Citation Styles
Who Should Use APA Citation Style?
American Psychological Association Style, or APA Style, is generally used by disciplines within the social sciences.
Disciplines Using APA Style Include But Are Not Limited to:
- Business
- Communication
- Criminology and Criminal Justice
- Education
- Engineering
- Nursing
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Social Work
How to Use This Guide
This guide is divided into several sections: The main page provides an overview of APA citation style, defines who should use it, and identifies print and online sources. The additional sections discuss the basic guidelines for using APA style 7th edition in in-text citations and the reference list, including examples of various resources.
Publication Manual of the APA
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association by
Although written for psychology, this style adapts well for most subjects including engineering. In addition to providing guidance on grammar, the mechanics of writing, and APA style, this manual offers an authoritative reference and citation system.
Call number: BF76.7 .P83 2020ISBN: 9781433832161Publication date: 2020
Citation styles change over time; the advent of the Internet and the increasing number at material types (web pages, e-journals etc.) have contributed to some of these changes. When using a specific citation style, be sure to use a resource that reflects the current edition, such as the official style manual or additional resource listed above.
Print copies of the most current edition — the 7th edition — are available in the following ASU Library locations:
| Hayden Reserve | Polytechnic Reference |
| Downtown Reference | West Valley (Fletcher) Reference |
| Music Reference | Hayden Stacks |
| Noble Reference | Polytechnic Stacks |
Online Sources for APA Style, 7th Edition
APA Style Website
Many of the APA style guidelines and most commonly needed citation examples can be found at the official APA Style website:
Additional APA Resources:
- APA Citation Style
Tutorial developed by the ASU Library for learning about APA Style. - Purdue OWL APA Formatting and Style Guide
Online resource from Purdue University that provides information to online reference materials and services for creating citations, formatting papers to particular styles, and more. - APA Style Blog
Offers opportunities to ask citation style questions and get help from the APA community, especially when the answer cannot be found easily in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
Please note: These online sources are helpful in resolving citation style questions. However, they are not the official APA Style guide, but rather interpretations of the citation style and may be prone to inaccuracies. Always consult the official style manual first for the most accurate information.
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