General Guidelines for Writing a Paper: APA Style

Citations In Text
How to Cite a Direct Quote
When you incorporate a direct quotation into a sentence, you
must cite the source. Fit quotations within your sentences,
enclosed in quotation marks, making sure the sentences are
grammatically correct.
Gibaldi (2003, p. 109) indicates that, Quotations are
effective in research papers when used selectively.
Remember that [q]uotations are effective in research
papers when used selectively (Gibaldi, 2003, p. 109).
In 2003, Gibaldi wrote that, Quotations are effective in
research papers when used selectively (p. 109).
If a quotation is 40 words or more, omit quotation marks and
use a block format in which the quotation is indented about
inch (or 5 spaces) from the left margin.

How to Cite Summaries or Paraphrases

Even if you put information in your own words by summarizing
or paraphrasing, you must cite the original author or researcher
and the date of publication. You are also encouraged to provide a
page or paragraph number; check with your instructor to see if
page numbers are required.

For example, a paraphrase of Gibaldis earlier quotation might

be identified as follows:
Within the research paper, quotations will have more
impact when used judiciously (Gibaldi, 2003, p. 109).
How to Cite Sources when the Primary Authors have the
same Surname
If two or more of your sources are written by authors with the
same surname, include the first author's initials with the surname
in every in-text reference.
Example:
Among studies, we review M. A. Light and Light (2008)
and I. Light (2006) ...

How to Cite Different Numbers of Authors

When a work has 2 authors, cite both names every time the reference occurs. When a work has
3-5 authors, cite all the names the first time the reference occurs; in subsequent citations, use the
surname of the first author followed by et al. When a work has 6+ authors, use the surname of
the first author followed by et al. every time the reference occurs in the text (p.175).
Note: There is a helpful chart on how to cite references with different numbers of authors on
page 177 of the Manual.

How to Cite Information If No Page Numbers Are Available

If a resource contains no page numbers, as can be the case with
electronic sources, then you cannot include a page number in the
parentheses. However, if the source indicates paragraph
numbers, use the abbreviation para and the relevant number in
the parentheses. If the paragraph number is not visible, cite the
heading and the paragraph number following it.
As Myers (2000, para. 5) phrased it
Change is action and old habits are reactions . Anyone who
wants to change must consciously choose new actions
(Beutler, 2000, Conclusion, para. 1).
Beutler (2000) pointed out that one has to change his
actions (Conclusion, para.5).
How to Cite Information When You Have Not Seen the
Original Source
Sometimes an author writes about research that someone else
has done, but you are unable to track down the original research
report. In this case, because you did not read the original report,
you will include only the source you did consult in your
References. The words as cited in in the parenthetical
reference indicate you have not read the original research.
Fongs 1987 study (as cited in Bertram, 1996) found that
older students memory can be as good as that of young
people, but this depends on how memory is tested.

Note: Do not include Fong (1987) in your References; do

include Bertram (1996).

How to Cite when you are Altering a Direct Quote

When you need to leave out part of a quotation to make it fit
grammatically or because it contains irrelevant/unnecessary
information, insert ellipses
If you must add or slightly change words within a quotation for
reasons of grammar or clarity, indicate the change with square
brackets .

Creating a Reference List

Start the Reference list on a new page and include the word "References" in uppercase
and lowercase centered. (pp, 180-192)
The References list should be double-spaced. Each entry should be formatted with a
hanging indent (p.180).

References cited in text must appear in the References list and vice versa. The only
exceptions to this rule are personal communications and classical works; they are cited in
text only and are not included in the References list (p.174).

Use ONLY the initial(s) of the authors given name, NOT the full name (p.184).

If the References list includes 2 or more entries by the same author(s), list them in
chronological order with the earliest first (p. 182).

If the authors name is unavailable, use the first few words of the title of the article, book
or Web source, including the appropriate capitalization and italics formatting (pp.176177). E.g. (Scientists Say, 2000).

Arrange References entries in one alphabetical sequence by the surname of the first
author or by title or first word if there is no author (pp.181-183). Ignore the words A, An,
and The when alphabetizing by title.

In titles and subtitles of articles, chapters, and books, capitalize only the first letter of the
first word and any proper nouns, except in parenthetical (in text) citations (p.185).

Italicize book titles, journal titles, and volume numbers. Do NOT italicize issue numbers.

Do NOT include retrieval dates unless the source of the material may change over time
such as a blog entry or wikis. (p.192)

If a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is listed on either a print or an electronic source it is

included in the reference (pp.188-192). A DOI is a unique alphanumeric string that is
used to identify a certain source (typically journal articles). It is often found on the first
page of an article. Example: doi:10.1080/14622200410001676305

When the References entry includes a URL that must be divided between two lines, break
it BEFORE a slash or dash or at another logical division point. Do NOT insert a hyphen
if you need to break a URL or a period at the end of the URL. (p.192).

For a helpful list of some of the abbreviations used in References (such as Vols. for
Volumes) check out page 180 of the APA Manual.