LibGuides: APA Quick Citation Guide: References: Textual Works

In general

You should be able to create a reference for your reference list by considering four elements and asking four questions (See section 9.4 in the Publication Manual. These questions are:

author (Who is responsible for this work?)
date: (When was the work published?)
title: (What is this work called?)
source: (Where can I retrieve this work?)

Your answers to the questions will dictate which reference form a reference should take. See the templates in each of the four categories of references (textual works; datasets, software and tests; audiovisual media; and online media). They are on the sidebar where you can learn how to easily construct references for various sources. These templates have been adapted from the Publication Manual to demonstrate many of the major types of references out there.

Textual works, by and large, have definite publication dates whether they are physical items or found in an online venue. They may have no or an unknown date (n.d.) but they are never in a state of flux while still being added to. This is an important point when trying to distinguish them from online media.

The creators of APA style believe that references can be created logically and that authors should have the latitude to do their best to compensate for missing information and other citation abnormalities. Therefore, authors should strive to create accurate references in APA style but also should be able to wing it instead of constantly worrying about being correct. This goes for beginners as well as seasoned researchers. Please be advised that reference creation may seem daunting at first but does improve with doing it and time.

Periodicals

Periodicals are issued periodically and include journals, magazines, newspapers, newsletters, blogs, and other online platforms. The individual items (i.e., articles) follow a typical pattern in reference lists. When such characterizing information such as volume numbers, issues, or page ranges are missing from the items, omit them from the references. When authors are missing, the title takes the author position and the rest is filled in with what is left--date, periodical information and DOI or URL.

Online news sources such as CNN or Bloomberg are handled as webpages and are located in the Online Media section in this guide on the sidebar.

Create a reference citation quickly from this citation template:

For many different types of examples, be sure to see the "Reference Examples" in the Manual, section 10.1 Periodicals. A selective few are offered below:

Journal Article with 2 authors and a DOI

Books and reference works

Books, often called monographs in the library trade, are non-periodical publications. They include authored books, edited books, and anthologies. Reference works are specialized books such as handbooks, dictionaries, encyclopedias (including Wikipedia), and diagnostic manuals.

Create a reference citation quickly from this template:

For many different types of examples, be sure and see the "Reference Examples" in the Publication Manual, section 10.2.

Book, a 2nd edition, with 2 authors

Book with 2 editors

Reference work with 5 authors, 2 publishers, and a URL from the library server

Edited book chapters and entries in reference works

Edited chapters include chapters in edited books and the individual works in anthologies. Reference work entries include dictionary, encyclopedia and handbook entries.

Create a reference citation quickly from this template:

For many different types of examples, be sure and see the "Reference Examples" in the Publication Manual, section 10.3.

Chapter in an edited book

Entry in a dictionary with group author

There are two interesting things about this citation. When a group author and the publisher are identical, use the name once as a group author and eliminate a publisher. In cases where there is no date, include a retrieved date to show readers the day the piece was used in the work.

Wikipedia entry

To make a Wikipedia citation, use the archived version of the entry used in the paper. Click on the "View History" link and the select the archived version closest to the relevant date and time.