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How to Create a Citation in APA Format

When you write a report or produce an informative paper, you must cite your sources appropriately to give credit where credit is due. The American Psychological Association (APA) format is one system of citation you can use, specifically preferred for topics involving the social sciences. Citations include information such as the publication's name, title of the article, the author's name, and date of publication.

Instructions

- 1
  List the author's last name, a comma and then his first initial. For example, a citation for an article published by John James would begin a with James, J. Place a period after the first initial.
- 2
  Write the date of publication in parenthesis after the author. If the author wrote the article in 2008, the citation extends to James, J. (2008).
- 3
  Write the title of the article after the author and date. An article titled "Learning APA Style" expands the citation to James, J. (2008) Learning APA Style. If there is no author listed for the article, list the date after the title instead of before it.
- 4
  Add the name of the publication in italics after the title. An article from "Time" magazine, extends to James, J. (2008) Learning APA Style. Time (with "Time" in italics; not shown here).
- 5
  Place a comma after the publication, and list the page if applicable. An article on Page 50 completes the citation -- James, J. (2008) Learning APA Style. Time, p. 50.

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