Library Hours for
More Library hours
APA Online Sources
Examples are based on the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition, and assistance provided by APA editorial staff. When available, APA rule numbers are referenced.
Related Pages
Summary Handout
Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs)
A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is a unique number assigned to some journal
articles and books available electronically. Magazine and newspaper articles are
not assigned DOIs. APA requires citations for journals and books to include a
DOI, if it is available. Find the DOI on the article or look up the DOI with the
author name and article title at:
http://www.crossref.org/guestquery/
Many articles in research databases are identical to their print version, so it is not necessary to provide database information. However, if an article can only be found in a database, then include the database URL.
Research Database Sources
Journal article
Multiple Authors
List up to seven authors. For more than seven authors, list the first six authors, then use an ellipsis (...) and the last author listed.
Journal with continuous pagination
The page numbers in one issue begin where the previous issue left off, so you do not need to include the issue number.
Example
Pfeffer, M. A., Burdmann, E. A., Chen, C. Y., Cooper, M. E., de Zeeuw, D., Eckardt, K. U., … Toto, R. (2009). A trial of darbepoetin alfa in type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 361, 2019-2032. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa0907845
Smeaton, G. L., & Josiam, B. M. (1998). College students' binge drinking at beach-front destination during spring break. Journal of American College Health, 46, 247-251. doi:10.1080/07448489809596000
Parts of citation
Name of author. (Year of publication). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume number, page range. doi:xxxx (if available)
Journal with non-continuous pagination
Each issue begins on page 1, so you must include both volume and issue number.
Example
Frank, T. H. (1995). The interpretation of limits: Doctors and novelists in the fiction of Philip Roth. Journal of Popular Culture, 8(4), 67-80.
Parts of citation
Name of author. (Year of publication). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume number(issue number), page range. doi:xxxx (if available).
APA Manual 7.01 #1-5 (pp. 198-199)
Magazine article
Examples
Magnets that move moods: New treatment for depression. (2002, June 24). Newsweek, 139(25), 57.
Padget, T., & Desvarieux, J. (2010, March 8). Hope for Haiti’s kids. Time, 175(9), 36.
Parts of citation
Name of author. (Date of publication). Title of article. Title of Magazine, volume number(issue number), page range.
APA Manual 7.01 #8 (pp. 200)
Newspaper article or newswire
Examples
Glauber, B. (1998, February 14). American college students aren't in a class by themselves on drinking. The Dallas Morning News, p. C11.
Parts of citation
Name of author. (Date of publication). Title of article. Name of Newspaper, page range.
APA Manual 7.01 #11 (pp. 200-201)
Encyclopedia article
Examples
Nordenson, N. & Odle, T. (2006). Blood sugar tests. In Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. (3rd ed., Vol. 1). Retrieved from http://www.gale.cengage.com/gvrl/
Zoologist. (2008). In A-Z of Careers & Jobs. (15th ed.). Retrieved from http://www.gale.cengage.com/gvrl/
Parts of citation
Name of author. (Year of publication). Title of entry. In Name of encyclopedia. (Edition number, Volume number). Retrieved from database URL
APA Manual 7.02 (p. 202)
Dictionary definition
Example
Abate, F. (1999). Renaissance. In The Oxford American dictionary of current English. New York: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://www.oxfordreference.com/
Parts of citation
Name of Editor. (Year of publication). Title of entry. In Name of dictionary. (Edition number, Volume number). Retrieved from database URL
APA Manual 7.02 #27,29 (pp. 204, 205)
Ebook
Example
Papadopoulos, A., & La Fontaine, J. (2000). Elder abuse: Therapeutic perspectives in practice. Retrieved from http://netlibrary.com/
Parts of citation
Name of author. (Year of publication). Title of book. Retrieved from database URL
APA Manual 7.02 #19 (p. 203)
Article or chapter in an edited book
Example
Leeper, B. (2006). Cardiovascular system. In M. Chulay & S.M. Burns (Eds.). AACN essentials of critical care nursing. Retrieved from http://online.statref.com/
Mallory, E. (1997). Alcohol abuse is a serious problem among college students. In P. A. Winters (Ed.), Current controversies: Teen addiction. Retrieved from http://www.gale.cengage.com/OpposingViewpoints/
Parts of citation
Name of author. (Year of publication). Title of article. Name of editor, Title of book. Retrieved from database URL.
APA Manual 7.02 #24 (p. 204)
Articles only available in databases
TIP: LCC research databases which would follow this format include CultureGrams, Issues and Controversies, Today’s Science, ERIC, Science Online, Vocational Biographies, and World Geography.
Example
Lamoureux, F. (2010). Indonesia: Traditions and etiquette. In World Geography. Retrieved from http://www.worldgeography.abc-clio.com
Reid, N. C., & Williams, R. G. (2008). Coast type. In Encyclopedia of marine science. Retrieved from http://www.fofweb.com/
Parts of citation
Name of author. (Date of publication). Title of article. In Title of book/database. Retrieved from database URL.
APA Manual 7.02 #24 (p. 204)
Internet Sources
General Guidelines
When possible your citation should include:
- author
- date of publication or update (use n.d. if not available)
- web page or document title
- website URL
TIP: When a URL is longer than one line, make a break after a slash or before a period. When there is no author, begin a reference with the title of the webpage.
Page or document from a website
TIP: When no date is available, use (n. d.)
Example
Hopson, K. (2007, January 4). Mott Children's Hospital ranked top children's hospital in state by Child Magazine. University of Michigan Health System. Retrieved from http://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/ 2007/childmag.aspx
Kane, E. (1999). Dendroica kirtlandii. Retrieved from http:// animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/
Parts of citation
Name of author. (Publication date) Title of the page. Website title. Retrieved from Article URL
APA Manual 7.01 #8,11 (p. 200) 7.11 (p. 215)
Government publication
Examples
United States. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. (2002). Creative partnerships: Supporting youth, building communities. (Publication No. J36.2:IN6/P25). Retrieved from http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS24105
United States. Department of Health and Human Services. (2002, April 9). The NHSDA report: Binge drinking among underage persons. Retrieved from http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k2/AlcBinge/AlcBinge.cfm
Parts of citation
Sponsoring agency. (Date of publication). Publication title. (Publication Number). Retrieved from Publication URL
APA Manual 7.03 #31 (p. 205)
Journal article
Example
Gugajew, S. (2008). A method to the creative madness. Journal of Integrated Marketing Communications, 7, 12-18. Retrieved from http://jimc.medill.northwestern.edu/ JIMCWebsite/site.htm
Parts of citation
Name of author. (Year of publication). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume number(issue number), page range. doi:xxxx (if not available, include journal URL).
APA Manual 7.01 #8 (p. 200)
Magazine article
Example
Gleach, F. W. (2006, November). The ritual world of Pocahontas. Natural History. Retrieved from http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/1106/1106_feature.aspx
Parts of citation
Name of author. (Publication date). Title of article. Title of Magazine Website, volume number(issue number). Retrieved from Article URL
APA Manual 7.01 #8 (p. 200)
Encyclopedia article
If the entry has no author listed, place the title in author position.
Examples
Righelato, P. (2006, October 1). Daisy Miller. In The literary encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://www.litencyc.com/php/ftsearch.php
Mickey Mouse. (2006, November 26). In Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Mouse
Parts of citation
Author of article. (Publication date). Title of article. In Title of encyclopedia. Retrieved from Article URL
APA Manual 7.02 #29 (p. 205)
Newspaper article or newswire
Example
Carr, C. (2006, November 19). Computer support technicians who play well with others. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/
Maxell, C. (2007, June 11). Community college. The State News. Retrieved from http://www.statenews.com/ article.phtml?pk=41319
Parts of citation
Name of author. (Publication date). Title of article. Title of Newspaper Website. Retrieved from Article URL
APA Manual 7.01 #11 (p. 200)
Personal communications such as email are not cited in the references list, only in text.
APA Manual 6.20 (p. 179)
Discussion list
Personal communications such as discussion groups are not cited in the references list, only in text.
APA Manual 6.20 (p. 179)
Blog
Example
Farkas, M. (2006, November 1). Firefox 2 is my new best friend. Information wants to be free. Retrieved from http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php
Parts of citation
Author of blog entry. (Date of blog entry). Title of blog entry. Title of blog. Retrieved from Blog URL
APA Manual 7.11 #76 (p. 215)
Radio program
Example
Keillor, G. (Host). (2006, November 18). A prairie home companion. [Radio broadcast]. Washington, DC: National Public Radio. Retrieved from http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/ 2006/11/18/index.shtml
Parts of citation
Name of originator or primary producer. (Function of originator or primary producer). (Date of broadcast). Name of radio program. [Radio broadcast]. City where distributor is located, State: Name of Distributor. Retrieved from Website URL
APA Manual 7.07 #89 (p. 279)
Podcast
Example
Allington, A. (Producer). (2006, November 20). Invasive reeds help treat wastewater. The environment report. Podcast retrieved from http://www.glrc.org/mp3/2006/11/20/allington_112006.mp3
Parts of citation
Name of author, host or producer. (Function of author, host or producer). (Podcast release date). Title of podcast. Title of program. Podcast retrieved from Podcast URL
APA Manual 7.07 #50 (p. 210)
Sound recording
Example
Blakey, A. (1964). The Egyptian. Indestructible. Blue Note. [Sound recording]. Retrieved from http://bluenote.com/detail.asp?SelectionID=10257
Parts of citation
Name of composer or performer. (Recording release date). Title of individual work. Title of recording from which work comes. [Sound recording]. Retrieved from Recording URL
APA Manual 7.07 #50, 52 (p. 210)
Television broadcast (webcast)
Example
Dentzer, S. (Host). (2006, November 29). Gene map of brain offers hope for Alzheimer's, autism. The news hour with Jim Lehrer. [Webcast]. Arlington, VA: PBS. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/ bb/health/july-dec06/brain_11-29.aspx
Parts of citation
Name of author, performer, or other relevant individual(s). (Function of author, performer, or other relevant individuals). (Broadcast date). Title of webcast. Title of program. [Webcast]. City where distributor is located, State: Name of distributor. Retrieved from Webcast URL
APA Manual 7.07 #50, 51 (p. 210)
Interview
Example
Bateman, C. (2003, May). A conversation with Margaret Atwood. Bold Type. Retrieved from http://www.randomhouse.com/boldtype/0503/atwood/interview.aspx
Parts of citation
Name of interviewer. (Interview date). Title of interview. Title of website. Retrieved from Interview URL
APA Manual 7.01 #8, 11 (p. 200)
