1

Student Writing CenterAPA STYLE

-- In-Text Citations and References –

IN-TEXT CITATIONS

Unknown Author: (Long Title, year, p.); (“Short Article,” year)Note: In the rare case the "Anonymous" is used for the author, treat it as the author's name (Anonymous, 2001). In the reference list, use the name Anonymous as the author.

It was found that dogs bark when they feel threatened (“Characteristics of Dogs,” 1991).

One Author: (Author, year, p.)

The author found that cars go fast (Smith, 2000, p. 123). Smith (2000, p. 123) found that cars go fast.

Two Authors: (Author1 & Author2, year, p.)Note: Use the word "and" between the authors' names within the text and use the ampersand (&) in the parentheses.

The study found that dogs bark (Smith & Jones, 2005). Smith and Jones (2005) found that dogs bark.

Three – Five Authors: First cite: (Author1, Author2, & Author3, year, p.)Next cite: (Author1 et al., year, p.)

The authors found that cars go fast (Smith, Jones, & Rogers, 2000, p. 123). The authors found that cars go fast (Smith et al., 2000, p. 123).

Smith, Jones, and Rogers (2000, p. 123) found that cars go fast. Smith et al. (2000, p. 123) found that cars go fast.

Six+ Authors: (Author1 et al., year, p.)Note: For six or more authors, use et al. the first time and give the full citation in references.

The study found that cars go fast (Smith et al., 2005). Smith et al. (2005) found that cars go fast.

Two or More Works in the Same Parentheses: (Author1, year; Author2, year; Author3, year)Note: list authors in alphabetical order.

Several studies (Clark, 2000; Jones, 2003; Rogers, 2007; Smith, 2005) have shown that dogs bark.

Two or More Works by the Same Author in the Same Year: (Author, year1, year2, year3)Note: If an author has published more than one article/book in the same year, use letters to differentiate each study (e.g., 2005a, 2005b). In citations, list the years in chronological order.

Several studies by Smith (2000, 2005a,b) have shown that dogs bark. Several studies have shown that dogs bark (Smith, 2000, 2005a,b).

LIBRARY, 2nd FLOOR | (209) 932.2969

2

Authors with the Same Last Name: (A. Author, year; B. Author, year)

Studies have shown that cars go fast (E. Johnson, 2001; L. Johnson, 1998).

Organization as an Author: (Organization [ABBREVIATION], year); (ABBREVIATION, year)

According to the American Psychological Association (2000),...

First citation: (Mothers Against Drunk Driving [MADD], 2000)Second citation: (MADD, 2000)

Citing Indirect Sources: OriginalAuthor…(as cited in SecondaryAuthor, year)Note: If you use a source that was cited in another source, name the original source in your signal phrase. List the secondary source in your reference list and include the secondary source in the parentheses.

Johnson argued that...(as cited in Smith, 2003, p. 102).

Sources Without Page NumbersWhen an electronic source lacks page numbers, you should try to include information that will help readers find the passage being cited. When an electronic document has numbered paragraphs, use the abbreviation "para." followed by the paragraph number (Hall, 2001, para. 5). If the paragraphs are not numbered and the document includes headings, provide the appropriate heading and specify the paragraph under that heading. Never use the page numbers of Web pages you print out; different computers print Web pages with different pagination.

According to Smith (1997), ... (Mind over Matter section, para. 6).

Personal Communication: (Communicator’s name, personal communication, date)Note: Includes interviews, letters, and other person-to-person communication. Do not include personal communication in the reference list.

(E. Robbins, personal communication, January 4, 2001).

A. P. Smith also claimed that many of her students had difficulties with APA style (personal communication, November 3, 2002).

Electronic Sources: If possible, cite an electronic document the same as any other document by using the author-date style.Kenneth (2000) explained...

Unknown Author and Unknown Date: If no author or date is given, use the title in your signal phrase or the first word or two of the title in the parentheses and use the abbreviation "n.d." (for "no date").

Another study of students and research decisions discovered that students succeeded with tutoring ("Tutoring and APA," n.d.).

REFERENCES

BOOKS, REFERENCE BOOKS, CHAPTERS (PRINT & ELECTRONIC), OTHER PRINT SOURCES

Basic Format for BooksAuthor, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. Location: Publisher.

Calfee, R. C., & Valencia, R. R. (1991). APA guide to preparing manuscripts for journal publication. Washington,

LIBRARY, 2nd FLOOR | (209) 932.2969

3

DC: American Psychological Association.

Electronic version of entire bookAuthor, A. A. (year). Title of work. Retrieved from http://www.xxxxxxxxxx

Electronic version of entire book with DOIAuthor, A. A. (year). Title of work. doi:xxxxxxxxxx

Edited Book, No AuthorDuncan, G. J., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (Eds.). (1997). Consequences of growing up poor. New York, NY: Russell Sage

Foundation.

Edited Book with an Author or AuthorsPlath, S. (2000). The unabridged journals. K. V. Kukil (Ed.). New York, NY: Anchor.

Edition Other Than the FirstHelfer, M. E., Kempe, R. S., & Krugman, R. D. (1997). The battered child (5th ed.). Chicago, IL: University of

Chicago Press.

Article or Chapter in an Edited BookAuthor, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year of publication). Title of chapter. In A. A. Editor & B. B. Editor (Eds.), Title of

book (pages of chapter). Location: Publisher.Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (year). Title of chapter or entry. In A. Editor & B. Editor (Eds.), Title of book (pp. xxx-

xxx). Retrieved from http://www.xxxxxxxx.xxxAuthor, A. A., & Author, B. B. (year). Title of chapter or entry. In A. Editor, B. Editor, & C. Editor (Eds.), Title of

book (pp. xxx-xxx). doi:xxxxxxxxxx

O'Neil, J. M., & Egan, J. (1992). Men's and women's gender role journeys: A metaphor for healing, transition, and

transformation. In B. R. Wainrib (Ed.), Gender issues across the life cycle (pp. 107-123). New York, NY:

Springer.

An Entry in an EncyclopediaBergmann, P. G. (1993). Relativity. In The New Encyclopedia Britannica. (Vol. 26, pp. 501-508). Chicago, IL:

Encyclopedia Britannica.

Dissertation, PublishedLastname, F. N. (Year). Title of dissertation. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from Name of database.

(Accession or Order Number)

Report From a Private OrganizationAmerican Psychiatric Association. (2000). Practice guidelines for the treatment of patients with eating disorders

(2nd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Conference ProceedingsSchnase, J. L., & Cunnius, E. L. (Eds.). (1995). Proceedings from CSCL '95: The First International Conference on

LIBRARY, 2nd FLOOR | (209) 932.2969

4

Computer Support for Collaborative Learning. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

PERIODICALS (PRINT AND ELECTRONIC) - journals, magazines, newspapers

Journal article with DOILastName, A. A., LastName, B. B., & LastName, C. C. (year). Title of article. Title of Periodical,

volume#(issue#), pp-pp. doi:xx.xxxxxxxxxx

Smith, A. B., & Jones, C. D. (2005). Volunteer support of terminally ill patients. Health Psychology, 24(2), 225-229. doi:10.1122/333444555666777

Journal article without DOILastName, A. A., LastName, B. B., & LastName, C. C. (year). Title of article. Title of Periodical,

volume#(issue#), pp-pp. Retrieved from http://www.xxxxxxxxxx

Smith, A. A. (2008). The geographic expansion of Mexican immigration in the United States. Journal of

Immigration Law, 8(2), 47-63.Magazine Article

Smith, A. (2008, May). Enhancing worker well-being. The Economist, 39(5), 26-29.

Magazine Article Retrieved OnlineLastName, A. A. (year, Month). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume#(issue#), pp-pp. Retrieved from

http://www.xxxxxxxxxx

Newspaper ArticleSmith, A. (2001, October 15). Obesity affects economic, social status. The Wall Street Journal, pp. A1, A4.

Newspaper Article Retrieved OnlineLastName, A. A. (year, Month day). Title of article. Title of Periodical, pp-pp. Retrieved from

http://www.xxxxxxxxxxNote: Give the URL of the home page when the online version of the article is available by search to avoid nonworking URLs.

Smith, A. (2005, February 5). Fed official suggests early end to stimulus effort. The New York Times. Retrieved

from http://nytimes.com

Nonperiodical Web Document, Web Page, or ReportNote: Also, if there isn't a date available for the document use (n.d.) for no date.

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date of publication). Title of document. Retrieved from http://Web address

Angeli, E., Wagner, J., Lawrick, E., Moore, K., Anderson, M., Soderland, L., & Brizee, A. (2010, May 5). General

format. Retrieved from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA & SOCIAL MEDIA

Motion pictureProducer, A. A. (Producer), & Director, B. B. (Director). (year). Title of motion picture [Motion picture]. Country of

Origin: Studio.

Smith, A., Jones, B. (Producers), & Rogers, C. (Director). (1985). Dog days of summer [Motion picture]. United

LIBRARY, 2nd FLOOR | (209) 932.2969

5

States: Warner Home Video.

Music recordingWriter, A. (Copyright year). Title of song [Recorded by B. B. Artist if different from writer]. On Title of album

[Medium of recording: CD, record, cassette, etc.] Location: Label. (Date of recording if different from song copyright date)

Smith, A. A. (2007). Shadow of the bird. On Simple songs [CD]. Chicago, IL: BigBoy Records.

Single Episode of a Television SeriesWriter, W. W. (Writer), & Director, D. D. (Director). (Date of publication). Title of episode [Television series

episode]. In P. Producer (Producer), Series title. City, state of origin: Studio or distributor.

Wendy, S. W. (Writer), & Martian, I. R. (Director). (1986). The rising angel and the falling ape [Television series

episode]. In D. Dude (Producer), Creatures and monsters. Los Angeles, CA: Belarus Studios.

Television BroadcastImportant, I. M. (Producer). (1990, November 1). The nightly news hour [Television broadcast]. New York, NY:

Central Broadcasting Service.

Artwork/Photo/Painting Retrieved OnlineArtist, A. (Role of artist). (year). Title [Medium: painting, image, etc.] Location: Repository. Retrieved from

http://www.xxxxxxxxxx

Jones, B. B. (Artist). (1855). Boy sitting on a porch [Image of painting]. Cincinnati, OH: Cincinnati Art

Museum. Retrieved from http://cincinnatiartmuseum.org/images.htmlOnline Image

Smith, A. (Photographer). (2010). Men pray [Photograph], Retrieved from

http://www.onlineimages.com/images/men_pray.htmlPodcast

Producer, A. (Producer). (year, Month day). Title [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from http://www.xxxxxxxxxx

Smith, A. (Producer). (2007, January 8). Dogs like to bark [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from

http://www.podcastradio.com/Blog Post

Author, A. A. (year, Month day). Title of post [Description of form]. Retrieved from http://www.xxxxxxxxxxNote: If the author’s full name is available, list the last name first followed by initials. If only a screen name is available, use the screen name.

Smith, A. (2009, August 2). The eight principles of information architecture design [Web log post]. Retrieved

from http://boxesandarrows.com/eight_IA_principles.php

Adapted from Indiana University Bloomington and Purdue’s Online Writing LabFor more, visit https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/

LIBRARY, 2nd FLOOR | (209) 932.2969