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APA Referencing Guide

This guide provides an overview of the APA citation style, detailing the differences and similarities between the 6th and 7th editions, particularly in in-text citations and reference lists. Key updates in the 7th edition include changes in author listing, DOI formatting, and inclusive language guidelines. The document serves as a resource for students and researchers to ensure proper citation practices.

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Bertin Fonge
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13 views4 pages

APA Referencing Guide

This guide provides an overview of the APA citation style, detailing the differences and similarities between the 6th and 7th editions, particularly in in-text citations and reference lists. Key updates in the 7th edition include changes in author listing, DOI formatting, and inclusive language guidelines. The document serves as a resource for students and researchers to ensure proper citation practices.

Uploaded by

Bertin Fonge
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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APA Referencing Guide: 6th and 7th Editions

Introduction
The American Psychological Association (APA) citation style is widely used in academic
writing. Both the 6th and 7th editions share foundational principles but differ in specific details.
This guide outlines the rules for both editions, focusing on in-text citations and reference lists to
help students and researchers properly credit their sources.

Common Principles (6th & 7th Editions)

In-text Citations
 Format: Include the author’s last name and publication year. For direct quotes, add a page
number.
Example: (Smith, 2020, p. 15).
Purpose: To attribute ideas to their sources and avoid plagiarism.
Two Forms:
1. Parenthetical citation: (Smith, 2020).
2. Narrative citation: Smith (2020).

Reference List
 Placement: At the end of the document, with entries listed alphabetically by the first
author’s last name.
Formatting:
 Double spacing.
 Hanging indent (second and subsequent lines indented).
Elements: Author, publication date, title, and source.

Key Differences: 6th vs. 7th Editions

Number of Authors
6th Edition:
 List all authors up to 7.
 For more than 7, list the first 6, then add “et al.”
7th Edition:
 List all authors up to 20.
 For more than 20, list the first 19, then add “et al.”

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DOIs and URLs
 6th Edition: DOI format: “doi:10.xxxx”
 7th Edition: DOI format: https://doi.org/10.xxxx

E-books
 6th Edition: Include the platform (e.g., Kindle).
 7th Edition: Focus on the publisher and provide DOI or URL if available.

Font Options
 6th Edition: Standard: Times New Roman, 12-point.
 7th Edition: Broader options: Calibri 11, Arial 11, or others.

Publisher Location
 6th Edition: Requires city and state (e.g., New York, NY: Wiley).
 7th Edition: Omits the location, listing only the publisher’s name.

Inclusive and Bias-Free Language


 The 7th Edition emphasizes inclusivity, offering guidance on referring to gender,
disabilities, and age.

Journal Articles

 6th Edition: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, Volume(Issue),


pages. doi:xxxxx

Example: Smith, J. (2015). Climate change effects. Environmental Science, 34(2), 123-145.
doi:10.12345/envsci

 7th Edition: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, Volume(Issue),


pages. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Example: Smith, J. (2015). Climate change effects. Environmental Science, 34(2), 123-145.
https://doi.org/10.12345/envsci

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Webpages

 6th Edition: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of webpage. Retrieved from URL

Example: National Institute of Health. (2010). Health benefits of exercise. Retrieved from
http://www.nih.gov/health/exercise

 7th Edition: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of webpage. Website Name. URL

Example: National Institute of Health. (2010). Health benefits of exercise. National Institute
of Health. http://www.nih.gov/health/exercise

APA 6th Edition: Detailed Guidelines

Reference List: Basic Rules


1. Formatting:
o Title: "References," centered, without bolding or underlining.
o Double-space all text.
o Use hanging indents.
2. Author Names:
o Last name followed by initials.
o List up to 7 authors; use ellipses for more than 7, then include the final author.
3. Journal Titles:
o Present in full.
o Capitalize all major words.
4. Book Titles:
o Italicize.
o Capitalize only the first word, the first word after a colon, and proper nouns.
5. Order:
o Alphabetize entries by the first author’s last name.
o For multiple works by the same author, order chronologically.

Author Variations
 Single Author: Berndt, T. J. (2002). Friendship quality and social development.
 Two Authors: Wegener, D. T., & Petty, R. E. (1994).
 Three to Seven Authors: Kernis, M. H., Cornell, D. P., Sun, C. R., Berry, A., Harlow, T.,
& Bach, J. S. (1993).
 More than Seven Authors: List the first 6, followed by ellipses, and then the final author.

Missing Information

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 Unknown Author: Use the title in place of the author.
Example: Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (10th ed.). (1993).
 No Date: Use "n.d."
Example: Smith, J. (n.d.).

APA 7th Edition: Updates

Formatting the Reference Page


1. Title: "References" (bolded and centered).
2. Font: Flexible options for greater accessibility.
3. Hanging Indent: Apply consistently.

Examples of Common Sources


Book:
 Smith, T. (2020). The citation manual for students: A quick guide (2nd ed.). Wiley.
 Parenthetical: (Smith, 2020).
 Narrative: Smith (2020).

Journal Article:
 Andreff, W., & Staudohar, P. D. (2000). The evolving European model of professional
sports finance. Journal of Sports Economics, 1(3), 257–276. https://doi.org/10.xxxx

Website:
 Rowlatt, J. (2020, October 19). Could cold water hold a clue to a dementia cure? BBC
News. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-54531075

In-text Citation Examples


- One Author: (Smith, 2020).
- Two Authors: (Smith & Jones, 2020).
- Three or More Authors: (Smith et al., 2020).
- Corporate Author: (Scribbr, 2020).

Conclusion
Understanding the differences between APA 6th and 7th editions ensures accurate citation and
professional presentation of academic work. For specific cases not covered here, refer to the
APA manual or trusted resources such as Scribbr or Purdue OWL.

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