APA STYLE

(American Psychological Association) 2020 update

 What Is APA Format?
American Psychological Association (APA) style is
an academic format used by the American
Psychological Association and is widely used in the
writing of papers in the social sciences.

The APA guidelines were developed to assist

reading comprehension in the social and behavioral
sciences, for clarity of communication, and for
reducing bias in language.
Font
 The 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual
requires that the chosen font be accessible (i.e.,
legible) to all readers and that it be used
consistently throughout the paper.
 While the APA Manual does not specify a single
font or set of  fonts, it does recommend a few fonts
that are widely available. These include:
 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, and 12-point Times
New Roman.
Title Page
 The title page should contain the title (bolded) of
the paper, the author's name, and the institutional
affiliation. A student paper should also include
the course number and name, instructor name,
and assignment submission date.

 Don’t forget to include a page number in the top

right hand corner
 APA no longer requires a running head
When do I use APA?

 Use APA when you are citing a source in...

•Science
•Social Science
•Psychology

APA Style citations focus on author(s), dates, and page numbers.

(Author, Date, pg. #).

In-Text Citations.
 How do I cite a source in my writing (in-text)?

When using APA format, the basic in-text citation contains the
author’s last name, the date of publication, and often the page
number from which material is borrowed. Page #
Author Date
For Example:
“In order to maintain academic honesty in your writing, it is important to cite your sources
using proper APA style” (Moore, 2013, p. 99).

What should I do when the author has already been referenced?

Moore (2013) says that “In order to maintain academic honesty in your writing, it is
important to cite your sources using proper APA style” (p. 99).
 In-Text Citations.
 What should I do if I can can’t find an author for my source?

An example of a source
Title without an author.

Moore’s Guide to Academic Honesty (10th ed.).(1993).

Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster.
Page #
Shortened version of title Date

“In order to maintain academic honesty in your writing, it is important to cite

your sources using proper APA style” (Moore’s Guide, 2013, p. 99).
The Reference List
 How do I cite my sources in a reference list.
 References
References go on the last page of your assignments
under the title “References” (bolded)
 Not bibliography, not works cited

"Introductory Tutorial." EasyBib. N.p., n.d. Web. 28

Feb. 2014.
Seneca. Guide to Research and Citation. Toronto:
Seneca, 2011. Print.
 The Basics
 Print sources
A book with one author.

Author’s last Publication Year Title (in

name and initials Italics)

Livingston, J.A. (1994). Rogue Primate: An exploration of

human domestication. London, England: Hogarth.

Publisher Name
Location
In-Text Citation
 What would the in-text citation look like for that source?
A comma The
The author’s name publication
year

(Linvingstone, 1994)
A more difficult example
 Multiple authors/ editors (two or three) – this might
come up when referencing a text book.
“eds” means,
editors

Authors Publication year

McPhee, S.J., Vishwanath, L.R., & Ganong, W.F. (eds.). (2003).

Pathophysiology of disease: An introduction to clinical
medicine. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Title (in
italics) Publisher Year
Location
 In-Text Citation
 What would the in-text citation look like for that
source?
List the names of the Year of
authors/editors (no publication
initials).

(McPhee, Vishwanath, & Ganong, 2003)

Subsequent citations use the Subsequent in-text citation
last name of the first author
followed by et al.
(McPhee et al., 2003)
et al. means “and others”
Electronic Sources
 A website
Publication date (year, month, day)

The author’s last name

and initials (if given) Title (in italics) Date of retrieval

Fidler, D.P. (2004, April). World Health Organization’s

international health regulations. Retrieved May 28, 2010,
From http://www.asil.org/insights.insigh132.html

URL
In-Text Citation
 What would the in-text citation look like for that
source?

The author’s last

name

(Fidler, 2004)
Publication year
Electronic Sources
 A website (unknown Author/ Editor; no date)

Title (in italics) Date of retrieval

World Health Organization’s international health regulations.

(n.d). Retrieved May 28, 2010, From
http://www.asil.org/insights.insigh132.html

n.d means, “no date” URL

In-Text Citation
 What would the in-text citation look like for that
source?
When the author is
missing, the article title
takes its place. n.d. means,
“no date”

(World Health Organization’s international health regulations,

n.d.)
Article
Tittles
Electronic Sources
 Online Image (reproduced in your research paper).

Figure # and description Title of article

Figure 1. Man exercising. Adapted from “Yoga: Stretching

Out,” By A.N. Green, and L.O. Brown, 2006, May
8th, Sport Digest, 15, p.22. Copyright 2006 by
Sports Digest Inc.

Publication date
Author(s) Publication name

Copyright holder Copyright date

Summary or paraphrase
 If you are paraphrasing an idea from another work, you only have to make reference
to the author and year of publication in your in-text reference, but APA guidelines
encourage you to also provide the page number (although it is not required.)

According to Jones (1998), APA style is a difficult citation format for first-time
learners.

APA style is a difficult citation format for first-time learners (Jones, 1998, p.
199).
 APA Recap
Format: Style:

▪ 1” Margins • Write in 3rd person

avoiding personal terms
▪ 12pt Times New such as “I, we or us,”
Roman (think clinical).

▪ Double spacing • Reference all quotes or

ideas used from others -
▪ Page numbers in text and in sources
▪ Paragraphs indented list (author, year).
• When in doubt check
the video or
OWL from Purdue
 Most Common Mistakes
• No references (in body and a reference page)
• Always, always reference EVERYTHING.

• Not referencing the article, but the person in it

• (CNN, 2013) not (Obama, 2013).

• Hitting return after each sentence.

• Set up double spacing on your document, hit return for a new paragraph.

• Missing dates (date both your references and your own report)
• Grammar and spelling errors (use spell check –set language to English)
• Proper reference format not used on reference sheet.
• Surname, Initial/News Agency (date). Title of article or story. Title of journal,
[indent] book or other source. Retrieved date, from: Home URL
 Online Citation Creators
 http://www.easybib.com/

 www.citationmachine.net