APA Journal Article Citation

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How to Reference a Journal Article in APA

BibMe can create Journal Citations in APA automatically!

Use the following template to cite a journal article using the APA citation format. We also provide style guides for the MLA and check out our free APA citation maker.

Once you’re finished with your citations, we can also help you with creating an APA title page.

Citing a journal article in APA (print)

Structure:

   Author, A. (Publication Year). Article title. Periodical Title, Volume(Issue), pp-pp.

Example:

   Nevin, A. (1990). The changing of teacher education special education. Teacher Education and Special Education: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, 13(4), 147-148.

Citing an online journal article in APA

Structure:

   Author, A. (Publication Year). Article title. Periodical Title, Volume(Issue), pp-pp. doi:XX.XXXXX or Retrieved from URL

Example:

   Jameson, J. (2013). E-Leadership in higher education: The fifth “age” of educational technology research. British Journal of Educational Technology, 44(6), 889-915. doi: 10.1111/bjet.12103

Notes: When creating your online journal article citation, keep in mind:

• APA does NOT require you to include the date of access/retrieval date or database information for electronic sources.
• You can use the URL of the journal homepage if there is no doi number assigned and the reference was retrieved online.
• Example: Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1467-8535;jsessionid=956132F3DE76EEB120577E99EE74CE9C.f04t01
• A doi (digital object identifier) is an assigned number that helps link content to its location on the Internet. It is therefore important, if one is provided, to use it when creating a citation. All doi numbers begin with a 10 and are separated by a slash.

Citing unpublished journal articles in APA

Unpublished article

Structure:

   Author, A. (Year). Article title. [Unpublished manuscript]. Department Name, University Name.

Example:

   Allen, J. (2020). The Landscape of US Public Health Education. [Unpublished manuscript]. Department of Health, University of Texas

Submitted for publication

Structure:

   Author, A. (Year). Article title. [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Department Name, University Name.

Example:

  Allen, J. (2020). The Landscape of US Public Health Education. [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Department of Health, University of Texas

Accepted for publication

Structure:

   Author, A. (in press). Article title. Journal Name.

Example:

  Allen, J. (in press). The Landscape of US Public Health Education. Health Education Research.

For more information on how to cite in APA, check out Cornell.

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“Most of the basic material a writer works with is acquired before the age of fifteen.” – Willa Cather[/captio

How do I format a reference list entry for an unpublished journal article in APA style?

If any journal article in your reference list is not yet published, then it should be specifically mentioned and marked as an “Unpublished manuscript.” Use the below format to understand and create your own entry.

Format

Last Name, Initials. (Year). Title [Unpublished manuscript]. Name of the Department, Name of the University.

Example

Rajeshwari, K.L., & Kernool, L. (2021). A microscopic view into the minds of toddlers. [Unpublished manuscript]. Department of Psychology, University of Hogsworth.

What do I include for a citation if there is no DOI number for a journal in APA style?

For a reference entry for a journal article without a DOI, include the author name(s), the date published, the article’s title, the journal’s title, and if applicable, the volume number, issue number, and page range.

Reference Example

Müller, R. D., Royer, J. Y., & Lawver, L. A. (1993). Revised plate motions relative to the hotspots from combined Atlantic and Indian Ocean hotspot tracks. Journal of Petrology, 21(4), 275–278.

For in-text citations, include the author’s last name(s) and the year of publication in the following formats:

Example for 1 author

Parenthetical Citation: (Wilson, 1963)

Narrative Citation: Wilson (1963)…

Example for 2 authors

Parenthetical Citation: (Koppers & Watts, 2010)

Narrative Citation: Koppers and Watts (2010)…

Example for 3+ authors

Parenthetical Citation: (Müller et al., 1993)

Narrative Citation: Muller et al. (1993)…