The American Psychological Association (APA) style is a widely used citation format in social sciences, education, and business. It provides a comprehensive guideline for formatting and citing sources, ensuring clarity and consistency in academic writing. Here are 8 APA examples for easy citation, covering various source types:
APA Citation Basics
APA style emphasizes the importance of proper citation to avoid plagiarism and give credit to original authors. The format typically includes the author’s last name, publication year, title, and publication information. The following examples illustrate how to cite different sources in APA style:
Book Citation
A book citation in APA style includes the author’s last name, first initial, publication year, book title, and publication information. For example:
Author, A. A. (Year). Book title. Publisher.
Example: Smith, J. (2020). The effects of climate change. New York: Routledge.
Journal Article Citation
A journal article citation includes the author’s last name, first initial, publication year, article title, journal title, volume, issue, and page numbers. For example:
Author, A. A. (Year). Article title. Journal Title, Volume(Issue), pp-pp.
Example: Johnson, K. (2022). The impact of social media on mental health. Journal of Psychology, 30(1), 12-20.
Newspaper Article Citation
A newspaper article citation includes the author’s last name, first initial, publication year, article title, newspaper title, and page numbers. For example:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Article title. Newspaper Title, pp-pp.
Example: Williams, P. (2022, February 10). The benefits of meditation. The New York Times, A1-A3.
Website Citation
A website citation includes the author’s last name, first initial, publication year, page title, website title, and retrieval URL. For example:
Author, A. A. (Year). Page title. Website Title. Retrieved from https://www.website.com
Example: Brown, T. (2020). What is APA style? American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org
Thesis or Dissertation Citation
A thesis or dissertation citation includes the author’s last name, first initial, publication year, title, institution, and publication number. For example:
Author, A. A. (Year). Thesis title (Doctoral dissertation). Institution, Publication Number.
Example: Lee, S. (2020). The effects of exercise on mental health (Doctoral dissertation). Harvard University, 1234567.
Conference Presentation Citation
A conference presentation citation includes the author’s last name, first initial, publication year, presentation title, conference title, and location. For example:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month). Presentation title. Conference Title, Location.
Example: Kim, J. (2022, June). The impact of artificial intelligence on education. International Conference on Education, New York.
Interview Citation
An interview citation includes the interviewee’s last name, first initial, interview year, and interview title. For example:
Interviewee, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Interview title [Interview transcript].
Example: Davis, R. (2022, March 15). The future of technology [Interview transcript].
Government Report Citation
A government report citation includes the author’s last name, first initial, publication year, report title, and publication information. For example:
Author, A. A. (Year). Report title (Report No. XXX). Publisher.
Example: United States Department of Education. (2020). The state of education (Report No. 1234). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
| Source Type | APA Citation Example |
|---|---|
| Book | Author, A. A. (Year). Book title. Publisher. |
| Journal Article | Author, A. A. (Year). Article title. Journal Title, Volume(Issue), pp-pp. |
| Newspaper Article | Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Article title. Newspaper Title, pp-pp. |
| Website | Author, A. A. (Year). Page title. Website Title. Retrieved from |
| Thesis or Dissertation | Author, A. A. (Year). Thesis title (Doctoral dissertation). Institution, Publication Number. |
| Conference Presentation | Author, A. A. (Year, Month). Presentation title. Conference Title, Location. |
| Interview | Interviewee, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Interview title [Interview transcript]. |
| Government Report | Author, A. A. (Year). Report title (Report No. XXX). Publisher. |
What is the purpose of APA style?
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The purpose of APA style is to provide a comprehensive guideline for formatting and citing sources, ensuring clarity and consistency in academic writing.
How do I cite a book in APA style?
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To cite a book in APA style, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year, book title, and publication information. For example: Author, A. A. (Year). Book title. Publisher.
What is the difference between a reference and a citation?
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A reference is a source that is listed in the reference list, while a citation is an in-text reference to a source. In APA style, citations are used to credit the original author and provide a reference to the full source in the reference list.
How do I cite a website in APA style?
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To cite a website in APA style, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year, page title, website title, and retrieval URL. For example: Author, A. A. (Year). Page title. Website Title. Retrieved from https://www.website.com
Can I use APA style for non-academic writing?
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While APA style is primarily used in academic writing, it can also be used in non-academic writing, such as business reports or technical writing, to provide clarity and consistency in formatting and citation.
