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Citations

This guide contains information and resources on MLA, APA, Chicago, and IEEE citation styles.

What is APA Style?

APA (American Psychological Association) citation style is a widely used format for citing sources in academic and research writing, particularly in the social sciences. It provides a consistent and standardized way to acknowledge the work and ideas of others, avoiding plagiarism and giving credit to the original authors. The APA style includes guidelines for citing various types of sources, such as books, journal articles, websites, and more.

Here are the key elements of APA citation style:

  1. Formatting: Use 1-inch margins on all sides of the paper and a clear legible font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, in 12-point size. The entire document should be double spaced, including the title page, abstract, main body, and reference list.

  2. In-text Citations: In-text citations are used within the body of the text to indicate when you are using someone else's ideas or words. They typically consist of the author's last name and the publication year, enclosed in parentheses. For example: (Smith, 2020) or (Johnson & Williams, 2019).

  3. Reference List: At the end of the document, a comprehensive list of all sources cited in the text is included. The reference list is organized alphabetically by the authors' last names or the title of the source if no author is given.

APA Citation Format

An APA citation typically includes several parts, depending on the type of source being cited. Here are the key elements that make up an APA citation:

  1. Author(s) or Editor(s) (if applicable): The names of the author(s) or editor(s) responsible for the work. For sources without individual authors (e.g., websites), the organization or corporate author may be used.

  2. Publication Year: The year the source was published or produced.

  3. Title: The title of the source. For books, articles, and webpages, the title is in sentence case (only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized). For book chapters and articles in journals, the title is in title case (the first letter of each major word is capitalized).

  4. Source Information:

    • For books: Include the name of the publisher and, if applicable, the edition and volume number.
    • For journal articles: Include the name of the journal, volume number (in italics), issue number (in parentheses), and page range.
    • For webpages: Include the name of the website and the URL.

  5. Digital Object Identifier (DOI) or URL (for online sources): DOI is a unique alphanumeric string used to identify online publications. If a DOI is available, it is preferable to include it in the citation. If there is no DOI, include the URL of the webpage (for online sources).

  6. Page Numbers (for articles or book chapters): When citing a specific page or range of pages from an article or book chapter, include the page numbers.

  7. Retrieval Date (for online sources, if applicable): If the content of a webpage is likely to change over time (e.g., webpages without a publication date or constantly updated content), it is recommended to include the retrieval date when citing online sources.

The specific arrangement and punctuation of these elements depend on the type of source and whether it's a print or online publication. The format also changes slightly when citing authors, editors, or organizations with multiple roles or corporate authors.

Basic Format for Different Sources

  • Book: Author's last name, Initials. (Publication year). Title of book. Publisher.
  • Journal Article: Author's last name, Initials. (Publication year). Title of article. Title of Journal, Volume(Issue), Page range.
  • Website: Author's last name, Initials. (Publication year). Title of webpage/article. Website Name. URL.

Adapted from a ChatGPT conversation: OpenAI. (2023). Conversation with ChatGPT [Computer software]. Retrieved from https://chat.openai.com/share/07b6f9b0-7baa-4af1-8f0b-86b7d2855a3c.

APA Resources

There are thousands of resources available online to help with creating your APA citations and formatting your papers. Below are some of the resources recommended by Wilkens Library staff.

Books and eBooks

Library Handout

Websites for Citations and Formatting Your Paper