How do I use APA Citation Style

 All examples in this guide are using APA Citation Style (7th) edition.  

If you need help with the 6th edition, please visit Purdue OWL.   If you have any further queries, please email library@smu.edu.sg.

• Journal Article with DOI (Section 10.1.1)

  Format: Authora, A. A., Authorb, B. B., & Authorc, C. C. (YYYY). Article title: The subtitle. Journal Title, VX(IX), xxx-yyy. https://doi.org/gg/hhhh
   

  Brewer, P. (2008). Cross-cultural transfer of knowledge: A special case anomaly. Cross Cultural Management, 15(2), 131-143. https://doi.org/10.1108/13527600810870589

  In-text: (Brewer, 2008).
  
  Note: Include all authors' names if up to 21 authors.  If more than 21 authors, refer to Section 10.1.4 for examples
  Note: If article does not have a DOI and does NOT come from a database, include a URL in place of the DOI URL.

   

• Journal Article without DOI (Section 10.1.3)

  Format: Authora, A. A., Authorb, B. B., & Authorc, C. C. (YYYY). Article title: The subtitle. Journal Title, VX(IX), xxx-yyy. 

   

  Tapia, A., Powell, A., & Ortiz, J. (2009). Reforming policy to promote local broadband networks. Journal of Communication Inquiry, 33, 354-375.

  In-text: (Tapia et al., 2009).

  
  Note: If the article is retrieved from a library research database, do not include the database name or URL.

   

• Journal Article with an article number or eLocator (Section 10.1.6)

  Format: Author, A. A. (YYYY). Article title: The subtitle. Journal Title, VX(IX), Article #. https://doi.org/gg/hhhh
   

  Pack, C. C., & Theobald, J. C. (2018). Fruitflies are multistable geniuses. PLoS Biology, 16(2), Article e2005429. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pbio.2005429

  In-text: (Pack & Theobald, 2018).

   

• Journal Article In-press (Section 10.1.8)
  Format: Authora, A. A. (in press). Article title. Journal Title. https://doi.org/gg/hhhh or Retrieved from URL

  Ashtona, M. C., & Lee, K. (in press). On the cross-language replicability of personality factors. Journal of Research in Personality. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2010.05.006 

In-text: (Ashtona & Lee, in press).

• Magazine Article (Section 10.1.15)

  Format: Author, A. A. (YYYY, Month). Article title. Magazine Title, VX(IX), xx-yy.
   

  Gibbs, N. (2009, November). The happiness paradox. Time, 174(20), 116.

  In-text: (Gibbs, 2009).

   

  Davies, B. (2011, March). Signs of trouble loom ahead of Thailand's elections. Asiamoney, 4-6.

  In-text: (Davies, 2011).

   

• Magazine Article with no author (Section 8.14)

  Format: Article title. (YYYY, Month). Magazine Title, VX(IX), xx-yy.
   

  Beware the watermelons. (2011, January). Economist, 398(8714), 33-34.

  In-text: ("Beware the Watermelons," 2011).

   

• Magazine Article - Online (Section 10.1.15)

  Format: Author, A. A. (YYYY, Month). Article title. Magazine Title, VX(IX). DOI URL or website URL
   

  Bartz, A. (2011, July). Sense and sensitivity. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/articles/201107/sense-and-sensitivity

  In-text: (Bartz, 2011).

For a comprehensive list of APA citation rules, refer to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, as well as the APA Style Blog (an official companion to the Publication Manual).  Here are a few common rules related to article citations:

• Retrieval dates: Do not include retrieval dates unless the source material may change over time (e.g. Wikis).  If needed, provide the retrieval date in the format: Retrieved Month dd, YYYY, from URL
• Retrieved from: The prefix "Retrieved from" is no longer needed before URLs. 
• URLs and DOIs:

  • Where a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is provided, use it in the citation in the format: https://doi.org/10.1108/13527600810870589 

  • Where no DOI is provided and the article is retrieved online, give the URL of the article publication or the journal home page. This can be easily found using Google Scholar. 

  • Where the article is from private or non-commercial sources or hard to locate, give the complete and specific URL.

  • If no publication URL is available, and you retrieved the item from one of the Libraries' databases, no URL is needed.  You will treat this as a print journal.

• Volume / Issues for journals:

  • Always include volume number and issue number for all journals, magazines, newspapers, and other periodicals.

  • If the information is not available, omit it from the reference. 

• Pagination (p. and pp.)

  • The prefix pp. only goes before page numbers reported for book chapter and encyclopaedia article references.  The prefixes, p. and pp., are no longer used for periodical references.