How to Do a Works Cited Page in APA Format

Writing

APA style refers to the specific written format for research, literature reviews, and other scholarly papers as set forth by the American Psychological Association. Although the American Psychological Association creates and publishes this set of rules for writing, students and professionals in areas outside of psychology are often asked to adhere to these guidelines. A works cited, or reference, page in this style must adhere to a specific format.

Things You'll Need

• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
• Computer
• Word processing program

Instructions

1. Title the page with the word "Reference." "Reference" should be the first line of text, centered, with only the first letter capitalized.

2. Write the works cited in alphabetical order starting with the last name of the author. If more than one author is given, use the last name of the first author as stated on the publication itself. Do not alter the author order for a single publication by alphabetizing. The order should remain exactly the same as seen on the published document that is being cited. Follow the last name with a comma, and then the author's first and middle name initials. Each initial should be followed by a period. Separate multiple authors with a comma.

3. Type the year of publication in parentheses.

4. Type the name of the journal article or book chapter with only the first letter of the first word capitalized. End the title with a period. Follow a colon that appears mid-title with a capital letter.

5. Add the journal or book title in italics. Book titles should only have the first letter of the first word capitalized, while journal titles should have each main word capitalized.

6. Follow a journal title with a comma and the journal volume and number (in parentheses) all in italics. Add another comma, and type the page numbers in standard font. Finish with a period. Book titles should be followed with the page numbers in parentheses. Add a period, and then type the publication city and state. Place a colon next to the state abbreviation and add the publishing company. Finish with a period.

Tips & Warnings

• The first line of each source being cited should be aligned with the left margin. Indent each subsequent line of the source one half inch to create a hanging indent.

• Place the reference list only at the end of the paper.

• If you are using multiple types of sources such as journal articles, online sources, or government reports make sure to consult the APA manual for specific format details.

• Sources such as websites, policy briefs, monographs, dissertations, and other non-book or article publications may have different format rules.

• If you are citing multiple sources, check first for agreement with the edited text. Do not reference sources that have been omitted, and do not exclude sources cited within the text.

• Look for recent updates of the APA style guidelines that may include important changes.

References

• "Publication Manual of the American Psychological Assoiciation"; 2001; American Psychological Association
• APA Style: What's New in the Sixth Edition

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Purdue University Online Writing Lab: APA Reference List