APA Citation - Quick Guide to 7th edition (2020)

This 'quick-guide' will help you to understand how to use APA citation format for both in-text and reference list citations of the most commonly cited works (journal articles, books, book chapters). SEE LEFT SIDEBAR FOR EXAMPLES.

APA format also covers matters such as writing and grammar, bias-free-language, mechanics of style, tables and figures, and publication information.

For more information about writing style and citation of other materials visit APA Style. For anything not included here--please consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th ed (2020). The Publication Manual is located at the Reference Desk on the main floor of Axinn Library.

APA-style is the preferred citation style of the social sciences and many of the sciences.

There are many important reasons to cite your sources correctly.  Here are six: 

1. To use research ethically by giving credit to the researchers whose ideas, data, and writing you are building upon.

2. To demonstrate your knowledge and familiarity with the research in the field.

3. To show how your research fits into the research of the field and how it is part of the discourse.

4. To demonstrate your knowledge and familiarity with the conventions of the field: how information is cited and presented.

5. To enable readers of your work to find and consult the sources that you used in your work.

6. To ethically use the research in the field in order to avoid plagiarism.