Reference list entries should be alphabetized by the last name of the first author of each work.If there are 21 or more authors, use an ellipsis (but no ampersand) after the 19th author, and then add the final author’s name. Use an ampersand (&) before the last author’s name. Separate each author’s initials from the next author in the list with a comma. Give the last name and first/middle initials for all authors of a particular work up to and including 20 authors ( this is a new rule, as APA 6 only required the first six authors).If a middle name isn't available, just initialize the author's first name: "Smith, J.".For example, the reference entry for a source written by Jane Marie Smith would begin with "Smith, J.Authors' first and middle names should be written as initials.All authors' names should be inverted (i.e., last names should be provided first).All lines after the first line of each entry in your reference list should be indented one-half inch from the left margin.All text should be double-spaced just like the rest of your essay. Your references should begin on a new page separate from the text of the essay label this page "References" in bold, centered at the top of the page (do NOT underline or use quotation marks for the title). Each source you cite in the paper must appear in your reference list likewise, each entry in the reference list must be cited in your text. It provides the information necessary for a reader to locate and retrieve any source you cite in the body of the paper. Your reference list should appear at the end of your paper. Note: Because the information on this page pertains to virtually all citations, we've highlighted one important difference between APA 6 and APA 7 with an underlined note written in red. Thus, this page presents basic guidelines for citing academic journals separate from its "ordinary" basic guidelines. However, because sources obtained from academic journals carry special weight in research writing, these sources are subject to special rules. Most sources follow fairly straightforward rules. This page gives basic guidelines for formatting the reference list at the end of a standard APA research paper.
For more information, please consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, (7 th ed.). This resource, revised according to the 7 th edition APA Publication Manual, provides fundamental guidelines for constructing the reference pages of research papers. The equivalent resource for the older APA 6 style can be found here. SeriationĪPA also allows for seriation in the body text to help authors organize and present key ideas.Note: This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019. These labels should be positioned on their own line at the top of the page where the section starts, in bold and centered. Appendix A (and so on for subsequent appendices).Special headings called section labels are used for certain sections of a paper which always start on a new page. Regardless, always begin with level one headings and proceed to level two, etc. Levels of headings will depend upon the length and organization of your paper. For subsections in the beginning of a paper (introduction section), the first level of subsection will use Level 2 headings - the title of the paper counts as the Level 1 heading. In APA Style, the Introduction section never gets a heading and headings are not indicated by letters or numbers. Subsections of subsections receive level three format. Section headings receive level one format. Thus, if the article has four sections, some of which have subsections and some of which don’t, use headings depending on the level of subordination. Paragraph text continues on the same line as the same paragraph. Indented, Boldface Italic, Title Case Heading Ending With a Period. Indented, Boldface Title Case Heading Ending With a Period. The format of each level is illustrated below:įlush Left, Boldface Italic, Title Case Heading Regardless of the number of levels, always use the headings in order, beginning with level 1. The levels are organized by levels of subordination, and each section of the paper should start with the highest level of heading. Headings are used to help guide the reader through a document. HeadingsĪPA Style uses a unique headings system to separate and classify paper sections. Note: This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019.