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There are a number of special style concerns for citing electronic sources inAPAformat. Electronic sources such as online periodicals, ebooks, websites, and message boards all have unique formatting requirements, not to mention YouTube videos, podcasts, Facebook posts, and tweets.

Always keep track of the electronic sources you refer to as you are researching a topic and collecting references. It is important to note the exact URL link or web address for any electronic source you use. This article will show examples of citations from a variety of electronic sources.

Things to Know Before You Start

A few mentionables before we dive in:

Type of Source:

Date of Publication:

Retrieval Date:

DOI or URL:

Proper APA Format for Electronic Sources

The following examples can help you prepare your electronic references inproper APA format.

Online Periodicals and Journal Articles

Online periodicals and journal articles should be cited exactly like printed journal articles, with the addition of the DOI link (if there is one) at the end of the citation. If there is no DOI then include the URL. The basic structure is as follows:

For example:

Articles Retrieved From a Database

Articles that are retrieved from online databases (such as PubMed, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and Scopus) are formatted similarly to an online or printed journal with one exception. If there is a DOI number, include it at the end of the citation; however, if there is no DOI, then do not include the URL in its place. According to the APA Publication Manual, it is not necessary to include the database information or the URL in the citation since the URL information may change over time creating a dead link.

Example from PubMed with DOI:

Example from PubMed without DOI, URL not included:

Website or webpage

When you search the web from your internet browser, you may decide to use a website or webpage as one of your sources of information. Examples include Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), Johns Hopkins Medicine, the Cleveland Clinic, and so on. Whether it is a university, a foundation, or a government organization, you will use the following format:

News

There are a number of news websites such as BBC, Huffpost, NPR, Reuters, Guardian, and Vox. These news organizations that have their articles published on the internet (and not in print), will be referenced in the same format as other websites as mentioned above.

However, some news publications can be found onlineand in print, such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Newsweek Magazine. In these cases, the name of thepublishing organizationis in italics instead of the title of the article.

Online Guides, Government Reports, Fact Sheets

Citations for business reports, technical guides, and government reports that are published on the web require that you place the report number or publication number in parentheses after the title of the report. The basic format is as follows.

Electronic Version of a Book

In this modern age, books are being published electronically in various formats such as ebooks, audiobooks, kindle books, and pdf versions you can download. You can “check out” ebooks from the library and you may be using free online college textbooks from open educational resources (OER).

Nevertheless, your citation will have the same nuances as a typicalprinted book referenceexcept that you include the DOI or URL at the end of the citation. The basic structure is as follows:

Exception to the Rule:Youonly have toindicate that it is an electronic book if the text of the online book is different from the print version of the book (edited, abridged, etc). In that case, after the title of the book, indicate in brackets if it is a special format such as a Kindle, an audiobook, or another type of ebook format. The basic structure is as follows:

Online Forums, Discussion Lists, Blogs, or Newsgroups

To copy the URL of the comment itself (rather than the URL of the whole post), click the share button or select the date stamp of the comment and then copy that specific URL.

Tweets, Instagrams, TikTok Posts

Similar to blogs and forums, there are a number of ways to communicate through social media including Twitter, FaceBook, TikTok, and so on. If it is a general post and not a personal communication, you will list it as a source in your references. Here are a few things to know:

The first 20 words of a post may include emojis, hashtags, and other URLs. These should be included in the ‘title,’ and each counts as one word. Although the title is formatted in italics, do not italicize the emojis.

More Tips for Citing Electronic Sources

Interviews and emails should not be included on your References page, although they should be cited in the text aspersonal communication.

The APA also provides information on the preferred spelling of several electronic terms, including the following:

A Word From Verywell

Getting the hang of APA format can sometimes be a struggle, but it is well worth the investment. Electronic sources require special consideration as the format of your references may be different depending on where you found the information.

Utilize this guide as a start, but always be sure to check your work against the guidelines issued in the most current edition of the APA Publication Manual.

How to Cite Videos in APA Format

SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Seventh Edition; 2020.

Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Seventh Edition; 2020.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Psychological Association.Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Seventh Edition; 2020.

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