APA (American Psychological Association) 6th is an author-date referencing style where you have an in-text citation and a related entry in a reference list at the end of your document.

APA 6th - social media

This example specifies the method of referencing posts to social networks such as Blogs, Facebook and Twitter. The title of the post is not italicised. 

If there is no year of publication use the abbreviation (n.d.) for no date.

Add a reference list at the end of your essay, citing all sources used in the body of your writing. The reference list should be in alphabetical order by the first author's surname.

An example reference list

See also: multiple works by the same author, one source cited in another, similar information from multiple works, abbreviations.

When you use another person’s ideas or words in your text include the author’s name and publication date.

If you use the author’s name as part of a sentence, include the date of publication in brackets.

When the author also has a screen name, in your text use the author's real name only, e.g. Kepnes not NomadicMatt.

• Reflects on issues as a mother and in particular reading and interpreting children’s books with an adult mindset (No Mum is an Island, 2012).

• Kepnes (2017) ponders on the changes to the Lonely Planet guide with the change of ownership.

See also: Multiple works by the same author, Similar information from multiple works, One source quoted in another

An example paragraph

See also: more on paraphrasing ...

Direct quotes of less than 40 words require quotation marks and the page number/s.

For direct quotations, where page numbers are not available, use a paragraph number, or if a large document use a section heading followed by the paragraph number.

Paragraph numbers

Note: If there are no paragraph numbers, count the paragraphs. Use para. in front of the number

• The differences of reading books as a child "don't quite retain that same magic upon rereading as an adult" (No Mum is an Island, 2012, para. 1).

• Kepnes (2017) discusses how Lonely Planet has “fallen from its perch as “the bible” for budget travellers (para. 6). 

Section headings

Note: Add the word section after the heading. If it is a long heading shorten it and put quotation marks around the heading

• Bolstad (2017) stated that "staff have worked together to develop a shared values base to underpin curriculum thinking" (A values-based curriculum section, para. 1).

 

 See also: more on quoting, including long quotes ...

This material is based on the Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (2010), the APA style guide to electronic references (2012) and the APA style blog. For further information, please consult the manuals directly.