General Rules:
* Only the first word of the title and any proper nouns are capitalized.
* Article titles are in sentence case.
* Book titles are in title case (capitalize the first letter of each word, except for articles, prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions).
* Journal titles are in title case and italicized.
* Volume numbers are in Arabic numerals and italicized.
* Issue numbers are in Arabic numerals and are not italicized.
Examples:
Journal Article:
* Incorrect: *The Effects of Caffeine on Cognitive Performance*
* Correct: *The Effects of Caffeine on Cognitive Performance.*
Book:
* Incorrect: *Psychology: A Very Short Introduction*
* Correct: *Psychology: A Very Short Introduction*
Website:
* Incorrect: *APA Style Guide*
* Correct: APA Style Guide
Specific Examples:
* Article in a journal:
* Smith, J. A., & Jones, B. (2023). The impact of social media on mental health. *Journal of Social Psychology*, *123*, 45-67.
* Book:
* Brown, L. (2022). *The power of positive thinking*. New York, NY: Penguin Books.
* Chapter in an edited book:
* Green, D. (2021). The role of language in social interaction. In M. Smith & J. Brown (Eds.), *Communication and society* (pp. 123-145). New York, NY: Routledge.
* Website:
* American Psychological Association. (2023). *Publication manual of the American Psychological Association* (7th ed.). https://apastyle.apa.org/
Tips:
* Use a reference management software like Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote to help format your references correctly.
* Refer to the *Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association* (7th ed.) for the most up-to-date rules and examples.
* If you are still unsure, consult your professor or librarian for guidance.