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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 2 of 26

A Comprehensive Guide to
APA Citations and Format
Overview of this guide:
This page provides you with an overview of APA format. Included is
information about referencing, various citation formats with examples
for each source type, and other helpful information.

If you’re looking for MLA format

(http://www.citationmachine.net/mla/cite-a-website) , check out the
Citation Machine MLA Guide. Also, visit the Citation Machine
homepage to use the APA formatter, which is an APA citation
generator, and to see more styles (http://www.citationmachine.net) .

Being responsible while

researching
When you’re writing a research paper or creating a research project,
you will probably use another individual’s work to help develop your
own assignment. A good researcher or scholar uses another
individual’s work in a responsible way. This involves indicating that the
work of other individuals is included in your project, which is one way
to prevent plagiarism.

Plagiarism? What is it?

The word plagiarism is derived from the Latin word, plagiare, which
means “to kidnap.” The term has evolved over the years to now mean
the act of taking another individual’s work and using it as your own,
without acknowledging the original author. Plagiarism can be illegal
and there can be serious ramifications for plagiarizing someone else’s
work. Thankfully, plagiarism can be prevented. One way it can be
prevented is by including citations and references in your research
project. Want to make them quickly and easily? Try the Citation
Machine citation generator, which is found on our homepage.

All about citations & references

Citations and references should be included anytime you use another
individual’s work in your own assignment. When including a quote,
paraphrased information, images, or any other piece of information
from another’s work, you need to show where you found it by
including a citation and a reference. This guide explains how to make
them.

APA style citations are added in the body of a research paper or

project and references are added to the last page.

Citations, which are called in-text citations, are included when you’re
adding information from another individual’s work into your own
project. When you add text word-for-word from another source into
your project, or take information from another source and place it in
your own words and writing style (known as paraphrasing), you create

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 3 of 26

an in-text citation. These citations are short in length and are placed
in the main part of your project, directly after the borrowed
information.

References are found at the end of your research

(https://www.citationmachine.net/grammar-and-plagiarism/research-
paper/) project, usually on the last page. Included on this reference
list page is the full information for any in-text citations found in the
body of the project. These references are listed in alphabetical order
by the author's last name.

An APA in-text citation includes only three items: the last name(s) of
the author(s), the year the source was published, and sometimes the
page or location of the information. References include more
information such as the name of the author(s), the year the source
was published, the full title of the source, and the URL or page range.

Why is it important to include

citations & references
Including APA citations and references in your research projects is a
very important component of the research process. When you include
citations, you’re being a responsible researcher. You’re showing
readers that you were able to find valuable, high-quality information
from other sources, place them into your project where appropriate,
all while acknowledging the original authors and their work.

Common ways students and

scholars accidentally plagiarize
Believe it or not, there are instances when students and scholars
attempt to include in-text and full references in the appropriate places,
but still accidentally plagiarize. Here are some common mistakes to
be aware of:

Mistake #1 - Misquoting sources: If you plan to use a direct quote,

make sure you copy it exactly as is. Sure, you can use part of the full
quote or sentence, but if you decide to put quotation marks around
any words, those words should match exactly what was found in the
original source.

Here’s a line from The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry:

“Grown-ups never understand anything by

themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be
always and forever explaining things to them.”

Here’s an acceptable option:

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 4 of 26

“Grown-ups never understand anything by

themselves,” stated de Saint-Exupéry (1943, p.
3).

Here’s a misquote:

“Grown-ups barely ever understand anything by

themselves,” stated de Saint-Exupéry (1943, p.
3).

Notice the slight change in the words. The incorrect phrasing is an

instance of accidental plagiarism.

Mistake #2 - Problems with paraphrasing: When we paraphrase,

we restate information using our own words and writing style. It’s not
acceptable to substitute words from the original source with
synonyms.

Let’s use the same sentence from The Little Prince.

A correct paraphrase could be:

de Saint-Exupéry (1943) shares various ways

adults frustrate children. One of the biggest being
that kids have to explain everything. It’s too bad
adults are unable to comprehend anything on
their own (p. 3).

An incorrect paraphrase would be:

de Saint-Exupéry (1943) shares that adults never

understand anything by themselves, and it is
exhausting for kids to be always and forever
clarifying things to them (p.3).

Notice how close the incorrect paraphrase is from the original. This is 00:00
an instance of accidental plagiarism. /
Make sure you quote and paraphrase properly in order to prevent 00:30
accidental plagiarism. LIVE

If you’re having a difficult time paraphrasing properly, it is acceptable

to paraphrase part of the text AND use a direct quote. Here’s an
example:

de Saint-Exupery (1943) shares various ways

adults frustrate children. One of the biggest being
that kids have to explain everything, and “it is
tiresome for children to be always and forever
explaining things to them” (p. 3).

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 5 of 26

Information About APA

Who created it?
The American Psychological Association (http://www.apa.org) is an
organization created for individuals in the psychology field. With close
to 118,000 members, they provide educational opportunities, funding,
guidance, and research information for everything psychology-related.
They also have numerous high-quality databases, peer-reviewed
journals, and books that revolve around mental health.

The American Psychological Association is also credited with creating

their own specific citation and reference style. Today, this format is
used by individuals not only in the psychology field, but many other
subject areas as well. Education, economics, business, and social
sciences also use APA style quite frequently. Click here for more
information (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/APA_style) . This guide
covers general information about the style, but is not affiliated with the
American Psychological Association.

Why was this style created?

This format was first developed in 1929 to form a standardized way
for researchers in science fields to document their sources. Prior to
the inception of these standards and guidelines, individuals were Loading Ad
recognizing the work of other authors by including bits and pieces of Next Video
information in random order. There wasn’t a set way to format What is Chegg Study
citations and references. You can probably imagine how difficult it was 00:38
to understand the sources that were used for research projects! ×
Having a standard format for citing sources allows readers to glance
at a citation or APA reference and easily locate the title, author, year
published, and other critical pieces of information needed to
understand a source.

The evolution of this style

APA style is currently in its 6th edition, which was released in 2009. In
previous versions of APA format, researchers and scholars were
required to include the date that an electronic resource was accessed.
In addition, names of databases were included, and only the name of
the city was included in the publication information.

Now, it is no longer required to include the date of access as well as

the name of the database in an APA citation or reference. The full
location, including the city AND state (or the city and country if it’s an
international publisher) is included instead.

In 2013, the APA released a revised manual just for electronic

resources. This was released due to the increase in the amount of
technological advances and resources.

Citations & References

The appearance of citations &

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 6 of 26

references
The format for citations varies, but most use this general format:

Author’s Last name, First initial. (Date published). Title. Retrieved

from URL

Researchers and scholars must look up the proper format for the
source that they’re attempting to cite. Books have a certain format,
websites have a different format, periodicals have a different format,
and so on. Scroll down to find the proper format for the source you’re
citing or referencing.

If you would like help citing your sources, CitationMachine.com has a

citation generator that will help make the APA citation process much
easier for you.

In-text Citations
An APA in-text citation is included in research projects in three
instances: When using a direct quote, paraphrasing information, or
simply referring to a piece of information from another source.

Quite often, researchers and scholars use a small amount of text,

word for word, from another source and include it in their own
research projects. This is done for many reasons. Sometimes,
another author’s words are so eloquently written that there isn’t a
better way to rephrase it yourself. Other times, the author’s words can
help prove a point or establish an understanding for something in your
research project. When using another author’s exact words in your
research project, include an APA in-text citation directly following it.

In addition to using the exact words from another source and placing
them into your project, these citations are also added anytime you
paraphrase information. Paraphrasing is when you take information
from another source and rephrase it, in your own words.

When simply referring to another piece of information from another

source, also include a citation directly following it.

Citations in the text are found near a direct quote, paraphrased

information, or next to a mention of another source. To see examples
of some narrative/parenthetical
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parenthetical_referencing) citations in
action, look at the image above, under “All About Citations &
References.”

Note: *Only include the page or paragraph number when using a

direct quote or paraphrase. Page numbers have a p. before the
number, pp. before the page range, and para. before the paragraph
number. This information is included to help the reader locate the
exact portion of text themselves. It is unnecessary to include this
information when you’re simply referring to another source.

Here are some examples of APA in-text citations:

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 7 of 26

“Well, you’re about to enter the land of the free

and the brave. And I don’t know how you got that
stamp on your passport. The priest must know
someone” (Tóibín, 2009, p. 52).

and

Student teachers who use technology in their

lessons tend to continue using technology tools
throughout their teaching careers (Kent & Giles,
2017, p. 12).

If including the author’s name in the sentence, place the year in the
parentheses directly next to his or her name. Add the page number at
the end, unless it’s a source without any pages or paragraph
numbers.

In-text citation APA example:

According to a study done by Kent and Giles

(2017), student teachers who use technology in
their lessons tend to continue using technology
tools throughout their teaching careers.

The full references, or citations, for these sources can be found on the
last part of a research project, titled the “References.”

Here’s how to create in-text citations for specific amounts of authors:

APA citation with no author

When the source lacks an author’s name, place the title, year, and
page number (if available) in the text. The title should be in italics if it
sits alone (such as a movie, brochure, or report). If the source is part
of a whole (as many web pages and articles are), place the title in
quotation marks without italics.

Structure of an APA format cittion in the text narratively, with the

author's name missing:

Title of Source (Year) or “Title of Source” (Year)

OR

Structure of an APA style format citation, in parentheses at the

end of the sentence, with the author’s name missing: (Title of
Source, Year) or (“Title of Source,” Year)

Structure for one author

In the text, narratively: Last name of Author (Year)...(page number).

OR

In parentheses, at the end of the sentence: (Last name of Author,

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 8 of 26

Year, page number).

Structure for two authors

Place the authors in the order they appear on the source. Only use
the ampersand in the parenthetical citations. Use ‘and’ to separate the
author names if they’re in the text of the sentence.

In the text, narratively: Last name of Author 1 and Last name of

Author 2 (Year)....(page number).

OR

In parentheses, at the end of the sentence: (Last name of Author 1

& Last name of Author 2, Year, page number).

Structure for three, four, or five authors

Place the authors in the order they appear on the source. Include all
names in the first APA citation.

First in-text citation APA:

Last name Author 1, Last name Author 2, Last name Author 3, Last
name Author 4, and Last name Author 5 (Year)...(page number).

OR

(Last name Author 1, Last name Author 2, Last name Author 3, Last
name Author 4, Last name Author 5, Year, page number).

For any additional citations in your paper, only include the first
author’s last name and et al.

(Last name Author 1 et al., Year, page number)

OR

Last name Author 1 et al. (Year)...(page number).

Six or more authors

Only include the first listed author’s name in the first and any
subsequent citations. Follow it with et al.

(Last name Author 1 et al., Year, page number)

OR

Last name of Author 1 et al. (Year)...(page).

What do you do when you want to cite multiple works by an author,

and the sources all written in the same year?

Include the letters ‘a’ ‘b’ ‘c’ and so on after the year in the citation.

(Jackson, 2013a)

OR

Jackson (2013a)

Writers can even lump dates together.

Example: Jackson often studied mammals while in Africa (2013a,

2013b).

On the APA reference page, include the same letters in the full

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 9 of 26

references.

Groups and organizations

Write out the full name of the group or organization in the first citation
and place the abbreviation next to it in brackets. If the group or
organization is cited again, only include the abbreviation. If it doesn’t
have an abbreviation associated with it, write out the entire
organization’s name each and every time.

Example:

First APA citation for an organization with an abbreviation: (World

Health Organization [WHO], Year)

OR

World Health Organization (WHO, Year)

Notice in the example directly above, the name of the organization is

written out in full in the text of the sentence, and the abbreviation is
placed in parentheses next to it.

Subsequent APA citations in the text for an organization with an

abbreviation: (WHO, Year) OR WHO (Year)

Example:

All citations in the text for an organization without an abbreviation:

(Citation Machine, Year) or Citation Machine (Year)

Reminder: There are many citation tools available on

CitationMachine.com. Head to our homepage to learn more, check
out our APA citation website, and cite your sources easily! The most
useful resource on our website? Our APA citation generator, which
doesn’t just create full references, it’s also an APA in-text citation
website! It’ll do both for you!

Click here to learn more about crediting work

(http://guides.lib.umich.edu/c.php?g=282964&p=1885441) .

Reference list citation

components
References display the full information for all the citations found in the
body of a research project.

Some things to keep in mind when it comes to the references:

• All references sit together on their own page, which is usually

the last page(s) of a paper.
• Title the page ‘References’
• Place ‘References’ in the center of the page. Keep the title in
the same font and size as the references. Do not italicize,
underline, place the title in quotation marks, or increase the font
size.
• The entire page is double spaced.
• All references are listed in alphabetical order by the first word in
the reference, which is usually the author’s last name. If the
source lacks an author, alphabetize the source by the title
(ignore A, An, or The)

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 10 of 26

• All references have a hanging indent, meaning that the second

line of text is indented in half an inch. See examples throughout
this guide.
• Remember, each and every citation in the text of the paper
MUST have a full reference displayed in the reference list. The
citations in the text provide the reader with a quick glimpse
about the sources used, but the references in the reference list
provide the reader with all the information needed to seek out
the source themselves.

Learn more about each component of the reference citation and how
to format it in the sections that follow. See an APA sample paper
reference list at the end of this entire section.

Author’s names
The names of authors are written in reverse order. Include the initials
for the first and middle names. End this information with a period.

Last name, F. M.

Angelou, M.

Doyle, A. C.

Two or More Authors

When two or more authors work together on a source, write them in
the order in which they appear on the source, using this format:

Last name, F. M., & Last name, F. M.

OR

Last name, F. M., Last name, F. M., Last name, F. M., Last name, F.
M., & Last name, F. M.

Kent, A. G., Giles, R. M., Thorpe, A., Lukes, R., Bever, D. J., & He, Y.

If there are 8 or more authors listed on a source, only include the first
6 authors, add three ellipses, and then add the last author’s name.

Roberts, A., Johnson, M. C., Klein, J., Cheng, E. V., Sherman, A.,
Levin, K. K. , ...Lopez, G. S.

If you plan on using a free APA citation tool, like the one at
CitationMachine.com, the names of the authors will format properly
for you.

No authors
If the source lacks an author, place the title in the first position in the
reference. When the source’s title begins with a number (Such as 101
Dalmatians), place the reference alphabetically as if the number was
spelled out. 101 Dalmatians would be placed in the spot where ‘One
hundred’ would go, but keep the numbers in their place.

Additionally, if the title begins with the words ‘A’, ‘An,’ or ‘The,’ ignore
these words and place the title alphabetically according to the next
word.

See the “Titles” section below for more information on formatting the
title of sources.

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 11 of 26

Corporate/Organization authors
On an APA reference page, corporate authors are always written out
in full. In the text of your paper, you may have some abbreviations
(such as UN for United Nations), but in the full references, always
include the full names of the corporation or organization.

Example:

United Nations. (2019). Libya: $202 million needed to bring life-saving

aid to half a million people hit by humanitarian crisis. Retrieved
from https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/02/1031981

Publication information
Directly after the author’s name is the date the source was published.
Include the full date for newspapers and magazine articles, and only
the year for journals and all other sources. If no date is found on the
source, include the initials, n.d. for “no date.”

Newspaper:

Narducci, M. (2017, May 19). City renames part of 11th Street Ed

Snider Way to honor Flyers founder. The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Retrieved from http://www.philly.com/

If using our APA Citation Machine, our citation generator will add the
correct format for you automatically.

Titles
When writing out titles for books, articles, chapters, or other non-
periodical sources, only capitalize the first word of the title and the first
word of the subtitle. Names of people, places, organizations, and
other proper nouns also have the first letter capitalized. For books and
reports, italicize the title in the APA citation.

Examples:

Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Roots: The saga of an American family.

For articles and chapters in APA referencing, do not italicize the title.

Examples:

Wake up the nation: Public libraries, policy making, and political

discourse.

For newspapers, magazines, journals, newsletters, and other

periodicals, capitalize the first letter in each word and italicize the title.

Example:

The Seattle Times.

A common question is whether to underline your title or place it in

italics or quotation marks in the reference list. Here’s a good general
rule: When a source sits alone and is not part of a larger whole, place
the title in italics. If the source does not sit alone and is part of a larger
whole, do not place it in italics.

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 12 of 26

Books, movies, journals, and television shows are placed in italics

since they stand alone. Songs on an album, episodes of television
shows, chapters in books, and articles in journals are not placed in
italics since they are smaller pieces of larger wholes.

The Citation Machine citation generator will format the title in your
citations automatically.

Additional information about the title

If you feel it would be helpful to include additional information about
the source type, include a descriptive noun
(https://www.citationmachine.net/grammar-and-plagiarism/noun/) or
two in brackets immediately following the title. Capitalize the first
letter.

Example:

Kennedy, K., & Molen, G. R. (Producers), & Spielberg, S. (Director).

(1993). Jurassic Park [Motion picture]. USA: Universal.

Besides [Motion picture], other common notations include:

• [Audio podcast]
• [Brochure]
• [Letter to the editor]
• [Television series episode]
• [Tweet]
• [Facebook page]
• [Blog post]
• [Lecture notes]
• [PowerPoint presentation]
• [Video file]

If you are using Citation Machine citing tools, additional information

about the title is automatically added for you.

Information about the publication

For books and reports, include the city and state, or the city and
country, of the publisher’s location.

• Use the proper two-letter state abbreviation from the United

States Postal Service.
• Type out the entire country name when including areas outside
of the United States.

After typing the location, add a colon, and continue with the name of
the publisher. It is not necessary to include the entire name of the
publisher. It is acceptable to use a brief, intelligible form. However, if
Books or Press are part of the publisher’s names, keep these words
in the reference. Other common terms, such as Inc., Co., Publishers,
and others can be omitted.

For newspapers, journals, magazines, and other periodicals, include

the volume and issue number after the title. The volume number is
listed first, by itself, in italics. The issue number is in parentheses
immediately after it, not italicized. There is no space after the closing
parenthesis and before the volume number.

Example:

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 13 of 26

Giannoukos, G., Besas, G., Hictour, V., & Georgas, T. (2016). A study
on the role of computers in adult education. Educational Research
and Reviews, 11(9), 907-923.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5897/ERR2016.2688

If the publisher is a college or university, and the location name

matches part of the school’s information, exclude the publisher
information from the APA format citation.

After including the location and publisher information, end this section
with a period.

Examples:

London, England: Pearson.

New York, NY: Perseus Books.

Electronic source information:

For online sources, the URL or DOI (Direct Object Identifier) are
included at the end of an APA citation.

DOI numbers are often created by publishers for journal articles and
other periodical sources. They were created in response to the
problem of broken or outdated links and URLs. When a journal article
is assigned a DOI number, it is static and will never change. Because
of its permanent characteristic, DOIs are the preferred type of
electronic information to include in APA citations. When a DOI number
is not available, include the source’s URL.

For DOIs, include the number in this format:

http://dx.doi.org/xxxx

For URLs, type them in this format:

Retrieved from http://

Other information about electronic sources:

• If the URL is longer than a line, break it up before a punctuation

mark.
• Do not place a period at the end of the citation/URL.
• It is unnecessary to include retrieval dates, unless the source
changes often over time (like in a Wikipedia article).
• It is not necessary to include the names of databases

If using the Citation Machine APA citation website autocite features,

the online publication information will be automatically replaced by the
DOI. The Citation Machine APA template will properly cite your online
sources for you.

Sample - Reference Page APA:

Make sure you run your completed paper through the Citation
Machine Plus smart proofreader, which scans for grammar, spelling,
and plagiarism. Whether it’s an adjective
(https://www.citationmachine.net/grammar-and-plagiarism/adjectives/)
, verb (https://www.citationmachine.net/grammar-and-
plagiarism/verb/) , or pronoun
(https://www.citationmachine.net/grammar-and-plagiarism/pronoun/)
out-of-place, our technology helps edits your paper for you!

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 14 of 26

Citation Examples for

Sources
Books:
Print books with one author:
APA citation format:

Author Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year Published). Title of
work. Location: Publisher.

Example:

Moriarty, L. (2014). Big little lies. New York, NY: G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

Print books with two or more authors:

Structure:

Last name, First initial. Middle initial., Last name, First initial. Middle
initial., & Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Date). Title.
Location: Publisher.

Examples:

Goldin, C. D., & Katz, L. F. (2008). The race between education and
technology. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University
Press.

Matthews, G., Smith, Y., & Knowles, G. (2009). Disaster management

in archives, libraries and museums. Farnham, England: Ashgate.

Chapters in edited books:

When citing a chapter in an edited book, use the following format:

Structure for chapters in edited books in print:

Last name of chapter author, First initial. Middle initial. (Year

published). Chapter title. In First initial. Middle initial. Last name of
Editor (Ed.), Book title (pp. xx-xx). Publishing City, State:
Publisher.

Example:

De Abreu, B.S. (2001). The role of media literacy education within

social networking and the library. In D. E. Agosto & J. Abbas
(Eds.), Teens, libraries, and social networking (pp. 39-48). Santa
Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.

Structure for chapters in edited books, found online:

Last name of chapter author, First initial. Middle initial. (Year

published). Chapter title. In First initial. Last name of Editor (Ed.),
Book title E-reader version (pp. xx-xx) . Retrieved from http://xxxx

Include [Nook version], [Kindle version], or another type of e-reader or

digital format version in brackets directly after the book’s title. If you
did not use a special type of medium, omit this piece from your
reference.

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 15 of 26

Example:

Lobo, R. F. (2003). Introduction to the structural chemistry of zeolites.

In S. Auerbach, K. Carrado, & P. Dutta (Eds.), Handbook of zeolite
science and technology (pp. 65-89). Retrieved from
https://books.google.com

If you’re still unsure about how to cite a chapter in a book, use

Citation Machine’s free citation generator to help you. Your citations
will automatically format properly for you.

Full versions of E-books:

E-books are generally read either on a website, on an e-reader, or on
a database.

Structure:

Author Last Name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year Published). Title of
work [E-reader version]. http://dx.doi.org/xxxx or Retrieved from
http://xxxx

Example:

Auster, P. (2007). The Brooklyn follies [Nook version]. Retrieved from

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

To cite your ebooks automatically, use the “Book” form at

CitationMachine.com, click “Manual entry mode,” and click the “E-
book” tab. Everything will be properly formatted following APA
bibliography guidelines.

Journal articles in print:

Structure:

Author Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year Published). Title of
article. Title of Periodical, Volume(Issue), page range.

Example:

Gleditsch, N. P., Pinker, S., Thayer, B. A., Levy, J. S., & Thompson, W.
R. (2013). The forum: The decline of war. International Studies
Review, 15(3), 396-419.

Journal articles online:

• If your source is found online, but there is no DOI provided, you
can include the URL instead.
• A DOI (digital object identifier) is basically a number that links a
source to its location on the Internet. This number isn’t always
provided, but if it is, you should include it in your citation rather
than including a URL.
• Unlike previous editions, APA 6th edition does not require
including a retrieval date or date accessed for online sources. A
retrieval date is only necessary if the source is likely to change
(ex. Wikipedia).

Structure:

Author Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year Published). Title of
article. Title of Periodical, Volume(Issue), page range.
http://dx.doi.org/xxxx or Retrieved from URL if no DOI

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Example:

Burnell, K. J., Coleman, P. G., & Hunt, N. (2010). Coping with

traumatic memories: Second World War veterans’ experiences of
social support in relation to the narrative coherence of war
memories. Ageing and Society, 30(1), 57-78.
http://dx.doi.org.i.ezproxy.nypl.org/10.1017/S0144686X0999016X

If you need additional help, the Citation Machine APA reference

generator will cite your sources automatically for you.

Newspaper articles in print:

Structure:

Author's Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year, Month Day
Published). Title of article. Title of Newspaper, page range.

Example:

Frost, L. (2006, September 14). First passengers ride monster jet.

The Salt Lake Tribune, p. A2.

Page numbers: If the article is only one page long, use ‘p.’ For any
articles longer than one page, use ‘pp.’

• If an article appears on non-sequential pages, separate each

page number with a comma.
• Example: pp. D4, D5, D7-D8

Newspaper articles found online:

Structure:

Author Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year, Month Date
Published). Title of article. Title of Newspaper. Retrieved from
newspaper homepage URL

Example:

Whiteside, K. (2004, August 31). College athletes want cut of action.

USA Today. Retrieved http://www.usatoday.com

Magazine articles in print:

Structure:

Author Last Name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year, Month Published).
Title of article. Title of Magazine, Volume(Issue), page range.

Example:

Quammen, D. (2008, December). The man who wasn’t Darwin.

National Geographic Magazine, 214(6), 106.

Magazine articles found online:

• Magazine references include the full date, rather than just the
year.
• If the issue begins on page 1, include the issue number in
parentheses. If not, only include the volume number.

Structure:

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 17 of 26

Author Last Name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year, Month Published).
Title of article. Title of Magazine, Volume(Issue). Retrieved from
URL

Example:

Pelz, W. (2018, Winter). A basket of dreams for different times.

Fleurieu Living Magazine. Retrieved from
https://issuu.com/fleurieu-living/docs/flmwinter2018/a/126958

Websites:
If you’re wondering how to cite a website in APA, use the structure
below.

Structure:

Author Last Name, First initial. (Year, Month Date Published). Title of
webpage. Retrieved from URL

Example of an APA format website:

Austerlitz, S. (2015, March 3). How long can a spinoff like ‘Better Call
Saul’ last? Retrieved from http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-
long-can-a-spinoff-like-better-call-saul-last/

Keep in mind that not all information found on a website follows the
structure above. If you’re looking at a video on YouTube, refer to the
‘YouTube Video’ section. If you’re citing a newspaper article found
online, refer to ‘Newspapers Found Online’ section. An APA website
citation is strictly for web pages that do not fit better with one of the
other categories on this page.

Blogs:
APA format:

Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year, Month, Date of blog post).
Title of blog post [Blog post]. Retrieved from URL

Example:

McClintock Miller, S. (2014, January 28). EasyBib joins the Rainbow

Loom project as we dive into research with the third graders [Blog
post]. Retrieved from http://vanmeterlibraryvoice.blogspot.com

On the Citation Machine.com form for blogs, you have the option to
choose from standard, audio, and video blogs. The Citation
Machine.com APA generator will automatically cite blogs for you.

Images found online:

APA citation format:

Creator’s Last name. F. M. (Year published). Title of image [Format].

Retrieved from URL

In the brackets, describe the type of image to help the reader better
understand the source. Was it a [Painting], [Photograph], [Sculpture],
or [Drawing]? Believe it or not, even a [Meme] can be used in
research projects!

Example:

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 18 of 26

Chang, H. (2019). Young dancers perform the Blossoming Flowers

Chinese Folk Dance during the 2019 Colorado Chinese New Year
celebration at Citypoint Church in Denver [Photograph]. Retrieved
from https://www.denverpost.com/2019/02/05/chinese-new-year-
celebration-photos/

TV and radio broadcasts:

Structure:

Writer Last Name, First initial. Middle initial. (Writer), & Director Last
Name, First initial. (Director). (Year aired). Title of episode
[Television or Radio series episode]. In First initial. Producer’s Last
name (Executive producer), TV or Radio series name. City, State
of original channel: Channel.

Example:

Lin, K. (Writer), & Coles, J. D. (Director). (2014). Chapter 18

[Television series episode]. In Bays, C. (Executive producer),
House of cards. Washington, D.C.: Netflix.

If using the Citation Machine citation generator, television and radio

broadcasts use the same form.

Films:
Structure:

Producer Last Name, First initial. Middle initial. (Producer), & Director
Last Name, First initial. Middle initial. (Director). (Year Released).
Title of film [Motion picture]. Country of origin: Studio.

Example:

Kurtz, G. (Producer), & Kershner, I. (Director). (1980). The emperor

strikes back [Motion picture]. United States: 20th Century Fox.

There is the option to automatically cite films found online, in film, and
on a database when using the Citation Machine APA citation builder.

Interviews
It is highly recommended not to use personal (unpublished) interviews
in your reference list. Instead, this type of source should be formatted
as an in-text citation.

In-text citation APA example:

Structure: (Interviewee First initial., Last Name, personal

communication, Date Interviewed)

Example: (D. Halsey, personal communication, December 12, 2011)

Published Interviews should be cited accordingly if they appear as

journal articles, newspaper articles, television programs, radio
programs, or films.

If your instructor requires an APA style citation in the reference list,

use the following structure:

Structure:

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 19 of 26

Last Name, First initial. Middle initial. of Individual being interviewed

(Year, Month Day Interviewed). Interview by F. I. Last name
[Format of interview].

Example:

Halsey, D. (2011, December 12). Interview by S. L. Ferguson [In-

person].

If you are planning on using Citation Machine, a note is displayed

above the form stating that personal interviews are not typically cited
in text.

If, however, you’re using a published interview, rather than a personal

interview, follow the structure for the specific source type. For
example, if you read the interview in a magazine, use the magazine
structure. If you read it on a website, use the website structure. .

Songs & musical recordings

found online
*Note: If the name of the songwriter is the same as the name of the
recording artist, leave out the bracketed information located after the
name of the song.

Structure:

Last name, First initial. Middle initial. of Songwriter. (Year created).

Song title [Recorded by First initial. Middle initial. Last name of the
performer’s name or the name of the band]. On Album title
[Medium]. Retrieved from URL

Example:

Hedfors, A., Ingrosso, S., & Angello, S. (2012). Greyhound [Recorded

by Swedish House Mafia]. On Until now [Audio file]. Retrieved
from https://open.spotify.com/track/0VffaI2jwQknRrxpECYHsF

If using the APA Citation Machine, choose the form titled,

“Music/Audio,” to automatically cite your songs and musical
recordings. Our APA citation maker is free and easy to use.

Doctoral dissertations &

Master’s theses found on a
database:
APA format:

Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year published). Title of

dissertation or thesis (Doctoral dissertation or Master’s thesis).
Retrieved from Name of database. (Accession or Order No.
xxxxxxx).

Example:

English, L. S. (2014). The influences of community college library

characteristics on institutional graduation rates: A national study
(Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from American Doctoral
Dissertations. (37CDD15DF659E63F).

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If you found the dissertation or thesis on a website, instead of a

database, include the URL at the end of the reference. Do not include
the name of the website and the accession or order number.

Example:

Oba, M. (2015). Adsorption selectivity of cations in constrained

environments (Master’s thesis). Retrieved from
https://opencommons.uconn.edu/gs_theses/781/

The Citation Machine form for dissertations and theses that will
automatically cite this source type for you.

Audio podcasts:
Structure:

Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Producer). (Year, Month Day).
Title of podcast [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from URL

Example:

Goodwin, G. (Producer). (2016, February 11). History extra [Audio

podcast]. Retrieved from http://www.historyextra.com/podcasts

If using the Citation Machine APA format generator, choose the

“Blog/Podcast,” form to cite your podcasts automatically.

YouTube videos:
Structure:

Last name, First initial. Middle initial. [YouTube username]. (Year,

Month Day of posting). Title of YouTube video [Video file].
Retrieved from URL

APA format example:

Damien, M. [Marcelo Damien]. (2014, April 10). Tiesto @ Ultra

Buenos Aires 2014 (full set) [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://youtu.be/mr4TDnR0ScM

If using the Citation Machine APA citation machine, choose the form
titled, “Film” to automatically cite your YouTube videos.

Looking for a source type that is not on this guide? Here is another
useful link to follow
(http://www.swinburne.edu.au/library/referencing/apa-style-guide/) .

Social media:
Facebook posts:
Structure:

Facebook user’s Last name, F. M. (Year, Monday Day of Post). Full

text of Facebook post [Facebook status update]. Retrieved from
URL

Example:

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 21 of 26

Gomez, S. (2018, May 18). I am at a complete loss for words

watching yet another school shooting. This time in my home state
of Texas. Congress continues to do absolutely nothing and it’s
infuriating. My thoughts are with the families of Santa Fe who
were supposed to be looking forward to summer break with their
loved ones. Please reach out to Everytown for Gun Safety to see
what you can do to help be a part of this movement that needs to
get even louder [Facebook status update]. Retrieved from
https://www.facebook.com/Selena/

Twitter posts:
Structure:

Account holder’s Last name, F. M. [Twitter Handle]. (Year, Month Day

of Post). Full text of tweet [Tweet]. Retrieved from URL

If the account holder’s real name is unknown, only include the Twitter
handle at the beginning of the reference, without any brackets.

Example:

Edelman, J. [Edelman11]. (2018, April 26). Nine years ago today my

life changed forever. New England took a chance on a long shot
and I’ve worked relentlessly ever since to prove that it was the
right decision. Good luck to all the 2018 prospects. #Tbt
#NFLDraft [Tweet]. Retrieved from
https://twitter.com/Edelman11/status/989652345922473985

Instagram posts:
APA citation format:

Account holder’s Last name, F. M. [@Instagram handle]. (Year, Month

Day). Caption [Instagram photo]. Retrieved from URL

Example:

Portman, N. [@natalieportman]. (2019, January 5). Many of my best

experiences last year were getting to listen to and learn from so
many incredible people through Time’s Up. But we’ve only just
begun. Here’s to continued meaningful change in 2019.
@timesupnow #timesup [Instagram photo]. Retrieved from
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsRD-FBB8HI/?
utmsource=igwebcopylink

If this guide hasn’t helped solve all of your referencing questions, or if

you’re still feeling the need to type “how to cite a website APA” into
Google, then check out our APA citation generator on
CitationMachine.com, which can build your references for you!

Annotated bibliographies:
An APA annotated bibliography is a bibliography that includes the full
reference citations in addition to a small paragraph containing your
evaluation about each source. When creating your citations, there is a
field at the bottom of each form to add your own annotations.

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 22 of 26

These types of projects look different depending on the style you’re

using. Use the link at the top of the page to access resources related
to the Modern Language Association’s style. Here’s information
related to Chicago citation style
(http://www.citationmachine.net/chicago) .

Page formatting
Need help with the design and formatting of your paper? Look no
further! This section provides the ins and outs of properly displaying
the information in your APA essay.

• Font = The preference is Times New Roman, 12-point size.

Your professor may allow you to choose a different font that is
easy to read, such as Arial.
• Indents = Every paragraph should start with an indent.
• Margins = 1 inch around the entire document
• Spacing = Double space everything!

Arrange your pages in this order:

• Page 1 - APA Title Page (see below for information on the title
page)
• Page 2 - Abstract (If your professor requests one)
• Page 3 - First page of text
• References begin on their own page. Include the list of
references on the page after the text.
• Tables
• Figures

Keep in mind that the order above is the recommendation for papers
being submitted for peer review. If you’re writing a paper for a class,
your professor may be more lenient about the requirements. Also, if
you’re submitting your paper for a specific journal, check the
requirements on the journal’s website. Each journal has different rules
and procedures.

Just a little nudge to remind you about the Citation Machine Plus
smart proofreader. Whether it’s a conjunction
(https://www.citationmachine.net/grammar-and-
plagiarism/conjunction/) or interjection
(https://www.citationmachine.net/grammar-and-
plagiarism/interjection/) out of place, a misspelled word, or an out of
place citation, we’ll offer suggestions for improvement! Don’t forget to
check out our APA citation maker while you’re at it!

Running heads
The running head displays the title of the paper and the page number.
This header is found on every page of the paper or essay, even on
the title page (sometimes called an APA cover page) and reference
list.

The first page of the APA style paper, the title page, has a different
running head than the other pages. On the APA title page only, the
running head begins with ‘Running head:’ It’s followed by the full title,
all in capital letters. Across from the running head, along the right
margin, is the page number.

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 23 of 26

• Use the header feature in your word processor. Both Google

Docs and Word have these features available.
• Use Times New Roman font
• Keep the font at 12-pt. size

Here’s an example:

Only show the term, Running head, on the very first page. For all
other pages in the project, only include the title in capital letters.

Title Pages:
A title page, sometimes called an APA cover page, graces the cover of
an essay or paper. An APA title page should include the following
things:

1. The running head

2. The page number, which is page 1
3. The title of your project
◦ The title should be under 12 words in length
◦ The title should be a direct explanation of the focus of
the paper. Do not include any unnecessary descriptors
such as “An Analysis of…” or “A Study of…”
4. Names of the authors
◦ Exclude any labels such as Mr., Ms., Dr, PhD...
5. The name of the school or institution

Follow the directions for the running head and page number in the
section above. Below the running head, a few lines beneath, and
centered in the middle of the page, should be the title. The next line
below is the author’s name(s), followed by the name of the school or
institution.

Your teacher may request other information, such as the class name
and course number, or your contact information.

All components on this page should be written in Times New Roman,

12-pt. font. In addition, the title should be written without any
underlines, bold font, or italics. Also, capitalize the first letter in most
words. Double space the title, names, and name of school or
institution.

Example - Title Page APA:

If you’re submitting your paper to a journal for publication, check the

journal’s website for exact requirements. Each journal is different and
some may request a different type of APA format cover page.

Looking to create an APA format title page? Head to

CitationMachine.com’s homepage and choose “Title Page” at the top
of the screen.

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 24 of 26

Tables
If your paper includes a lot of numerical information or data, you may
want to consider placing it into a table, rather than typing it all out. A
simple, organized table filled with numerical data is often easier for
readers to digest and comprehend than tons of paragraphs filled with
numbers.

If you’d like to include a table in your paper, here are a few key pieces
of information to keep in mind:

• Each table sits on its own page, in the back of the paper after
the APA reference page.
• The table first mentioned in the text should be titled ‘Table 1.’
The next table mentioned in the text is ‘Table 2,’ and so on.

• Even though each table is numbered, also create a title for

each that describes the information it contains. Capitalize all
important words in the title.
• Do not use any vertical lines, only horizontal to break up
information and headings.
• Single spacing is acceptable to use in tables. If you prefer
double spacing your information, that is okay too.
• Do not include extra information or “fluff.” Keep it simple!
• Do not include the same exact information in the paper. Only
include the complete information in one area—the table or the
text.
• All tables must be referenced in the text. It is unacceptable to
throw a table into the back of the paper without first providing a
brief summary or explanation of its relevance.

If you’re still typing into Google “how to cite a website APA” among
other related questions and keywords, click here for further reading on
the style (http://www.apastyle.org/about-apa-style.aspx) .

When you’re through with your writing, toss your entire paper into the
Citation Machine Plus plagiarism checker
(https://www.citationmachine.net/grammar-and-plagiarism/) , which
will scan your paper for grammar edits and give you up to 20
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(https://www.citationmachine.net/grammar-and-
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plagiarism/preposition/) , or adverb
(https://www.citationmachine.net/grammar-and-plagiarism/adverb/)
out of place and focus on your research!

What am I Citing?

BOOK MAGAZINE

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 25 of 26

A written work A popular work

or composition published
found in print, periodically
or digitally as (weekly,
an e-book. monthly etc.)
Can be non- focusing on a
fiction or specific
fiction. interest or
subject.

(/apa/cite-a-book/manual) (/apa/cite-a-
magazine/manual)

NEWSPAPER WEBSITE
A periodical A collection of
publication pages that
containing provides
current events, information
news, about a certain
interviews and topic.
opinion
articles.

(/apa/cite-a- (/apa/cite-a-website/manual)
newspaper/manual)

JOURNAL
A scholarly
work published
periodically,
containing
highly
specified
research.

(/apa/cite-a-journal/manual)

FILM
A motion
picture or
movie. Can be
a fictional

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Easy to Use APA Citation Generator & APA Format Guide Page 26 of 26

movie,
documentary
or even
YouTube
videos.

(/apa/cite-a-film/manual)

Find out more about the apa format (/apa/cite-a-book)

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