “Level 1” and are aligned in the center of the page
and in bold. Additional sections of the paper are styled as follows:
Overview of Levels
Level | Formatting --- | --- 1 | Center and bold. Use title case. 2 | Against the left margin and in bold.
Use title case. Begin the next sentence on the next line, indented half an inch from the left margin. 3
| Against the left margin in bold and italics. Use title case. Begin your next sentence on the next line,
and indented half an inch from the left margin. 4 | Indented half an inch from the left. Is in bold. Use
title case. Begin your next sentence on the same line and immediately following the heading. 5 |
Indented half an inch from the left. Is in bold and italics. Use title case. Begin your next sentence on
the same line and immediately following the heading.
We’ve included a visual below to help you make sense of the five headings. Keep in mind, you do
not need to have all five headings in your paper. You may only use the top two or three. It depends
on the types of sections your paper includes.
 Using the BibMe Online Writing Center to
Create Citations for your Reference List or
Bibliography
Looking to cite your sources quickly and easily? BibMe can help you generate your citations; simply
enter a title, ISBN, URL, or other identifying information.
Click to see more styles, and if you'd like to cite your sources in MLA format, check out the BibMe
MLA page. Other citation styles are available as well.
Not only will BibMe help you create your references quickly and painlessly, we'll also scan your
paper with an innovative plagiarism checker. BibMe writing tools even helps to check your grammar,
too! Improper usage of adverb? Missing an interjection? Determiner out of place? BibMe writing
tools will highlight any areas of concern and offer suggestions to improve your writing. Try it out now!

Background Information and History of APA:

The American Psychological Association was founded in 1892 at Clark University in Worcester,
Massachusetts. APA style format was developed in 1929 by scholars from a number of different
scientific fields and backgrounds. Their overall goal was to develop a standard way to document
scientific writing and research.
Since its inception, the Style Manual has been updated numerous times and it is now in its 7th
edition (2020). The previous 6th edition was released in 2009. In 2012, APA published an addition to
their 6th edition manual, which was a guide for creating an APA style citation for any type of
electronic resource.
Today, there are close to 118,000 members. There is an annual convention, numerous databases,
and journal publications. Some of their more popular resources include the database, PsycINFO,
and the publications, Journal of Applied Psychology and Health Psychology.

Changes Between the 6th and 7th Editions

Below is a selection of notable citing differences between the two editions.
For journal articles with a DOI number, include the DOI as a URL.
6th edition example:
Lee, C.-H., & Mackinnon, R. (2019). Voltage sensor movements during Hyperpolarization in the HCN
Channel. Cell Studies. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.11.006
7th edition example:
Lee, C.-H., & Mackinnon, R. (2019). Voltage sensor movements during Hyperpolarization in the HCN
Channel. Cell Studies. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2019.11.006
For ebooks, you no longer need to identify the format.
6th edition example:
Murakami, H. (2014). Kafka on the shore [Kindle].
7th edition example:
Murakami, H. (2014). Kafka on the shore.
Full book references no longer need to show where the publisher is located.
 6th edition example:
Murakami, H. (2014). Kafka on the shore. London: Vintage Publishing.
7th edition example:
Murakami, H. (2014). Kafka on the shore. Vintage Publishing.
In-text citations for sources with more than 3 authors can use the notation “et al.” for brevity.
Structure:
(first author’s name et al., year published)
6th edition example:
(Anaydike, Braga, Talfah, Gonzalez, 1980)
7th edition example:
(Anaydike et al., 1980)
When including a website URL, do not include the words “Retrieved from” before the URL cited.
6th edition example:
Elan, P. (2019, December 6). 'A reflection of inner life': show explores history of the hoodie. The
Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/dec/06/a-reflection-of-inner-
life-show-explores-history-of-the-hoodie
7th edition example:
Elan, P. (2019, December 6). 'A reflection of inner life': show explores history of the hoodie. The
Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/dec/06/a-reflection-of-inner-life-show-explores-
history-of-the-hoodie
The citing format for tables and figures are now the same. For both, indicate a table number and
name at the top, and a note at the bottom.
Here are a few important paper formatting changes: * Running head is only required for professional
(not student) papers * Only a single space should be placed after punctuation. * The new style
version endorses the use of the singular “they” as an option for a gender neutral pronoun. * The 7th
edition promotes the use of “they” as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun. * In addition to the paper
title, author name, and institutional affiliation, a cover page for a student paper should also have the
course, instructor name, and due date

References
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological
Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/101037/0000165-000