Updated: Dec. 18, 2019
To ensure consistency for students, modifications to citation examples are made
only between semesters.
This guide is representative of the 6th edition Publication Manual of APA.
APA examples are not exhaustive and focus on referencing and citations. Assistance from your professor and/or Writing Centre is suggested for clarification.
Users are responsible for interpretation of APA style guidelines and to seek further assistance when necessary.
Effective October 1, 2019.
Georgian will be adopting the 7th edition Publication Manual of APA in September 2020. (posted February 24, 2020)
List information in the order of author, date, title (with description in square brackets if necessary for explanation of nonroutine information), and source
Position A | Position B | Position C | Position D | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nothing -- all pieces are present |
Author, A. A. | (date). | Title of document [Format]. or Title of document [Format]. |
Retrieved from http://xxxxx or Retrieved Month Day, Year, from http://xxxx or Location: Publisher. or doi:xxxxx |
If you cannot find an author for a particular source, then the title moves into the first position of the reference entry.
Weird & wonderful things pregnancy does to your body. (2014). Retrieved July 3, 2014, from http://www.motherandbaby.com.au/pregnancy-and-birth/pregnancy/2014/6/whats-happening-to-my-body/
Position A | Position B | Position C | Position D | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Author is missing | Title of document [Format]. or Title of document [Format]. |
(date). | n/a | Retrieved from http://xxxxx or Retrieved Month Day, Year, from http://xxxx or Location: Publisher. or doi:xxxxx |
Create an in-text citation by using the pieces from Positions A and B. Type the first few words of the title and the year. Use double quotation marks around the title or abbreviated title.:
("Weird & wonderful," 2014).
If you cannot find a date for a particular source, insert n.d. for no date instead of the date wherever it is used in the citation.
Cherry, K. (n.d.). How to cite an online article with no date. About.com. Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/b/2010/11/03/how-to-cite-an-online-article-with-no-date.htm
Position A | Position B | Position C | Position D | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Date is missing | Author, A. A. | (n.d.). | Title of document [Format]. or Title of document [Format]. |
Retrieved from http://xxxxx or Retrieved Month Day, Year, from http://xxxx or Location: Publisher. or doi:xxxxx |
Create an in-text citation by using the pieces from Positions A and B.
(Cherry, K., n.d.).
If you cannot find a title for a particular source, insert [in square brackets] a brief description of the source:
[Photo of garbage]. (n.d.). Retrieved July 4, 2014 from http://www.pinterest.com/pin/369858188119287314/
Position A | Position B | Position C | Position D | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Title is missing | Author, A. A. | (date). | [Description of document] | Retrieved from http://xxxxx or Retrieved Month Day, Year, from http://xxxx or Location: Publisher. or doi:xxxxx |
("Photo of garbage", n.d.)
Substitute title for author and n.d. for no date; then give source
Position A | Position B | Position C | Position D | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Author and Date are missing |
Title of document [Format]. or Title of document [Format]. |
(n.d.). | n/a | Retrieved from http://xxxxx or Retrieved Month Day, Year, from http://xxxx or Location: Publisher. or doi:xxxxx |
Substitute description of document inside square brackets for author; then give date and source
Position A | Position B | Position C | Position D | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Author and Title are missing |
[Description of document]. | (date). | n/a | Retrieved from http://xxxxx or Retrieved Month Day, Year, from http://xxxx or Location: Publisher. or doi:xxxxx |
Provide author, substitute n.d. for no date, describe document inside square brackets, and then give source
Position A | Position B | Position C | Position D | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Date and Title are missing |
Author, A. A. | (n.d.). | [Description of document]. | Retrieved from http://xxxxx or Retrieved Month Day, Year, from http://xxxx or Location: Publisher. or doi:xxxxx |
Substitute description of document inside square brackets for author, substitute n.d. for no date, and then give source
Position A | Position B | Position C | Position D | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Author, Date and Title are missing |
[Description of document]. | (n.d.). | n/a | Retrieved from http://xxxxx or Retrieved Month Day, Year, from http://xxxx or Location: Publisher. or doi:xxxxx |
Cite as personal communication or find a substitute. (see §6.20 or APA Blog)
Position A | Position B | Position C | Position D | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Source is missing | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
If you cannot find page numbers for a particular source, then for the in text citation you may:
Truth. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster's online dictionary (11th ed.). Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/truth
("Truth," n.d., para. 1).
If you are unable to find the publisher location, search online to find the location. When you find out the location from a source other than the publication itself, use square brackets to indicate information that does not appear on the document. An example is:
[Emmaus, PA]: Rodale Press
If after searching you are still not able to find a location, include the publisher name but omit the location from the reference.
APA information above obtained from Missing Pieces: how to write an APA style reference without all the information. Credit: American Psychological Association.