How to Create an APA Style Works Cited Page
Creating the Works Cited page at the end of your research paper is an important part of your project. This page lists the bibliographic citations for all of the sources that you utilized to do your research and write your paper. Your Works Cited page allows your readers to evaluate your sources and properly attribute ideas to the correct authors. It also allows others to find sources that you have referenced if they want to learn more about your topic of study. Using APA style for your Works Cited ensures consistency in formatting and helps establish your credibility. This article will cover all of the key elements for properly formatting your Works Cited list according to APA style guidelines.
The Basics
The Works Cited page should have the centered title “Works Cited” (no bold, italics, quotation marks, etc.) at the top of the page.
All citations should be double-spaced and have a hanging indent of 0.5 inches. This means that the first line of each citation is at the margin but subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches to clearly distinguish each individual reference.
Entries must be listed alphabetically by the authors’ last names or, if no author is given, the title. The references are arranged hanging indented, with the first line of each reference at the left margin and subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches.
Consult the 7th edition APA Publication Manual beginning on p. 262 for more details on APA style citations. Referencing examples in this guide are only a selection of common source types. Always check the manual for the most comprehensive examples.
Common Reference Types
Book: Last name, First initial. (Date of publication). Title of work. Publisher.
For example: Smith, J. (2019). Writing research papers. Penguin Publishing.
Chapter in an Edited Book: Last name, First initial. (Date of publication). Title of chapter. In First initial Last name of Editor (Ed.), Title of book (pp. Page range). Publisher.
For example: Swanson, R.A. (2019). Evidence-based management. In A. Buckingham (Ed.), Leadership strategies (pp. 27-49). Berret-Koehler.
Journal Article: Last name, First initial. (Date of publication). Article title. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), Page range. https://doi.org
For example: Brown, S. (2020). Education reform. Journal of Educational Psychology, 12(3), 27-42. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000023
Website: Last name, First initial. (Date of publication). Article title. Website Name. URL
For example: Chung, G. K. W. K. (2019, June). Gender equity in the classroom. Education World. https://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/issues273.shtml
The above examples cover citations for some of the most common source types, but the APA Publication Manual provides many more reference formats for different types of sources like reports, data sets, social media, conference papers, podcasts, and other media. Always consult the manual for the appropriate format for any source that is not covered in this guide.
Common Mistakes
Incorrect capitalization: Make sure all major words in journal/newspaper titles are properly capitalized.
Font style: Use a consistent 12-point font style like Times New Roman for the entire paper, including the Works Cited page.
Missing publication date: Always include the date for websites and documents where information may change over time.
Page numbers: Provide page numbers if quoting directly from a source or referring to a specific part of it.
Order of elements: Always check that elements like the author, date, title, etc. are in the proper sequence specified by APA style.
Author name format: Use individual authors’ first and last names in the format “LastName, FirstInitial.” For two authors, “LastName1, FirstInitial1, & LastName2, FirstInitial2.” For three to 20 authors, list all last names followed by comma and “et al.”
No extra spacing: The hanging indent format means references should be single spaced with double spacing between references. Too much or too little spacing interferes with readability.
Properly Formatting the Works Cited Page
Taking care with every citation on the Works Cited page is important to establish credibility. Always double check each element is in the proper place and format. Pay attention to small details like punctuation, capitalization, italics, font, and spacing. Using an online APA citation generator can help catch common mistakes, but you must still verify the references match your sources exactly. Provide page or paragraph numbers when needed. Checking each source citation against the original work ensures you represent sources accurately. With practice and attention to detail, you can master creating a properly formatted APA Works Cited page that makes a strong impression on your readers.
Using APA referencing guidelines ensures your Works Cited page is consistently formatted and the sources you relied on for your research are properly attributed. Providing accurate, standardized bibliographic information allows readers to find and assess the credibility of the materials on which you based your analysis and conclusions. Mastering APA referencing takes some practice but results in a polished, professional paper that establishes your research skills. With diligence and attention to style and formatting rules, you can create a Works Cited page adhering to APA guidelines that showcases your sources responsibly.
Andrew Stroud