APA Style F.A.Q.s
Frequently Asked Questions about APA Style
Note:The character spacing and line breaks of the sample reference page entries may be changed by the browser that you are using to view this page. The first line of the entry should be left justified, with all subsequent lines indented five spaces. Rather than interrupt an electonic address with a line break, begin a new line for the http designation.
Isn't the running head the same thing as the page header?
No, the page headers and the running head are separate parts that contain different information and appear in different places. Page headers appear on the top right corner of every page (including the title page) and consist of the first two or three words from the title, five spaces and the page number. It should appear .5" from the top of the page. The running head appears only on the title page in the top left corner 1" from the top of the page. Its title abbreviation can be as long as 50 characters. (See pp. 288 & 296 of the APA Publication Manual) How do I format the page header on Microsoft Word?
Since chapters and verses are numbered systematically across all editions, use these instead of page numbers. Include the translation in parentheses following the chapter and verse: 1 Cor. 13:1 (Revised Standard Version) You will not need to include an entry on your references page. (See p. 213 of the APA Publication Manual.) How do I cite a quote within a quote?
(In other words, I want to quote Nguyen, but the only source I can find is when Chan quotes Nguyen.) You will need to give credit to both the original source and the source you actually used. For example, if you read Chan's book (published in 2002) and wanted to quote or paraphrase Chan's quotation of Nguyen (who published her work in 1999), your in-text citation will look like this:
"Quote" (Nguyen, 1999, as cited in Chan, 2002, p. 487) or Nguyen argues, "Quote" (as cited in Chan, 2002, p.487) On your references page, you will only list the source you actually read: in this case, Chan.
(See p. 247 of the APA Publication Manual.) If I use the same source throughout a paragraph, do I need to repeat all the citation information every time I reference that source?
The first mention of the source must include the year. Subsequent references to it within the same paragraph do not need to include the year as long as the source cannot be confused with other sources cited in your paper:
In a recent study of trauma survivors, Mahfouz (2002) found ... Mahfouz also noted...
It is good form to repeat all of the reference information at the beginning of a new paragraph. Note: You need to reference your source whenever you represent any of its findings or theories. If there is no clear attribution of an idea to the source, your reader will assume that the idea is yours. Notice how the above example repeats Mahfouz's name so that there can be no doubt about the source of the information.
(See p. 208 of the APA Publication Manual.) What is the difference between p. and pp. as abbreviations for page?
The correct abbreviation for page is p. For example: (p. 89). The correct abbreviation for pages is pp. For example: (pp. 89-101). (See p. 111 of the APA Publication Manual.) What is the difference between a references page and a bibliography?
A references page provides a roadmap for your reader to find the sources that you have specifically cited in your paper. Only those sources that you refer to in the course of the paper should be included. A bibliography lists sources that have influenced your thinking on the topic but are not specifically referenced in your paper. It may even include annotated descriptions of each source. Whereas a references page is required, a bibliography is optional. If you choose to include a bibliography, format it like the references page but title it Bibliography. Sequentially, it follows the references page. How do I cite a web page with no author, year or page number?
When there is no author, the title is used in place of the author's name. The in-text citation just cites a few words of the title - enough to point the reader to the correct entry on the references page: ("New Child," 2001, para. 7) In the references page entry, the title moves to the first position: New child vaccine gets funding boost. (2001). Retrieved March 21, 2001, from
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/story_13178/asp
When there is no year provided, simply use the abbreviation n.d. (no date) where the year would normally be listed in your citation or references entry. When there are no page numbers, use the paragraph number, counting paragraphs from the beginning of the document: (James, 2000, para. 8). If the document is divided into sections, you may give the heading and then the paragraph number within that section: (James, 2000, Conclusion section, para. 2). A web page with no author, no year, and no page number would be cited like this: In-text: ("New Child," n.d., para. 8) On the references page: New child vaccine gets funding boost. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2001, from
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/story_13178/asp
(See pp. 120-121 of the APA Publication Manual.) How do I cite a dictionary?
The in-text citation will include the usual information, with the editor's name used in place of the author's name: (Mish et al., 1999, p. 637) The reference page citation will look like this: Mish, F. C. et al. (1999). Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary
(10th ed.). Springfield,MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc. Note: When the dictionary has a large editorial board, list the editor-in-chief, followed by et al.
(See p.250 of the APA Publication Manual.) How do I cite a translated book?
The in-text citation should include the original author's last name and the dates of both the original publication and the translation: (Laplace, 1814/1951) The reference page entry should give the English translation of the title:
Laplace, P. S. (1951). A philosophical essay on probabilities (F. W.
Truscott & F. L. Emory, Trans.). New York: Dover. (Original
work published 1814) (see p. 251 of the APA Publication Manual.) How do I distinguish works by one author with same publication dates?
Place lowercase letters immediately after the year in both in-text citations and reference page entries. The letters should follow the order in which the entries will appear on the reference page (i.e., alphabetized by article title). In-text citations will look like this: (Johnson, 2001a, p. 341) and (Johnson, 2002b, p. 341) while reference page entries will begin like this Johnson, T. R. (2001a). Modalities... Johnson, T. R. (2001b). Roles of... (See p. 221 of the APA Publication Manual.) How do I cite an idea from a course lecture?
Treat a lecture like a personal communication. In text, the citation would look like this: (L. Nolan, personal communication, October 18, 2001). No entry is needed on the references page because there is no way for the reader to recover the source. How do I format the table of contents for my thesis?
APA does not provide guidelines for creating a table of contents. Ask your instructor for her/his requirements.
No, the page headers and the running head are separate parts that contain different information and appear in different places. Page headers appear on the top right corner of every page (including the title page) and consist of the first two or three words from the title, five spaces and the page number. It should appear .5" from the top of the page. The running head appears only on the title page in the top left corner 1" from the top of the page. Its title abbreviation can be as long as 50 characters. (See pp. 288 & 296 of the APA Publication Manual) How do I format the page header on Microsoft Word?
- From the File pull-down menu, select Page Set-up. This will open up the Margins Menu. Set the top, bottom, left and right margins at 1" and the header at 0.5". Click on the OK button.
- From the View pull-down menu, select Header and Footer. The header area will be indicated by a dotted line, and a Header/Footer Toolbar will appear in the center of the screen.
- Click on the Align Right icon from the formatting toolbar at the top of the screen.
- Type your page header title abbreviation followed by five spaces.
- Click on the Page Number icon in the Header/Footer Toolbar.
- Click on the Close button in the Header/Footer Toolbar. Note: The running head should not be formatted as a header. Type it on the first regular text line of the title page.
Since chapters and verses are numbered systematically across all editions, use these instead of page numbers. Include the translation in parentheses following the chapter and verse: 1 Cor. 13:1 (Revised Standard Version) You will not need to include an entry on your references page. (See p. 213 of the APA Publication Manual.) How do I cite a quote within a quote?
(In other words, I want to quote Nguyen, but the only source I can find is when Chan quotes Nguyen.) You will need to give credit to both the original source and the source you actually used. For example, if you read Chan's book (published in 2002) and wanted to quote or paraphrase Chan's quotation of Nguyen (who published her work in 1999), your in-text citation will look like this:
"Quote" (Nguyen, 1999, as cited in Chan, 2002, p. 487) or Nguyen argues, "Quote" (as cited in Chan, 2002, p.487) On your references page, you will only list the source you actually read: in this case, Chan.
(See p. 247 of the APA Publication Manual.) If I use the same source throughout a paragraph, do I need to repeat all the citation information every time I reference that source?
The first mention of the source must include the year. Subsequent references to it within the same paragraph do not need to include the year as long as the source cannot be confused with other sources cited in your paper:
In a recent study of trauma survivors, Mahfouz (2002) found ... Mahfouz also noted...
It is good form to repeat all of the reference information at the beginning of a new paragraph. Note: You need to reference your source whenever you represent any of its findings or theories. If there is no clear attribution of an idea to the source, your reader will assume that the idea is yours. Notice how the above example repeats Mahfouz's name so that there can be no doubt about the source of the information.
(See p. 208 of the APA Publication Manual.) What is the difference between p. and pp. as abbreviations for page?
The correct abbreviation for page is p. For example: (p. 89). The correct abbreviation for pages is pp. For example: (pp. 89-101). (See p. 111 of the APA Publication Manual.) What is the difference between a references page and a bibliography?
A references page provides a roadmap for your reader to find the sources that you have specifically cited in your paper. Only those sources that you refer to in the course of the paper should be included. A bibliography lists sources that have influenced your thinking on the topic but are not specifically referenced in your paper. It may even include annotated descriptions of each source. Whereas a references page is required, a bibliography is optional. If you choose to include a bibliography, format it like the references page but title it Bibliography. Sequentially, it follows the references page. How do I cite a web page with no author, year or page number?
When there is no author, the title is used in place of the author's name. The in-text citation just cites a few words of the title - enough to point the reader to the correct entry on the references page: ("New Child," 2001, para. 7) In the references page entry, the title moves to the first position: New child vaccine gets funding boost. (2001). Retrieved March 21, 2001, from
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/story_13178/asp
When there is no year provided, simply use the abbreviation n.d. (no date) where the year would normally be listed in your citation or references entry. When there are no page numbers, use the paragraph number, counting paragraphs from the beginning of the document: (James, 2000, para. 8). If the document is divided into sections, you may give the heading and then the paragraph number within that section: (James, 2000, Conclusion section, para. 2). A web page with no author, no year, and no page number would be cited like this: In-text: ("New Child," n.d., para. 8) On the references page: New child vaccine gets funding boost. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2001, from
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/story_13178/asp
(See pp. 120-121 of the APA Publication Manual.) How do I cite a dictionary?
The in-text citation will include the usual information, with the editor's name used in place of the author's name: (Mish et al., 1999, p. 637) The reference page citation will look like this: Mish, F. C. et al. (1999). Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary
(10th ed.). Springfield,MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc. Note: When the dictionary has a large editorial board, list the editor-in-chief, followed by et al.
(See p.250 of the APA Publication Manual.) How do I cite a translated book?
The in-text citation should include the original author's last name and the dates of both the original publication and the translation: (Laplace, 1814/1951) The reference page entry should give the English translation of the title:
Laplace, P. S. (1951). A philosophical essay on probabilities (F. W.
Truscott & F. L. Emory, Trans.). New York: Dover. (Original
work published 1814) (see p. 251 of the APA Publication Manual.) How do I distinguish works by one author with same publication dates?
Place lowercase letters immediately after the year in both in-text citations and reference page entries. The letters should follow the order in which the entries will appear on the reference page (i.e., alphabetized by article title). In-text citations will look like this: (Johnson, 2001a, p. 341) and (Johnson, 2002b, p. 341) while reference page entries will begin like this Johnson, T. R. (2001a). Modalities... Johnson, T. R. (2001b). Roles of... (See p. 221 of the APA Publication Manual.) How do I cite an idea from a course lecture?
Treat a lecture like a personal communication. In text, the citation would look like this: (L. Nolan, personal communication, October 18, 2001). No entry is needed on the references page because there is no way for the reader to recover the source. How do I format the table of contents for my thesis?
APA does not provide guidelines for creating a table of contents. Ask your instructor for her/his requirements.