APA format is a well-known citation format that features a clear set of guidelines for listing sources that use author information. Reference lists differ according to the number of authors to whom the reference is attributed.
Before making your reference page for your academic work, it is very important to know how to properly list your sources such as books, articles in APA format. Below are the guidelines that can definitely help you write your reference list in the correct APA format.
No author:
Any source that does not provide an author attribution must begin with the given title of the work being cited. If, for example, the title is a book, remember to include the title first in italics. Volume number and page numbers should follow article titles, while book titles should be followed by the location and name of the publisher.
Examples:
A student’s guide to APA formatting. (2012). Weekly Psychology, 9, 15-30.
The ultimate guide in APA format. (2011). Hartford, CT: Student Press.
Sole author:
Works written by a single author must include the author’s last name and initials. The publication date must be in parentheses and must be followed by the title of the article or book. Book and journal titles should be in italics. Volume number and article page numbers should follow journal titles, while book titles should be followed by the location and name of the publisher.
Examples:
McDocart, R.R. (2003). Moderate analyzes of the longitudinal stability of personality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 66, 677-685.
Flags, A. (3005). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Two Authors:
Papers written by two authors should list the last names and first initials separated by an ampersand (&). These names should also be followed by the publication date in parentheses. If, for example, the paper is the title of a journal, the article title should immediately follow the publication date. Next, the title of the book or journal should be in italics. If the reference is a journal article, provide the volume number and page numbers. For books, indicate the location and name of the publisher.
Examples:
Kanfder, F.H. & Buseymeyer, J.R. (2002). The use of problem solving and decision making in behavior therapy. Clinical Psychology Review, 2, 249-266.:
Fuss, A. H. and Domin, R. (1975). A temperament theory of personality development. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
From three to seven authors:
Works by three to seven authors must include the surnames and first initials of each author separated by an ampersand. The name of the authors must be followed by the date of publication in parentheses.
If the source is a journal article, provide the title of the article immediately after the publication date. The title of the book or journal must be provided in italics. If the source is a journal article, indicate the volume number and page numbers. For books, provide the location and name of the publisher.
Examples:
Adma, JC, Chondra, A., Masher, WD, Patarson, LS, and Poccinino, LJ (2000). Conception, family planning, and women’s health: New data from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth. Vital and Health Statistics, 24(9), 1-67.
Alber, S., Schlose, PJ, Ptscheidt, SK, and McFarlane, CA (1995). Inclusion: Are we abandoning or helping students? Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
More than seven authors:
If a work has more than seven authors, the citation is written by listing the names of all six authors followed by … and then the final author. The rest of the reference follows the same APA format as for seven or fewer authors.
The last names and initials of the authors are followed by the date of publication in parentheses. The name of the article is provided immediately after the publication date. The journal title of the book title should be in italics. The volume number and page numbers should follow the titles of the journals, while the title of the books should be followed by the location and name of the publisher.
Examples:
Brown CP, Arlo ST, Rechit R, Machlen JP, Sempson K, Bee AL,… Smith RK (1999). Citing seven or more authors in APA format. APA Style and Format Magazine, 1745-75.
Brown CP, Arlo ST, Rechit R, Machlen JP, Sempson K, Bee AL,… Clark SP (2001). APA format for psychology students.. Newark, NJ: Prentice Hall.