Ask a Librarian

Find what you need in our searchable FAQ.

How do I cite in APA format?

714 views   |   0 Vote this question as useful.   0 Vote this question as not useful.   |   Last updated on Oct 28, 2015    Citations

 

Here is the layout of reference in APA:

  • Author/Authors: The first piece of a citation.  Place the author’s last name first, followed by a comma then their first and middle name initials.  In the case of multiple authors, the last author’s name is after an ampersand.  This piece ends with a period and a space, with the publication year following.

  • Publication Year: Placed immediately after the author(s) and before the article title.  The publication year is placed in parentheses and followed by a period and a space.

  • Title of Article: Follows the publication year and precedes the periodical title.  In “sentence-case,” meaning only the first word, proper nouns, and the first word after a colon is capitalized.  Ends with a period and a space.

  • Title of Periodical (Journal, Magazine, or Newspaper): Between the article title and volume number.  In italics font type and uses title case, which means every word of four letters or more in length is capitalized.  Ends with a comma and a space.

  • Volume Number: Immediately follows after the periodical title and likewise is italicized.  It is succeed without any spaces or other punctuation by the issue number.

  • Issue Number: Placed in parentheses and followed by a comma and a space.  It stands between the volume number and pages.

  • Page Numbers: After the issue number and, if available, before the DOI.  The page number is followed by a period and a space.

  • DOI: Included at the end of a citation after the page numbers.

We have examples of APA format at the Citation Help page on the library website.

You can also consult the Publication manual of the American Psychological Association, (6th ed.), located in the Reference Room.