APA Checklist: References
In-text and Parenthetical Citations
o All paraphrased ideas, reported data, and direct quotation require a citation; direct
quotations include a page or paragraph reference: (Roderick, 2011, p. 114 or Roderick,
2011, para. 3)
o All citations should be listed in the reference list; ensure citations follow the appropriate
conventions based on type of source and available information
o Acronyms can only be used once they are introduced by their full names; for example,
Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) or (World Bank [WB], 2012)
o Check all citations to ensure they are correct, including citations created by a citation
generator
In-text/in-sentence
o A reference to an author must be followed by date in parentheses and if a date is not
available, use “n.d.”: Maxwell (2013) or Chan (n.d.)
o Book titles are italicized; article titles appear in quotation marks
o The word “and” connects author names in the sentence (the ampersand “&” is used
only for parenthetical citations and the reference list)
o The abbreviation “et al.” is properly punctuated and is used after the first author name
when there are three or more authors (Lee et al., 2012); note that the first reference to
a multi-author source must include all author names: (Lee, Brown, & Green, 2012)
Parenthetical citations
o Punctuation follows the closing parenthesis of the citation: (Patel, 2013).
o Citation includes author last name(s) (or agency name) and date of publication (and
page number for quotations): (Maxwell, 2013 or Roderick, 2011, p. 114)
o The ampersand “&” connects author names in the citation
o The abbreviation “et al.” is properly punctuated and is used after the first author name
when there are three or more authors (Lee et al., 2012); note that the first reference to
a multi-author source must include all author names (Lee, Brown, & Green, 2012)
o If there is no author, use a shortened title of the source and its date of publication: (“ER
wait times,” 2012)
Academic Skills Centre
Trent University
www.trentu.ca/academicskills
[email protected]
The ASC Guide to Documentation also answers common questions, such as how to address
multiple citations for the same author and how to cite a study discussed in a different paper.
References
o Reference list begins on a separate page; the title “References” is centered at top of the
list
o Double spaced; 12-point font; Times New Roman; 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins
o Continue the running head and pagination
o APA Style uses a hanging indent: first line of each reference is set flush left; subsequent
lines are indented five to seven spaces (use the hanging indent marker on the ruler in
your word processor to modify)
o Names are inverted (last name first); use initials only for first names of authors or
editors: Brown, R. or Patel, C. M.
o The entire list is alphabetized by author last names; in multi-authored sources, maintain
the original order of the authors (i.e., do not change Lee, A. P., Brown, L., & Green, S. to
Brown, L., Green, S., & Lee, A. P.)
o The ampersand “&” is used for works with multiple authors; note that a comma must
precede it
o Multiple works by one author are listed by publication date (earliest first)
o In titles of articles and books, capitalize only the first word, the first word after a colon,
and proper noun (e.g., Proper capitalization of titles in APA format)
o Titles of books, journals and other periodicals (including volume numbers), and reports
are italicized (e.g., The ASC Journal, 34)
o Include a page range for articles after the journal title and volume number (e.g., The ASC
Journal, 34, 1-12)
o Use a period between the components of the reference entry and end the entry with a
period unless the last component is a URL or DOI
o Include a digital object identifier (DOI) when available (a DOI is a persistent link, often
listed on the first page of an electronic journal article and on the article's database
landing page)
See more guidelines in The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th
ed. (2010, p. 180-192; 193-224)
Visit the ASC’s Online Documentation Guide for the requirements of particular types of sources.
Academic Skills Centre
Trent University
www.trentu.ca/academicskills
[email protected]