APA Style Guide

This guide shows the most common scenarios for APA citing. For more examples, consult:
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th ed. (McPherson Library Reference, call number
BF76.7 P83 2010)
Frequently Asked Questions About APA Style (http://www.apastyle.org/learn/faqs/index.aspx)
Many publications used as examples in this guide are fictitious and created for illustration purposes.

 General Rules: In-text Citations

APA style requires you to cite your sources within the text of your paper. Cite the source of all material you paraphrase,
summarize, or quote. Elements are separated by commas.

 Cite the last name of the author(s) and the year of publication.
Example: According to one study of music students (Jones, 2000) …

 If you include the author’s name in the sentence, don’t cite it in parentheses.
Example: Wong (2000) found that music students who …

 For a work by three to five authors, include all authors in the first citation. Subsequent citations should include only the
first author’s surname, followed by et al. and the year of publication.
Example: First Citation (Smith, Jones, Brown, Stuart, & Anderson, 2006) Subsequent Citations (Smith et al., 2006)

 For a work by six or more authors, cite only the last name of the first author, followed by et al. and the year of
publication.
Example: (Smith et al., 2001)

 Second and subsequent citations of a source within a paragraph: omit the year.
Example: Wong also demonstrates…

 If the citation is for a direct quote or a paraphrased idea, include the page number(s). Abbreviate page as p. and pages
as pp.
Example: (Turnbull, 2000, p. 84)

 Multiple sources cited within the same parentheses: Place the citations in alphabetical order by author last name.
Separate citations with a semicolon.
Example: (Anderson, 2005; Everson & Brown, 2002; Suzuki, 2004)

 For multiple sources by the same author(s), cite the author(s) once. List the dates chronologically, earliest first, and
separate with commas.
Example: (Jones & Brown, 2003, 2004)

 For works with no author, use the first few words of the reference list entry (usually, part of the title).
Example: Web Usability Studies are commonly conducted in libraries ("Benefits of Usability Studies," 2002, p. 34).

 For secondary sources (source cited in another source), refer to both sources in your in-text citation. In the reference
list, only list the source you actually used.
Example: (Jones, 1998, as cited in Smith, 2006)
Note: In this example, Smith (2006) would appear in the reference list, but Jones (1998) would not.
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 For material on a Web page without page numbers: cite the section heading and the paragraph number (count down
from the heading).
Example: (Anderson, 2006, Introduction section, para. 2)

 For works with a group as the author e.g. (e.g. corporations, associations, government agencies / departments /
ministries) are usually spelled out each time they appear in a text citation unless the name is long and cumbersome and
the abbreviation is familiar or readily understandable. If the name is short or the abbreviation not readily
understandable, write out the name each time it occurs.
Example: no abbreviation
Public Health Agency of Canada (2005)
Example: with abbreviation
Canada, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT, 2003)

 Legal sources, such as court cases, statutes, and legislation are treated as works with no author (see above). In-text
citations should include the first few words of the reference followed by the year of publication.
 Bills and statutes should be cited with the official or popular title of the legislation, and the year it was passed.
Examples: Bill C-26 (2005) had numerous effects on…
Freedom of association is considered fundamental in Canadian law (Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982).
 Case law titles are italicized for in-text citations.
Example: (R. v. Latimer, 2001)

 Personal communications, such as lectures, personal e-mail messages, or private interviews that you conducted with
another person should be referred to in your in-text citations but NOT in your reference list.
 Personal communications can include information taken from course management tools such as Blackboard or Moodle.
 Provide the surname and initials of the person with whom you were communicating, and an exact date if possible.
Example: J. Reiss indicated that “anthropologists are still debating the reasons for the Neanderthals’ disappearance”
(personal communication, May 3, 2000).

 General Rules: Reference List

The reference list appears at the end of your paper and helps readers locate your sources. It includes all works cited in
your paper.

Format
 Begin the reference list on a new page and give it the heading References. Centre the heading.
 Double-space the entire reference list.
 For each reference, indent all lines other than the first line, one-half inch from the left margin.

List Order
 Alphabetize the list by authors’ last names. If a reference has no author, use the first word of the title.
 If several references have the same author(s), list them in the order they were published, earliest first.

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Authors and Editors
 Place last name first and use initials for first and middle names.
 Two to six authors: separate names with commas; place & before the final name.
 Eight or more authors: name the first six authors, then insert three ellipsis points (…) followed by the final author’s
name.
 Editor: add (Ed.) after the name. Multiple editors: add (Eds.) after the last-listed editor.
 Work by a group author: alphabetize in the reference list by the first significant word in the name.
 No known author or editor: begin the reference with the title, followed by the date.

Group Authors (including government)

 Alphabetize group authors (government agencies, departments, ministries) by the first significant word of the name.
 Spell out the full name of a group author (a period follows the group author).
 Example: Public Health Agency of Canada.

Date of Publication
 If the date of publication is unknown, use n.d. in place of the date.

Titles
 Articles, books, chapters, Web pages: capitalize only the first word of the title, the first word of the subtitle, and any
proper names.
 Journals, other published periodicals (newspapers, magazines, etc.), and Web sites: capitalize each significant word.
 Italicize the titles of books and periodicals, including the volume number of periodicals.

Edition
 Include the edition after the title for editions other than the first
 Example: Dictionary of the Spanish Language (22nd ed.).

Place of Publication
 If multiple cities are listed, use the first or the location of the publisher’s home office.
 If the publisher is located within the United States, provide the city and state as the location. For publishers outside
of the United States, use the city and country.

Publisher’s Name
 Omit terms such as Publishers, Co., and Inc., but retain Books and Press.

Electronic Sources
 Give the date you retrieved the information if it is unclear when it was last updated (e.g., a Web page or dictionary
entry), or if the content may change over time (e.g., Wikis) using this form: Retrieved April 15, 2009
 Do not include the retrieval date if referencing the final or archival version of an article (most journals).
 Article with a DOI (Document Object Identifier, typically found on the first page of the article): cite the DOI and do
not include the database or Web site name.
 Article without a DOI: for open access content, give the exact URL for the cited material; for content accessible by
subscription, give the database name or journal home page URL.
 Use Available from instead of Retrieved from when the URL leads to information on how to obtain the cited material
rather than to the material itself, such as with material from subscription or password-only sites.
 Example: Available from National Research Council Canada Web site, http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/main_e.html
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 Do not put a period after the URL.
 If you are retrieving an electronic book and know the software used to display it (e.g. DX Reader, Adobe Digital
Editions), include it in square brackets after the title, followed by a period. This appears before any URL or DOI
information.

Government Reports / Technical and Research Reports

 APA style refers to “Technical and Research Reports” and includes government reports. These are treated as books.
 Electronic versions do not include publication information if the url is of the website of the publishing government
agency / department ministry.
 Capitalize only the first word of the title and of the subtitle, if any, and any proper nouns; italicize the title. Include
document numbers in parenthesis .
 Government reports from Canada are published in Ottawa, ON unless otherwise indicated.
 Government Reports from British Columbia are published in Victoria, BC unless otherwise indicated.
 Government reports retrieved online do not need to indicate the publisher, unless the author is also the publisher .
 Government reports retrieved online do not indicate the publisher when the publisher is as part of the “Retrieved
from” statement of the url,
 Example: Retrieved from http://www.bccla.org/citizen/Citizenship%20Handbook%202008.pdf.
 Debates and Hansard do not indicate a place of publication or a publisher.

Government Reports / Technical and Research Reports Electronic

 Electronic versions do not include publication information if the url is of the website of the publishing government
agency / department ministry. For government reports retrieved online, add “Retrieved from” at the end of the
citation and the url to the government website.
 You may need to include the name of the website or database before the url, if it is not the same as the Publisher.
Example: Ebrary Canadian Public Policy Collection.

Legal Sources
 APA style uses The Bluebook: A Uniform Style of Citation, 18th ed. as a guideline for creating legal citations. Examples
for some common sources are included at the end of this guide.
 Canadian sources may include additional information required to identify and locate the source.
 Statute citations should be constructed as follows: Name of Act, Volume Source § section number (year).
 Note: Canadian statutes should include jurisdiction immediately after the Volume. Session or supplement, chapter,
and pinpoint locations should be substituted for the session symbol (§) and section number.
 Bill citations should be constructed as follows: Bill/Resolution Number, Legislative Session, Volume Source page
(year) (enacted).
 Note: Canadian bills have official titles which should be included at the start of the citation, followed by a comma.
The pinpoint location is substituted for volume, source and page number.
 Case Law citations should be constructed: Name v. Name, Volume Source Page (Court Date).
 Note: In Canadian cases, the Court and Date may be located in the neutral citation. The reporter should be
considered the Source. If the year of the reporter needs to be included, place it in square brackets before the
volume.

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 Reference List Examples1
Book: 1 or 2 authors Peters, S. N., & Abbott, M. R. (2001). Canadian parliamentary law: A call for change. Toronto, Canada:
Carswell.
(pp.174-175, 203)

Book: 3 to 5 authors Smith, K., Jones, M. & Andrews, O. (2005). Guide to Canadian historical sites for families. Ottawa,
(p.175) Canada: Penguin.

Book: group as author Canadian Mental Health Association. (2007). Mental health indicators for adolescents. Ottawa, Canada:
(agency, organization, Canadian Mental Health Association.
company, etc.) (pp.176,
184) First in-text citation: (Canadian Mental Health Association [CMHA], 2003)
Subsequent citations: (CMHA, 2003)
Book: no author rd
Merriam-Webster’s geographical dictionary (3 ed.). (1997). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster.
(pp.176-177)

Book: with editor(s) Allen, S., & Graham, P. (Eds.). (2005). Contemporary studies in romance languages. New York, NY:
McGraw Hill.

Book, edited: chapter Store, W. (2003). The Doane ukulele method. In T. Miller & L. E. Davis (Eds.), Music education in Canada
or article (p.202) (pp. 197–203). St. Catharines, Canada: Vanwell.

Book: retrieved from a Erdkamp, P. (2005). The grain market in the Roman Empire: A social, political and economic study.
database (no direct link [Adobe Digital Editions version]. Retrieved from http://www.netlibrary.com/
to item)

Book: electronic book Bryant, P. (1999). Biodiversity and Conservation. Retrieved from http://darwin.bio.uci.edu/
(direct link to item) ~sustain/bio65/Titlpage.htm
(p.203)

Encyclopedia entry Thomas, W. (2003). Ukulele. In The Canadian encyclopedia of music (Vol. 13, pp. 433–434). Vancouver,
Canada: University of British Columbia Press.
(pp.202-203)

Encyclopedia entry: Bray, K., Green, J. P., & Vogan, N. (2010). School music. In J. H. Marsh et al. (Eds.), The Encyclopedia of
online (p.202) music in Canada. Retrieved from http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=
TCE&Params=U1ARTU0003141
Journal article: print Jackson, J. (2005). Reconciling resource development and protection of endangered species. New
Canadian Journal of Political Science, 38(2), 116–124.
(p. 198)

Journal article: with DOI Whitmeyer, J. M. (2000). Power through appointment. Social Science Research, 29(4), 535-555.
from online database or doi:10.1006/_ssre.2000.0680
e-journal (p. 198)

Journal article: no DOI Boutsen, F., Cannito, M. P., Taylor, M., & Bender, B. (2002). Botox treatment in adductor spasmodic
(include URL for the dysphonia: A meta-analysis. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 45, 469-481.
journal website) (p.199) Retrieved from http://jslhr.asha.org/

1 th
Page numbers refer to Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6 ed.
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Journal article: no DOI, White, I. (2001). The sustainability of environmental tourism. Journal of Environmental Economics, 42,
from a subscription e- 88–91. Available from http://environmentaleconomics.org
journal

Magazine article Lee, O., & Clark, L. (2003, July/August). Counting rabbits and other Victoria pastimes. Canadian
Geographic, 123, 68–79.
(p. 200)

Magazine article: online Harris, O., Walker, K., & Green, R. (2008, December 15). The ten greatest discoveries you haven’t heard
(p. 200) about. Science Librarian Today, 111, 202–205. Retrieved from http://www.
sciencelibrariantoday.com/dec15_2008/ma.htm
Magazine or Journal: Scott, R. B. (2007). Down a familiar path [Review of the book Harry Potter and the deathly hallows]. The
review (p.209) Children’s Reader, 21, 47.
Newspaper article Maverick Manitoba researcher discovers, names new planet. (2007, June 14). The Globe and Mail, p.
(p.200) A.18.
Newspaper article: Flores, K. E. (2000, March 7). Nursing staff key to recovery. The New York Times. Retrieved from
online (p.200) http://www.nytimes.com
Web site, entire Rules of Play Web site. (2008, March 22). Retrieved July 15, 2008, from http://www.rulesofplay.org
Web page Gomez, D. B. (2006). A timeline of English literature. Retrieved July 15, 2008, from http://www.
historyinanutshell.com/englishliterature.html
Web page: no author, Skunk cabbage. (n.d.). Retrieved July 15, 2008, from http://www.wetlands.org/cabbage/
no date
Image: (see Figures, In the text, number the images consecutively, and refer to an image by its number (ex. Figure 1, Table
pp.159-160) 2). Captions and notes are placed immediately below the image, centered on the page.
In-text citation: It is very likely that Barnard’s Mission Ridge Scene of Sherman’s Attack (Figure
1) was one of several photographs taken after Sherman’s active campaign in Tennessee.
Caption (image taken from print source):
Figure 1. Mission Ridge Scene of Sherman’s Attack by G. N. Barnard, 1864 or 1866. Note: From
George N. Barnard: Photographer of Sherman’s campaign, by K. F. Davis, 1990, Kansas City,
Missouri: Hallmark Cards, p.120. Copyright 1990 by Hallmark Cards. Reprinted with permission.
Caption (online image):
Kohl, Allan T. (Photographer). Ceremonial axe with effigy handle in form of a caiman/jaguar,
from La Venta, ca. 1200-400 B.C.E. [Online image]. Retrieved from Art Images for College
Teaching, http://www.arthist.umn.edu/aict/html/non_west/NA/NA064.html
Reference Citation (online image):
Kohl, Allan T. n.d. [Ceremonial axe with effigy handle in form of a caiman/jaguar, from La
Venta, ca. 1200-400 B.C.E.]. Retrieved from http://www.arthist.umn.edu/aict/html/non_west/
NA/NA064.html
Note: For an image taken from a published source (i.e. a print or electronic book, journal, etc.), cite in
your reference list as you would for a text quotation: cite the source, NOT the individual image.
Note: Copyright information (if any) must appear in the caption. If the image is under copyright and you
will be displaying or publishing the project, you MUST contact the copyright holder for permission to
use the image. Images from open access sites (such as Creative Commons) often have usage restrictions
(e.g. educational only) or requirements (e.g. inclusion of the URL); make sure you comply with any
requirements listed.
Motion picture (p.209) Reed, T. (Producer), & Bell, M. (Director). (2008). Schoolyard games [Motion picture]. Canada: National
Film Board.

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Television episode Morgan, T. (Reporter). (2008). The plague of plagiarism [Television series episode]. In Y. Barnes
(p.210) (Producer), Island Pulse. Victoria, Canada: Pacific Broadcasting Corporation.
Television series Foster, L. (Producer). (2003). Espionage [Television series]. New York: ABN.

Reprinted custom Powell, T. (2007). Does Canadian history matter? In K. Reyes (Ed.), HIST 131 Course Readings
course materials (pp. 24-37). Victoria, Canada: University of Victoria, Bookstore. (Reprinted from Journal of
Western Canadian History, 42(3), 210-223, 1984).

In-text citation: (Powell, 1984/2007)

Personal Do not include personal communications (such as e-mails, letters, and interviews) or class lecture notes
communication, lecture in the reference list, as they cannot be accessed or recovered by others. Cite them only in the text.
notes (includes course
slides or notes posted In-text citation: (C. Ross, personal communication, April 1, 2006)
to Blackboard or Or: In a lecture to an ANTH 250 class on March 6, 2009, Professor Collins stated…
Moodle) (p.179) Or: In a January 5, 2009 ADMN 507 class Powerpoint lecture, one slide illustrated…

Podcast (p.210) Price, Y. (Producer). (2008, May 10). Contemporary popular music culture in Shanghai. China Pop.
Podcast retrieved from http://www.chinapop.com/music/podcasts/
Blog post (p.215) Bell, L. (2009, March 25). Can students survive on Google alone? [Web log post]. The searching librarian.
Message posted to http://www.searchinglibrarian.com
Video post (p.215) Sullivan, O. (2008, June 6). How to make origami pets [Video file]. Retrieved from http://youtube.com/
watch?v=Ghs83LHTVp

Facebook, Twitter, or For discussion of an entire feed from an individual or group, provide the site URL in parentheses in the
other social media sites text. You do not need to include these in your reference list.

In-text citation: The PostSecret phenomenon has expanded its web presence through use of
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/PostSecret/21977955239), and Twitter
(http://twitter.com/postsecret)...

To discuss single posts, both in-text citations and reference list entries are required. Titles should be
taken verbatim from the post content, including punctuation and URLs. Long titles may be truncated.

In-text citation: PostSecret uses the social networking tools to update followers on both events
related to PostSecret (for example, PostSecret 2010a), and general events that might be of
interest, such as the death of activist Howard Zinn (PostSecret, 2010b).
Reference list:
PostSecret. (2010a, January 7). Live PostSecret event :: Spring 2010 dates & schools.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/PostSecret/21977955239 [Facebook update].
Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?comments&v=
239692392694&ref=mf
PostSecret. (2010b, January 28). 'People's History' author Howard Zinn dies at 87 – Washington
Post #RIPHowardZinn [Twitter post]. Retrieved from http://twitter.com/postsecret/
status/8319691996
Government Reports Government Report by Group Author (department, ministry) (Electronic ) (database)
Technical and Research Public Health Agency of Canada (2005). Make every mother and child count: Report on
Reports (p.205) maternal and child health in Canada (Catalogue number: H -13/2005). Ottawa, ON: Author.
Retrieved from Government of Canada
publishing:http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/H124-13-2005E.pdf

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Government Reports Government Report by Group Author (department, ministry) (Electronic) (dept/ministry website)
Technical and Research Public Health Agency of Canada (2005). Make every mother and child count: Report on maternal and
Reports (p.205) child health in Canada (Catalogue number: H -13/2005). Retrieved from: http://www.phac-
aspc.gc.ca/rhs-ssg/pdf/whd_05epi_e.pdf
Government Report by individual author(s) (electronic) (departmental / ministry website)
Plant, P.G. (2007). Access and excellence: The campus 2020 plan for British Columbia’s post-secondary
education system (Report No. C2007-960088-3). Retrieved from the British Columbia Ministry
of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development website:
http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/campus2020/campus2020-thinkingahead-report.pdf
Government Report by individual author(s) (electronic) (ebook platform)
Plant, P.G. (2007). Access and excellence: The campus 2020 plan for British Columbia’s post-secondary
education system (Report No. C2007-960088-3). Victoria: BC, Ministry of Advanced Education.
Retrieved from Ebrary Canadian Public Policy :
http://ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/login?url=http://site.ebrary.com/lib/uvic/Doc?id=10174516.
Government Report by individual author(s) (print)
Plant, P.G. (2007). Access and excellence: The campus 2020 plan for British Columbia’s post-
secondary education system (Report No. C2007-960088-3). Victoria: BC, Ministry of Advanced
Education
Non-governmental Organization Authored Report
Mollard, M. (2008 ). The citizenship handbook: A guide to democratic rights and responsibilities for
Canadians. Retrieved from British Columbia Civil Liberties Association website:
http://www.bccla.org/citizen/Citizenship%20Handbook%202008.pdf

Debates / Hansard British Columbia, Official Report of the Debates of the Legislative Assembly (Hansard), Vo. 27, No. 8,
(November 14, 2011) at 8687 (Stilwell). Retrieved from
http://www.leg.bc.ca/hansard/39th4th/H1114am-08.pdf.
Canada, Parliament, House of Commons Debates, Vol. 143, Number 007 (November 26, 2008) at 281
(Hon. Menzies). Retrieved from
http://www.parl.gc.ca/content/hoc/House/401/Debates/007/HAN007-E.PDF
Canada, Parliament, Debates of the Senate of Canada (Hansard), Vol. 148, Issue 16, (October 4, 2011) at
296 (Hon. Tardif). Retrieved from
http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/Sen/Chamber/411/Debates/pdf/016db_2011-10-04-e.pdf

American: S.Res.107, 103d Cong., 139 Cong. Rec. 5826 (1993) (enacted).
Legal (pp.216-224): st th
Canadian: An Act to establish the Canada Border Services Agency, Bill C-26, 1 Sess. 38 Parl., cl. 5(1)(e)
Bill / Act
(2005) (enacted).

Case Law American: Mental Health Systems Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9401 (1988).
Canadian: Criminal Code, R.S.C. c. C-46 s. 745 (1985).

American: Lessard v. Schmidt, 349 F. Supp. 1078 (E.D. Wis. 1972).

Canadian: R. v. Macki, 199 D.L.R. (4th) 178 (BCSC 2001

Statistics Canada, 2011 National Household Survey, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 99-012-X2011026.
Statistics Canada
Retrieved from: http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/dt-td/Dir-eng.cfm
Statistics Canada, 2011 Census of Population, Age(1310 and Sex (3) for the Publication of Canada, Topic
Based Tabulations, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-311-XCB2011018. Retrieved from:
http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/tbt-tt/Index-eng.cfm

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