This document provides an overview of APA citation style guidelines. It discusses font, spacing, running heads, numbers, headings, in-text citations, publisher location, references with many authors, long quotes, digital object identifiers, retrieval dates, citation generators, and contact information for citation help. Key points include using Times New Roman font, including the year in parenthetical citations in the same paragraph, listing the first 6 authors followed by ellipses if there are more than 7, and providing DOIs instead of URLs when available.

1. A Basic Citation Overview

2.  Font
 Times New Roman
 Spacing
 At ends of sentences, use two spaces after punctuation excluding reference citations, initials,
and abbreviations
 My name is Melissa. What is yours? I am fine.
 Running Head
 Is in header, left justified , all caps, and is on same line as page number throughout the paper
MY RUNNING HEAD 3
 Write out numbers expressing approximate lengths of time
 about five months ago
 Direct quotes from online material with no pagination
 Use “para.” not ¶
Place (2009) has suggested that “rocks are dumb”(para. 2).

3. Headings
5 levels
Centered, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading
Left Justified, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading
Indented, boldface, lowercase paragraph heading ending with a
period.
Indented, boldface, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading ending
with a period.
Indented, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading ending with a period.

4.  More detailed info regarding reducing bias
 Using the correct amount of specificity in writing when describing
populations and choosing terms carefully, such as “at risk”
 In-text citations
 If author’s name appears in the text, then any following
nonparenthetical references to that same author within the same
paragraph will not need the year; however, any following
parenthetical references within the same paragraph must include
the year
In 2009, Place felt that APA is very confusing. In later years, Place still feels the
same. Current data shows that APA causes confusion (Place, 2009).
 If both author’s name and the year appear in parentheses first, the
year must appear in any following citations within the same
paragraph
APA is very confusing (Place, 2009). In later years, Place (2009) still feels the same.
Current data shows that APA causes confusion (Place, 2009).

5.  Publisher Location
 Both city and state required for nonperiodical publisher information
 New York, NY
 Reference List for work with 6 or more authors
 7or less authors, list all authors in reference citation
 8 or more authors, list names of the first six authors, insert three ellipses, and then
add the last author’s name
Place, M.A., Zielstra. S.E., Borntrager, J.S., Gadberry, O., Greenbaum, R., Stuart, C.M., … Borntrager,
L.D. (2010). Why animals are fun. Van Buren, AR: Smith-Williams.
 Long quotes
 Direct quote of 40+ words – indent; no quotation marks; cite author, date, and page
numbers in parentheses; put parenthetical info after last punctuation of quote and no
punctuation follows the parenthesis
Borntrager (2009) believes that :
Dachshunds are, without a doubt, the smartest animals in the world. All other animals,
including humans should study the Dachshund to live a full life. Although cats appear to
be more clever, it truly is the Dachshund, aka Wienie dogs, who rule the homes and the
humans who are fortunate enough to reside with them. (p. 28)

6.  Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs)
 Affects periodicals and books obtained online
 DOI is meant to provide a consistent link to the
article’s location on the Internet
 If article contains a DOI, URL not needed
 If article does NOT contain DOI, URL needed

7. Author, A.A. (date). Title of article. Title of Journal,
volume(number), page numbers. doi: xx.xxxxxx
Matson, J., & Shoemaker, M. (2009). Intellectual
disability and its relationship to autism
spectrum disorders. Research in Developmental
Disabilities, 30(6), 1107-1114.
doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2009.

8.  Provide the home URL for the journal
Author, A.A. (date). Title of article. Title of Journal,
volume(number), page numbers. Retrieved from URL
Isaksen, J., & Holth, P. (2009). An operant approach to
teaching joint attention skills to children with autism.
Behavioral Interventions, 24(4), 215-236. Retrieved from
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/24375/h
ome

9.  Retrieval date is no longer needed unless the
source information may change over time
 Not necessary to provide the name of the
database from which the article was retrieved,
such as Academic Search Complete or
PsycINFO

10.  EasyBib
 Offers free automatic citation for MLA style only
 Responsible for proper capitalization
 Knight Cite
 Citation Machine
 BibMe
 Word 2007

11. Information borrowed from
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association,
6th edition. Second Printing: August 2009.
Augusta State University, College of Education, Department of
Educational Leadership, Counseling, and Special Education.
Changes in 2010 sixth edition of APA guidelines.
http://www.aug.edu/elcse/2010APAGuidelineChanges.pd
f
John P. Dugan. APA 6th edition: Notable changes and
additions. Loyola University Chicago
http://ocls.cmich.edu/APA%206th%20Edition%20CHANG
ES.pdf

12.  Melissa Place
 Phone: (956) 316-7046
 Email: placema@utpa.edu
 Reference department: (956) 381-2752