APA Formatting for Citing Electronic Sources

Properly referencing electronic sources in APA format is crucial for academic integrity and ensuring accurate attribution of information in research papers, articles, and other scholarly works. This guide provides detailed instructions on citing electronic sources such as scholarly articles, websites, news articles, and ebooks according to APA's 7th edition guidelines.

General Guidelines:

1. Keep Records: Maintain a record of the exact URLs and relevant information for all electronic sources you use during your research.

2. Identify Source Type: Determine the type of electronic source, such as an online periodical article, website, news article, or ebook, as the format may differ.

3. Publication Date: Locate the date of publication, typically found near the top or bottom of the webpage. If unavailable, use "n.d." (no date).

4. Retrieval Date: According to APA 7th edition, the "Retrieved [date], from URL" statement is no longer necessary before DOIs and URLs. However, use this format for sources subject to updates or those without a publication date.

5. DOI or URL: Include the DOI (digital object identifier) hyperlink at the end of the citation when available. If there is no DOI, use the URL, but exclude it if the source is from a database.

6. Sentence Case: Capitalize only the first word and proper nouns in titles and headings.

7. Omit Periods: Do not include periods at the end of DOIs or URLs in APA citations.

Citing Different Electronic Sources:

Online Periodicals and Journal Articles:

Follow the format for print journal articles, adding the DOI or URL at the end of the citation.

Example:

Martin, A. B., & Smith, J. K. (2023). The impact of social media on mental well-being: A systematic review. Journal of Internet Psychology, 10(2), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/19372065221129286

Articles Retrieved from a Database:

Follow the format for online journal articles, but omit the URL if there is no DOI.

Example (with DOI):

Johnson, M. E., & Baker, A. J. (2021). The relationship between childhood trauma and adult depression: A meta-analysis. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 129(5), 456-468. https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000389

Example (without DOI, URL omitted):

White, J. L., & Black, S. R. (2019). The effects of exercise on cognitive function in older adults: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Aging Research, 2019, 1-10.

Websites or Webpages:

Use the following format for websites or webpages:

Author, A. A., Group, or Organization Name. (Year, Month Day of publication). Title of webpage or article. Website Name/Publisher/Parent Organization. URL

Example:

American Psychological Association. (2023, October 11). Electronic sources in APA style. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/electronic-sources

News:

For online news articles, follow the same format as for websites, but italicize the name of the publishing organization instead of the title of the article.

Example:

The New York Times. (2023, November 1). Supreme Court to hear case on affirmative action in college admissions. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/01/us/politics/supreme-court-affirmative-action.html

Online Guides, Government Reports, Fact Sheets:

Use the following format for online guides, government reports, and fact sheets:

Author, A. A., Group, or Organization. (Year, Month Day). Title of report (report number). Name of Organization/Parent Organization. URL

Example:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023, June 15). COVID-19 vaccines: What you need to know. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/keythingstoknow.html

Electronic Version of a Book:

Follow the format for print books with the addition of the DOI or URL at the end of the citation.

Example:

Smith, J. K. (2022). The psychology of happiness [Kindle Edition]. John Wiley & Sons. https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Happiness-John-Smith-ebook/dp/B098765432

Conclusion:

Properly citing electronic sources in APA format demonstrates scholarly rigor, fosters integrity in research, and acknowledges the original authors' work. By following these guidelines and format requirements, researchers, students, and academics can ensure accurate and consistent citations in their academic papers and scholarly publications.