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

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
- List the references you cite in your work alphabetically by author’s last name in a references section at the end of your paper.
- APA Style uses hanging indentation.
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).