Fill This Form To Receive Instant Help

Help in Homework
Learn to Cite Different Sources in APA Format With Examples
  • Jun 2025
  • 0

Learn to Cite Different Sources in APA Format With Examples

30th June 2025

When you're writing a paper for a class in psychology, education, or another social science, your ideas are the star of the show. But to make your ideas truly shine, you need to show that they are supported by real research. The professional way to do this is by using APA format.

At first, learning the rules for APA citation can feel like learning a new language. There are so many formats for different types of sources, and the punctuation has to be just right. It can feel overwhelming.

But this guide is here to be your friendly translator. We will break down the most common types of citations you’ll need and give you simple, clear examples that you can copy and use in your own papers. Once you understand the basic patterns, you’ll see that APA is a logical system designed to be as clear as possible.

A Quick Refresher: What Is APA Style?

APA stands for the American Psychological Association. Their style is the gold standard for writing in the social sciences because it puts the focus on how current your research is. That’s why the date is always a key part of every citation.

Remember, APA style has two parts that work together:

  1. In-Text Citations: These are brief notes in your sentences that look like this: (Author, Year).

  2. The References List: This is the alphabetized list at the end of your paper with the full details of every source.

Let’s dive into how to format both parts for the most common sources you will find.

Part 1: APA In-Text Citations Made Easy

This is how you give credit as you write.

  • When you paraphrase (put an idea in your own words):

    • (Author, Year)

    • Example: Children learn social skills through observation and play (Smith, 2023).

  • When you use a direct quote (fewer than 40 words): You must include the page number.

    • (Author, Year, p. #)

    • Example: He found that “play is essential for cognitive development” (Smith, 2023, p. 45).

  • For a source with two authors: Use an ampersand (&) between their names.

    • Example: (Jones & Kim, 2024).

  • For a source with three or more authors: List the first author's last name followed by "et al." (which means "and others").

    • Example: (Davis et al., 2022).

Part 2: Your Guide to the APA "References" List

This is the detailed list at the end of your paper, titled "References" (centered, bold). It's alphabetized by the author's last name. Here are the templates for the sources you'll use most often.

1. How to Cite a Journal Article

This is the most common source in academic research.

  • The Template: Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article in sentence case. Title of Journal in Italics and Title Case, Volume Number in Italics(Issue Number), Pages. https://doi.org/xxxx

  • A Real Example: Jones, A. B., & Kim, C. D. (2023). The impact of digital learning on student engagement. Journal of Educational Psychology, 115(2), 145–159. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000742

  • Let's Break It Down:

    • Author: Last name first, followed by initials. Use & before the last author.

    • Year: The year of publication is in parentheses.

    • Article Title: Use sentence case. This means only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized.

    • Journal Title: Use title case (capitalize the main words) and put it in italics. The volume number right after it is also in italics.

    • DOI: The Digital Object Identifier is like a permanent link to the article. Always include it if one is available.

2. How to Cite a Book
  • The Template: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book in italics and sentence case. Publisher.

  • A Real Example: Brown, B. (2018). Dare to lead: Brave work, tough conversations, whole hearts. Random House.

  • Let's Break It Down:

    • The structure is simple: Author. (Year). Title. Publisher.

    • The title of the book is in italics and sentence case.

3. How to Cite a Chapter in an Edited Book

This is for when the book is a collection of chapters written by different people.

  • The Template: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of chapter in sentence case. In B. B. Editor & C. C. Editor (Eds.), Title of book in italics and sentence case (pp. xx–xx). Publisher.

  • A Real Example: Hendricks, S. A. (2020). Fostering resilience in the classroom. In T. L. Cruz & M. O. White (Eds.), Modern educational strategies (pp. 88–105). Academic Press.

  • Let's Break It Down:

    • You start with the author of the chapter you read.

    • The word "In" introduces the editors of the book. Notice the format (Eds.).

    • The page numbers of the chapter go in parentheses after the book title.

4. How to Cite a Website or Webpage
  • The Template: Author or Group Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of page or article in italics and sentence case. Site Name. URL

  • A Real Example: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 1). Coping with stress. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/stress-coping/cope-with-stress/index.html

  • Let's Break It Down:

    • Start with the author. If it’s an organization, use the organization's name.

    • Include as specific a date as possible.

    • The title of the webpage is in italics and sentence case.

    • Include the name of the overall website if it's different from the author.

    • End with the full URL.

5. How to Cite a YouTube Video (or other streaming video)
  • The Template: Uploader's Name or Channel Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of video in italics and sentence case [Video]. Website Name. URL

  • A Real Example: CrashCourse. (2014, February 24). Intro to psychology: Crash course psychology #1 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo4pMVb0R6M

Final Tips for Perfect APA Formatting

  • The "References" Page: Your list must start on a new page with the title "References" centered and bolded at the top.

  • Alphabetize: Arrange the entries in alphabetical order by the last name of the first author.

  • Hanging Indent: Every entry should have a hanging indent. This means the first line of the citation is on the left margin, and every line after that is indented.

  • Double-Space: Your entire reference list should be double-spaced.

Getting these formatting details right is just as important as the citation itself. It shows you are a careful writer, and it's a key reason why cohesion and flow matter more than you think in dissertation writing—it makes your paper polished and professional.

You're Ready to Cite!

APA style might seem like it has a lot of rules, but they all have a purpose: to make scientific writing as clear as possible. Once you understand the basic patterns for the sources you use most often, it becomes much easier.

Keep this guide handy when you're writing. Take it one citation at a time, and pay close attention to the examples. Before you know it, you’ll be formatting your references like a pro.

0 Comments


LOAD MORE COMMENTS

Leave Your Comment Here