APA Guide (7th Edition)

1. What is the latest edition of the APA style manual?

The latest edition of the APA style manual is the 7th edition, which was released in 2019.

 

2. How do I cite multiple sources published in the same year by the same author?

When multiple references have an identical author (or authors) and publication year, assign a lowercase letter after the year. These letters are assigned when the references are placed in order in the reference list (alphabetically by title, following the guidelines in Section 9.47).

The year–letter combination is used in both the in-text citation and the reference list entry. Use only the year with a letter in the in-text citation, even if the reference list entry contains a more specific date.

Example:

The text you paraphrased or cited (Smith, 2023a; Smith, 2023b).

 

3. How to cite work when there are no authors?

Before treating a reference as though it has no author, double-check if a group or organization (such as a government agency, association, nonprofit organization, business, hospital, task force, or study group) could be the author. If a reference does not have an author, the title of the work substitutes as the author name in the in-text citation. The important words in titles should be capitalized when they are written in the text.

• Titles of books and reports are italicized: (Source Title, year published)
• Titles of articles, chapters, and web pages are in quotation marks: ("Source Title", year published)

To add a reference with no author to the reference list, move the title of the references to the author position in your citation.

For further information on citing reference with no author, see the following guides:

• How to cite in APA when there are no authors
• Purdue OWL
• APA citations

 

4. How to cite multiple sources in a single parenthetical citations?

When citing multiple works parenthetically, place the citations in alphabetical order, separating them with semicolons. (more information: APA Style Guide)

Example: (Brown et al., 2019; Shumway & Shulman, 2015; Wilson, 2017)

 

5. Is there a spacing between initials?

If the author has a first and middle name, you need to put a space between the initials, include a space after the period of the initials of an author's name.

Example: Smith, L. A. (2023).

 

6. How do I cite an author if their work is referenced more than once in a single paragraph?

APA 7th Edition manual says: "In general, include the author and date in every in-text citation... the year can be omitted from a citation only when multiple narrative citations to a work appear within a single paragraph" (pg. 265).

In other words, you should always give the year in a parenthetical citation, such as (Smith, 2023). If you are citing a work multiple times in the same paragraph in the narrative, you may omit the year.

 

7. What is a DOI?

A digital object identifier (DOI) is a unique alphanumeric string assigned by a registration agency (the International DOI Foundation) to identify content and provide a persistent link to its location on the internet. The publisher assigns a DOI when your article is published and made available electronically.

APA style recommends that when DOIs are available, you include them for both print and electronic sources. The DOI is typically located on the first page of the electronic journal article, near the copyright notice. The DOI can also be found on the database landing page for the article. (See more information from APA style)

 

8. How to cite ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is quite new and a very popular Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) model. ChatGPT is not a knowledge creation tool. Content from generative AI is a nonrecoverable source as it can't be retrieved or linked. You will NEED to confirm with your instructor, if you are permitted to use Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) such as ChatGPT in your assignments. If it is used, ALL of the content that is generated must be referenced. Guidelines for citing AI models (e.g., ChatGPT) are still evolving, and currently APA has the following suggestions (as of April 7, 2023).

• How to cite ChatGPT

 

9. How to format a long quotation in APA style?

Long direct quotations (i.e., those that are 40 or more words) should be placed in a free-standing block of typewritten lines and omit quotation marks.

• Start the quotation on a new line, indented one-half inch from the left margin.
• Use double-spacing throughout the quotation, including between paragraphs.
• The in-text citation should come after the closing punctuation mark of the quotation.
• If the quotation spans multiple paragraphs, indent the first line of each subsequent paragraph one-half inch from the left margin.

See a screenshot of a generic example below.