How to cite in APA Style
APA Style is widely used by students, researchers, and professionals in the social and behavioral sciences. The Scribbr APA Citation Generator automatically generates accurate references and in-text citations for free.
This citation guide outlines the most important citation guidelines from the 7th edition APA Publication Manual (2020). We also offer a 6th edition guide.
APA in-text citations
The basics
APA in-text citations include the author’s last name, publication date, and, if relevant, a locator such as a page number or timestamp. For example, (Smith, 2021, p. 170). See it as a shorter version of the entry in the reference list.
You should include in-text citations every time you’re quoting or paraphrasing someone else’s ideas or words. In doing so, you give credit to the original author and avoid plagiarism.
Parenthetical vs. narrative citation
The in-text citation can take two forms: parenthetical and narrative. Both types are generated automatically when citing a source with Scribbr’s APA Citation Generator.
- Parenthetical citation: According to new research … (Smith, 2020).
- Narrative citation: Smith (2020) notes that …
Multiple authors and corporate authors
The in-text citation changes slightly when a source has multiple authors or an organization as an author. Pay attention to punctuation and the use of the ampersand (&) symbol.
| Author type | Parenthetical citation | Narrative citation |
|---|---|---|
| One author | (Smith, 2020) | Smith (2020) |
| Two authors | (Smith & Jones, 2020) | Smith and Jones (2020) |
| Three or more authors | (Smith et al., 2020) | Smith et al. (2020) |
| Organization | (Scribbr, 2020) | Scribbr (2020) |
Missing information
When the author, publication date or locator is unknown, take the steps outlined below.
| Missing element | What to do | Parenthetical citation |
|---|---|---|
| Author | Use the source title.* | (Source Title, 2020) |
| Date | Write “n.d.” for “no date.” | (Smith, n.d.) |
| Page number | Either use an alternative locator or omit the page number. |
(Smith, 2020, Chapter 3) or (Smith, 2020) |
APA references
The basics
APA references generally include information about the author, publication date, title, and source. Depending on the type of source, you may have to include extra information that helps your reader locate the source.
Reference examples
Citing a source starts with choosing the correct reference format. Use Scribbr’s Citation Example Generator to learn more about the format for the most common source types. Pay close attention to punctuation, capitalization, and italicization.
Generate APA citations for free
Missing information
It is not uncommon for certain information to be unknown or missing, especially with sources found online. In these cases, the reference is slightly adjusted.
| Missing element | What to do | Reference format |
|---|---|---|
| Author | Start the reference entry with the source title. | Title. (Date). Source. |
| Date | Write “n.d.” for “no date”. | Author. (n.d.). Title. Source. |
| Title | Describe the work in square brackets. | Author. (Date). [Description]. Source. |
Formatting the APA reference page
The basics
On the reference page, you list all the sources that you’ve cited throughout your paper. Place the page, right after the main body and before any appendices.
On the first line of the page, write the section label “References” (in bold and centered). On the second line, start listing your references in alphabetical order.
Apply these formatting guidelines to the APA reference page:
- Double spacing (within and between references)
- Hanging indent of ½ inch
- Legible font (e.g. Times New Roman 12 or Arial 11)
- Page number in the top right header
Which sources to include
On the reference page, you only include sources that you have cited in the text (with an in-text citation). You should not include references to personal communications that your reader can’t access (e.g. emails, phone conversations or private online material).
Tools and resources
In addition to the APA Citation Generator, Scribbr provides many more tools and resources that help millions of students and academics every month.
- Citation Checker: Upload your paper and have artificial intelligence check your citations for errors and inconsistencies.
- Plagiarism checker for students: Detect, understand, and resolve plagiarism by comparing your paper with billions of sources.
- Guides and videos: Explore hundreds of articles, bite-sized videos, time-saving templates, and handy checklists that guide you through the process of research, writing, and citation.