Library Guides: Citing Help: APA

APA Style Guidance

American Psychological Association (APA) citing style is Assiniboine's designated citing style. Some key points to keep in mind when citing in APA are:

In-text citations (author, date) appear in parentheses at the end of a sentence before the period.
A References page at the end of the document has full citations in alphabetical order formatted with a hanging indent.
Most references follow the format: author, date, title, source.
If a reference isn't cited in your paper, it shouldn't be included in your reference list.

The Publication Manual of the APA is the authoritative source on APA Style and the best place to look for information. For formats, guidelines and examples online, visit the Excelsior OWL APA Formatting & Style Guide.

Always check with your instructor for any specific citation requirements.

More than One Style

APA isn't the only citing style around. Remember that once you leave Assiniboine and enter the workforce or attend a different school, you may be asked to use a different citation style like MLA, Chicago, or CSE.

Formatting Your Paper in APA Style

Formatting your paper in APA style is part of the writing process. For help with formatting, review the APA formatting section of our Writing Help guide.

How to Format Your Paper in APA Style
Provides a student sample paper with APA style formatting and gives instructions on how to access an APA Style template MS Word.

APA Tutorials

APA Citing: The Basics
A Moodle module designed to help students develop and practice their citing skills in a low-stakes environment. Contact Library Staff (library@assiniboine.net) for enrollment key. The module takes an average 60 minutes to complete.
Finding Elements for your Reference
In this tutorial, you'll learn where to find the pieces of information you need to create a reference.

Resources for APA Style

Quick Guides and Examples

The 4 W's of Citing: Identifying Reference Elements
This handout outlines the kinds of information you'll need to cite your sources. It also provides space for you to write down those pieces of information for your sources.
APA Sample Student Paper
Sample APA student paper with detailed descriptions of the formatting requirements.
APA Reference Quick Guide
Guides students in the basics of creating an APA style reference.

APA Style Examples: Canadian Government Documents
An example of how to cite Canadian government documents, both for the in-text citation and the reference list, from Centennial College.

Program-Targeted Example Handouts
Provides specific referencing examples related to Practical Nursing, Agriculture & Environment, Early Childhood Education, and Social Service Worker.
Academic Integrity and Citing Checklist
Use this checklist to stay on track with citations/references and to avoid plagiarism.

Detailed Help

APA Style References
The American Psychological Association provides examples and explanations of how to create references in APA style.
Excelsior OWL APA Formatting & Style Guide
APA document format, in-text citation format, and reference list citation format from the Excelsior writing center. Navigate OWL using the website's sidebar.
APA Style FAQ
The most frequently asked questions on APA format, answered by the Purdue Writing Centre. Example: how to cite class lecture notes, class presentations, self-administered surveys.
Citing Traditional Knowledge or Oral Traditions of Indigenous Peoples
Gives explanation and example on how to cite oral traditions of Indigenous peoples in APA format.

Adapted and used with permission from Southern Methodist University Library.