APA Citation Guide 6th Ed
APA Citation Guide 6th Ed
APA Citation Guide 6th Ed
A guide from the Landmark College Library, updated for the 6th edition (©2010)
American Psychological Association’s Style of citing sources
Usually used in social and behavioral sciences papers (such as psychology papers)
Explained fully in The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th
Edition. (You can ask for this manual at the Front Desk for use in the Library.)
Table of Contents
Page Topic
2 References List
2 Indenting, How to
Books:
2 Basic Citation Format
3 DSM-5: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th ed.
3 Essays or Chapters in an Edited Book
3 Essays Reprinted from Another Source (e.g., in Anthologies and Coursepacks)
4 eBooks
4 Audiobooks
4 Encyclopedias
5 Periodicals:
5 Differences between Magazines and Journals
5 Basic Citation Format
5 Magazine Articles
5 Journal Articles
6 Newspaper Articles
7 Online Database Articles
8 Online Database Abstracts
Specific Library Resources:
9 CQ Researcher Articles
10 Annual Editions Articles
11 Web Pages
12 Videos
13 Images
14 Same Author, Different Works
15 In-Text Citations
15 Paraphrasing:
16 Website
16 Citing a source cited in your source
17 Quoting: Overview
17 Websites/Webpage
17 Online Database Articles
18 Long quotes
19 Quoting a source more than once within a paragraph
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References List
A References List is the list of the sources you used to write your paper. Place this list at the end of your
paper on its own page(s).
Indenting
Indent the second and subsequent lines of each citation. Use a hanging indent to indent this way.
Here’s how:
1. Place your cursor at the beginning of the second line of your citation.
2. Click on the bottom triangle (not the rectangle!) of the ruler near the top of the screen.
3. Drag the bottom triangle to the half-inch mark (see below):
Books
Basic Format for Books
Last name, First Initial. (Year). Book title: Subtitle. (Edition) [if other than the 1st].
Place: Publisher.
One Author
Brader, T. (2006). Campaigning for hearts and minds: How emotional appeals in political
ads work. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
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Two Authors
Elder, L. & Paul, R. (2006).The miniature guide to the art of asking essential questions. Dillon
Beach, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking.
Three Authors
Miller, T. E., Bender, B. E., & Schuh, J. H. (2005). Promoting reasonable expectations: Aligning
student and institutional views of the college experience. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-
Bass.
Milgram, S. (2007). The perils of obedience. In W. F. Schulz (Ed.), The phenomenon of torture:
Readings and commentary (pp. 110-119). Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania
Press. (Reprinted from Harper’s, December 6, 1973, 246, 62-66, 75-77)
(Milgram, 2007/1973)
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eBook from eBook Academic Collection (EBSCOhost)
Author's Last name. First Initial. (Year). Book title. Retrieved from home_page_URL
eBook on a Kindle
Author's Last name. First Initial. (Year). Book title. [e-reader device name]. Retrieved from
home_page_URL
Silberman, S. (2015). Neurotribes: The legacy of autism and the future of neurodiversity. [Kindle
ebook]. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com
Audiobook on CD
Author's Last name. First Initial. (Year). Book title [Format]. Place: Publisher.
Eide, B. E. & Eide, F. F. (2011). The dyslexic advantage: Unlocking the hidden potential of the
dyslexic brain [CD audiobook]. Old Saybrook, CT: Tantor Audio.
Eide, B. E. & Eide, F. F. (2011). The dyslexic advantage: Unlocking the hidden potential of the
dyslexic brain [Audible audiobook]. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com
If no author is given for the entry, place the title in the author position.
You do not need to include an edition statement if the encyclopedia is a first edition; otherwise
write editions like “2nd ed.” or “Rev. ed.”
Melznack, R. (2010). Pain theories. In I. B. Weiner & W. E. Craighead (Eds.), The Corsini
encyclopedia of psychology. (4th ed., Vol. 3, pp. 1139-1141). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Use the entry URL for online encyclopedias everyone can access.
Use homepage URL for subscription online encyclopedias, such as from your library.
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Aubrey, S. (2012). Persepolis. In B. Beaty & S. Weiner (Eds.), Critical survey of graphic novels:
Independents and underground classics. Retrieved from http://online.salempress.com
Periodicals
What’s the difference between magazines and journals?
Magazines Journals
Last name, First Initial. (Year, Month* Day). Article title. Magazine/Journal/Newspaper
Title. Volume number(Issue number**), Page numbers, inclusive (the page
numbers of the entire article).
*Abbreviate months to the first three letters except for May, June, and July (e.g., Sep.).
**You only need the issue number for journals in which each issue is paged separately.
Newspaper Article, Anonymous Author (use p. or pp. for page numbers of print
newspaper articles)
Religious leaders protest House immigration bill. (2006, Apr. 11). The Keene Sentinel,
p. 2.
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Articles from Online Databases
Journal, Magazine, or Newspaper Article from an Online Database
The 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association has simplified the
process for citing articles from online databases.
Cite only the home page URL (the part ending in .com or .org):
http://find.galegroup.com
Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Day). Article title.
Magazine/Journal/Newspaper Title, Volume number(Issue number), Page
numbers. Retrieved from URL of database home page
Many databases provide APA-style citations for you. Look for words like “Citation” or “Cite” near
options to print and save.
Caution! Most of the time, these auto-generated citations are not in the perfect format. They
usually capitalize all words in a title for example, among other errors. Go ahead and use these auto-
generated citations, but check them with this guide and edit them as needed.
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Abstract from an Online Database
Follow the appropriate citation format (journal, magazine, or newspaper).
Then after the page numbers, add the following information:
Cite only the home page URL (the part ending in .com or .org):
http://find.galegroup.com
Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Day). Article title.
Magazine/Journal/Newspaper Title, Volume number(Issue number), Page
numbers. Abstract retrieved from URL of database homepage
Haddad, A. D. M., Umoh, G., Bhatia, V. & Robertson, M. M. (2009). Adults with Tourette's
syndrome with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Acta Psychiatrica
Scandinavica, 10(4), 299-308. Abstract retrieved from http://find.galegroup.com
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CQ Researcher Articles
Articles from the online version of the CQ Researcher are cited as if they are an online version of a
magazine article. You can access the full citation of the article by simply clicking the Cite Now button
at the top of the first page.
Please note: CQ Researcher still cites their articles in the style of the older, 5th edition of APA Style,
which is usually still legitimate. If you (or your professor) need or prefer the 6th edition way of citing,
then use the example at the bottom of this page: “Basic Format for a CQ Researcher Article.”
The citation will appear in a separate window from which you may copy and paste the citation directly
into your bibliography.
If you prefer to construct the citation on your own in 6th edition APA style, here’s how:
Last name, First Initial. (Year, Month Day). Article title. The CQ Researcher, Volume
number, Page numbers. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com
Therefore, your citation must show that you got the article from Annual Editions and that the article
originally appeared elsewhere in a magazine, journal or newspaper. You treat these articles like the
“Essays reprinted from another source (e.g. essays in an anthology or coursepack)” from page 4 of this
guide.
Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Article title. In Editor’s First Initial Last Name
(Ed.), Annual Editions: Volume title (pp. # - #). Guilford, CT:
Dushkin/McGraw-Hill. (Reprinted from Magazine/Journal/Newspaper Title,
pp. # - #, Year, Month Day)
Specific Example
Underwood, A. & Adler, J. (2006). Diet and genes. In D. Klimis-Zacas (Ed.), Annual
Editions: Nutrition (pp. 63-65). Guilford, CT: Dushkin/McGraw-Hill. (Reprinted
from Newsweek, pp. 40-48, 2005, Jan. 17)
Editor(s): Listed on the title page in the front of the Annual Editions volume.
Reprint info: Listed at the bottom of the first page of the article.
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Websites & Web Pages
Entire Websites
To cite an entire website, just give its name and URL in the text of your paper. Don't cite it in
the References List at the end.
Specific Example
LD Online is a great place to start for information on learning disabilities and ADHD
(http://www.ldonline.org).
Author: Look at the top and bottom of the page to see if an author is listed. If none is, then
start the citation the page name, followed by the date.
Date: Look at the top and bottom of the page for a date. If none is listed, list the date as "(n.d.)."
If just a year is listed, list only the year. Abbreviate months to the first three letters except for
May, June, and July (e.g., Sep.).
Special formats: For information about how to cite specific types of web pages such as blog
posts, tweets, and Facebook posts, visit this helpful page from the APA Style Blog:
http://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2010/11/how-to-cite-something-you-found-on-a-website-in-
apa-style.html
Title or description of page. (Year, Month Day web page was last updated). Retrieved from
URL (address of web page)
Specific Example
Dyslexia and the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. (2012).
Retrieved from http://www.ldonline.org/article/Dyslexia_and_the_DSM-
5_%28Diagnostic_and_Statistical_Manual_of_Mental_Disorders%29
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Videos
Basic Format for a YouTube Video
Author's last name, First Initial [Screen name]. (Year, month day of upload). Title of video [Video
file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/xxxxxx
Greenland, B. [bryangreenland]. (2012, Jan. 13). Funny library montage [Video file]. Retrieved
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_a7OTE2nLg
MezonBiz. (2007, Dec. 16). Test yourself: Stroop effect [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpge6c3Ic4g
Bregman, M. & Elfand, M. (Producers), & Lumet, S. (Director). (2006). Dog day afternoon
[Motion picture]. United States: Warner Home Video.
Harrison-Hansley, M. & Sussman, A. (Producers). (2005). Living with ADHD [DVD]. Available
from http://www.films.com
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Images
Electronic Image
Author (Role of Author). (Year image was created). Title of work [Type of work], Retrieved
from URL (address of website)
Note: If you can only find the screen name of an author (such as a photographer on Flickr), that will
do as the author's name.
If the screen name is all lowercase, keep the name lowercase in the in-text citation and the references
list.
Specific Examples
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Same Author, Different Works
(List in chronological order, oldest source first.
If both sources are from the same year, list them in alphabetical order by title.)
Barkley, R. A. (2008). ADHD in adults: What the science says. New York: Guilford Press.
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In-Text Citations
To Paraphrase:
Cite only the last name of the author (or if a website, cite the author, organization, institution,
or company responsible for the website).
Within a paragraph, the second (or third, etc.) time you cite a source, don’t list the date.
Cite the page number for books and multipage articles (but not for websites—see p. 16, first
box).
Use the past tense to explain what an author did: (studied something; found something, etc.) or
the present perfect tense: (has studied something; has found something, etc.).
One Author
Smith (2006) studied how racism affects biracial college students (p. 62).
or
In a recent study of racism, biracial college students reported receiving prejudice from both
racial groups to which they belonged (Smith, 2006, p. 62).
Two Authors
Jones and Rogers (2006, p. 123) found that stress can adversely affect sleep.
or
Stress can adversely affect sleep (Jones & Rogers, 2006, p. 123).
Second mention of source (Omit the year if this is the second mention within the same
paragraph):
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Miller et al. were surprised to find a low correlation between time spent preparing for class and
gains in general education and intellectual skills (2006, p. 59).
or
Their experiment found little correlation between time spent preparing for class and gains in
general education and intellectual skills (Miller et al., 2006, p. 59).
Web Pages
List the heading of the section or the title of the web page, the date of the page, and then the
number of the paragraph following it.
NOTE: When section headings or web page titles are too lengthy to cite in full, shortening them is
preferred. The original heading title for the above example was “When does panic disorder start and
how long does it last?”
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To quote a source directly:
Cite only the last name of the author (or, if a website, cite the author’s last name, or the name of the
organization, institution, or company responsible for the website).
Cite the page numbers (with a p. or pp.) after the date (but for websites, see box below).
If your quote contains a quote, use single quotation marks (‘’) around the shorter quote.
Example:
Although there is some debate concerning the prevalence of the cluster of symptoms labeled
ADHD, Barkley and Murphy (2006) maintain that “there is little doubt that the disorder is virtually
universal among human populations” (p. 7).
Website/Web Quoting:
List the heading of the section or the title of the web page and then the number of the paragraph
following it.
NOTE: When section headings, web page, or online article titles are too lengthy to cite in full,
shorten them.
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HTML article example:
In one study of parents of children with newly diagnosed specific learning disabilities showed
that "these parents regard five facets (leisur [leisure] > pfeel [positive feelings] > energy >
esteem > sex) as important contributors to their overall [quality of life]" (McCutchan, Logan, &
Biangardi-Orpe, 2009, Limitations and conclusion section, para. 2).
NOTE:
When article titles or section headings are too lengthy to cite in full, shorten them.
In any quote, brackets represents words that you and not the authors inserted, or words that you
modified for clarity, or in the case of [...] words were omitted for brevity.
Example:
Elder and Paul (2006) explain the difference between absolutists and relativists:
Some people, dogmatic absolutists, try to reduce all questions to matters of fact. They
think that every question has one and only one correct answer. Others, subjective
relativists, try to reduce all questions to matters of subjective opinion. They think that no
question has correct or incorrect answers but that all questions whatsoever are matters of
opinion […] Neither absolutist nor relativist leaves room for what is crucial to success in
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How to indent a long quote:
1. Place your cursor at the beginning of the quote.
2. Click on the bottom rectangle on the ruler near the top of the screen.
3. Drag the bottom rectangle to the half-inch mark (see below):
Example:
It can be helpful to sort questions into categories when analyzing virtually any issue.
Elder and Paul (2006) offer three categories: “Questions of Procedure,” “Questions of
Preference,” and “Questions of Judgment” (p. 9). Questions of Procedure are generally
unarguable and call for fact or definition, such as “How many democratic administrations have
there been in the U.S. since 1829?” or “What is a coalition government?” The answers to
Questions of Preference are open-ended and as varied as individual values, such as “How
would I live differently if I took the ideas of this author seriously?” (p. 37). Questions of Judgment
require “reasoning, but with more than one arguable answer” or “the best answer within a range
of possibilities” (p. 9). An example from the field of political science is: “Is democracy the best
form of governance?” This latter category of questions is most challenging, as it calls for the
intellectual virtues of dispositions of humility, courage, empathy, integrity, perseverance,
confidence in reason, and autonomy (p. 43-44).
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