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)
Encyclopedias, dictionaries and other reference type materials are cited in a similar way to the sections of a book. These reference page entries will usually include:
Reference page entry (unknown author):
Therapy. (2010). In Collins Canadian Dictionary (1st ed., p. 621). Toronto, ON: HarperCollins Publisher.
In-text citation:
(Therapy, 2010)
Note: Use pp. if the entry spans multiple pages; use p. if the entry is only on a single page.
Many free, online dictionaries exist. The following example shows how to cite an entry / definition from http://www.dictionary.com :
Reference page entry:
Therapy. (n.d.). In Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/therapy
In-text citation:
(Therapy, n.d.)
Definitions can be obtained from Google by adding "define:" to the start of your search terms.
However, if you require a definition to use in your assignment, it's better to use a standard web-based or printed dictionary for the purposes of citing. Google draws from a number of sources to create this definition, and it's not always easily to identify their source.
Choose an electronic or printed dictionary from the library, or use a free dictionary online for your definition.
Reference page entry:
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. (2014, April 30). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved, May 2, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Catherine,_Duchess_of_Cambridge&oldid=606514600
In-text citation:
(Catherine, 2014)
Note: Webpages such as Wikipedia are frequently edited. You need to include the date you retrieved the information, just in case the information on the page changes at a later date!