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APA Guide 6th ed.

Helpful Information

Formatting:

  • Double space entries. If an entry runs more than one line, indent the next line(s).
  • Capitalize proper nouns and first words of title and subtitle.
  • If what you are citing is not listed in APA manual, choose example in manual most like your source.

Author / Editor:

  • If no author given, move the title to author position and alphabetize entry by title.

Publisher:

  • Omit unessential words such as Publishers, Co., or Inc. Keep the words Books and Press; if name of state or province included in name of University publisher, do not include it in location information.

Date:

  • If no date is given, use (n.d.).

Location:

  • Include city and state. For cities outside the US, include the city and country.

Page Numbers:

  • Precede page numbers with p. or pp. (only for books and newspapers; not for magazines or journals)

Articles:

  • Capitalize first word of article title and subtitle as well as proper nouns and significant words in periodical titles as periodical titles are considered proper nouns

Journals:

  • Capitalize first word of article title and subtitle as well as proper nouns and significant words in periodical titles as periodical titles are considered proper nouns.  

Websites:

  • Do not put a period at the end of entries with a URL.
  • For the URL, put exact link to content or page (such as an index or search page) where reader can easily find the cited material.
  • Use n.d. (no date) when a publication date is not given.

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

  • APA recommends including the DOI (digital object identifier) if available.
  • At the end of the journal and book articles, include the DOI. If no DOI given, “provide the home page URL of the journal or of the book” publisher. You may have to search online for this.