Basic Library Research Skills
Southern Utah University

APA Reference Examples

APA refers to the list of sources at the end of your paper as References. This is a list of the sources cited in the text of your research paper. The Reference list appears at the end of the paper, is double-spaced within and between sources, and is arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name. Sources without authors are arranged alphabetically by title (omitting any A, An, The) within the same list. The first line of each source is flush with the left margin; second and succeeding lines are indented ½ inch (or five typewriter spaces) from the left margin.

The following examples follow latest guides to APA style, the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Assocition. Fifth Edition. (SUU call number: BF76.7 .P83 2001), and the APA Style Guide to Electronic References. (SUU call number: PN171.A63 2007).

  1. APA Print Sources
    Book: one author
    Book: multiple authors
    Government author
    Encyclopedia article
    Encyclopedia article with author
    Newspaper article
    Magazine article
    Journal article
  2. APA Electronic Sources
    Online book
    Encyclopedia article from a subscription service
    Newspaper article from a subscription service
    Magazine article from a subscription service
    Journal article from a subscription service
    Website
    Article on Website


1. APA Print Sources

Book: one author

Barnes, F.R. (1998). The hand: How its use shapes the brain, language, and human culture. New York: Pantheon Press.

Book: multiple authors

Ford, D.Y., & Harris, J. (2003). Multicultural gifted education. New York: Teachers College.

Sloan, F. A., Stout, E. M., & Liang, L. (1993). Hysteria beyond Freud. Berkeley: U of California Press.

Government author

U.S. Census Bureau. (2008). Statistical abstract of the United States. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

Encyclopedia article

Mandarin. (2000). In The Encyclopedia Americana. (Vol. 18, pp. 224-225). Danbury: Grolier.

Encyclopedia article with author

Mohanty, J.M. (2003). Indian philosophy. In The New Encyclopaedia Britannica: Macropaedia. 15th ed. (Vol. 21, pp. 191-212). Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britanica.

Newspaper article

Abbott, S., & Simpson, J. (2002, April 3). Now playing: babes in cyberspace. Christian Science Monitor, Extra ed., p. C1.

Marines charged in assault case. (2003, February 14). Houston Chronicle, p. 6A.

Magazine article

Armstrong, L., Yang, D.J., & Cuneo, A. (2008, February 28). The learning revolution. Business Week, pp. 80-88.

Franklin, C. (2008, July-August). The creative personality. Psychology Today, pp. 36-40.

Journal article

Hallin, D.C. (2003). Sound bite news: Television coverage of elections." Journal of Communication, 42(2), 5-24.

Lindahl, K.M., et. al. "Observations of marital conflict and power: Relations with parenting in the triad." Journal of Marriage and the Family, 61, 320-330.

2. APA Electronic Sources

Online book

Baker, Phil. (2009). Why outsource? From concept to consumer: How to turn ideas into money (pp.67-79). Retrieved from Safari Books Online database.

Encyclopedia article from a subscription service

Austen, Jane. In Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 17, 2009 from http://www.xreferplus.com/entry/ebconcise/austen_jane

Howard, L. (1987). Zora Neale Hurston. In T. Harris (Ed). Dictionary of literary biography: Afro-American writers from the Harlem Renaissance to 1940. Retrieved January 26, 2009 from Literature Resource Center database.

Newspaper article from a subscription service

Seib, G.F. (2009, April 11). On green affairs, politics aren't all black and white. Wall Street Journal, Eastern ed., p. A.20. Retrieved April 23, 2009 from ProQuest Newspapers database.

Magazine article from a subscription service

Jost, K. (2009, June 17). Student rights. CQ Researcher, 19(21), 501-524. Retrieved June 17, 2009, from CQ Researcher database.

Kluger, J. (1996, February). Dr. Sigmund Doolittle. Discover, 17(2), 84-88. Retrieved April 1, 2009, from Academic Search Premier database.

Journal article from a subscription service

Guber, D.L. (2002). Voting preferences and the environment in the American electorate. Society & Natural Resources, 14(6), 455-469. Retrieved December 15, 2008 from Academic Search Premier database.

Thompson, M.D., & Riggs, R.O. (2000). Institutional expenditure patterns and the facilitation of mission. Community College Review, 27(4), 1-15. Retrieved February 12, 2009 from Education Full Text database.

Website

The Daily Utah Chronicle. (2006). University of Utah. Retrieved February 5, 2009 from http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com

Article on Website

Davidson, L. (2009, June 17). Bishop saves F-22 by one vote. Deseret News. Retrieved June 18, 2009, from http://www.deseretnews.com

Lubell, S. (2008, November 26). Of the sea and air and sky. New York Times. Retrieved December 1, 2008, from http://www.nytimes.com