All in-text references should be listed in the reference list at the end of your document. The purpose of the reference list entry is to contain all the information that a reader of your work needs to follow-up on your sources. An important principle in referencing is to be consistent.
When compiling your APA Reference List, you should:
- List references on a new page with a centred heading titled: References.
- Include all your references, regardless of format, e.g. books, journal articles, online sources, in one alphabetical listing from A - Z.
- Order entries alphabetically by surname of author(s).
- List works with no author under the first significant word of the title.
- Indent second and subsequent lines of each entry (5-7 spaces).
- Use double spacing.
- Note that all references in APA end with a full stop except when the reference ends with a URL or a DOI.
Journal article
A basic reference list entry for a journal article in APA must include:
- Author or authors. The surname is followed by first initials.
- Year of publication of the article (in round brackets).
- Article title.
- Journal title (in italics).
- Volume of journal (in italics).
- Issue of journal (no italics).
- Page range of article.
- DOI (presented as a hyperlink, for example https://doi.org/xxxxx).
- The first line of each citation is left adjusted. Every subsequent line is indented 5-7 spaces.
Example:
Ruxton, C. (2016). Tea: Hydration and other health benefits. Primary Health Care, 26(8), 34-42. https://doi.org/10.7748/phc.2016.e1162
Book
A basic reference list entry for a book from a library database in APA must include:
- Author or authors. The surname is followed by first initials.
- Year of publication of the book (in round brackets).
- Book title (in italics).
- Edition (in round brackets), if other than first edition.
- Publisher.
- DOI (where a book has a DOI this must be included, even if you are referring to a print book).
- The first line of each citation is left adjusted. Every subsequent line is indented 5-7 spaces.
Example: Arnott, G. D. (2017). The disability support worker (2nd ed.). Cengage Learning.
