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Citing Your Sources

A quick reference guide to the most commonly used citation styles.

References

Formatting an APA Style Paper

Margins

1 inch margins on all sides

Text Formatting

  • Use the same font throughout your paper.
  • You can choose a serif font or a sans serif font.

    Examples of serif fonts:

    • Times New Roman, 12 pt
    • Georgia, 11 pt

    Examples of sans serif fonts:

    • Calibri, 11 pt
    • Arial, 11 pt
  • Double-space your entire paper.
  • Do not right-justify your text.
  • Indent the first line of each paragraph 1/2 inch from the left margin.
  • Leave only one space after a period.

Title Page

Title of the Paper

Name of Each Author

Affiliation of Each Author (typically, Queens University of Charlotte)

Course Number and Name

Instructor Name

Assignment Due Date

Page Number

(See below for an example.)

Headings

Headings for APA Papers
Level of Heading Format

1

                                                          Centered, Bold, Title Case Heading

           Text begins as a new paragraph.
2

Aligned Left, Bold, Title Case Heading

            Text begins as a new paragraph.
3

Aligned Left, Bold Italic, Title Case Heading

            Text begins as a new paragraph.
4

             Indented, Bold, Title Case Heading, Ending With a Period. Text begins on the same line and continues as a regular paragraph. 
5

             Indented, Bold Italic, Title Case Heading, Ending With a Period. Text begins on the same line and continues as a regular paragraph. 

References

  • The References page goes at the very end of your paper on a new page.
  • Label the page References, capitalized, bolded, and centered.
  • Keep the page numbering on the References page(s).
  • Begin each entry flush with the left margin.
  • If an entry runs more than one line, indent the subsequent line(s) 1/2 inch from the left margin. This is called a hanging indent.
  • See below for an example.

 

Sample Title Page

Sample References Page

Two Types of Citations

For an APA style paper, you must have two types of citations: in-text citations and a References list.

In-Text Citations

In-text citations give a brief amount of information that ultimately leads your reader to your References list.

APA style uses parenthetical notations to identify the source (author's last name), publication date (year), and the specific location (page reference) from which you borrowed material.

Examples

According to Saleh et al. (2017), college students' "psychological discomfort is reflected in several ways including depression, anxiety, stress, and sleeping disorders" (p.1).

or

College students' "psychological discomfort is reflected in several ways including depression, anxiety, stress, and sleeping disorders" (Saleh et al., 2017, p.1).

Note

When there are 3 or more authors, use the first author's name followed by et al. in in-text citations.

References Page

References Page Citations
Material Type Reference

Scholarly Journal Article

Zaboski, B. A., Joyce‐Beaulieu, D., Kranzler, J. H., McNamara, J. P., Gayle, C., & MacInnes, J. (2019). Group exposure and response prevention for college students with social anxiety: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 75(9), 1489-1507. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22792

eBook

Degges-White, S., Borzumato-Gainey, C. (Eds.). (2013). College student mental health counseling : A developmental approach [eBook edition]. Springer Publishing Company. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/queens-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1394869

Website or Blog

Dreher, D. (2019, March 1). Why do so many college students have anxiety disorders?. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-personal-renaissance/201903/why-do-so-many-college-students-have-anxiety-disorders

For more examples of APA citations, consult the Purdue OWL's page on the APA 7th edition, the APA Style page, or the book itself.