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APA Style (7th ed.)

Introduction and examples of commonly cited works in APA Style, 7th edition

Periodical Sources - Quick reference style checks

 

  Sample References
Journal Article undefined
Magazine Article without DOI undefined
Newspaper Article undefined
Newsletter Article

Hottle, A. F. (2024, November 25). OCECD update. OSSPEAC: The Ohio School Speech Pathology Educational Audiology Coalition Newsletter. https://osspeac.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/November-2024-OSSPEAC-Newsletter-FINAL.pdf

Blog post

Wald, A. (2025, March 3). Heat, climate change and work protections. ACSM Blog. https://acsm.org/osha-rule-heat-illness-injury-protection/

How to Use - General Guidelines

The following are examples of how to cite commonly used articles in periodicals (e.g., journals, newspapers, magazines). Please review examples in the APA Publication Manual.

Examples - Articles in Periodicals (Journals)

Journal Articles

Journal article with DOI

See Publication Manual, pp. 316-319.

Weigold, I.K. Weigold, A., Russell, E.J., Wolfe, G.L., Prowell, J. L., & Martin, W. C. A.(2020). Personal growth initiative and mental health: A meta-analysis. Journal of Counseling & Development, 98(4), 376-390. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12340

  • Parenthetical in-text citation example: (Weigold et al., 2020)
  • Narrative in-text citation example: Weigold et al. (2020)

Journal article without DOI, from most library databases, (full text not freely available to everyone)

See Publication Manual, p. 296.

Roncone, J. (2019). Healthy campus wellness initiative: Bridging the gap between Healthy Campus 2020. AURCO Journal, 25, 160-176.

  • Parenthetical in-text citation example: (Roncone, 2019)
  • Narrative in-text citation example: Roncone (2019)

Cochrane review article with DOI

From the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (i.e., Cochrane Library). The name of the database takes the place of the journal. When provided, include volume, issue, and article number as you would for a journal article.

Carter, E. Johnson, E.E., Still, M., Al-Assaf, A. S., Bryant, A., Aluko, P., Jeffrey, S.T., & Nambiar, A. (2023). Single-incision sling operations for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008709.pub4

  • Parenthetical in-text citation example: (Carter et. al., 2023)
  • Narrative in-text citation example: Carter et al. (2023)

Journal article with DOI, free full text of article, from an open access journal

Brieger, K., & Bromley, P. (2014). A model for facilitating peer review in the STEM disciplines: A case study of peer review workshops supporting student writing in introductory biology courses. Double Helix, 2, 1-10. https://wac.colostate.edu/docs/double-helix/v2/brieger.pdf

  • Parenthetical in-text citation example: (Brieger & Bromley, 2014)
  • Narrative in-text citation example: Brieger and Bromley, (2014)

Journal article without DOI, from an archive or an institutional repository with free full text

URL should direct users to full text.

Hess, R. (2019). Amish and Mennonite lay caregivers' experiences using the B&W burdock leaf treatment on burns and wounds. A qualitative study. Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies, 6(2), 144-159. https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/amishstudies/vol6/iss2/2/

  • Parenthetical in-text citation example: (Hess, 2019)
  • Narrative in-text citation example: Hess (2019)
Magazine and Newsletter Articles

Format of a reference for a magazine article

AuthorLastName, A. A., AuthorLastName, B .B., & AuthorLastName, C. C. (Year, Month Day). Title of article: Subtitle. Title of Magazine, volume number(issue number), pages. URL

Magazine or newsletter without a DOI

From most research databases, in print or freely available online. Include the (Year, Month Day)

Conover, E. (2022, June 18). Experiments hint at why bird nests are so sturdy. Science News, 201(11), 5. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/bird-nest-sturdy-physics

  • Parenthetical in-text citation example: (Conover, 2022)
  • Narrative in-text citation example: Conover (2022)

Newsletter article for free full text

Craig, L. (2017, March 29). Cold spray technology to repair surfaces of corroded aircraft parts. Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2017-03-cold-technology-surfaces-corroded-aircraft.html

  • Parenthetical in-text citation example: (Craig, 2017)
  • Narrative in-text citation example: Craig (2017)
Newspaper Articles

Cite what you see. For articles in print, do not include the abbreviations "p." or "pp." in front of the page numbers.

Online version

Wu, K.J. (2020, November 4). Amazing arachnids: Spider silk is stronger than steel. It can also assemble itself. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/04/science/spider-silk-web-self-assembly.html

Print Version

Wu, K.J. (2020, November 10). Amazing Arachnids: Spider silk is stronger than steel. It can also assemble itself. The New York Times. D2.

The in-text citation is the same for the print and online version.

  • Parenthetical in-text citation example: (Wu, 2020)
  • Narrative in-text citation example: Wu (2020)
Blog Posts or Weblogs

Blog posts (also known as weblogs, not to be confused with blog comments) are referenced as if they were articles in magazine or newspapers. Use italics for the blog title.

  • In the References page, the date is specific (i.e., year, month, day). 
  • In the in-text citation, use the year only. 
  • Use italics for the blog title (e.g., ACSM Blog

Source: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples/blog-post-references

 Barnes, J. (2019, February 22). Heart health and brain health go hand-in-hand. ACSM Blog. https://www.acsm.org/all-blog-posts/acsm-blog/acsm-blog/2019/02/22/heart-health-brain-health-connection

  • Parenthetical in-text citation example: (Barnes, 2019)
  • Narrative in-text citation example: Barnes (2019)

Tavares Kennedy, H. (2018, December 29). X-rays reveal catalyst growth details for more efficient hydrogen fuel cells. Biofuels Digest. https://www.biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2018/12/29/x-rays-reveal-catalyst-growth-details-for-more-efficient-hydrogen-fuel-cells/

  • Parenthetical in-text citation example: (Kennedy, 2018)
  • Narrative in-text citation example: Kennedy (2018)

Other Articles in Periodicals ***Special Cases***

Journal Article without an assigned DOIfrom a unique database/content not found in other databases. Include the name of the database. The URL should direct the user to the free full text:

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How to cite the work by one author in-text:
Parenthetical citation: (Alonzo, 2019)

Narrative citation: Alonzo (2019)

Journal Article with assigned DOI, from Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews/Cochrane Library only. The name of the database takes the place of the journal. "Provide the name of the database (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) in italic title case in the reference, but if you write the name of the database elsewhere in the paper, do not italicize it."
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How to cite the work by three or more authors in-text:
Parenthetical citation: (Rees et al., 2019)

Narrative citation: Rees et al. (2019)

Article from Thieme’s MedOne ComSci and other databases (e.g., UptoDate, 5MinuteConsult) where the content is not available anywhere else, without DOI, include retrieval date when the content is updated regularly. Articles are formatted similar to periodical articles, full text is not free for all users:

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How to cite the work by two authors in-text:
Parenthetical citation: (Ali & Navak, 2019)
Narrative citation: Ali and Navak (2019)

Samples of Newspaper Letter to the Editor/Editorial References

Current letter to the editor/editorial from online newspaper:

Triece, M. (2025, February 20). Now is the time to double down on endeavors like Rethinking Race, not pull back [Letter to the editor]. Akron Beacon Journal. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/opinion/letters/2025/02/20/university-of-akron-should-put-rethinking-race-back-in-budget-opinion/78525502007/

Letter to the editor/editorial from online newspaper, limited circulation:

Triece, M. E. (2003, May 19). Media should pay more attention to protesters [Letter to the editor]. Akron Beacon Journal. NewsBank Access World News.

Print version (paper copy) of letter to the editor/editorial from newspaper:

Triece, M. E. (2003, May 19). Media should pay more attention to protesters [Letter to the editor]. Akron Beacon Journal, p. B2.