APA Citation Examples

    Comprehensive collection of APA citation examples for all source types

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    Published: September 15, 2025
    By heypaperhero Team

    Complete Sample Reference List

    Here's a complete example of an APA reference list showing various source types properly formatted:

    References
    American Psychological Association. (2023, January 15). Mental health resources
    for college students. APA.org. https://www.apa.org/student-resources
    Brown, M. K. (2022). Digital literacy in higher education: A comprehensive
    approach. Academic Press.
    Davis, L., Wilson, S., & Taylor, K. (2023). The effectiveness of online learning
    platforms. Educational Technology Research, 48(3), 112-128.
    https://doi.org/10.1080/1047621X.2023.2154321
    Johnson, R. (2023, March 10). Study strategies that actually work [Blog post].
    Academic Success Hub. https://www.academicsuccess.com/study-strategies
    Smith, J. A., & Anderson, P. (2022). Cognitive development in early childhood.
    In K. Roberts (Ed.), Advances in developmental psychology
    (pp. 45-67). University Press.
    U.S. Department of Education. (2023). Annual report on student achievement.
    Government Printing Office.

    In-Text Citation Examples in Context

    See how APA in-text citations work within actual sentences and paragraphs:

    Sample Paragraph with Multiple Citations

    Recent research in educational technology has shown significant improvements in student engagement when digital tools are properly integrated into the curriculum (Brown, 2022; Davis et al., 2023). According to Smith and Anderson (2022), "the key to successful implementation lies in comprehensive faculty training and ongoing support" (p. 52). However, challenges remain in ensuring equitable access to technology resources across all student populations.

    The American Psychological Association (2023) emphasizes the importance of mental health support for students transitioning to digital learning environments. This is particularly relevant given Johnson's (2023) observation that "students who receive adequate support show 40% better retention rates in online courses." Multiple studies have confirmed this pattern (Brown, 2022; Davis et al., 2023; Smith & Anderson, 2022).

    Government initiatives have also recognized these trends, with the U.S. Department of Education (2023) reporting increased funding for educational technology programs nationwide.

    Quick Reference by Source Type

    Book

    Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book. Publisher.
    Smith, J. (2023). Research methods. Academic Press.

    Journal Article

    Author, A. A. (Year). Title. Journal, Vol(Issue), pages. DOI
    Brown, M. (2023). Study habits. Education, 45(2), 12-25. https://doi.org/10.1000/123

    Website

    Author, A. A. (Year, Month Date). Title. Website. URL
    Davis, L. (2023, Jan 15). Tips. Study Hub. https://studyhub.com/tips

    Chapter in Book

    Author, A. A. (Year). Chapter title. In B. Editor (Ed.), Book title (pp. xx-xx). Publisher.
    Wilson, R. (2023). Learning styles. In J. Smith (Ed.), Education today (pp. 45-60). Academic Press.

    Common Source Combinations

    Multiple Works by Same Author:

    Smith, J. A. (2021). Early research findings. Journal of Psychology, 42(1), 15-28.
    Smith, J. A. (2022). Follow-up study results. Journal of Psychology, 43(2), 45-60.
    Smith, J. A. (2023). Comprehensive analysis of findings. Academic Press.

    Same Author, Same Year:

    Brown, M. (2023a). First study of the year. Research Quarterly, 15(1), 20-35.
    Brown, M. (2023b). Second study of the year. Academic Review, 28(3), 78-92.

    Group Authors:

    American Educational Research Association. (2023). Standards for educational testing. AERA Publications.
    National Institute of Mental Health. (2022, December 5). Student mental health statistics. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/student-health

    Digital and Modern Sources

    Social Media Post:

    @APAStyle. (2023, March 15). New guidelines for citing AI-generated content are now available [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/APAStyle/status/1234567890

    YouTube Video:

    Educational Channel. (2023, February 20). How to write APA citations [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example123

    Podcast Episode:

    Smith, J. (Host). (2023, March 8). Understanding research methods (No. 15) [Audio podcast episode]. In Academic Insights. Podcast Network. https://podcasts.com/academic-insights/episode-15

    AI-Generated Content:

    OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (March 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat