Introduction to APA Referencing

Understanding the Basics of APA Style

 What is APA Referencing?

• APA referencing is a style of documentation used in academic

writing. It was created by the American Psychological
Association to provide a standard method of citing sources
and formatting papers.

• History: APA style was first developed in 1929.

It is widely used in the social sciences,
including psychology, sociology, and
education.
 In-Text Citations

• In-text citations in APA style include the author's last name

and the year of publication. They are used to give credit to
sources within the text.

• Examples:
• Paraphrasing: (Smith, 2020)
• Direct quote: (Smith, 2020, p. 15)
• Multiple authors: (Smith & Jones, 2020)
 Reference List

• The reference list in APA style appears at the end of your

document. It includes all the sources cited in your text, listed
alphabetically by the author's last name.

• Examples:
• Book: Smith, J. (2020). Title of the book.
Publisher.
• Article: Smith, J. (2020). Title of the article.
Journal Name, volume(issue), pages.
• Website: Smith, J. (2020). Title of the
 Formatting Rules

• APA format has specific guidelines for formatting documents,

including:

• - Use 12-point Times New Roman font

• - Double-spacing throughout the document
• - 1-inch margins on all sides
• - Include a running head on each page

• Example:
• Title page, abstract, headings, and
 Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Some common mistakes to avoid in APA referencing include:

• - Incorrect author names

• - Missing commas
• - Improperly formatted references
• - Incorrect use of italics

• Tips:
• - Always double-check your references
 Conclusion and Resources

• Understanding and using APA referencing correctly is essential

for academic writing.

• Resources:
• - APA Publication Manual
• - APA Style website (apastyle.apa.org)
• - Online citation generators

• Stay updated with the latest APA guidelines.