APA Formatting - How to Create a Reference List in APA Style

In your APA Style thesis or dissertation, the referenceeconomy [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from (website
list provides an alphabetical listing of all the sources youaddress)
used to create your paper. When creating an APAGOVERNMENT DOCUMENT. Because such a
Style reference list, which some people call adocument usually doesn't include an author, list the
bibliography, you have to follow specific APAgovernmental division in the alphabetical list.
formatting rules, depending on the type of source* Department of the Treasury. (2005). Economic
involved.growth forecast, 2006-2010 (Publication number
First, let's discuss some basic rules about the2005-10-0032). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government
reference list.Printing Office.
AUTHORS. List the author's last name, followed by thePERIODICALS. When using a magazine or newspaper
initials. If you have more than one author for a source,as a source, list the author, date of publication, article
list each one individually, until you've listed the sixthtitle, name of the periodical, and page numbers used.
author, then use "et al." for any subsequent authors.* Johnson, J. T. (2006, November 29). Governments
When listing more than one author, use an ampersandinvest in technology. New York Times, p. B1.
(&) instead of the word "and" ahead of the finalA journal requires slightly different formatting. Be sure
author in the list.to include the issue number in italics ahead of the page
INDENTION. After the first line of each source, indentnumber(s).
each subsequent line about one-half inch, creating a* Johnson, J. T. (2005). Technology controls local
hanging indention for each source.economies. Journal of Economic Growth, 7, 423-427.
ORDERING. Alphabetize the entire list by the authors'VIDEO. If citing a movie as a source, list the producer,
last names. If you have more than one source from andirector, date of publication, title, country of origin, and
author, list the earliest source first.studio.
PUNCTUATION. Capitalize all major words in the titles* David, L., Bender, L., & Burns, S. Z. (Producers),
of the works that you're citing for journals, but notGuggenheim, D. (Director). (2005). An inconvenient truth
books. With longer pieces of works, such as books[Motion picture]. United States: Paramount Classics.
and journals, italicize the titles. Do not italicize shorterII. Citing a television show follows a similar format.
pieces of work, such as essays.* Jones, G. (Producer). (2000, Sept. 6). The nightly
I. Reference List Examplesnews [Television broadcast]. New York: Public
Next, here are some examples for listing variousBroadcasting System.
sources in APA Style.III. Odd Situations
BOOKS. Include the year of publication, the book title,SAME AUTHOR, SAME YEAR. If you end up with
the publisher's location and name, along with theseveral sources from the same author, some of which
author's name(s).were published in the same year, use an "a" and "b"
*Johnson, T. J., & Smith, X. Q. (2003). Economicdesignation to differentiate between the two sources
growth in Africa. New York: Jones Brothers Publishers.in your alphabetical listing.
ELECTRONIC SOURCES. List the author's name, if* Johnson, J. T. (2006a). Technology in economy.
known; date of publication, if known; title of the onlineEconomist Magazine, 113, 17-18.
article or Web page; volume or issue number, if known;* Johnson, J. T. (2006b). Economic conditions
date of retrieval; and Internet address. The firstworldwide. Economist Magazine, 115, 23.
example is from an online periodical.SECONDARY SOURCE. If you've used a secondary
* Johnson, T. J., & Smith, X. Q. (2004). Determiningsource in your paper that references another work,
technology's role in economic growth. Retrievedyou should refer to the original work and use a citation
August 20, 2007, from (website address)for the secondary source in the main text. In the
If you're simply referencing a standard Web page, usereference list, however, only list the secondary source.
this format.IV. Finally, for additional information on formatting
* Tracking the Economy Web site. (2006). Report onsources in a reference list, look at the Publication
technology's growth. Retrieved May 16, 2007, fromManual of the American Psychological Association or
(website address)visit the APA Web site, where you'll find some online
For sourcing an online lecture or presentation, followresources designed specifically for formatting online
this example.sources.
* Johnson, T. J. (2006). Technology's role in the