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A complete guide to APA in-text citation (6th edition)

Published on November 4, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on May 19, 2022.

An APA in-text citation consists of the author’s last name and year of publication, for example: (Smith, 2020). When quoting , also include page numbers, for example (Smith, 2020, p.170).

Here’s what an in-text citation looks like in a sentence:

  • The author claims that “plagiarism is becoming a bigger problem” (Smith, 2014, p. 170) .
  • As Smith (2014) has shown, plagiarism is a serious issue for universities.
  • In 2014 , Smith found that plagiarism is becoming increasingly widespread.

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Table of contents, apa in-text citations with multiple authors, in-text citations explained in under 4 minutes, punctuation in apa in-text citations, when to include page numbers, apa in-text citations with lists, exceptions and missing information.

Multiple author names are separated using a comma. Only the final name in the list is preceded by an ampersand (“&”), for example: (Taylor, Johnson, & Parker, 2019) . Use “ et al .” to shorten in-text citations of sources with 6+ authors (first in-text citations) and 3+ authors (subsequent in-text citations), for example: (Taylor et al., 2019) .

Using “et al.” in APA in-text citations

Sources with three, four or five authors are shortened after the first citation. From the second citation onwards, include only the first author name followed by “et al.” (“and others”). Sources with six or more authors are always shortened, including in the first citation.

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citing a website in text apa 6th edition

  • When using the abbreviation “et al . ,” always include a period (“.”).
  • Include a comma between “et al.” and the publication date (e.g. Taylor et al., 2018).
  • There should be no punctuation between “et al.” and the author’s name preceding it.
  • The period ending the sentence always comes after the citation (even when quoting).

Never use an ampersand symbol (“&”) in the running text. Instead, use the full word “and.”

  • According to research by Taylor & Kotler … (2018).
  • Taylor and Kotler conclude … (2018).

Including the page number(s) in the in-text citation is required when quoting a source in APA . It is encouraged, but not required, when paraphrasing a source . Don’t include page numbers when referring to a work as a whole, e.g. “the study shows…”.

If the quote or paraphrase covers just one page, use “ p. 16. ” If it covers two or more pages, use a double ‘p’ followed by a page range (e.g.  pp. 16-18 ).

The in-text citation can be included in three different ways:

  • This is also confirmed by the business plan: “creating an APA Citation Generator is a lot of work but many students benefit from it” (Smith, 2014, pp. 14-15) .
  • Smith (2014) states: “making an APA Citation Generator is a lot of work but many students benefit from it” (pp. 14-15) .
  • In 2014 , Smith wrote: “making an APA Citation Generator is a lot of work but many students benefit from it” (pp. 14-15) .

Sources with no page numbers

When quoting a source that has no pages or page numbers, you can include a chapter or paragraph number instead.

If the source uses headings, cite the heading and the paragraph number following it. Long headings may be shortened, but then they should be enclosed in quotation marks.

  • (Johnson, 2019, Chapter 3)
  • (McCombes, 2016, para. 4)
  • (Smith, 2014, Conclusion, para. 2 )
  • (Streefkerk, 2019, “No Page Numbers,” para. 2)

If the cited list originates from one source, put the in-text citation after the last list item. If the list comes from several different sources, add the in-text citations after each list item.

  • Wired lifestyle
  • Time pressure
  • Risk aversion
  • Internet experience
  • Social interaction (Johnson, 2016, p. 18) .
  • Consumers experience greater risk for online purchases (Writers et al., 2016, p. 47) .
  • Young consumers experience no risk for online purchases (Porter, 2016, pp. 63-64) .

The basic APA guidelines are not applicable to every source. Information can be missing, confusing for the reader or simply different. The most common exceptions are listed below.

If the author is unknown, cite the first few words of the reference list entry instead (usually the title). Enclose the title in double quotation marks when citing an article, web page or book chapter. Italicize the title of periodicals, books, reports and brochures.

  • ( “U.S. Flood Risk Could Be Worse Than We Thought,”  2015)
  • ( Thinking, Fast and Slow , 2017)

For sources without a year of publication, use “n.d.” (no date) instead: (Johnson, n.d. ).

Multiple sources in the same parentheses

If you’re using multiple sources to support a statement, you can combine the in-text citations and separate them using semicolons. Order the sources alphabetically.

If you’re using multiple sources from the same author, you don’t have to repeat the author. Just add the other years and separate them with a comma.

Multiple publications from the same author(s) in the same year

To differentiate between two publications from the same author published in the same year, add a suffix after the publication year.

Repeated use of the same source

For citing the same source multiple times in a paragraph there are specific APA guidelines. The first mention should include the author and publication year. For subsequent mentions in the running text, you only have to include the author’s last name, not the year. However, citations in parentheses should always include the year.

Different authors with the same last name

To differentiate between two (or more) authors with the same last name, include the initials. This rule applies even if the year of publication is different.

Citing a source within a source (secondary source)

If you want to cite a source that you found in another source, you can do one of two things. First of all, you should try to find the original source ( primary source ). If you’re able to find it you can use regular APA guidelines.

If you are not able to find the primary source, you should cite it through the source that led you to it ( secondary source ). The in-text citation looks like this:

Note that you only need to include the publication year of the source you consulted (here Johnson).

Personal communication

Personal communication such as phone calls, emails and conversations are not cited in the reference list because they can’t be found anywhere. However, you should still cite them using an in-text citation.

Give the initials and the last name of the person you communicated with and provide as exact a date as possible.

Sales are declining in the second quarter  (P. G. Brown, personal communication, June 13, 2018).

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Streefkerk, R. (2022, May 19). A complete guide to APA in-text citation (6th edition). Scribbr. Retrieved April 2, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/6th-edition/archived-in-text-citation/

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Penn State University Libraries

Apa quick citation guide 6th edition.

  • In-text Citation
  • Citing Web Pages and Social Media
  • Citing Articles
  • Citing Books
  • Citing Business Reports
  • Other Formats
  • APA Style Quiz

Using In-text Citation

Include an in-text citation when you refer to, summarize, paraphrase, or quote from another source. For every in-text citation in your paper, there must be a corresponding entry in your reference list.

APA in-text citation style uses the author's last name and the year of publication, for example: (Field, 2005). For direct quotations, include the page number as well, for example: (Field, 2005, p. 14). For sources such as websites and e-books that have no page numbers , use a paragraph number. More information on citing sources without pagination is given on the APA Style web page .

Example paragraph with in-text citation

A few researchers in the linguistics field have developed training programs designed to improve native speakers' ability to understand accented speech (Derwing, Rossiter, & Munro, 2002; Thomas, 2004). Their training techniques are based on the research described above indicating that comprehension improves with exposure to non-native speech. Derwing et al. (2002) conducted their training with students preparing to be social workers, but note that other professionals who work with non-native speakers could benefit from a similar program.

Derwing, T. M., Rossiter, M. J., & Munro, M. J. (2002). Teaching native speakers to listen to foreign-accented speech.  Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 23(4), 245-259.

Thomas, H. K. (2004).  Training strategies for improving listeners' comprehension of foreign-accented speech  (Doctoral dissertation). University of Colorado, Boulder.

Citing Web Pages In Text

Cite web pages in text as you would any other source, using the author and date if known. If the author is not known, use the title and the date as the in-text citation (for long titles just use the first few words). Your in-text citation should lead your reader to the corresponding entry in the reference list. For sources with no date use n.d. (for no date) in place of the year: (Smith, n.d.). Below are examples of using in-text citation with web pages.

Web page with author:

In-text citation

Role-play can help children learn techniques for coping with bullying (Kraiser, 2011).

Reference entry

Kraizer, S. (2011). Preventing bullying. Retrieved from http://safechild.org/categoryparents/preventing-bullying/

Web page with no author:

The term Nittany Lion was coined by Penn State football player Joe Mason in 1904 ("All things Nittany," 2006).

All things Nittany. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.psu.edu/ur/about/nittanymascot.html

Web page with no date:

Establishing regular routines, such as exercise, can help survivors of disasters recover from trauma (American Psychological Association [APA], n.d.).

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Recovering emotionally from disaster. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/recovering-disasters.aspx

General Guidelines

In-text references should immediately follow the title, word, or phrase to which they are directly relevant, rather than appearing at the end of long clauses or sentences. In-text references should always precede punctuation marks. Below are examples of using in-text citation.

Author's name in parentheses:

One study found that the most important element in comprehending non-native speech is familiarity with the topic (Gass & Varonis, 1984).

Author's name part of narrative:

Gass and Varonis (1984) found that the most important element in comprehending non-native speech is familiarity with the topic.

Group as author: First citation: (American Psychological Association [APA], 2015) Subsequent citation: (APA, 2015)

Multiple works: (separate each work with semi-colons)

Research shows that listening to a particular accent improves comprehension of accented speech in general (Gass & Varonis, 1984; Krech Thomas, 2004).

Direct quote: (include page number and place quotation marks around the direct quote)

One study found that “the listener's familiarity with the topic of discourse greatly facilitates the interpretation of the entire message” (Gass & Varonis, 1984, p. 85).

Gass and Varonis (1984) found that “the listener’s familiarity with the topic of discourse greatly facilitates the interpretation of the entire message” (p. 85).

Note:  For direct quotations of more than 40 words , display the quote as an indented block of text without quotation marks and include the authors’ names, year, and page number in parentheses at the end of the quote. For example:

This suggests that familiarity with nonnative speech in general, although it is clearly not as important a variable as topic familiarity, may indeed have some effect. That is, prior experience with nonnative speech, such as that gained by listening to the reading, facilitates comprehension. (Gass & Varonis, 1984, p. 77)

Works by Multiple Authors

APA style has specific rules for citing works by multiple authors. Use the following guidelines to determine how to correctly cite works by multiple authors in text.

Note: When using multiple authors' names as part of your narrative, rather than in parentheses, always spell out the word and. For multiple authors' names within a parenthetic citation, use &.

One author: (Field, 2005)

Two authors: (Gass & Varonis, 1984)

Three to five authors: First citation: (Tremblay, Richer, Lachance, & Cote, 2010) Subsequent citations: (Tremblay et al., 2010)

Six or more authors: (Norris-Shortle et al., 2006)

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APA 6th Referencing Style Guide

  • APA referencing style
  • In-text citation
  • Reference list

Websites - types of

Webpages - html, pdfs and powerpoints - documents from websites, documents on blackboard, notes on the reference list, secondary citations.

  • TV, film & video
  • Tables, figures & images
  • Conferences
  • Personal communications
  • Lecture notes
  • Social media
  • Computer software & mobile applications
  • Legislation & cases
  • Standards & patents
  • Specific health examples
  • Exhibition catalogue

Reference format for websites:

  • The format description in brackets is used only when the format is something out of the ordinary, such as a blog post or lecture notes, otherwise it is not necessary.

In-text citations guide  

Documents on websites:

  • HTML webpage
  • YouTube video
  • Other forms of social media, etc.
  • First, decide what kind of document is on the website.
  • Then look below for guidance on how to reference it.

Citing an entire website:  

In-text citation:

  • Give the address of the site in your writing only, i.e. as an in text citation.

Date of retrieval

  • Generally, if a webpage could change do include the date you retrieved it
  • html websites are likely to change or be updated → do usually include a date of retrieval
  • PDF documents are not likely to change  → don't include a date of retrieval.

Webpage – author, no date

Reference list entry:

Webpage –  corporate author

Webpage – no author

Press release

  • PDF documents are not likely to change → don't include a date of retrieval

PDF on a web site

Annual report on a web site

  • For an annual report from a database - see Reports tab

PowerPoint slides available online

  • AUT Library recommends that you refer to a variety of academic resources when researching your assignments and not rely solely upon course notes 

Lectures or course notes in Blackboard

PowerPoints in Blackboard

In-text citiation:

Your own notes from a lecture or class

  • Treat these as personal communications in text.
  • Your notes can't be retrieved by someone else so don't include them as an entry in your reference list.
  • AUT Library recommends that students use a wide range of academic sources and not rely upon Wikipedia for their research

Wiki site - no date

 • APA Style blog:  How to cite from a wiki

A reference list only lists the sources you have referred to in your writing.  

The purpose of the reference list is to allow your sources to be be found by your reader. It also gives credit to authors whose work and ideas you have considered.  All references cited in the text must appear in the reference list, except for personal communications (such as conversations or emails) which cannot be retrieved.  

A bibliography is different from a reference list as it lists all the sources used during your research and background reading, not just the ones you refer to in your writing.  

Reference list example

A secondary citation is where you are citing information or quotes the author of your reference has taken from source that you have not read.

  • Name the author of the original work in your text, cite the secondary source in in-text citation: (as cited in ..., 1993)

Reference list entry: 

  • Give the secondary source in the reference list.
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APA 6th Edition Citation Style

  • APA 6th Edition Guide
  • Annual Report
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  • Article, Journal (without DOI)
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  • Video, Online
  • No Author / No Date

Document Example:

Proper Bibliographic Reference Format:

  • Bibliographic references are double-spaced and indented half an inch after the first line.
  • If there is no author, the article title comes first.
  • If there is no date, use the abbreviation n.d.
  • It is no longer necessary to include the date of retrieval unless the source material may change over time (e.g., Wikis).

United Arab Emirates architecture. (n.d.). Retrieved June 17, 2010, from UAE Interact website: http://www.uaeinteract.com/

In-Text Citations:

  • Citations are placed in the context of discussion using the author’s last name and date of publication.
  • When a work has no identified author, cite in text the first few words of the article title using double quotation marks, “headline-style" capitalization, and the year.

(“United Arab Emirates Architecture,” n.d.)

  • Alternatively, you can integrate the citation into the sentence by means of narrative.
  • There must be a total match between the reference list and the parenthetical citation, so the article title must stand in place of an author’s name in the essay.

“United Arab Emirates Architecture” (n.d.) describes building materials used in early settlements.

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Carl S. Swisher Library at Jacksonville University

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APA Guide 6th ed.

In-text citations.

  • Formatting the Author
  • Citing a Book or eBook
  • Citing Part of a Book or eBook
  • Citing a Journal Article
  • Citing a Magazine or Newspaper Article
  • Citing Interviews, Emails, etc.
  • Citing a Website Article
  • Citing an Online Video
  • More In-text Examples
  • Helpful Information
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  • APA Resources
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What are In-text Citations?

If you quote, paraphrase or summarize a source in your paper, it needs to be cited in the text. An in-text citation contains just enough information to help the reader find the source in the references list. A typical in-text citation will include author(s) and the year the source was published.  Include page numbers if citing a specific part of the source.  Place the citation as close as possible to the information you are citing.

Typical In-text Citation with One Author ( APA Manual , p. 174)

Place the author's last name and the year, separated by a comma, in parenthesis. If the in-text citation lands at the end of a sentence, place the period outside the parenthesis. 

Example 1: Electronic Health Records can improve patient satisfaction (Taylor, 2018). or Example 2: Taylor (2018) discussed how Electronic Health Records can improve patient satisfaction.

Two Authors ( APA Manual , p. 175)

When a source has two authors, cite both names every time the reference occurs.  U se an ampersand (&) between the names in the parenthesis.  Use "and" when referring to the authors in the text of your paper.   Be sure to include both names every time you cite the source. 

Example 1: Nurses that work long hours are more prone to cognitive errors (Smith & Jones, 2018). or Example 2: Smith and Jones (2018) also discovered that nurses that work long hours are more prone to cognitive errors.

Three to Five Authors ( APA Manual , p. 175)

When a source has three, four, or five authors, cite all authors the first time the reference occurs; in subsequent citations, include only the last name of the first author followed by "et al." and the year if it is the first citation of the reference within a paragraph.  For the second and any subsequent citations, list the first author followed by et al. (Latin for "and others").

Example 1st time source is referenced: A heavy workload can lead to nurse burnout and decreased patient satisfaction (Adams, Smith, & Jones, 2018).

Example for subsequent citations: Adams et al. (2018) discovered that in an acute care setting, a high nurse to patient ratio can lead to nurse burnout and an increased risk of patient infection. OR In an acute care setting, a high nurse to patient ratio can lead to nurse burnout and an increased risk of patient infection (Adams et al., 2018).

Six or More Authors ( APA Manual , p. 175)

When a source has six or more authors, cite only the first author's last name, followed by et al.

Example 1:   A high nurse to patient ratio can lead to adverse patient outcomes (Jackson et al., 2019). or Example 2: Jackson et al. (2019) discovered that a high nurse to patient ratio can lead to adverse patient outcomes.

No Author / Anonymous Author ( APA Manual , p. 176)

When a work has no author, cite in text the first few words of the reference list entry (usually the title) and the year.  Follow the same format as the references list (t itles that are italicized in the reference list are italicized in text; titles that are not italicized in the reference list appear in quotation marks.)  Unlike the reference page, the main words of the title should be capitalized. If there is no date, use “n.d.” (without quotation marks) instead.

Example of a book with no author given:   ( Mosby's Medical Dictionary , 2016)

Example of a journal article with no author given:   ("Intrusive Thoughts, Impulses, and Schizoaffective Disorder," 2019).

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ZSR Library

Apa 6th ed. style guide: citing sources in text.

  • Getting Started
  • Scholarly Journal Articles
  • Books & Reports
  • Newspapers & Magazines
  • Web Sources & Multimedia
  • Legal Sources
  • Citing Sources in Text
  • Formatting an APA Paper
  • APA Sample Paper This link opens in a new window

The table below provides examples of how to cite your sources in text, whether you use the author's name as part of the narrative or you include the citation information in parentheses (called a parenthetical citation ). For more information, refer to sections 6.11-21 of the APA Style Manual , 6th edition.  

Frequently Asked Questions about In-Text Citation: 

How do I cite a direct quote? (6.03)

When quoting, always provide the author, year, and specific page number. If the work doesn't have pages, use a paragraph number instead. If the quotation is less than 40 words, incorporate it into the text and enclose it with double quotation marks. If the quotation appears in mid-sentence, include the author(s) and year the sentence, and include the page number in parentheses after the quote. 

Robbins et al. (2003) suggested that the "therapists in dropout cases may have inadvertently validated parental negativity about the adolescent without adequately responding to the adolescent's needs or concerns" (p. 541), contributing to an overall climate of negativity. 

If the quotation appears at the end of the sentence, include the author(s) and year with the page number in parentheses after the quote. 

Confusing this issue is the overlapping nature of roles in palliative care, whereby "medical needs are met by those in the medical disciplines; nonmedical needs may be addressed by anyone on the team" (Csikai & Chaitin, 2006, p. 112). 

For help citing block quotations, see section 6.03 of the APA Manual.

What if the work doesn't have an author? (6.15)

In text, use the first few words of the reference list entry (usually the title) and the year. Use double quotation marks around the title of an article, chapter, or web page and italicize the title of a periodical, book, brochure, or report: 

("Study Finds," 2016) 

the report  Mental Health and College Students  (2017)

How do I cite more than one source in the same parentheses? (6.16)

In some cases, you may want to cite more than one source as evidence (in a literature review, for example). In that case, order the citations in the same order in which they appear in the reference list, separated by semicolons. If citing more than one work by the same author, order them by year of publication, separated by commas. 

(Fischer et al., 2011; Hasan, 2017; Polman et al., 2008)

(Drapalski, 2016, 2018)

How do I cite an indirect (secondary) source? (6.17)

An indirect or secondary source is one that is cited in another person's work. Whenever possible, find and cite the original work. In some cases, however, the original work may be unavailable, and so you must rely on the secondary citation. However, use this type of source sparingly! Consult a librarian for help finding the original source if needed. Provide the secondary source in the reference list, NOT the original source; in text, name the original work and give the citation for the secondary source (listed in your reference list): 

Gunderson's research (as cited in Kuthrapali, 2017) 

How do I cite a personal communication? (6.20)

Cite personal communications such as emails, letters, telephone conversations, personal interviews, etc. in the text only. Since you can't provide retrieval information for these sources, they are not included in the reference list. Gie the initials as well as the surname of the communicator, and provide as exact a date as possible for when the communication occurred: 

N.D. Tyson (personal communication, June 10, 2017)

(M. Gillespie, personal communication, May 15, 2018)

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APA Style 6th Edition: Citing Your Sources

Apa 6th edition, what is the purpose of a citation, quick links.

  • In Text Quick View
  • Block Quotes
  • Books & eBooks
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APA Publications in the Library

citing a website in text apa 6th edition

This guide pertains to the 6th edition of the APA Manual.

What is the purpose of citations?

Citations help readers locate your sources. They help to continue the scholarly conversation. To learn more about how citations can help you avoid plagiarism, view this interactive tutorial: 

USC Library Lessons: Avoiding Plagiarism through Citations

When considering citations and references for your papers, you can ask yourself, "could someone find this information in the future?"

A client's personal file would not need a citation because your reader cannot go find that information again.  Census statistics would require a citation because your reader could go locate that information again.

APA requires FOUR ELEMENTS of every citation:

  • Who- Author of content
  • When- Date content was published
  • What- Title of content
  • Where- Publication information . This can be the website you got it from or the journal or book's publication information.

If any of the elements listed above are unavailable, check out "Missing pieces: How to write an APA style reference even without all the information" from APA Style Blog for more information.

USC login required

  • APA Style Blog
  • Owl at Purdue Popular guide for APA. Use the navigation links on the left-hand side of the page.
  • Organizing Your Social Science Research Paper Writing guide to help you develop and organize a quality research paper for any class in the social sciences.
  • Sample Paper Sample paper provided by APA. For every style rule, there is a comment highlighted in the paper that tells you where to find the discussion of the rule in the APA Style Manual.
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citing a website in text apa 6th edition

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APA 6th Edition Website Citation – Format With Examples

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Citing a website properly in APA style in the 6th edition format is an essential part of maintaining academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism . Website citations give credit to the authors of the original content and provide readers with information to locate the source material. However, websites can often lack specific information (like the author or date), where adjustments might be necessary. This article discusses the various types of formatting of APA 6th edition website citation.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

  • 1 APA 6th Edition Website Citation – In a Nutshell
  • 2 Definition: APA 6th edition website citation
  • 3 APA 6th edition website citation
  • 4 APA 6th edition website citation: Online articles
  • 5 APA 6th edition website citation: No author
  • 6 APA 6th edition website citation: No date
  • 7 APA 6th edition website citation: Social media

APA 6th Edition Website Citation – In a Nutshell

Here are some key things you should know about APA 6th edition website citation guidelines:

  • APA 6th edition website citation includes the author, date of publication, page title, and URL.
  • You can begin the APA 6th edition website citation with the article title if there is no author.
  • If the page is likely to change with time, the APA 6th edition website citation rules require you to add a retrieval date.
  • Furthermore, the APA 6th edition website citation manual dictates that, if you are citing an online variant of a print publication like a newspaper or paper, you use the same style as print with the URL at the end.

Definition: APA 6th edition website citation

APA 6th edition website citation typically includes information such as the author, publication date, page or article title, and URL if you cite an online version of a print publication. See the various types of sources below with examples for general format guidelines according to the APA 6th edition website citation manual.

Blog post APA 6th edition website citation:

Webpage APA 6th edition website citation:

Newspaper article APA 6th edition website citation :

APA 6th edition website citation

According to the APA 6th edition website citation manual, you can refer to a website in your text. In such a case, a URL in parentheses after the site name would be sufficient.

One of the most famous social media platforms, Twitter (https://twitter.com) allows users to share unfiltered options.

APA 6th edition website citation: Online articles

The APA 6th edition website citation guidelines for online article citations differ depending on the article’s source. See the guidelines below:

Articles from blogs

The general APA 6th edition website citation format for blog posts features the words “blog post” and the URL .

William, B. (2021, August 20). Social Media and Intelligence: All you need to know [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://conduct.com/2021/8/10/social-media-and-intelligence-all-you-need-to-know/

Articles from online versions of magazines and newspapers

All online versions of print publications like newspapers are usually cited the same way as their print versions. Note that the citation requires the homepage URL and not the specific article.

McCarthy, M. (2015, May 24). The art of compassion. The New York Times . Retrieved from https://www.thenewyorktimes.com/

Other online articles

According to the APA 6th edition website citation guidelines, this citation should include a direct URL link to the article instead of the general website.

Gates, J. (2022, May 24). Twitter loses over a billion dollars. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/business-1092838

APA 6th edition website citation: No author

The general citation format includes the author’s name . However, some websites do not list their authors. In this case, the author’s name in the in-text citation format can be replaced with the article or page title .

APA 6th edition website citation: No date

Some websites or articles do not list their publication date. When citing such sources, you should replace the date with “n.d.”  meaning “no date.” If the online source is likely to change, it would be wise to include the date you accessed it.

APA 6th edition website citation: Social media

The APA 6th edition website citation manual for website citation does not offer specific instructions for citing social media content. Instead, the 7th edition covers this area. The rule here is to use the first twenty words of the post as a title in italics.

Marco, B. (2022, May 15). Last week the ministry of foreign affairs issued a statement on the future of the department. Instagram. https://bit.IIy.01i0iki

According to the APA 6th Edition Website Citation manual, you can use the user name in the citation instead of the real name.

Ireland

How is a website with no date stated cited?

If a website’s date is not mentioned, you can replace it with the term “n.d.” meaning “no date.”

What should you include in APA 6th edition website citations?

APA website citations should include the author , publication date , page or article title , and URL.

What should you do when citing online versions of newspapers or magazines?

The basic format for citing online versions of print publications includes the URL at the end of the other standard content in APA website citation.

How should you cite a specific page or article from a website?

Any specific page or article citations should include a formal in-text citation and an entry in the reference list page .

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APA Style (6th Edition)

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  • APA Citation Generator

Free APA Citation Generator

Generate citations in APA format quickly and automatically, with MyBib!

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🤔 What is an APA Citation Generator?

An APA citation generator is a software tool that will automatically format academic citations in the American Psychological Association (APA) style.

It will usually request vital details about a source -- like the authors, title, and publish date -- and will output these details with the correct punctuation and layout required by the official APA style guide.

Formatted citations created by a generator can be copied into the bibliography of an academic paper as a way to give credit to the sources referenced in the main body of the paper.

👩‍🎓 Who uses an APA Citation Generator?

College-level and post-graduate students are most likely to use an APA citation generator, because APA style is the most favored style at these learning levels. Before college, in middle and high school, MLA style is more likely to be used. In other parts of the world styles such as Harvard (UK and Australia) and DIN 1505 (Europe) are used more often.

🙌 Why should I use a Citation Generator?

Like almost every other citation style, APA style can be cryptic and hard to understand when formatting citations. Citations can take an unreasonable amount of time to format manually, and it is easy to accidentally include errors. By using a citation generator to do this work you will:

  • Save a considerable amount of time
  • Ensure that your citations are consistent and formatted correctly
  • Be rewarded with a higher grade

In academia, bibliographies are graded on their accuracy against the official APA rulebook, so it is important for students to ensure their citations are formatted correctly. Special attention should also be given to ensure the entire document (including main body) is structured according to the APA guidelines. Our complete APA format guide has everything you need know to make sure you get it right (including examples and diagrams).

⚙️ How do I use MyBib's APA Citation Generator?

Our APA generator was built with a focus on simplicity and speed. To generate a formatted reference list or bibliography just follow these steps:

  • Start by searching for the source you want to cite in the search box at the top of the page.
  • MyBib will automatically locate all the required information. If any is missing you can add it yourself.
  • Your citation will be generated correctly with the information provided and added to your bibliography.
  • Repeat for each citation, then download the formatted list and append it to the end of your paper.

MyBib supports the following for APA style:

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Daniel is a qualified librarian, former teacher, and citation expert. He has been contributing to MyBib since 2018.

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  1. APA 6th Edition

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  2. APA 6th Edition

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  3. Citing Online Sources in APA Style for Your References Page

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  4. APA 6th edition referencing. Part 1: In text citation

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  5. APA 6th Edition

    citing a website in text apa 6th edition

  6. How to Properly Cite a Web Article in APA

    citing a website in text apa 6th edition

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COMMENTS

  1. A complete guide to APA in-text citation (6th edition)

    Include a comma between "et al." and the publication date (e.g. Taylor et al., 2018). There should be no punctuation between "et al." and the author's name preceding it. The period ending the sentence always comes after the citation (even when quoting). Never use an ampersand symbol ("&") in the running text.

  2. Websites

    Provide guidance on the APA format style based on the 6th edition of the APA Publication Manual. ... Websites; Search this Guide Search. APA Style 6th Edition: Citing Your Sources. Provide guidance on the APA format style based on the 6th edition of the APA Publication Manual. Basics of APA Formatting; In Text Citations Toggle Dropdown. In Text ...

  3. In-text Citation

    If the author is not known, use the title and the date as the in-text citation (for long titles just use the first few words). Your in-text citation should lead your reader to the corresponding entry in the reference list. For sources with no date use n.d. (for no date) in place of the year: (Smith, n.d.). Below are examples of using in-text ...

  4. In-Text Citations: The Basics

    When using APA format, follow the author-date method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the year of publication for the source should appear in the text, like, for example, (Jones, 1998). One complete reference for each source should appear in the reference list at the end of the paper.

  5. APA Formatting and Style Guide (6th Edition)

    APA Stylistics: Basics; APA Headings and Seriation; APA PowerPoint Slide Presentation; APA Sample Paper; APA Tables and Figures 1; APA Tables and Figures 2; APA Abbreviations; Numbers in APA; Statistics in APA; APA Classroom Poster; APA Changes 6th Edition; General APA FAQs; Suggested Resources Style Guide Overview MLA Guide APA Guide Chicago ...

  6. Library Guides: APA 6th Referencing Style Guide: Websites

    Use for 2 - 6 authors, use & before the final author. One author, two publications. Order by year of publication, the earlier one first. Same year of publication for both - add 'a' and 'b' after the year, inside the brackets. Include this in the in text citation. example: Baheti, J. R. (2001a).

  7. APA Style 6th Edition Blog: Writing Website In-Text Citations and

    Note: For examples and guidelines for in-text citations and references in seventh edition APA Style, see the seventh edition style and grammar guidelines page and the seventh edition reference examples page.. The examples here are in sixth edition APA Style. Dear Style Expert, I found a very useful website and cited a lot of information from it in my paper.

  8. In Text Citations

    APA follows an author and date of publication model for citing sources in your research paper and are presented as either narrative or parenthetical citations. The formatting does not vary due to format type, however it may deviate from the norm due to factors such as: number of authors, organization instead of individual author, lack of author, or lack of date.

  9. Website

    When a work has no identified author, cite in text the first few words of the article title using double quotation marks, "headline-style" capitalization, and the year. ("United Arab Emirates Architecture," n.d.) Alternatively, you can integrate the citation into the sentence by means of narrative. There must be a total match between the ...

  10. Swisher Library: APA Guide 6th ed.: In-text Citations

    An in-text citation contains just enough information to help the reader find the source in the references list. A typical in-text citation will include author (s) and the year the source was published. Include page numbers if citing a specific part of the source. Place the citation as close as possible to the information you are citing.

  11. APA Style 6th Edition Blog: Websites

    Note: For examples and guidelines for in-text citations and references in seventh edition APA Style, see the seventh edition style and grammar guidelines page and the seventh edition reference examples page.. The examples here are in sixth edition APA Style. Dear Style Expert, I found a very useful website and cited a lot of information from it in my paper.

  12. Quick Answers—References (6th edition)

    Publication Manual (6th ed., sections 6.01-6.21, pp. 169-179) From the APA Style website: How do you cite two or more references within the same parentheses? From the APA Style Blog: Writing In-Text Citations in APA Style. Happy Holiday Citing: Citation of Classical Works. The Proper Use of Et Al. in APA Style. Rising Citation Trick

  13. APA 6th ed. Style Guide: Citing Sources in Text

    The table below provides examples of how to cite your sources in text, whether you use the author's name as part of the narrative or you include the citation information in parentheses (called a parenthetical citation ). For more information, refer to sections 6.11-21 of the APA Style Manual, 6th edition. Type of Citation. First citation in text.

  14. APA Style 6th Edition: Citing Your Sources

    Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association by American Psychological Association Staff The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association is the style manual of choice for writers, editors, students, and educators in the social and behavioural sciences. It provides invaluable guidance on all aspects of the writing process, from the ethics of authorship to the ...

  15. APA 6th Edition Website Citation ~ Format With Examples

    Here are some key things you should know about APA 6th edition website citation guidelines: APA 6th edition website citation includes the author, date of publication, page title, and URL. You can begin the APA 6th edition website citation with the article title if there is no author. If the page is likely to change with time, the APA 6th ...

  16. APA Changes 6th Edition

    Summary: APA (American Psychological Association) style is most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences. This resource, revised according to the 6 th edition, second printing of the APA manual, offers examples for the general format of APA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the reference page. For more information, please consult the Publication Manual ...

  17. APA Style (6th Edition)

    Suggested Resources. Style Guide Overview MLA Guide APA Guide Chicago Guide OWL Exercises. Purdue OWL. Research and Citation. APA Style (6th Edition) APA Style (6th Edition)

  18. Free APA Citation Generator [Updated for 2024]

    Updated with APA 7th Edition! Generate APA style citations quickly and accurately with our FREE APA citation generator. Enter a website URL, book ISBN, or search with keywords, and we do the rest! Updated with APA 7th Edition! ... In-text citation: (Hamer, 1996, p. 100) Penn Medicine. (2015, June 1). Penn's Nurse Midwife Program.