How to Cite References in APA Format

Many organizations adopt the APA (American Psychological Association) format for citing sources, particularly in scientific fields. This format emphasizes clarity and equality, which is why it uses initials in place of full names and places the most recent research first in citations. Begin by formatting in-text citations, then create your reference list by entering details for books, articles, and other sources.

Enter the author's last name in the reference list citation. According to APA style, only the initials and last name are used. After the last name, add a comma and then the first initials of the first name and middle name (if present).

• For example, your citation would begin like this:
  • Ford, R. G. (Author: Ford, R. G.)
• If there are multiple authors, separate their names with commas and an ampersand symbol.
• Ford, R. G., Macintosh, J. P., & Rose, P. M. (Authors: Ford, R. G., Macintosh, J. P., & Rose, P. M.)

Add the publication year. Place the year in parentheses, followed by a period. The publication year can typically be found on the first or last title page.

• Your citation will look like this:
  • Ford, R. G. (2015). (Author: Ford, R. G. (published in 2015).)

Enter the book title. Italicize the book's title. Use sentence case, meaning capitalize only the first word of the title (and any proper nouns). Additionally, capitalize the first word following a colon.

• Your citation should now appear as:
  • Ford, R. G. (2015). The benefits of natural grass. (Author: Ford, R. G. (published in 2015). The book title translated as “The Benefits of Natural Grass”)

Add the location and publisher's name. Include the city of publication, followed by a comma and the state. Then add a colon and the publisher's name, followed by a period.

• Your citation will look like this:
  • Ford, R. G. (2015). The benefits of natural grass. Eugene, Oregon: University of Oregon. (Author: Ford, R. G. (published in 2015). The book title translated as “The Benefits of Natural Grass”. Published in Eugene, Oregon by the University of Oregon.)
• This citation is complete if no further information is available.

Add the edition number if the book is a reprint. Place the edition number in parentheses, using abbreviations like 2nd, 3rd, etc., followed by “ed.”. This edition information should come before the period at the end of the book title. You can usually find this information on the reverse side of the title page.

• Your citation will look like this:
  • Ford, R. G. (2015). The benefits of natural grass (3rd ed.). Eugene, Oregon: University of Oregon. (Author: Ford, R. G. (published in 2015). The book title translated as “The Benefits of Natural Grass” (3rd edition). Published in Eugene, Oregon by the University of Oregon.)

Add the translator's name after the book title, if applicable. Mention the translator's name in parentheses by entering their initials and last name, followed by the abbreviation “Trans.” This information should appear immediately after the book title, before the publisher's details.

• Your citation will appear as:
  • Ford, R. G. (2015). The benefits of natural grass. (Frank Roberts, Trans.). Eugene, Oregon: University of Oregon. (Author: Ford, R. G. (published in 2015). The book title translated as “The Benefits of Natural Grass”. (Translated by Frank Roberts). Published in Eugene, Oregon by the University of Oregon.)

Create in-text citations. These citations are included within the sentence where the cited information is used. Enter the author's last name in the sentence or in parentheses before the period. Then, include the publication year, followed by a comma and the page number. While page numbers are not strictly required unless you're directly quoting, it's a good practice to include them.

• Your citation will look like this:
  • As noted by Ford (2015, p. 124), AstroTurf isn't a good alternative to grass. (According to Ford (published in 2015, p. 124), AstroTurf is not a suitable replacement for grass.)
• At the end of the sentence, the citation will appear as:
  • AstroTurf is not a viable substitute for real grass (Ford, 2015, p. 124). (AstroTurf is not a viable substitute for real grass (Author: Ford, published in 2015, p. 124).)
• If multiple authors are involved, you will format it like this:
  • As noted by Ford, Macintosh, & Rose (2015, p. 88), AstroTurf can be damaging to players. (According to Ford, Macintosh, and Rose (published in 2015, p. 88), AstroTurf can cause injury to players.)
• After the first citation, you will format it like this for multiple authors:
  • As noted by Ford et al. (2015, p. 75), AstroTurf is detrimental. (According to Ford and colleagues (published in 2015, p. 75), AstroTurf is harmful.)

Begin the reference entry with the author's last name, followed by their initials. Similar to book citations, you will start with the author's last name. Place a comma between the last name and the initials. If a middle name is mentioned in the article, include its initials.

• Your citation will look like this:
  • Cole, B. R. (Author: Cole, B. R.)
• If there are multiple authors, separate the names with commas and an ampersand. Only include initials followed by the last name. For example:
  • Cole, B. R., Jackson, G. H., & Briar, J. P. (Author: Cole, B. R., Jackson, G. H., and Briar, J. P.)

Add the publication year. Place the year in parentheses. Usually, you will find the year at the beginning of the article or within the article's metadata. Follow the year with a period.

• Your citation will appear as follows:
  • Cole, B. R. (2010). (Author: Cole, B. R. (published in 2010).)

Enter the article title. Do not italicize it, and follow sentence case rules. This means you should capitalize only the first word of the title, any proper nouns, and the first word after a colon.

• Your citation will look like this:
  • Cole, B. R. (2010). Why we should use grass for playing fields. (Author: Cole, B. R. (published in 2010). Why we should use grass for playing fields.)

Add the journal name after the article title. Capitalize the journal name exactly as it is written, and italicize it. Add a comma after the journal name.

• The citation will become:
  • Cole, B. R. (2010). Why we should use grass for playing fields. Sports Field Journal, (Author Cole, B. R. (published in 2010). Why we should use grass for playing fields. “Sports Field Journal”)

Include the volume, issue, and/or page numbers. Some journals paginate by volume. In that case, add the volume number in italics, followed by a comma and the page range of the article. Other journals paginate by issue. In this case, add the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses without italics, and the page range.

• For journals paginated by volume, the citation will look like this:
  • Cole, B. R. (2010). Why we should use grass for playing fields. Sports Field Journal, 66, 859-863. (Author Cole, B. R. (published in 2010). Why we should use grass for playing fields. “Sports Field Journal, volume 66,” pages 859-863.)
• For journals paginated by issue, the citation will look like this:
  • Cole, B. R. (2010). Why we should use grass for playing fields. Sports Field Journal, 16(6), 20-16. (Author Cole, B. R. (published in 2010). Why we should use grass for playing fields. “Sports Field Journal, volume 16” (issue 6), pages 20-16.)
• If you only have this information, the citation is complete.

Include the DOI if the article has one. Most articles have a DOI (Digital Object Identifier). This is similar to an ISBN for books. It is often included in newer articles, but if your article doesn't have it, don't worry about it.

• The citation now becomes:
  • Cole, B. R. (2010). Why we should use grass for playing fields. Sports Field Journal, 66, 859-863. doi:10.1434234234 (Author Cole, B. R. (published in 2010). Why we should use grass for playing fields. “Sports Field Journal, volume 66,” pages 859-863. doi:10.1434234234)

Use the web link to the article if there is no DOI. A URL makes it easier for readers to access the article online. Add 'Retrieved from' and the URL at the end of the citation.

• For articles with a public URL, don't forget to add this to the citation:
  • Cole, B. R. (2010). Why we should use grass for playing fields. Sports Field Journal, 66, 859-863. Retrieved from http://www.sportsfieldjournal.com/why_we_should_use_grass (Author Cole, B. R. (published in 2010). Why we should use grass for playing fields. “Sports Field Journal, volume 66,” pages 859-863. Retrieved from http://www.sportsfieldjournal.com/why_we_should_use_grass)
• If there is no public URL, use the journal's homepage URL:
  • Cole, B. R. (2010). Why we should use grass for playing fields. Sports Field Journal, 66, 859-863. Retrieved from http://www.sportsfieldjournal.com/home (Author Cole, B. R. (published in 2010). Why we should use grass for playing fields. “Sports Field Journal, volume 66,” pages 859-863. Retrieved from http://www.sportsfieldjournal.com/home)

Create in-text citations directly within the sentence containing the citation information. If the author's last name is mentioned in the sentence, you don't need to repeat it in the citation; just place the citation immediately after the name. If not, include the author's last name, followed by the year of publication, a comma, and the page number in parentheses at the end of the sentence. You must include the page number when using a direct quote; otherwise, it is optional.

• If the author's name is in the sentence, the citation looks like this:
  • As noted by Cole (2013, p. 45), AstroTurf is a bad way to cover a field. (As noted by Cole (published in 2013, page 45), AstroTurf is not a good choice for covering a football field.)
• At the end of the sentence, the citation will look like this:
  • AstroTurf is not a viable substitute for real grass (Ford, 2015, p. 124). (AstroTurf is not a viable substitute for real grass (Ford, published in 2015, page 124).)
• If you want to include multiple authors, follow this model:
  • As noted by Cole, Jackson, & Briar (2014, p. 58), AstroTurf is bad for scoring goals. (As noted by Cole, Jackson, & Briar (published in 2014, page 58), AstroTurf is not effective for scoring goals.)
• After the first citation with multiple authors, you will add "et al.":
  • As noted by Cole et al. (2014, p. 66), AstroTurf is a problem when playing football. (As noted by Cole and others (published in 2014, page 66), AstroTurf is a problem in football.)

When citing essays within books, follow the same format as for journal articles in your reference list. While the specific details may differ, the process for citing essays in edited books is quite similar. Begin by entering the author's name, followed by the publication date, the title of the essay, then the book title. You will use 'In' along with the editors' names, followed by a comma and the book title. Then, include the place of publication and the publisher's name.

• The essay citation will look like this:
  • Braxton, N. K. (2011). Finding the right playing field. In J. L. Washington and M. P. Hicks (Eds.), AstroTurf versus real grass: The dilemma (55-74). Miami, OK: Small Town Press. (Author Braxton, N. K. (published in 2011). Title translation: Finding the right playing field. Edited by J. L. Washington and M. P. Hicks, title translation: AstroTurf and real grass: The dilemma (pages 55-74). Published in Miami, OK: Small Town Press.)
• Make sure to include 'Eds.' in parentheses so readers know these are the editors. The number in parentheses after the italicized book title indicates the page range of the essay within the book.

When citing a thesis or dissertation, note whether it has been published. Cite a thesis or dissertation like a book citation, but if it hasn't been published, add 'Unpublished doctoral dissertation' in parentheses after the title. Also, include the name of the institution, a comma, and the location.

• The basic citation will look like this:
  • Harbor, L. R. (2010). Astroturf and the playing field (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Oregon, Eugene, OR. (Author Harbor, L. R. (published in 2010). Title translation: “AstroTurf and the playing field” (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Oregon, Eugene, OR.)
• If the thesis has been published, you will add 'Doctoral dissertation' (in italics), a comma, then 'Retrieved from' followed by the database. Also, include the order number and registration number in parentheses:
  • Price, H. F. (2012). Why AstroTurf should be outlawed (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from Sports Central Database. (244412321) (Author Price, H. F. (published in 2012). Title translation: “Why AstroTurf should be outlawed” (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from Sports Central Database. (244412321))

Place the organization name first if it's the author. Some thin books and documents provide information written by organizations or corporations. Instead of entering an individual's name, you will use the organization's name when citing the author. If you know the specific individual author, you will place this information last, after the place of publication.

• Your citation will look like this:
  • The Society for the Best Playing Fields. (2009).Data on injuries across different types of fields. Eugene, OR: G. H. Roberts. (The Society for the Best Playing Fields. (published in 2009). Title translation: “Data on injuries across different types of fields.” Eugene, OR: Author G. H. Roberts.)
• Use the same format for government documents, but add the document number in parentheses after the title, and include the issuing agency at the end of the citation:
  • National Institute of Sports. (2001). Study of various types of turf for playing fields (DHHS Publication No. ADM 553234-131). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. (National Institute of Sports. (published in 2001). Study of various types of turf for playing fields. (DHHS Publication No. ADM 553234-131). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.)

Add a URL at the end of the citation. If you're citing a report or document from the internet, start by entering the author's name and the publication date. Then, provide the title of the document in italics. Finally, add 'Retrieved from' and the URL.

• For example, your citation will look like this:
  • Vicks, H. R. & Jackson, G. H. (2014). The advantages of AstroTurf. Retrieved from http://www.astroturfinformationfoundation.com/advantages_of_astroturf/Vicks_Jackson (Author Vicks, H. R. & Jackson, G. H. (published in 2014). Title translation: “The advantages of AstroTurf.” Retrieved from http://www.astroturfinformationfoundation.com/advantages_of_astroturf/Vicks_Jackson)

Insert citations directly within the sentence containing the citation information. When including a citation in the text, you can mention the author's name within the sentence. In this case, the citation can be placed immediately after the name in parentheses, without the need to repeat the author's surname. Otherwise, the citation should be placed in parentheses at the end of the sentence. Include the author's last name, publication year, a comma, and the page number. If you are citing directly, you must include the page number; if not, the page number is optional, though it can still be added if you find it relevant.

• If you mention the author's name in the sentence, follow this format:
  • As noted by Ford (2015, p. 124), AstroTurf isn't a good alternative to grass. (As noted by Ford (published in 2015, p. 124), AstroTurf is not a good alternative to real grass.)
• At the end of the sentence, the citation will look like this:
  • AstroTurf is not a viable substitute for real grass (Ford, 2015, p. 124). (AstroTurf is not a viable substitute for real grass (Ford, published in 2015, p. 124).)
• If you need to cite multiple authors, list them fully:
  • As noted by Ford, Macintosh, & Rose (2015, p. 88), AstroTurf can be damaging to players. (As noted by Ford, Macintosh, & Rose (published in 2015, p. 88), AstroTurf can cause injuries to players.)
• After the first citation with multiple authors, simply use “et al.”
  • As noted by Ford et al. (2015, p. 75), AstroTurf is detrimental. (As noted by Ford and others (published in 2015, p. 75), AstroTurf is harmful.)

• If you need additional guidance, refer to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association or visit Purdue's Online Writing Lab at https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html.
• You can also use citation generators such as https://www.calvin.edu/library/knightcite/, https://www.lib.ncsu.edu/citationbuilder/, or text editing software programs.