University of New England - Innovation for a Healthier Planet

Research Skills

APA Style Guide

The American Psychological Association (APA) documentation style is widely used for writing in the social and health sciences.

APA Publication Manual book cover

The current 7th edition of The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association is available in print at the Biddeford and Portland Libraries.

The APA Style website also offers guidance, citation examples, and sample papers.

We also have a Quick Reference Guide for APA Style [PDF].

Reference Lists

General Rules

Formatting

Authors

  • For sources with multiple authors, list up to 20; for 21 authors or more, include the first 19 followed by three dots (…) then the name of the last author. 
  • If there is no named author, use the authoring group, committee or organization, or omit.

Titles

  • Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle, proper nouns, and any abbreviations.
  • Use italics for book and journal titles.

Online Sources

  • A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is a unique number that can act as a persistent URL. Use a DOI whenever one is provided, regardless of whether you consulted the source online or in print.
  • Only use a retrieved date if the source is designed to change over time.
  • Do not use a period after a URL or DOI, as it may interfere with hyperlinks.

Articles

Journal Article
Format:
Author, A. A., Author B. B., & Author C. C. (Year of publication). Title of article. Title of Journal, Volume#(issue#), page-page. URL or DOI
Example:
Brown, J. D., Sintzel, J., St. Arnault, D., & George, N. (2009). Confidence to foster across cultures: Caregiver perspectives. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 18(6), 633-642. https://doi:10.1007/s10826-009-9264-z
Newspaper or Magazine Article
Format:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day of publication). Title of article. Title of Publication, URL
Note:
If the article is from print newspaper, include the section and page range in place of the URL.
Example:
Sharma, B., & Mashal, M. (2024, August 1). The overlooked reason that planes crash so often in Nepal. The New York Times, https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/overlooked-reason-that-planes-crash-so-often/docview/3086651867/se-2

Dissertations

Published Dissertation
Format:
Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Dissertation title [Doctoral Dissertation, University Name]. Database or Repository. URL
Note:
If the dissertation is from a research database, use the database name instead of a URL.
Example:
Vorse, J. (2022).The effect of post-harvest storage temperature and drying method on the pathogen load of edible kelp [Masters Thesis, University of New England]. DUNE. https://dune.une.edu/theses/445
Unpublished Dissertation
Format:
Author, A. A. (Year of submission).Title of dissertation [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University Name.
Example
Smith, M. E. (2020). Ethical leadership in higher education: Perceptions and practices at a private university [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of New England.

Books & e-books

Note: Only use a URL if readers will be able to access without a login or paywall. If you accessed the book through a database using your UNE credentials, omit and cite the same as for a print book.

Book or e-book
Format:
Author, A. A., Author, B.B., & Author, C.C. (Year of publication).  Title of book (edition). Publisher. DOI or URL if applicable
Example:
Robnett, R. H., & Chop, W. C. (2010). Gerontology for the health care professional (4th ed.). Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Edited Book, No Author
Format:
Editor, A. A. (Ed.). (Year of publication). Title of book. (edition). Publisher. DOI or URL if applicable
Example:
Ritzer, G. (Ed.). (2022). The Blackwell companion to major social theorists (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119637119
Chapter in an Edited Book
Format:
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year of publication). Title of chapter. In A. A. Editor, & B. B. Editor (Eds.), Title of book (edition., pp. page-page). Publisher. DOI or ULR if applicable
Example:
Hart, L. A. (2006). Community context and psychosocial benefits of animal companionship. In A. H. Fine (Ed.), Handbook on animal assisted therapy: Theoretical foundations and guidelines for practice (2nd ed., pp. 73- 94). Academic Press.

Web Sources

Notes:

  • If you cannot locate a publication date, use (n.d.).
  • If you cannot locate an author, use the name of the publishing organization, agency, or company.
  • Include a retrieval date only if the page’s contents are likely to change over time.
Web Pages
Format:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day of publication). Title of web page. Site Name. URL
Example:
Di Sario, F. (2024, July 31). Heat wave blanketing Olympics “impossible” without climate change. Politico. https://www.politico.eu/article/scorching-olympic-heat-impossible-without-climate-change-rising-temperature 
Organization as Author
Format:
Organization. (Year, Month Day of publication). Title of web page. URL
Example:
Delta. (2024). Sustainability. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from https://www.delta.com/us/en/about-delta/sustainability
Blog Posts
Format:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day of publication). Blog post title. Blog Name. Organization (if applicable.) URL
Example:
Sandlin, J. (2025, June 29). Checking in on Project 2025. Boing Boing. https://boingboing.net/2019/09/24/the-house-is-on-fire.html
Social Media Post
Format:
Author, A. A. or Name of Group [@username if applicable]. (Year, Month Day of publication). Content of the post up to the first 20 words [Type of post]. Site Name. URL
Example:
Marine Mammals of Maine. (2024, July 9). This weaned harbor seal pup found himself on a remote beach in Phippsburg, Maine 10 days ago. While he appears [image]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=881484054014102&set=a.621180866711090

Video & Audio

Film or Movie
Basic Format:
Director, A. A. (Director). (Year of publication). Film title [Film]. Production Company; Studio.
Example:
Stone, R. (Director). (2010). Earth Days [Film]. PBS. 
Episode of Television Show
Basic Format
Writer, A. A. (Writer), & Director, A. A. (Director). (Original air year, month, day). Title of episode (Season number, Episode number) [TV series episode]. In A. Executive Producer, B. Executive Producer (Producers), Series title. Production Company.
Example:
Sherman-Palladino, A. (Writer), & Mansuco, G. (Director). (2002, February 26). Lost and found (Season 2, Episode 15) [TV series episode]. In A. Sherman-Palladino, D. Palladino, & G. Polone (Executive Producers), Gilmore Girls. Warner Bros. Television.
YouTube Videos
Note:
Use the account of the channel that uploaded the video as the author.
Basic Format:
Account (Year, Month Day of posting). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. URL
Example:
NASA Climate Change. (2020, March 31). Rising Tides: Understanding sea level rise [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXzfOpZSmk8&ab_channel=NASAClimateChange
TED Talk
Note:
When citing a Ted Talk on YouTube, use the name of the YouTube account as the author and  .
Basic Format:
Speaker A.A.(Year, Month of publication). Title of talk [Video]. Ted Conferences. URL
Example:
Cain, S. (2012). The Power of introverts [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts/up-next?referrer=playlist-the_most_popular_talks_of_all&language=en
YouTube Example:
TEDx Talks. (2016, March 16). Let’s get to the root of racial injustice | Meagan Ming Francis [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aCn72iXO9s
Podcast
Basic Format:
Host, A. A. (Host). (Year, Month Day of airing). Episode title [Audio podcast episode]. In Podcast Name. Production Company. URL
Example:
Rooks, J., Han, C. (Hosts). (2025, June 25). Rural students: Options & goals [Audio podcast episode]. In Maine Calling. Maine Public. https://www.npr.org/podcasts/381443550/maine-calling

Images

Format:
Creator, A. A. (Year). Title of Image [Format]. Source. URL
Example:
Hacking, C. (2018). CT head coronal – labeling questions [image]. Radiopaedia. https://radiopaedia.org/cases/ct-head-coronal-labelling-questions?lang=us

Legal Cases

For information on preparing legal references, the APA refers writers to the latest edition of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation.

Supreme Court Case
Format
Name v. Name, Volume # U.S. Page #. (Year). URL
Example:
Trump v. CASA, Inc., et al. 606 U.S. 2. (2025). https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf/594us2r62_19m1.pdf

AI Tools

Note:
See the APA Style Blog for guidance on citing AI generated content.
Format:
Creator of AI Model. (Year).Title of tool (version) [Large language model]. URL
Example:
OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (3.5) [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com

Class Materials & Presentations

Note: If you retrieved a handout (not a journal article) from Brightspace, include the URL of the Brightspace login page (i.e., https://brightspace.une.edu/d2l/home).

Citing this content may vary by program, course, or instructor.  Be sure to check with your instructor about how they would like you to cite these resources from your course.

Class Handout from Brightspace
Format:
Instructor/Presenter, A. A. (Year handout was created, if known). Title of handout [Class handout]. Brightspace. https://brightspace.une.edu/
Example:
Smith, J. (2024). Laboratory safety [Class handout]. Brightspace. https://brightspace.une.edu/d2l/home
Presentation Slides
Note:
If the slides are from Brightspace, and you are writing for an audience with access to Brightspace, indicate “Brightspace” and the URL.
Format:
Instructor/Presenter, A. A. (Year presentation was created, if known). Title of presentation [PowerPoint slides]. Brightspace. URL.
Example:
Graham, J. (2021). Introduction: Jean Watson [PowerPoint slides]. Brightspace. https://brightspace.une.edu/d2l/home
Class Lecture Notes
Format:
Instructor/Presenter, A. A. (Date of lecture). [Lecture notes on topic]. Program/Department, University name. URL of instructor’s faculty website
Example:
Yarbrough, S. (2025, June 25). [Lecture notes on introduction to library services]. College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of New England. https://www.une.edu/people/shannon-yarbrough

In-Text Citations

The in-text citation is a brief reference within your text that indicates the source you consulted. It should properly attribute any ideas, paraphrases, or direct quotations to your source and should direct readers to an entry in the reference list. 

Paraphrasing

Basic Format

Include an in-text citation whenever you paraphrase or summarize the ideas of another author. An in-text citation consists of the author’s name and publication year in parentheses at the end of the sentence containing the summary. Incude a page number if citing a specific place in the text.

Example:
  • (Adebayo, 2025).
  • (Adebayo, 2025 p. 254).

Citing Multiple Works

If you need to credit more than one source in your citation, separate with a semicolon.

Example:

(Adebayo, 2025; Washington & Kleinman, 2023)

Multiple References to the Same Source

If you are citing the same source multiple times in a paragraph, include the full citation in the first reference. Further citations are not necessary as long as it is clear in your writing that the same work is being referenced. 

Using the Author’s Name in a Sentence

Use just the publication year in parentheses when naming the author in a sentence. Include a page number if referencing a specific place in the text.

Examples:

  • As a leading climate expert, Nguyen (2023) asserts that ocean acidification is already affecting marine biodiversity and that urgent action is needed to prevent serious impacts on global fisheries.
  • Pielke (2003, p. 154-155) highlights how a lack of political will impedes effective climate policies even when the science is clear.

Multiple Authors

Two Authors

For two authors, separate using an ampersand (&). If you are using the authors’ names in the sentence, use the word “and.”

Example:
(Tadashi & Dubois, 2024) or “According to Tadashi and Dubois (2019)…”

Three or more Authors

For three or more authors, list only the first author’s name followed by “et al.” in every citation, even the first, unless doing so would create ambiguity between different sources.

Example:
(Tadashi et al., 2019) or “Tadashi et al. (2019) suggest…”

Direct Quotes

In Text Quotes

Add the page number when using a short direct quote of 40 words or less.

Examples:
  • As Edward Galeano (1997,  p. 137) points out, “We must never forget that history is a weapon.”
  • As Edward Galeano points out, “We must never forget that history is a weapon” (1997, p. 137).
  • “We must never forget that history is a weapon” (Galeano, 1997, p. 137).

Block Quotes

For longer quotes, indent and omit quotation marks. Add the in-text citation after the final punctuation.

Example:

The need to regulate ourselves so as to live peaceably among others is a prerequisite for moral evolution. Morality naturally arises out of social life. A social life becomes more complex – moving from immediate family, to extended kin, to tribal community, and so forth – the “larger instincts” that impinge on self-interest become increasingly remote and abstract. Thus, morality becomes increasingly complex. (Rossano, 2010, p. 174)

Questions & Help

If you have questions about this, or another, topic, contact a librarian for help!

For additional support, visit the Student Academic Success Center (SASC).