1. Introduction: APA citation style refers to the
rules and conventions established by the American Psychological Association for
documenting sources used in writing an article / paper. APA style requires both
in-text citations and a reference list. For every in-text citation there should
be a full citation in the reference list.
2. In Text Citation: In APA style, in-text citations
are placed within sentences and paragraphs so that it is clear what information
is being quoted or paraphrased and whose information is being cited. To cite a
specific part of a source (always necessary for quotations), one should include
the page (p. or pp.), chapter (Chapter), paragraphs (para. or ¶ ), etc.
in the in-text citation.
2.1 Basic Guideline for In Text Citations
a) Capitalize Proper Noun: Always capitalize the first
letter of the word of proper nouns, including author names and initials: For
example: B. Barman.
b) Capitalize four or More Letter Long Word: If you refer
to the title of a source within your paper, capitalize all words that are four
letters long or greater within the title of a source. Example: Library
Legislation in India. Exceptions apply to short words that are verbs, pronouns,
adjectives, and adverbs.
c) Capitalize Sub-Titles: Capitalize the first word after
a dash or colon.
d) Italicize Book Title: Italicize longer or underline
the titles of longer works such as books, edited collections, movies,
television series, documentaries, or albums.
e) Put Quotation Mark for Article Title: Put quotation
marks around the titles of shorter works such as journal articles, articles
from edited collections, television series episodes, and song titles.
f) Short Quotation: If you are directly quoting from
a work, you will need to include the surname of the author, year of
publication, and the page number preceded by “p.” or “para.” in the in-text
citation.
g) Long Quotation: In case of 40 words, or longer
quotations, put it in a free-standing block of typewritten lines without
quotation marks but on a new line, indented 1/2 inch from the left margin,
i.e., in the same place you would begin a new paragraph and type the entire
quotation on the new margin. The parenthetical citation should come after the
closing punctuation mark.
2.2 Examples of In Text Citations
a) Works by a Single Author: The last name of the author and the year of publication are inserted in the
text at the appropriate point. If the name of the author and / or the date
appear as part of the narrative, cite only missing information in parentheses.
To cite a specific part of a source
(always necessary for quotations), include the page (p. or pp.), chapter
(chapter), etc. in the in-text citation. If page numbers are not included in
electronic sources (such as Web-based journals), provide the paragraph (para.)
number or the heading.
Example:
If there is a rural library then there should be an urban library (Barman,
2008)
“If there is a rural library then there should be an urban library”
(Barman, 2008, p. 5)
“If there is a rural library then there should be an urban library”
(Barman, 2008, para. 2)
Barman (2008) opined that “if there is a rural library then there should be
an urban library” (p.5)
b) Works by Double Authors: In case of two authors, join the
names with an ampersand (&) and always cite both names every time the reference occurs in the text.
In the narrative text, join the names with the word “and”.
Example:
gateway to knowledge (Barman & Baishya, 2010)
Barman and Baishya (2010) demonstrated
c) Works by More Than Double Authors:
When a work has three, four, or five authors, cite all authors the first
time the reference occurs. In all subsequent citations per paragraph, include
only the surname of the first author followed by “et al.” (Latin for “and
others”) and the year of publication.
Example:
First time: Lahkar,
Barman, and Baishya (2015) listed
Subsequent time: Lahkar
et al. (2015) listed
d) Works by
Associations, Corporations, Government Agencies, etc.: The names
of group that serve as authors (corporate authors) are usually written out each
time they appear in a text reference. When appropriate, the names of some
corporate authors are spelled out in the first reference and abbreviated in all
subsequent citations. The
general rule for abbreviating in this manner is to supply enough information in
the text citation for a reader to locate its source in the Reference list
without difficulty.
Example:
First time
Libraries: Gateways to Knowledge (National Knowledge Commission [NKC],
2007)
Subsequent
times
Libraries:
Gateways to Knowledge (NKC, 2007)
e) Works with no Author: When a work has no author, use
the first two or three words of the work’s title (omitting any initial
articles) as your text reference, capitalizing each word. Place the title
within quotation marks if it refers to an article, chapter of a book, or Web
page. Italicize the title if it refers to a book, periodical, brochure, or
report.
Example:
Twenty one public libraries act (“Public Library Legislation”, 2014)
Twenty one public libraries act (UGC
NET Guide, 2014)
f) Works with Anonymous Authors: Anonymous
authors should be listed as such followed by a comma and the date.
Example:
Twenty one library act functioning in India (Anonymous, 2014)
g) Citing a Source Found in Another Source: If you find great information being quoted or
paraphrased somewhere, it’s well worth your effort to track down the original
source so you can read it for yourself and therefore cite it directly. So, you
should avoid secondary sources when possible. It’s only okay to cite a
secondary source when you’ve exhausted the options for finding the original
work.
When
referring to another work mentioned in the source you are reading, give the
author’s name of the original source in your text. Cite the secondary source in
the parentheses using the words, “as cited in.” Include the secondary source in
the references, but not the original work.
Example:
In his Email to
his colleagues, Professor A. P. J. Abdul Kalam argued that …… (as cited in
Barman, 2010).
3. References: Resources cited in the text of a
research paper must appear in a Reference List or bibliography. This list provides
the information necessary to identify and retrieve each source.
3.1 Basic Guideline for References
a) Alphabetical Order: Entries should be arranged in
alphabetical order by authors’ last names. Sources without authors are arranged
alphabetically by title within the same list.
b) & for Multiple Authors: Write out the last name and
initials for all authors of a particular work. Use an ampersand (&) instead
of the word “and” when listing multiple authors of a single work. e.g. Smith,
J. D., & Jones, M.
c) Capitalization of First Word: Capitalize
only the first word of a title or subtitle, and any proper names that are part
of a title.
d) p. or pp. for Pagination: Use the abbreviation p. or pp.
to designate page numbers of articles from periodicals including newspapers,
encyclopedia articles and chapters from edited books.
e) Use Hanging Indentation: The first line of the entry is
flush with the left margin, and all subsequent lines are indented (5 to 7
spaces) to form a “hanging indent”.
f) Titles of Books and Journals are Italics: It is
appropriate to use italics for the tiles of books and journals. In case of
handwritten, kindly underline it.
g) Use Stable Internet Address: A stable
Internet address should be included and should direct the reader as close as
possible to the actual work. If the work has a Digital Object Identifier (DOI),
use this. If there is no DOI or similar handle, use a stable URL. If the URL is
not stable, as is often the case with website, online newspapers, some
subscription-based databases and so on, use the home page of the site you
retrieved the work from.
h) Published or Retrieve Date: If the work is a finalized
version published and dated, as in the case of a journal article, the date
within the main body of the citation is enough. However, if the work is not
dated and/or is subject to change, as in the case of an online encyclopedia
article, wiki, etc. include the date that you retrieved the information.
3.2 Examples of References
a) Articles from Print Journal/Magazine: The title of
the article is in sentence-case, meaning only the first word and proper nouns
in the title are capitalized. The periodical title is rendered in title case
and italicized
Example:
Barman, B. (2011). Classification of library documents by using the Web. Indian Journal of Information Sources and
Services, 1(1), 50-55.
b) Articles from Online Journal / Magazine with DOI
Example:
Barman, B., & Baishya, K. (2011, June 21). Classification of library
documents by using the Web. World
Libraries, 20(1). doi: 10.4018/barma.201
c) Articles from Online Journal / Magazine without DOI
Example:
Barman, B. (2011). Classification of library documents by using the Web. World Libraries, 20(1). Retrieved from
http://www.worlib.org/vol20no1/barmanprint_v20n1.shtml
d) Printed Books with Single Author
Example:
Barman, B. (2012). Library and
Information Science: UGC NET guide (2nd ed.). Guwahati: DVS
Publisher.
e) Printed Books with Double Author
Example:
Barman, B. & Baishya, K. (2012). Library
and Information Science: UGC NET Guide (2nd ed.). Guwahati: DVS
Publisher.
f) Printed Edited Book by Single Author
Example:
Lahkar, N. (Ed.). (2008). Prof Alaka
Buragohain festschrift volume: Changing library scenario in digital era.
Guwahati: Assam Library Association.
g) Printed Edited Book by Double Author
Example:
Lahkar, N., & Singh, S.K. (Eds.). (2008). Prof Alaka Buragohain festschrift volume: Changing library scenario in
digital era. Guwahati: Assam Library Association.
h) Chapter from an Edited Book
Example:
Barman, B. & Lahkar, N. (2008). Blog: A major study and practicing area
for LIS professionals. In Narendra Lahkar (Ed.), Prof Alaka Buragohain Festschrift Volume: Changing Library Scenario in
Digital Era (pp. 21-32). Guwahati: Assam Library Association.
i) Encyclopedia Article with Author
Example:
Sturgeon, T. (1995). Science fiction. In L. T. Lorimer (Ed.), The
encyclopedia Americana (Vol. 24, pp. 390-392). Danbury, CT: Grolier.
j) Article from an Online Encyclopedia / Dictionary without Author
Example:
Containerization. (2008). In Encyclopædia
Britannica. Retrieved May 6, 2018, from http://search.eb.com
k) Published Conference Proceedings
Example:
Lahkar, N. (Ed.) (2007). Rural
libraries in the North East India: Problems and prospects: Proceeding of
the National seminar on problems and prospects of rural libraries in North East
India, Guwhati, 28-29 March.
Guwahati: Central Reference Library.
l) Paper from Published Conference Proceedings
Example:
Barman, B. (2007). Scenario of rural library movement in Assam. In Narendra
Lahkar (Ed.), Rural libraries in the
North East India: Problems and prospects: Proceeding of the National
seminar on problems and prospects of rural libraries in North East India,
Guwhati, 28-29 March, (pp. 43-64). Guwahati: Central Reference Library.
m) Paper Presented at Conference
Example:
Barman, B. (2007). Scenario of rural
library movement in Assam. Paper presented at National seminar on problems
and prospects of rural libraries in North East India, Guwhati, 28-29 March.
n) Article from Newspaper with Author
Example:
Barman, B. (2018, April 9). Why you should be a librarian. The Assam Tribune, p. 4.
o) Article from Newspaper without Author
Example:
Why you should be a librarian (2018, April 9). The Assam Tribune, p. 4.
p) Master’s or M.Phil. Dissertation or Ph.D. Thesis
Example:
Barman, B. (2011). Management of web
resources in library and information science (Unpublished doctoral thesis).
Gauhati University, Guwahati.
q) Professional Website with Author
Example:
Barman, B. (2008). About LIS Links.
Retrieved February 3, 2018, from LIS Links Website:
http://lislinks.com/about-lis-links
r) Professional Website without Author
Example:
How many states are having library legislation in India (2008). Retrieved
February 3, 2018, from LIS Links website:
http://lislinks.com/forum/topics/how-many-states-are-having
4. Generation of Citations: The best way to do citations is
to do it manually i.e. by reading through the manual of standard citations and
then rendering it while writing the article. However, there may be occasion
when you need to change the citation style or you need to use it repetitively
or you lack sufficient time to go through the manual of the standard citation
styles. In such cases one can take the help of citation generation softwares
like Refworks, EndNote, Citation
machine (http://citationmachine.net), EasyBib (http://www.easybib.com/), Microsoft
Word (under References tab) and so on.
a) Citation Machine: Citation machine (http://citationmachine.net) helps students
and professional researchers to properly credit the information that they use.
It helps to build citation in MLA 7th Ed, APA 6th Ed, Turabian, Chicago format.
b) EasyBib: EasyBib
(http://www.easybib.com/) support the APA, MLA, Turabian and Chicago citation
styles.
c) Microsoft Word: The MS Word’s References tab can be used to automatically cite as per APA,
Chicago, MLA, Turabian, and so on.
5. Conclusion: The APA manual provides many examples of how to cite common types of
sources; however, it does not provide rules on how to cite all types of
sources. Therefore, if you have a source that APA does not include, APA
suggests that you find the example that is most similar to your source and use
that format.
In
this write-up rendering of a few commonly used sources are shown as examples.
If you need a detailed list of all sources, or additional examples and more
detailed information about APA citation style, kindly refer to the Publication
Manual of the American Psychological Association.
How to Cite this
Article?
APA Citation, 7th Ed.: Barman, B. (2020). A comprehensive book on Library and Information Science. New
Publications.
Chicago 16th Ed.: Barman, Badan. A Comprehensive Book on Library and Information Science. Guwahati:
New Publications, 2020.
MLA Citation 8th Ed: Barman, Badan. A Comprehensive Book on Library and Information Science. New
Publications, 2020.
Badan Barman
at present working as an Assistant Professor in the
Department of Library and Information Science,
Gauhati University, Guwahati-781014,
Assam, India. He is the creator of the LIS Links (http://www.lislinks.com) - India’s most popular social networking
website for Library
and Information Science professionals. He also created the UGC NET Guide (http://www.netugc.com) and LIS Study (http://www.lisstudy.com) website.
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