How to Reference the APA Manual 6th Edition
When writing academic papers, it is essential to properly reference the sources you have used. The American Psychological Association (APA) has established guidelines for referencing, and the APA Manual 6th Edition serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding these guidelines. In this article, we will explore the correct way to reference the APA Manual 6th Edition according to APA style.
Reference Format for Print Books
When referencing print books, the reference format includes the author’s initials, year of publication, book title, city of publication, country/state, and publisher. For example, a reference list entry for a print book with an author would look like this:
Author, I. (Year). Book title. City of publication, Country/State: Publisher.
If there is no author for a print book, the title of the book is used in the reference list entry.
In-Text Citations for Print Books
In-text citations for print books include the author’s name and the year of publication. For example:
…this definition from the Collins Concise New Zealand Dictionary (2008) shows…
…highlights the debate around nuclear weapons (“Nuke Test Inquiry,” 2009).
Books with One Author
For books with one author, the author’s name is used in both the reference list entry and in-text citations. For example:
Reference list entry:
Author, I. (Year). Book title. City of publication, Country/State: Publisher.
In-text citations:
Gambles (2009) states…
…can lead to a more successful outcome (Gamble, 2009).
Books with Two to Seven Authors
Books with two to seven authors require all authors to be listed in the reference list entry. However, in subsequent citations, only the first author’s name is used, followed by “et al.” For example:
Reference list entry:
Gazda, G. M., Balzer, F. J., Childers, W. C., Nealy, A. U., Phelps, R. E., & Walters, R. P. (2005). Human relations development: A manual for educators (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Educational.
In-text citations (two authors):
Walker and Allen (2004) said…
…stop smoking (Walker & Allen, 2004).
In-text citations (three, four, or five authors):
First citation in text: …as the findings suggested (Alred, Brusaw, & Oliu, 2009)
Subsequent citations: …in the same study (Alred et al., 2009).
Alfred et al. (2009) found that…
Corporate Authors
Corporate authors, such as organizations, can be used as authors in the reference list entry and in-text citations. For example:
Reference list entry:
New Zealand Health Information Service. (2003). Report on maternity: Maternal and newborn information. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Health.
In-text citations:
…as research indicates (Inland Revenue Department [IRD], 2007)
Subsequent citations: …suggested by recent statistics (IRD, 2010).
Referencing Edited Books
When referencing an edited book, the names of the editors are included in the reference list entry. For example:
Reference list entry:
Sykes, P., & Potts, A. (Eds.). (2008). Researching education from the inside: Investigations from within. London, England: Routledge.
In-text citations for chapters from edited books include the author(s) of the chapter, not the editors.
Reference list entry:
Easton, B. (2008). Does poverty affect health? In K. Dew & A. Matheson (Eds.), Understanding health inequalities in Aotearoa New Zealand (pp. 97–106). Dunedin, New Zealand: Otago University Press.
Reprints and Translations
Reprints and translations of books should include the date of the version you read and the date of the original publication. For example:
Reference list entry:
Freud, S. (1953). The method of interpreting dreams: An analysis of a specimen dream. In J. Strachey (Ed. & Trans.), The standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud (Vol. 4, pp. 96-121). Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books (Original work published 1900)
In-text citations:
…give the date of the version that you have read after the author; put the date of the original publication at the end
Classical Works
Classical works should include both the date of the original publication and the date of the edition you are using. For example:
Reference list entry:
PlI apologize, but I’m unable to access external URLs or browse the internet. As a language model, my responses are based on pre-existing knowledge and information up until September 2021. I can provide general information and answer questions based on that knowledge. If you have any specific questions or need assistance with a particular topic, feel free to ask!
FAQs
How to Reference the APA Manual 6th Edition
What is the APA Manual 6th Edition?
The APA Manual 6th Edition is a comprehensive guide published by the American Psychological Association (APA) that provides guidelines and rules for writing and citing sources in academic papers. It is widely used in the social sciences, education, and other fields.
Why is it important to reference the APA Manual 6th Edition?
Referencing the APA Manual 6th Edition is important because it ensures that your academic papers adhere to a standardized citation style. Proper referencing allows readers to locate and verify the sources you have used, giving credibility to your research and avoiding plagiarism.
What information is included in the reference format for print books?
The reference format for print books includes the author’s initials, the year of publication, the book title, the city of publication, the country/state, and the publisher. This information should be presented in a specific order and format according to APA style guidelines.
What should I do if there is no author for a print book?
If there is no author for a print book, the title of the book is used in the reference list entry. This allows readers to identify and locate the source based on its title.
How should I format in-text citations for print books?
In-text citations for print books should include the author’s name and the year of publication. This allows readers to quickly identify the source of the information within the text of your paper. The format for in-text citations may vary depending on the number of authors and the specific guidelines provided in the APA Manual 6th Edition.
What should I do when referencing books with one author?
When referencing books with one author, both the author’s name and the year of publication should be included in the reference list entry and in-text citations. This helps attribute the information to the correct source.
How should I handle books with two to seven authors in my references?
Books with two to seven authors require all authors to be listed in the reference list entry. However, in subsequent citations, only the first author’s name should be used, followed by “et al.” This allows for concise and consistent referencing of sources with multiple authors.
Can I use corporate authors as authors in reference list entries and in-text citations?
Yes, corporate authors, such as organizations, can be used as authors in reference list entries and in-text citations. When referencing a source with a corporate author, the name of the organization should be provided in the appropriate format specified by APA style guidelines.