In-text citation
Cite the author's surname and the year of publication in parentheses, or work the author's name into your sentence with the year in parentheses.
Research suggests that daily journalling improves working memory (Smyth, 2021).
Direct quote: "Journalling creates a cognitive offloading effect that frees up mental capacity" (Smyth, 2021, p. 47).
References
Start the list on a new page with the centred heading "References." Use a hanging indent (first line flush left, following lines indented 0.5 in) and sort entries alphabetically by the first author's surname.
| Source type | Example citation |
|---|---|
| Book | Smyth, J. M. (2021). The cognitive journal: Writing for mental clarity. Academic Press. |
| Journal article (with DOI) | Garcia, L., & Park, S. (2024). Sleep deprivation and academic performance in first-year students. Journal of Educational Psychology, 116(3), 441–458. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000987 |
| Edited book chapter | Williams, C. (2023). Metacognition in higher education. In B. Clarke & D. Park (Eds.), Handbook of learning science (pp. 114–138). Sage. |
| Website | American Psychological Association. (2023, March 15). Understanding your learning style. https://www.apa.org/topics/learning |
Key formatting rules
- Use "et al." from the very first in-text citation once a source has three or more authors.
- Use an ampersand (&) inside parentheses, but "and" when the authors' names appear in running text.
- No retrieval date is needed for most webpages — only for content likely to change, such as a wiki.
- List up to 20 authors in a reference entry before switching to "et al."
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using "et al." only after the sixth author — that was the APA 6 rule; APA 7 uses it from the first citation for 3+ authors.
- Forgetting the hanging indent on the reference list.
- Adding a retrieval date to every website, even ones that don't change.
- Mixing "&" and "and" inconsistently between parenthetical and narrative citations.
Want more detail? Read the full APA 7th Edition Citation Guide: Rules, Examples, and Common Formats.