Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

FAQs

Close

APA formatestablishes a number of clear rules for how to list reference works using author information. How you reference different sources varies depending on the number of authors to whom the source is attributed. For example, the way that you reference a single author will differ somewhat from how you reference a source with multiple authors.

Before you create a reference section for a psychology paper, it is important to know how to properly list books, articles, and other sources as well as in-text citations in APA format. The following guidelines can help you prepare a reference section for your APA format paper.

These guidelines are sometimes referred to as APA 7 since the guidebook for APA formatting is thePublication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition.

Journal

Book

For in-text citations or those referenced within the body of the text, you will also use the title, either in quotation marks (for articles) or in italics (for books). For example:

Single-author in-text citations should include the surname and the date of publication in parentheses. For example:

If you cite different authors with the same last name, include the first initial in your in-text citations to distinguish them. For example:

The APA format for multiple authors varies depending on how many authors a publication has.

For example:

After the authors and date are listed, the rules are the same as for single authors. For example:

Whether citing a source with three, five, seven, or 20 authors, the APA format is the same.

You can read more about a few different aspects of referencing sources in APA format if you havebook references,article references, andelectronic sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite an author with two last names?

If an author has two surnames (with or without hyphens), include them both exactly as it is published in the book or journal. For example:

How do I cite an author with a particle before their name?

If the surname begins with a particle such asde, de la, der, van, von), include it with the surname. For example:

How do I cite an author with a suffix at the end of their name?

Suffixes (example: Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.) should be included with the author’s surname on the References list. However, suffixes arenotincluded along with the surname in the in-text citation. A simple last name with the year will suffice. For example, an author with the name of John J. Williams Jr will look like:

How do I cite an author listed as “anonymous”?

Anonymous. (2024).Journey through the mindfield. Brainy Publishers.

How do I cite a website with no author in APA format?

How do I cite a publication with no author in APA format?

APA Format Guidelines, Tips, and Examples

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(7th ed.). Washington DC: The American Psychological Association; 2019.

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?