How to cite sources in APA 7: a guide with practical examples

An in-text citation briefly identifies the source beside the borrowed idea. APA primarily uses an author–date system: (Rivera, 2024) or Rivera (2024).

A reference appears at the end and supplies the details needed to locate the source. The two work as a pair: a bibliography link alone does not identify which claim came from that source.

• Personal author or responsible organization.
• Publication or update date.
• Exact title of the work or page.
• Publisher, journal, university, repository or platform.
• Volume, issue, pages or article number when applicable.
• DOI or stable URL.

Find these details on the title page, copyright page, first page of the article or repository record. Do not infer them from the file name.

Template: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the book. Publisher. DOI

The book title is italicized. APA 7 does not include the publisher’s location. Add an available DOI as a URL.

Template: Author or organization. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Site Name. URL

When the author and site name are the same, omit the repeated site name. Use n.d. only after confirming that no publication or update date is available.

Template: Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Article title. Journal Title, volume(issue), pages. DOI

Include an available DOI as an https://doi.org/... URL. A database article without a DOI generally does not need the database URL.

Template: Author, A. A. (Year). Chapter title. In B. B. Editor (Ed.), Book title (pp. xx–xx). Publisher. DOI

Use the chapter format when chapters have their own authors. If the same authors wrote the entire book, reference the whole book.

Template: Author, A. A. (Year). Title [Master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation, University]. Repository. URL

The bracketed description must identify the actual work and awarding institution. Prefer the repository record’s permanent URL.

Template: Channel Name. (Year, Month Day). Video title [Video]. YouTube. URL

For material at a specific moment, add a timestamp to the in-text citation: (Open Classroom, 2025, 3:18).

One author

Parenthetical: (Rivera, 2024). Narrative: Rivera (2024).

Two authors

Parenthetical: (Vega & Mora, 2023). Narrative: Vega and Mora (2023).

Three or more authors

Use the first author followed by et al. from the first citation: (Vega et al., 2023).

Direct quotation

Add a page number: (Rivera, 2024, p. 35). For an unpaginated webpage, use a reasonable locator such as a paragraph or section.

Paraphrase

Rewriting an idea in your own words still requires citation. A page number is usually optional for a paraphrase but can help readers locate a specific passage.

• Start the reference list on its own page when required.
• Alphabetize by the first author’s surname or organization name.
• Apply a hanging indent.
• Use consistent line spacing and typography.
• Do not include sources that are never cited in the paper.
• Do not add a period after a DOI or URL.

• Confusing a database name with the journal name.
• Copying a search-results URL instead of a DOI or permanent link.
• Writing full given names instead of surnames and initials in references.
• Italicizing the article title instead of the journal title and volume.
• Using et al. in the reference list as though it were a short in-text citation.
• Omitting a locator from a direct quotation.
• Trusting generated metadata without comparing it with the source.

• ✓Every in-text citation has a matching reference-list entry.
• ✓Authors, year, title and source match the original work.
• ✓Titles use the capitalization and italics required for that source type.
• ✓An available DOI is formatted as an https://doi.org/ URL.
• ✓Direct quotations include a page, paragraph or another locator.
• ✓The list is alphabetized and uses a hanging indent.
• ✓You checked any requirements specific to your institution or instructor.