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How To Cite References Using APA Style

Examples of APA Citation Style for use in Reference Lists.

APA 7th Edition Examples - Websites, webpages and other web resources

  • An entire website (but not a specific document on the site)

Do not include in reference list; cite in text only. [More Information]

Example: The Michigan Electronic Library (MeL) eResource list provides access to scholarly databases for the citizens of the state of Michigan (http://www.mel.org/).

  • Authored page on a website

Williams, R. (2020, February 21). Instagram overtakes Facebook in audience of top 50 brands. SocialMediaToday. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-overtakes-facebook-in-audience-of-top-50-brands/572742/

  • Document on an organization's website

Canarie, Inc. (1997, September 27). Towards a Canadian health IWAY: Vision, opportunities and future steps.  http:www//canarie.ca/press/publications/pdf/health/healthvision.doc

  • Website (no author, no year, no page number)

Social workers come out in support of marriage for same-sex couples. (n.d.)    https://www.socialworkers.org/pressroom/2004/081704.asp

  • Online newspaper article

Brody, J. E. (2007, December 11). Mental reserves keep brain agile. New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com

  • Online magazine article

Clay, R. (2008, June). Science vs. ideology: Psychologists fight back about the misuse of research. Monitor on Psychology, 39(6). http://apa.org/monitor/

  • Online book review

Zacharek, S. (2008, April 27). Natural women [Review of the book Girls like us]. The New York Times.  http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/books/review/Zachareck-t.html?pagewanted=2

  • Online government report

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2003). Managing asthma: A guide for schools (NIH Publication No. 02-2650). http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/lung/asthma/asth_sch.pdf

APA 7th Edition Examples - Social Media

For more examples of citing online media, see pages 348-352 in the APA Publication Manual, 7th Ed available at the UGL and Purdy/Kresge Library Reference Desks, or visit the APA Style Reference Examples 

  • Online product review (such as epinions.com)

Pixeltech. (2010, December 10). Sony VAIO L Series Just Touch it [Review of Sony VAIO notebook].  http://www.epinions.com/reviews/Sony_VAIO_L_VPCL137FX_R_24_All_in_One_Touchscreen_Computer_Red_PC_Notebook

  • Tweet

APA Education [@APAEducation]. (2020, February 21). So you’re an undergrad psychology major, interested in #schoolpsychology and following the excitement at #NASP2020. But now what? [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/APAEducation/status/1230785736590462979

  • Podcast Episode

Gross, T. (Host). (2020, February 11). The 2020 disinformation war. [Audio podcast episode]. In Fresh Air. WHYY. https://www.npr.org/2020/02/11/804855328/the-2020-disinformation-war

  • YouTube or other streaming video

NowYouKnowAbout. (2017, September 11). The life story of Vincent van Gogh [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/y5VRXbHp3fk

  • Blog post

McDonough MacKenzie, C. (2019, September 2). A drought by any other name. PLOS Ecology Community. https://blogs.plos.org/ecology/2019/09/02/a-drought-by-any-other-name/

  • Personal Communications: Email, Text Messages, Online Chats, and other direct messages or non-recoverable communication.

Do not include in reference list; cite in-text only.

Example: According to S. D. Cathcart (personal communication, September 20, 2010), management is refusing to agree to the proposal.

More APA Style Guides

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) is available at any Wayne State library reference desk. Call number is BF 76.7 .P83 2020