Numbers in parentheses refer to specific pages in the APA 7th Edition manual.
Placement of the Reference List (9.43)
Begin the reference list on a new page after the text. Title the page "References" in bold and centered at the top of the page.
Double-Spaced (9.43)
Your entire paper, including the reference list, should be double-spaced.
Tip: Use your word processor's Help function to learn how to double-space your paper:
Microsoft Word - Adjust Indents and Spacing
Hanging Indent (9.43)
Each entry should be formatted with a hanging indent.
Tip: Use your word processor's Help function to learn how to create a hanging indent:
Microsoft Word - Adjust Indents and Spacing
Google Docs - Add a Hanging (Left) Indent
Alphabetical (9.44, 9.49)
Arrange reference entries in one alphabetical sequence by the surname of the first author, or by title or first word if there is no author. Ignore the words A, An, and The when alphabetizing by title.
Capitalization (6.17)
In titles and subtitles of articles, chapters, and books, capitalize only the first letter of the first word and any proper nouns.
Italics (6.22)
Italicize book titles, journal titles, and volume numbers. Do not italicize issue numbers.
Author's Name(s)
Use only the initial(s) of the author’s given name(s), not the full name, even when the full name is given (9.8).
If the reference list includes two or more entries by the same author(s), list them in chronological order with the earliest first (9.46).
What if there is no author?
If the author’s name is unavailable, use the first few words of the title of the source, including the appropriate capitalization and italics formatting (9.49).
URL
Long DOIs and URLs should be left as is (2.23).
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
If a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is listed on either a print or an electronic source, it is included in the reference. A DOI is a unique alphanumeric string that is used to identify a certain source (typically journal articles). It is often found on the first page of an article (9.34-9.35).
