APA Style Guide

What is it?

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 5th ed. Washington: American Psychological Association, 2001.

Where can I find a copy?

• Cooper Library Reference Desk  

• Cooper Library Reference (BF 76.7 .P83 2001 )

APA also sponsors a web site, Electronic References, which deals with how to cite electronic sources.

Who should use it?

• Students whose professors require APA style.

• Scholars writing on psychology or behavioral sciences.

• Scholars in the social sciences.

How to cite works in the body of your paper using the APA style:

APA style uses in-text parenthetical citations – that is, you document each quote, paraphrase, etc., in the text of your paper, using parentheses. 

 

No footnotes are used in this style. 

 

Each parenthetical citation refers to a complete citation found in the list of references at the end of the paper. Unless otherwise indicated, on-line sources follow the same pattern as print versions. 

For examples, see the Duke University Libraries' APA In-Text Parenthetical Citations.

How to cite works in the reference list at the end of your paper using APA style:

APA style includes a complete list of all references at the end of the paper. 

Each parenthetical citation in the text should refer to a work in the list of references. Each kind of work is cited in its own way; for details, see the Duke University Libraries' Assembling a List of Works Cited.

Have more questions?

For up-to-date information on citing electronic sources, go to the APA's Style Guide or Online! A Reference Guide to Using Internet Sources.

For citing government documents, consult the current edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, available at the Cooper Library Reference Desk. 

If you have further questions, consult the Librarians at the Cooper or Architecture Library Reference Desks.