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APA Style (7th ed.): Citation Guide

What type of information do you need to cite?

Use the links below or scroll to find the type of information.

Books and EbooksJournal ArticlesMagazines and NewspapersWeb SourcesVideoImages and ArtMusic and AudioGovernment SourcesGenerative AI and ChatbotsPersonal Communication

 

Books & Ebooks

Book with DOI

Author Last Name, F. (Year). Book Title. Publisher. https://doi.org/xxx

Example:

In-Text

(O'Connor & Weatherall, 2019)

 

References

O'Connor, C., & Weatherall, J. O. (2019). The misinformation age: How false beliefs spread. Yale University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv8jp0hk.11


Book without DOI

Author Last Name, F. (Year). Book Title. Publisher.

Example:

In-Text

(Ogden, 2021)

 

References

Ogden, D. (2021). The werewolf in the ancient world. Oxford University Press.


 

Book with a Corporate Author

Company name. (Date). Book Title, Edition, Publisher.

Example:

In-Text

(American Heart Association, 2010)

 

References

American Heart Association. (2010). The New American Heart Association Cookbook (8th ed.). Clarkson Potter.


Edited Chapter in a Book (anthology or collection)

Author Last Name, F. (Date). Title of essay or chapter. In Editor Name (Ed.), Book title (pages). Publisher.

Example:

In-Text

(Russ, 2017).

 

References

Russ, J. (2017).The image of women in science fiction. In R. Latham (Ed.), Science fiction criticism: An anthology of essential writings (pp. 200-210).  Bloomsbury.


Reference Book (Encyclopedia or Dictionary) with no author

Entry name. (Date). In Editor Name (Ed.), Book Title (version)Publisher.

Example:

In-Text

("Detecting werewolves," 2011)

 

References

Detecting werewolves. (2011). In B. Steiger, The werewolf book: The encyclopedia of shape-shifting beings (2nd ed.). Visible Ink Press.


Ebook with no DOI (from Library Database)

(Cite exactly like a print book. Don't include the database name.)

Author Last Name, F. (Date). Book Title. Publisher. 

Example:

In-Text

(Groom, 2018)

 

References

Groom, N. (2018). The vampire: A new history. Yale University Press.


Ebook with no DOI (Online)

Author Last Name, F. (Date). Book Title. Publisher. URL

Example:

In-Text

(Cervantes)

 

References

Cervantes Saavedra, M. (n.d.). The history of Don Quixote (J. Ormsby, Trans.). https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/996


Journal Articles

Journal Article with a DOI 

Author Last Name, F. (Date). Title of article. Title of Journal, vol(no), pages. https://doi.org/xxx

Example:

In-Text

(Klopov et al.,  2023)

 

References

Klopov, I., Shapurov, O., Voronkova, V., Nikitenko, V., Oleksenko, R., Khavina, I., & Chebakova, Y. (2023, November). Digital transformation of education based on artificial intelligence. TEM Journal, 12(4), 2635-2644. https://doi.org/10.18421/TEM124-74


Journal Article without DOI (print or online)

NOTE: Cite online journals articles without a DOI as you would a print journal. You do not need to name the database.

If the article is open access online (not in a database), you can choose to add a link to the article.

 

Author Last Name, F. (Date), Title of article. Title of Journal, vol(no), pages.

Example:

In-Text

(Jawer, 2023)

 

References

Jawer, M. (2023, Spring). Emotion: The connective tissue of atmospheres and haunts. Journal of Scientific Exploration, 37(1), 88-105.


Magazines & Newspapers

Magazine Article in Print 

Author Last Name, F. (Date). Title of article. Title of Magazine, vol(no), pages.

Example:

In-Text

(Bhargava, 2023)

 

References

Bhargava, R. (2023, Winter). Can you read culture? Inc., 45(6), 24.


Magazine Article from Library Database (no DOI)

Cite same as a print magazine.

Author Last Name, F. (Date). Title of article. Title of Magazine, vol(no), pages.

Example:

In-Text

(Fink, 2023)

 

References

Fink, T. J. (2023, December 31). AI content detector: How to spot AI creations. Laptop.


Magazine Article from Website

Author Last Name, F. (Date). Title of article. Title of Magazine, vol(no), pages. URL

Example:

In-Text

(Pang, 2024)

 

References

Pang, A. (2024, January 25). Rest takes hard work. Time. https://time.com/6566763/rest-takes-hard-work-essay/


Newspaper Article - Print

Author Last Name, F. (Date). Title of article. Title of Newspaper, pages.

Example:

In-Text

(Smith, 2023)

 

References

Smith, D. G. (2023, January 8). Here to help: How to overcome task paralysis. The New York Times, A3+.


Newspaper Article - Online 

In APA 7th ed., articles published in online news sources (ex- BBC News, Bloomberg, CNN, Reuters) will have the title of the article italicized but not the name of the source.

Sources that have both an online and print presence (ex- Washington Post or New York Times)

 
Available Online Only

Author Last Name, F. (Date). Title of article. Source. URL

Example:

In-Text

(Bloom, 2024)

 

References

Bloom, J. (2024, February 1). Could AI "trading bots" transform the world of investing? BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-68092814

 

Available Online Only

Author Last Name, F. (Date). Title of article. Title of Source. URL

Example:

 

In-Text

(Mizan, 2024)

 

References

Mizan, N. (2024, January 26). Girl Scout cookies price hike: What's the price per box and where is the money going? Houston Chronicle. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/retail/article/girl-scouts-cookies-price-increase-18628206.php


Web Sources

Webpage without an author

Title of webpage. (Date). Source. URL

Example:

In-Text

("Shrinking Moon," 2024).

 

References

Shrinking moon causing moonquakes and faults near lunar south pole. (2024, January 25). NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/earth/moon/shrinking-moon-causing-moonquakes-and-faults-near-lunar-south-pole/


Social Media Post

Cite only original content from social media platforms. (For example, if an article is shared, cite the article instead.)

If there are audiovisuals like photos or videos, indicate them in square brackets after the text of the post.

Don't alter the spelling or capitalization of the post, retain hashtags and links, replicate emojis if possible or put the name of the emoji in brackets.

(Emoji names can be found at https://unicode.org/emoji/charts/index.html)

 

Author, A. [@username]. (Date). Content of the post up to the first 20 words [Description of audiovisuals]. Site name. URL

 

Example (Twitter / X):

In-Text

(Lone Star College, 2019).

 

References

Lone Star College [@lonestarcollege]. (2019, December 11). [partying face] We received approval to offer bachelor’s degrees, including Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Bachelor of Applied Technology in Cybersecurity; and Bachelor of Applied Science in Energy, Manufacturing & Trades Management. [clapping hands] [star-struck] [woman student] [man student] chron.com/neighborhood/m...via @houstonchron [Image attached]. X. https://twitter.com/lonestarcollege/status/1204842366357651456


Example (Instagram):

In-Text

(Lone Star College, 2024).

 

References

Lone Star College [@lonestarcollege]. (2024, January 12). The Houston Business Journal named Mario K. Castillo, J.D., LSC chancellor among the Top 100 Texans who have made an impact in 2023. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/C2BElOfMWpc/


Blog Post

Author, F. or username. Title of Post. Title of Blog. URL

Example:

In-Text

(McAdoo, 2023).

 

References

McAdoo, T. (2023, April 7). How to cite ChatGPT. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/how-to-cite-chatgpt


Video

Online Video

NOTE: the author is who uploaded the video, not necessarily the video's creator.

 

Author, F. [username]. (Date). Title of video [Video]. Platform title. URL

Example (YouTube):

In-Text

(Pocket Gamer, 2015)

 

References

Pocket Gamer. (2015, August 28). What is 8-bit? | What are 8-bit graphics, anyway? [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/QaIoW1aL9GE?si=k5qbVyciaWhf8Y37

 

Example (TED Talk):

In-Text

(Shaw, 2015)

 

References

Shaw, G. (2015, February). Why people believe they can't draw [Video]. TEDx. https://www.ted.com/talks/graham_shaw_why_people_believe_they_can_t_draw

 


Movie / Film

The Director is usually used as the author, but if unknown, another similar role may be used. 

You don't need to specify how you watched a film (e.g. DVD, in theater, streaming online), but you can give identifying version information inside the brackets following Film.

If streaming online, you can add the URL.

 

Last Name, F. (Director). (Date). Title of work [Film]. Production Company. 

 

Example:

In-Text

(Coogler, 2018).

 

References

Coogler, R. (Director). (2018). Black panther [Film]. Marvel Studios.


Example:

In-Text

(Parker, 1995)

 

References

Parker, O. (Director). (1995). Othello [Film]. Columbia Pictures. https://digitalcampus.swankmp.net/lsconline395001/play/5b248cf117888f54?referrer=direct


Episode of a TV Series

Include writer(s) and the director for the episode and include their contribution in parentheses.

You don't need to specify how you watched it.

 

Last name, F. (Writer), & Last name, F. (Director). (Date). Title of episode (Season no., Episode no.) [TV Series episode]. In P. P. Producer (Executive Producer), Title of TV Series. Production company.

Example:

In-Text

(van Munster & Doganieri, 2001)

 

References

van Munster, B. (Writer & Director), & Doganieri, E. (Writer). (2001, November 21). To the physical and mental limit (Season 1, Episode 10) [TV Series Episode]. In E. Doganieri & B. van Munster (Executive Producers), The Amazing Race. Earthview; Jerry Bruckheimer Television; CBS Productions.


TV Series

Include producers and include their contribution in parentheses.

You don't need to specify how you watched it.

For the date, include the series run. If still ongoing, use start date - present.

 

Last name, F., & Last name, F. (Producers). (Date). Title of TV Series. Production company.

Example:

In-Text

(Fogelman, 2016-2022)

 

References

Fogelman, D. (Executive Producer). (2016-2022). This is us [TV Series]. Rhode Island Ave. Productions; Zaftig Films; 20th Century Fox Television.


Images & Art

Online Image with a Title

Artist's Last Name, F. (Date). Title of image [Medium]. Source. URL

Example:

In-Text

(Beaton, n.d.)

 

References

Beaton, K. (n.d.). Tesla, Marconi, Edison [Comic]. Hark! A Vagrant. http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=256


Artwork Viewed Online

Artist's Last Name, F. (Date). Title of image [Medium]. Source. URL

Example:

In-Text

(O'Keefe, 1938)

 

References

O'Keefe, Georgia. (1938). Red Hill and White Shell [Painting]. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. https://emuseum.mfah.org/objects/17860/red-hill-and-white-shell?ctx=c469d6c7436b6ddfaeba46e287e6d599ebbed0c0&idx=0


Clip Art or Stock Image

Instructions are for citing but not reproducing clip art or stock images. To reproduce, you may also need permission and/or a copyright admission in addition to the citation. See the APA Style guide for Clip Art or Stock References.

You don't need to cite images from Microsoft Office.

 

Author, A. (Date). Title of image [Medium]. Source. URL

Example:

In-Text

(liftarn, 2024)

 

References

liftarn. (2024, February 7). Cartoon raccoon holding a blank sign [Clip art]. Openclipart. https://openclipart.org/detail/346730/cartoon-raccoon-holding-blank-sign


Music & Audio

Single Song or Track

Artist, A. (Date). Title of song [Song]. On Title of album. Recording Label.

Example:

In-Text

(Lipa, 2023).

 

References

Lipa, D. (2023). Dance the Night [Song]. On Barbie the album. Atlantic.


Music Album

Artist, A. (Date). Title of album [Album]. Recording Label.

Example:

In-Text

(Bowie, 1972).

 

References

Bowie, D. The rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the spiders from Mars [Album]. RCA Records.


Audiobook without a DOI

Author Last name, F. (Date). Title (F. Lastname, Narr.) [Audiobook]. Publisher. URL

Example:

In-Text

(Cline, 2011).

 

References

Cline, E. (2011). Ready Player One (W. Wheaton, Narr.) [Audiobook]. Random House Audio. https://www.audible.com/pd/Ready-Player-One-Audiobook/B005FRGT44

 


Podcast Episode

Host Last name, F. (Host). (Date). Title of episode (No.) [Audio podcast episode]. In Title of podcast. Production Company. URL 

Example:

In-Text

(Gonzalez & Malone, 2023).

 

References

Gonzalez, S. & Kenny Malone (Hosts). (2023, December 13). Why '90s ads are unforgettable [Audio podcast episode]. In Planet Money. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2023/12/13/1197956022/got-milk-soap-operas-advertising


Podcast

Host Last name, F. (Host). (Date range). Title of podcast [Audio podcast]. Production Company. URL

Example:

In-Text

(Fishel et al., 2022-present).

 

References

Fishel, D., Strong, R., & Friedle, W. (Hosts). (2022-present). Pod Meets World. iHeart Radio. https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-pod-meets-world-98589488/


Government Sources

Legal References

In APA Style, most legal references are cited using the standard legal citation style, even though this differs from most APA Style rules.

 

Court Case

Name v. Name, Volume Reporter Abbreviation Page (Year). URL

Example:

In-Text

(Brown v. Board of Education, 1954).

 

References

Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954). https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/347/483


 

Statutes (Laws and Acts)

Name of Act, Title Source § Section Number (Year). URL

Example:

In-Text

(Limitations on Exclusive Rights: Fair Use, 1992).

 

References

Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use, 17 U.S. Code § 107. (1992). https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107


 

Government Webpage

Author Last Name, F. (Date). Title of webpage. Site name. URL.

Without an individual author:

Organization Name. (Date). Title of webpage. Site name. URL.

 

Example:

In-Text

(United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023).

 

References

United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023, September 6). Librarians and media specialists. Occupational Outlook Handbook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/librarians.htm


Reports

Author Last Name, F. (Date). Title of Report (Report No.). Publisher. URL

Example:

In-Text

(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2023).

 

References

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2023, December 14). 2023 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (Report no. 23(24)-0091-EF).  Department of Health and Human Services. https://govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CMR-HE20_6500-00184279/pdf/CMR-HE20_6500-00184279.pdf


 

Generative AI & Chatbots

Generative AI & Chatbots

APA has provided some new and developing guidance on how to cite AI generated content in your paper.

Best Practices for AI Content
  • cite generative AI whenever paraphrasing, quoting, or incorporating AI generated work into your work
  • acknowledge within your paper in a note or other means any functional ways that you used AI in your work (ex- editing your writing, translating words)
  • be sure to check all secondary sources that the AI might cite (VERY IMPORTANT!)
In Text
  • Within the text of your paper, describe the prompt given to the AI and the result. If needed, you can add the full-text of the output generated in an Appendix and reference the Appendix in your paper.

Author: 

APA recommends using the creator of the AI as the author element. 

For example, the author of ChatGPT content would be OpenAI. 

Title: 

Use the name of the chatbot used. Include in parentheses information about the version.

Date: 

Date the content was generated.

Location: 

URL for the tool


AI Publisher Name. (Year). Title of AI Service (Version) [Model description]. URL

Example:

In-Text

When prompted with "describe the history of werewolves," the ChatGPT-generated text indicated....

 

References

OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (3.5) [Large Language Model]. https://chat.openai.com

 


Personal Communication

Personal Communication

Any information sources that are not recoverable by the reader are considered personal communication. This includes things like personal interviews, emails, text messages, online chats, telephone conversations, live speeches, unrecorded classroom lectures, and memos.  

You should only cite personal communication when no recoverable source is available.

Since the information is not retrievable, they are not included in the References list, just within the text of the paper itself.

 

Personal Interview

(Initial and Last Name of Communicator, personal communication, Date)

Example:

In-Text

(D. Smith, personal interview, January 15, 2024)

 


Email

(Initial and Last Name of Communicator, personal communication, Date)

Example:

In-Text

(M. Hopwood, personal email communication, February 15, 2023)