APA Resources

Welcome to the Online Writing and Learning Center’s Interactive Guide to APA 7 style.

To get started, click on a topic here.


 

OWLC APA 7 Transition Guide

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In-Text Citations

I need to cite...

Parenthetical Citations

(Author, YYYY).

Example: (Lynch, 2020).

In-Line Citations

Author (YYYY)

Example: Lynch (2020) stated that...

Parenthetical Citations

(Author1 & Author2, YYYY).

Example: (Marshall & Lynch, 2020).

In-Line Citations

Author1 & Author2 (YYYY)

Example: Marshall & Lynch (2020) stated that...

Parenthetical Citations

(Author1 et al., YYYY).

Example: (Lynch et al., 2020).

In-Line Citations

Author1 et al. (YYYY)

Example: Lynch et al. (2020) stated that...

Parenthetical Citations

(SecondaryAuthor, YYYY, as cited in PrimaryAuthor1, YYYY, p. #).

Example: (Lynch, 2020, as cited in Marshall, 2020, p. 3).

In-Line Citations

SecondaryAuthor (as cited in PrimaryAuthor1, YYYY, p. #).

Example: Lynch stated that... (as cited in Marshall, 2020, p. 3).

Interviews

(A. LastName, personal communication, Month Day, YYYY)

Example: (H. Marshall, personal communication, June 20, 2019)

Organizations as authors

(Organization Name [Abbreviation], YYYY)

(American Psychological Association [APA], 2019)

No Author

("Title of Document/Webpage", YYYY)

Example: ("OWLC Citation Tool", 2020)

No Year

(Author, n.d.)

Example: (Lynch, n.d.)

No Page Number

(Author, YYYY, n.p.) OR (Author, YYYY, para. #)

Example: (Marshall, 2020, n.p.) OR (Marshall, 2020, para. 3)

Parenthetical Citations

List alphabetically: (Author1, YYYY; BAuthor & Author, YYYY)

In-Line Citations

Author1 (YYYY) and BAuthor and Author (YYYY)

Parenthetical Citations

Quotation signal phrase, "Directly copied text" (Author, YYYY, p. #).

Example: It was shown that, "APA citing is easy" (Lynch, 2020, p. 3).

In-Line Citations

Author (YYYY) speaking verb, "Directly copied text" (p. #).

Marshall (2020) stated, "This APA tool is great" (p. 3).


 

APA 7 | Reference Entries

I need to cite...

Note! APA 7 Change

Publisher locations are no longer required.

Reference Entry Format

AuthorLastName, A. B. (YYYY). Title of work: Subtitle of work. Publisher.

Reference Entry Example

Johnston, J. M., & Pennypacker, H. S. (2009). Strategies and tactics of behavioral research. Routledge.

Example In-Text Citations

Parenthetical: (Johnston & Pennypacker, 2009)

In-Line/Narrative: Johnston and Pennypacker (2009)

Note! APA 7 Change

Publisher locations are no longer required.

Reference Entry Format

Author, A. C., & Author, B. D. (YYYY). Title of chapter. In A. A. Editor & B. B. Editor (Eds.), Title of book (# ed., pp. #- #). Publisher.

Reference Entry Example

Lawrence, J. A., & Dodds, A. E. (2003). Goal-directed activities and life-span development. In J. Valsiner & K. Connolly (Eds.), Handbook of Developmental Psychology (pp. 517-533). Sage Publications.

Example In-Text Citations

Parenthetical: (Lawrence & Dodds, 2003)

In-Line/Narrative: Lawrence and Dodds (2003)

Note! APA 7 Change

Up to 20 authors should be listed.

Reference Entry Format

Print Journal Article

Author, A. C., & Author, B. D. (YYYY). Title of article in sentence case capitalization. Title of Periodical/Journal, Volume#(Issue#), page#-page#.

Online Journal Article

AuthorLastName, A. B., & AuthorLastName, C. D. (YYYY). Title of the article in sentence-case capitalization. Title of Journal, Volume#(Issue#), page#-page#. doi: 0000000/000000000000

AuthorLastName, A. B., & AuthorLastName, C. D. (YYYY). Title of the article in sentence-case capitalization. Title of Journal, Volume#(Issue#), page#-page#. URL

Reference Entry Example

Print Journal Article

Samson, A. R. (2001). Treating social phobia in adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Psychiatry, 12(18), 3-18.

Online Journal Article

Harris, S. L., & Delmolino, L. (2002). Applied behavior analysis: Its application in the treatment of autism and related disorders in young children. Infants & Young Children, 14(3), 11-17. https://journals.lww.com/iycjournal/Abstract/2002/01000/Applied_Behavior_Analysis__Its_ Application_in_ the.6.aspx

Example In-Text Citations

Parenthetical: (Samson, 2001)

In-Line/Narrative: Samson (2001)

Note! APA 7 Change

This format applies for newspaper articles, magazine articles, and blog posts. Do not use 'Retrieved from' before the URL.

Reference Entry Format

AuthorLastName, A. B., & AuthorLastName, C. D. (YYYY). Title of article. Title of online periodical. page#-page#. URL

Reference Entry Example

Beck, J. (2015). Therapy over lamps for seasonal depression. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/11/therapy-over-lamps-for-seasonal-depression/414433/

Example In-Text Citations

Parenthetical: (Beck, 2015)

In-Line/Narrative: Beck (2015)

Note! APA 7 Change

Do not use the publisher location or 'Retrieved from' before the URL.

Reference Entry Format

Name of Organization. (YYYY). Title of the document (Publication #). Publisher.

Name of Organization. (YYYY). Title of the document (Publication #). URL

Reference Entry Example

National Alliance for Mental Illness. (1998). Medication for treating mental illness (DHHS Publication No. OHDS 84-29931). Government Printing Office.

Example In-Text Citations

Parenthetical: (National Alliance for Mental Illness, 1998)

In-Line/Narrative: National Alliance for Mental Illness (1998)

Note! APA 7 Change

Do not use 'Retrieved from' before the URL.

Reference Entry Format

AuthorLastName, A. B. (YYYY). Title of website. URL

PublishingOrganization. (YYYY). Title of website. URL

Reference Entry Example

American Psychological Association. (2018). APA Style. http://www.apastyle.org/

Example In-Text Citations

Parenthetical: (American Psychological Association, 2018)

In-Line/Narrative: American Psychological Association (2018)

Note! APA 7 Change

Do not use 'Retrieved from' before the URL. You do not need to list the website title.

Reference Entry Format

AuthorLastName, A. B. (YYYY). Title of webpage. URL

PublishingOrganization. (YYYY). Title of webpage. URL

Reference Entry Example

American Psychological Association. (2018). How do you reference a website that lists no author? http://www.apastyle.org/

Example In-Text Citations

Parenthetical: (American Psychological Association, 2018)

In-Line/Narrative: American Psychological Association (2018)

Note! APA 7 Change

Do not use 'Retrieved from' before the URL.

Reference Entry Format

Twitter Tweet

User Account Name [@UserHandle]. (YYYY, Month DD). First 20 words of the post as the reference title. [Type of Post: Image; Video; etc.] [Tweet]. Twitter. URL

Facebook Post

User Account Name. (YYYY). First 20 words of the post as the reference title. [Type of Post: Image; Video; etc.] [Status update]. Facebook. URL

Reference Entry Example

Twitter Tweet

APA Databases [@APA_Databases]. (2019, September 5). Help students avoid plagiarism and researchers navigate the publication process. More details available in the 7th edition @APA_Style table [Image attached] [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/APA_Databases/status/1169644365452578823

Facebook Post

News From Science. (2019, June 21). Are you a fan of astronomy? Enjoy reading about what scientists have discovered in our solar system—and beyond? This [Image attached] [Status update]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/ScienceNOW/photos/a.117532185107/10156268057260108/?type=3&theater

Example In-Text Citations

Parenthetical: (News From Science, 2019)

In-Line/Narrative: News From Science (2019)

Note! APA 7 Change

Do not use 'Retrieved from' before the URL. You do not need to list the website title.

Reference Entry Format

YouTube Account Name. (YYYY). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. URL

Reference Entry Example

Harvard University. (2019, August 28). Soft robotic gripper for jellyfish [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guRoWTYfxMs

Example In-Text Citations

Parenthetical: (Harvard University, 2019)

In-Line/Narrative: Harvard University (2019)

Note!

Interviews, because they are not 'recoverable' sources, are not cited in the reference list. Use an in-text citation only when referring to an interview you conducted.

In-Text Citations Format

Parenthetical: (Interviewee First Initial. Second Initial. Surname, personal communication, Month Day, Year)

Example In-Text Citation

Parenthetical: (J. Brown, personal communication, April 27, 2010)

Reference Entry Format

Film

DirectorLastName, A. (Director). (YYYY). Gone with the wind [Film]. Production Company 1; Production Company 2.

TV Episode

WriterLastName, A. (Writer), & DirectorLastName, B. (Director). (YYYY, Month DD). Episode Title (Season #, Episode #) [TV series episode]. In C. LastName, D. LastName, E. LastName, & F. LastName (Executive Producers), TV Series Title. Producer 1; Producer 2.

Reference Entry Example

Film

Fleming, V. (Director). (1939). Gone with the wind [Film]. Selznick International Pictures; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

TV Episode

Favreau, J. (Writer), & Filoni, D. (Director). (2019, November 12). Chapter 1 (Season 1, Episode 1) [TV series episode]. In J. Favreau, D. Filoni, K. Kennedy, & C. Wilson (Executive Producers), The Mandalorian. Lucasfilm; Golem Creations.

Example In-Text Citations

Parenthetical: (Favreau & Filoni, 2019)

In-Line/Narrative: Favreau and Filoni (2019)

Reference Entry Format

Music

Recording artist. (Year of release). Title of song [Song]. On Title of album [Album]. Record label.

Podcasts

Executive Producer, E. P. (Executive Producer). (Range of publication). Title of podcast [Audio podcast]. Production company. URL.

Reference Entry Example

Music

Dolby, T. (1982). She blinded me with science [Song]. On The Golden Age of Wireless [12-inch single record]. Venice in Peril.

Podcasts

Jared, J. (Producer/Writer). (2012, February 3). Vitamin D [Audio podcast]. Daily Radio. https://www.dailyradio.com/vitamind.mp3

Example In-Text Citations

Parenthetical: (Dolby, 1982)

In-Line/Narrative: Jared (2012)

Reference Entry Format

Publisher of Dictionary. (n.d.). Term name. In Dictionary/Encyclopedia Name. Retrieved Month DD, YYYY, from URL

Reference Entry Example

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Semantics. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved January 4, 2020, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semantics

Example In-Text Citations

Note! Because there are no page numbers in online dictionaries, cite the definition number instead.

Parenthetical: (Merriam-Webster, n.d., Definition 1)

In-Line/Narrative: Merriam-Webster (n.d., Definition 1)

Religious texts are varied in citation formatting. See these guidelines from APA 7 (2019, Section 10.2) on how to handle your text:

- "Religious works published as books (as with the Bhagavad Gita example) follow the book reference format."

- "Religious works published as websites (as with the King James Bible example) follow the webpage reference format."

- "Religious works are usually treated as having no author. Use the year of publication of the version that you used in the date element of the reference."

- "The year of original publication of a religious work may be unknown or in dispute and is not included in the reference in those cases. However, versions of religious works such as the Bible may be republished; these republished dates are included in the reference. For example, the online version of the King James Bible was published in 2017 and is based on the version of the King James Bible published in 1769, so both 2017 and 1769 are included in the reference."

Reference Entry Format

Title of Religious Text. (A. TranslatorLastName, Trans.; #th ed.). (YYYY). Publisher.

Title of Religious Text. (YYYY). Title of Work Online. URL (Original work published YYYY)

Reference Entry Example

The Bhagavad Gita. (E. Easwaran, Trans.; 2nd ed.). (2007). The Blue Mountain Center of Meditation.

King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/ (Original work published 1769)

Example In-Text Citations

Note! Use the verse numbering rather than page numbers when citing religious texts.

Parenthetical: (King James Bible, 1769/2017, Song of Solomon 8:6)

In-Line/Narrative: The verse in question states “set me as a seal upon thine heart” (King James Bible, 1769/2017, Song of Solomon 8:6).

Reference Entry Format

LastName, A. (2019). Title (Publication No. ########) [Doctoral dissertation/Master's Thesis, University Name]. Publishing organization. URL

Reference Entry Example

Miranda, C. (2019). Exploring the lived experiences of foster youth who obtained graduate level degrees: Self-efficacy, resilience, and the impact on identity development (Publication No. 27542827) [Doctoral dissertation, Pepperdine University]. PQDT Open. https://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/2309521814.html?FMT=AI

Example In-Text Citations

Note! Because there are no page numbers in online dictionaries, cite the definition number instead.

Parenthetical: (Miranda, 2019)

In-Line/Narrative: Miranda (2019)


 

APA 7 | Formatting


 

APA 7 | Rules for Using Numbers