APA references: how to write your reference list (7th edition)
Quick answer
An APA 7 reference answers four questions: who (author), when (date), what (title) and where (source or link). The order is always Author, A. A. (Year). Title. Source. The list is alphabetical, with a 0.5-inch hanging indent and double spacing.
In short
Every reference has an author, date, title and source. The details change by source type. Each guide here gives a full example and its in-text version.
What is the structure of an APA 7 reference?
All references share four elements:
| Element | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Author | Who created the work | Rivera, M. |
| Date | When it was published | (2022). |
| Title | What the work is called | Rooftop gardens and city life. |
| Source | Where to find it | Example Press. |
Each source type adjusts the details. A book has a publisher, an article has a journal and DOI, a web page has a site name and link.
Which guides are in this section?
- Book
- Journal article
- Website
- Video
- Podcast
- Thesis
- ChatGPT and other AI tools
- Reference generator
- Reference examples
References or bibliography?
References list only what you cited. A bibliography may also include background reading. APA asks for references. If your school asks for a bibliography, check whether it should include uncited works.
How do I format the whole list?
See the reference page guide: title, order, indent and spacing.
Checklist
- Author, date, title and source in every entry
- Italics on stand-alone titles
- DOI or URL as a full link
- Alphabetical list with hanging indent
- Every reference cited in the text
Guides in this section
- How to cite a book in APA 7th edition: format and examples: How to write an APA 7th edition book reference: author, year, italic title and publisher. Examples for a print book, edited book, ebook and book chapter.
- How to cite a journal article in APA 7th edition with examples: APA 7 reference format for a journal article: authors, year, article title, italic journal name, volume, issue, pages and DOI, with a complete example.
- How to cite a website in APA 7th edition: format and examples: How to cite a website or web page in APA 7: author, date, italic page title, site name and URL, with examples for no author, no date and group authors.
- How to cite a YouTube video in APA 7th edition: How to cite a YouTube video in APA 7th edition: who the author is, how to write the channel name, the date and the link, with a reference and in-text example.
- How to cite a podcast in APA 7th edition: episode and series: How to cite a podcast episode in APA 7th edition: host, date, episode title, podcast name and link, with a reference and in-text example plus a series format.
- How to cite a thesis or dissertation in APA 7th edition: How to cite a published or unpublished thesis or dissertation in APA 7: author, year, italic title, degree level, university and repository, with examples.
- How to cite ChatGPT in APA 7th edition and other AI tools: How to cite ChatGPT and other generative AI tools in APA 7: reference format, in-text citation, how to describe the prompt and when to attach an appendix.
- Free APA 7 reference generator: book, article and website: A free APA 7 reference generator that runs in your browser: enter the details of a book, journal article or website and copy the reference and citation.
- APA 7th edition reference examples: quick reference table: APA 7 reference examples for books, articles, websites, videos, podcasts, theses and AI tools in one table, with the matching in-text citation for each.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write a reference in APA 7?
Write author, date, title and source in that order: Author, A. A. (Year). Title in italics. Publisher or site. Link. The structure changes with the type of source, but the four elements stay.
What goes in italics in an APA reference?
The title of a stand-alone work, such as a book, report or web page. For a journal article, the journal name and volume are italic, while the article title is plain.
What is the difference between a reference and a citation?
A citation is the brief mention in the text, author and year. A reference is the full entry in the list at the end. Each citation needs a reference, and each reference needs a citation.