So, you've finished writing your amazing paper and now face the daunting task of citing your sources in APA style. Don't worry, it's not as scary as it seems! This guide breaks down the key aspects of citing an article in APA style, ensuring your citations are accurate and your work avoids plagiarism. We'll cover everything from basic elements to handling tricky situations.
Essential Elements of an APA Article Citation
Every APA article citation needs core information. Missing even one piece can lead to frustration for your readers (and potential academic trouble for you!). Here's what you must include:
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Author(s): List the author's last name followed by their initials. For multiple authors, use an ampersand (&) before the last author's name. Example: Smith, J. D., & Jones, A. B.
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Year of Publication: Use the copyright date if available, otherwise, use the publication date.
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Article Title: Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle (except for proper nouns). Put the title in italics.
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Journal Title: Capitalize all major words in the journal title. Put the title in italics.
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Volume Number: This is usually found on the journal's cover or title page.
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Issue Number: This is often enclosed in parentheses after the volume number.
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Page Numbers: Include the range of pages the article occupies.
Different Article Types & Citation Variations
The specifics of your citation will vary slightly depending on the type of article. Let's look at some common scenarios:
Print Article Citation:
For a print article, your citation will look something like this:
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume(issue), pages–pages.
Example:
Smith, J. D., & Jones, A. B. (2023). The impact of social media on adolescent mental health. Journal of Adolescent Research, 15(2), 123-145.
Online Article Citation:
Citing an online article adds a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or URL if no DOI exists. The DOI is preferred.
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume(issue), pages–pages. https://doi.org/xxxxxxxxx
Example:
Garcia, M. L., & Rodriguez, P. (2022). The effects of climate change on coastal communities. Environmental Science Journal, 20(1), 56-78. https://doi.org/10.1234/esj.2022.01
Article from a Database:
When citing an article accessed through a database, you still primarily focus on the journal information. You do not need to cite the database name itself.
Handling Multiple Authors and Special Cases
There are a few specific scenarios that require attention to detail:
More Than Seven Authors:
If an article has eight or more authors, list the first six authors followed by an ellipsis (...) and then the last author's name.
No Author:
If there's no author listed, begin the citation with the article title.
Organization as Author:
If the author is an organization, use the organization's name as the author.
Beyond the Basics: Mastering APA Style
Accurate APA citations are crucial for academic integrity. This guide covers the fundamentals. To further improve your APA skills, exploring style manuals and online resources dedicated to APA style can prove invaluable. Consistent and correct use of APA style demonstrates attention to detail and respect for the intellectual property of others. Remember, mastering APA is an investment in your academic credibility.
