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APA Style Referencing - 7th Edition: A Guide to Formatting References

A guide to APA 7th Edition referencing with tips, tricks and citation examples.

The American Psychological Association (APA) style is one of the most widely adopted citation systems in academic writing. It is the standard style in psychology, education, business, and the social sciences. With the release of the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual in 2019, several updates were introduced that affect how references are cited and formatted.

This guide explains the core rules, formatting requirements, and common mistakes when writing references in APA 7th edition, along with examples for the most common source types.

General Rules of APA 7th Edition Referencing

In-text citations (author–date system)

  • Citations follow the format: (Author, Year).
  • For direct quotations, include page numbers: (Smith, 2020, p. 45).
  • Multiple authors: list all for up to two authors; use et al. for three or more.

Reference list basics (alphabetical order, hanging indent)

  • References appear on a new page at the end of the document, titled “References.”
  • Entries are listed alphabetically by author surname.
  • Use a hanging indent (second line of each reference indented).

Author formatting rules

  • Invert author names: Surname, Initial(s).
  • Up to 20 authors are listed in full before adding et al.
  • Use an ampersand (&) before the last author.

Formatting References for Different Source Types

Journal articles

Format: Author(s). (Year). Title of the article. Title of Journal, volume number(issue number), page range. https://doi.org/xxxx

Example: Patel, S., Lee, A., Chen, Y., & Gomez, R. (2023). Advances in targeted cancer therapy. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 41(12), 1023–1030. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.23.00001

Books and edited collections

Format: Author(s). (Year). Title of book. Publisher. https://doi.org/xxxx (if available) 

Example: Kumar, V., Abbas, A. K., & Aster, J. C. (2020). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease (10th ed.). Elsevier.

Book chapters

Format: Author(s). (Year). Title of chapter. In E. Editor & F. Editor (Eds.), Title of book (pp. xx–xx). Publisher.

Example: Johnson, R. (2019). Cardiovascular disease prevention. In K. Brown & L. Smith (Eds.), Essentials of public health (4th ed., pp. 75–90). McGraw-Hill.

Websites and online sources

Format: Author(s). (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Website Name. URL

Example: World Health Organization. (2023, March 1). Obesity and overweight. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight

Reports and gray literature

Format: Organization Name. (Year). Title of report. Publisher. URL

Example: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). National diabetes statistics report, 2022. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics-report

Key Updates in the 7th Edition of APA Style

  • Number of authors: list up to 20 authors before using et al. (APA 6th allowed only 7).
  • DOIs and URLs: now presented as live hyperlinks (https://doi.org/...), without “DOI:” label.
  • E-books and online material: publisher location no longer required; include publisher only.
  • Inclusive language: APA 7 encourages bias-free language for gender, race, disability, and age.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Missing italics or capitalization errors

  • Journal names and volume numbers are italicized, but issue numbers are not.
  • Capitalize only the first word of the title, subtitle, and proper nouns.

Incorrect DOI formatting

Mixing up reference list and in-text formats

Ensure author–date consistency: if cited as (Smith, 2020) in text, the full Smith (2020) entry must appear in the reference list.

Final Notes for Students and Researchers

Mastering APA 7th edition referencing is essential for ensuring your work meets academic standards. By following the guidelines, paying attention to details, and using reference management tools, you can save time and avoid common citation errors.

When in doubt, consult the APA Publication Manual (7th ed.) or your institution’s writing center for more information or clarification. Eliminate citation errors, style inconsistencies and unclear references - Livewrite helps keep your manuscript polished and submission-ready.