Getting citations right in APA 7th edition can feel like learning a new language. And with professors checking every comma and period, the pressure is real. But here's the good news: APA 7th edition is actually simpler and more flexible than its predecessor.
Whether you're writing your first psychology paper or your fiftieth sociology thesis, this guide covers everything you need to format citations and references correctly in APA 7th edition style.
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APA 7th Edition: What Changed from 6th Edition
The 7th edition, published in 2019, introduced several important changes that make citation formatting easier:
- One space after periods (not two)
- Up to 20 authors listed in the reference entry (previously only 7)
- DOIs formatted as hyperlinks (https://doi.org/...)
- Publisher location no longer required for books
- Suffixes like "Jr." included in the reference entry
- Singular "they" is acceptable
The Two Parts of APA Citations
Every APA citation has two components: the in-text citation within your paper and the full reference entry in your reference list.
In-Text Citations
In-text citations in APA 7th edition use the author-date format. There are two ways to present them:
Narrative citation: The author's name is part of the sentence.
Smith (2023) found that AI writing tools improved student writing quality by 34%.
Parenthetical citation: The author and date appear in parentheses at the end.
AI writing tools improved student writing quality by 34% (Smith, 2023).
Direct Quotes
When quoting directly, include the page number:
"AI writing assistants represent a paradigm shift in how students approach academic writing" (Smith, 2023, p. 45).
For sources without page numbers, use paragraph numbers or section headings:
(Smith, 2023, para. 4)
Building Your Reference List
The reference list appears at the end of your paper, alphabetized by the first author's last name. Here are the most common formats.
Journal Article
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, Volume(Issue), page range. https://doi.org/xxxxx
Example:
Chen, L., & Rodriguez, M. (2023). AI-assisted academic writing: A comparative study. Journal of Educational Technology, 45(3), 112-128. https://doi.org/10.1234/jet.2023.04503
Book
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the book (edition ed.). Publisher.
Example:
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). APA.
Book Chapter
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the chapter. In A. A. Editor & B. B. Editor (Eds.), Title of the book (pp. page range). Publisher.
Website
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Date). Title of the page. Site Name. URL
Example:
Purdue Online Writing Lab. (2023, September 15). APA formatting and style guide. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/
Use an AI citation generator for any unique source types you encounter.
Special Citation Scenarios
Multiple Authors
| Number of Authors | In-Text (First Citation) | In-Text (Subsequent) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 author | (Smith, 2023) | (Smith, 2023) |
| 2 authors | (Smith & Jones, 2023) | (Smith & Jones, 2023) |
| 3+ authors | (Smith et al., 2023) | (Smith et al., 2023) |
Note: In the reference list, list up to 20 authors. After the 19th author, use an ellipsis before the final author.
Multiple Sources in One Citation
List them alphabetically, separated by semicolons:
(Chen & Rodriguez, 2023; Patel, 2022; Smith, 2023)
Sources with No Author
Use the title in place of the author:
("AI Writing Trends," 2023)
Secondary Sources
If you're citing a source quoted in another work:
(Smith, as cited in Johnson, 2022)
Formatting Your APA Paper
Beyond citations, APA 7th edition has specific formatting rules for the overall paper.
Paper Formatting Basics
- Font: Times New Roman 12pt, Arial 11pt, or Calibri 11pt
- Spacing: Double-spaced throughout
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides
- Page numbers: Top right corner, starting with the title page
- Running head: Only required for professional papers, not student papers
Title Page Elements
- Paper title (bold, centered, in the upper half)
- Author name(s)
- Institutional affiliation
- Course name and number
- Instructor name
- Assignment due date
APA 7th Edition Heading Levels
| Level | Format |
|---|---|
| 1 | Centered, Bold, Title Case |
| 2 | Left-Aligned, Bold, Title Case |
| 3 | Left-Aligned, Bold Italic, Title Case |
| 4 | Indented, Bold, Title Case, Period |
| 5 | Indented, Bold Italic, Title Case, Period |
Common APA Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced writers make these errors. Watch out for:
1. Incorrect Author Formatting
In APA 7th, use initials, not full first names. And invert the first author's name (Last, Initial) but not the last author's name.
❌ Smith, John, & Johnson, Emily (2023)
✅ Smith, J., & Johnson, E. (2023)
2. Missing DOIs
Always include a DOI when one is assigned. Format it as a clickable hyperlink starting with https://doi.org/
3. Italic Confusion
- Journal titles: Italic
- Book titles: Italic
- Website titles: Not italicized
- Article titles: Not italicized (except proper nouns)
4. Period Placement
In reference entries, each major element ends with a period. In in-text citations, the period goes after the closing parenthesis.
5. Hanging Indent
Every reference list entry needs a hanging indent (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches).
Using a Citation Generator vs Manual Formatting
While it's important to understand the rules, manually formatting every citation is time-consuming and error-prone. Here's when each approach makes sense:
Manual formatting is best when:
- You're learning the rules and want to understand them
- You have only a few sources
- The professor specifically requires manual formatting
AI citation generators like Typill are best when:
- You have 10+ sources
- You're on a tight deadline
- You want to avoid formatting errors
- You're dealing with unusual source types
Conclusion
APA 7th edition citation formatting doesn't have to be a struggle. Learn the core rules: author-date format for in-text citations, specific structures for different source types in the reference list, and the basic paper formatting guidelines. Then use an AI-powered citation tool to handle the heavy lifting.
Remember: professors care more about the quality of your research and writing than whether you manually typed every comma. Use your time wisely — focus on your argument and let technology handle the formatting.
Ready to simplify your citation workflow? Try Typill's AI-powered citation generator and format your references in seconds.
External Resource: For the complete APA 7th edition guidelines, visit the American Psychological Association's official APA Style website.
