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APA Style (7th ed.)

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

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/

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.orghttps://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 Timeshttps://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.

Barnes, J, (2019, February 22). Heart health and brain health go hand-in-hand. ACSM Bloghttps://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 Digesthttps://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)

Journal Article without DOI (both online and print versions), from an archive/repository with free full text. URL should direct users to full text:

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

Journal Article with DOI (both online and print versions):

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How to cite the work by three or more authors in-text:
Parenthetical citation: (Franckowiak et al., 2019)
Narrative citation: Franckowiak et al. (2019)

Journal Article without DOI (both online and print versions), from most academic databases/full text not freely available:

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

Periodicals (Magazines, Newsletters, Newspapers)

Article in Magazine or Newsletter without DOI, include URL only when it directs users to the full text (freely available to users), no known author:

Cold Spray Technology to Repair Surfaces of Corroded Aircraft Parts. (2017, May). Corrosion & Materials, 422), 20. https://membership.corrosion.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/CM-May-Vol-42-No.2.pdf

How to cite the work with no author in-text:
Parenthetical citation: (“Cold Spray Technology,” 2017)­­
Narrative citation: “Cold Spray Technology” (2017)

Magazine Article without DOI, from most academic research databases or print version. Include the (Year, Month Day):

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How to cite the work by one author in-text:

Parenthetical citation: (Milius, 2016)

Narrative citation: Milius (2016)

Newspaper Article without DOI, from most academic research databases or print version. Include the (Year, Month Day):

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How to cite the work by one author in-text:
Parenthetical citation: (Sciaretta, 2015)
Narrative citation: Sciaretta (2015)

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)

IMPORTANT NOTE about Blog Posts in APA Style, 7th edition

IMPORTANT: Blog posts (also known as weblogs, not to be confused with blog comments) are cited as if they were articles in magazines or newspapers. 
  • 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)

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

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

Blog post article example:

Kennedy, H. T. (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/

How to cite the work by one author in-text:
Parenthetical citation: (Kennedy, 2018)

Narrative citation: Kennedy (2018)