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APA 7th Style Guide: What to Include

Key Points

Never include a document in a reference list that you have not seen.

Reference citations for electronic publications. When in doubt, locate all of the information needed to cite an electronic publication as if it were a print document. Then, add the DOI or URL, at the very least this includes the URL. If an item is no longer available, do not include it in your reference list (this includes items that have been removed from the Internet or items that cannot be found by the reader due to unpublished lectures, personal communications, or interviews 9.37).

Square brackets are used to identify material that is not found in a document, but that has been added by you.

Title is required for all references.

Components of References

References for books and articles require specific components. The sequencing of these components is prescribed by APA. Consistent ordering is important to avoid confusion and to help the reader find information. 

Books Journal Articles    Newspaper Articles Websites
Author(s)                                       Author(s) Author(s) Author(s)
Date (year) Date (year, month) Date (year, month day) Date (year, use n.d. if none)
Chapter title (optional) Article title Article title Website title
Editor(s) (if given) Title of Journal Title of Newspaper DOI or URL (always necessary)
Book title Volume Pagination (use p. or pp.)  
Edition (if given) Issue (if given) DOI or URL (when necessary)  
Volume (if given) Pagination    
Pagination (when citing a chapter) DOI or URL (when necessary)    
Publisher      
DOI or URL (when necessary)          
Clatsop Community College1651 Lexington Ave. Astoria, OR 97103503-325-0910Admissions: 503-338-2411Toll Free: 1-855-252-8767Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges & UniversitiesClatsop Community College is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution.