CORPORATE BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

MODULE 5

BUSINESS REPORTS
What Are Business Reports?
Business reports are actual documents that inform by summarizing and
analyzing a particular situation, issue, or facts and then make recommendations
to the group or person asking for the report. The goal of these reports is usually
one of the following:
• To examine potential and available solutions to an issue, situation, or
problem.
• To apply business and management theories to produce different
suggestions for improvement.
• To show your evaluation, reasoning, and analytical skills in recognizing
and considering possible solutions and outcomes.
• To make conclusions about an issue or problem.
• To produce a range of suggestions for future action.
• To present clear and concise communication skills.

What Are the Types of Business Reports?

There are five main types of business reports: informational reports, analytical
reports, research reports, explanatory reports, and progress reports. Depending
on the data turnaround, different teams within a company can decide how often
they need to create business reports — daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or
annually.
a) Informational Reports
You ask for this report when you want objective information on something. It
presents non-biased facts without explaining the reasons and the possible
outcomes of a situation. It is the ideal business report for learning things such
as the number of employees, the role each of them plays in the company, or the
departments the employees work in.
b) Analytical Report
This type of business report is usually required when a company is trying to
make an important decision. An analytical report analyzes the company’s
situation, presenting relevant information, explanations, and conclusions. It
helps the company to make good decisions going forward.
 c) Research Report
This is the most comprehensive type of business reports required when a
company considers trying something new, such as going into a new geographical
area, offering a new product, or using advanced tools for bulk URL analysis. A
team of specialists or researchers are given a topic and asked to find all the
relevant statistics and details obtained from an informational report, followed by
a detailed analysis of the data found in the analytical report. The conclusion of
the research report will be based on the available data obtained from the
analytical and informational reports.
d) Explanatory Report
This report is required when you want to explain a topic or situation so that
everyone can understand it. For example, you can write it to explain the research
you’ve conducted. Along with the table showing the results, you should include
the reason for the research, sample sizes, methodology, etc. After explaining the
results, you should briefly summarize the findings.
e) Progress Report
You want this report to show how things are going at the moment. A progress
report isn’t based on analysis or tons of research. Instead, they are an update
for the person who needs it. One example of this could be a weekly report
disclosing the progress made throughout the week and what tasks you're looking
to work on in the upcoming week.

PARTS OF BUSINESS REPORTS

1. Title Page
Every business report should feature a title page. The title itself should clearly
set out what the report is about. Typically, you should also include your name
and the date of the report.
2. Summary
Most business reports begin with a summary of its key points. Try to include:

• A brief description of what the report is about

• How the report was completed (e.g., data collection methods)
• The main findings from the research
• Key conclusions and recommendations
A paragraph or two should suffice for this in shorter business reports. However,
for longer or more complex reports, you may want to include a full executive
summary.
3. Table of Contents
Short business reports may not need a table of contents, especially if they
include a summary. But longer reports should set out the title of each section
and the structure of the report. Make sure the headings here match those used
in the main text. You may also want to number the sections.
4. Introduction
The introduction is the first part of the report proper. Use it to set out the brief
you received when you were asked to compile the report. This will frame the rest
of the report by providing:

• Background information (e.g., business history or market information)

• The purpose of the report (i.e., what you set out to achieve)
• Its scope (i.e., what the report will cover and what it will ignore)
These are known as the “terms of reference” for the business report.

5. Methods and Findings

If you are conducting original research, include a section about your methods.
This may be as simple as setting out the sources you are using and why you
chose them. But it could also include how you have collected and analyzed the
data used to draw your conclusions.
After this, you will need to explain your findings. This section will present the
results of your research clearly and concisely, making sure to cover all the main
points set out in the brief.

6. Conclusions and Recommendations

The last main section of your report will cover conclusions and
recommendations. The conclusion section should summarize what you have
learned from the report. If you have been asked to do so, you should also
recommend potential courses of action based on your conclusions.
If you are not sure what to suggest here, think back to the objectives set out in
your brief.

7. References
If you have used any third-party sources while writing your report, list them in
a bibliography after the main report. This could include other business
documents, academic articles, or even news reports. The key is to show what
you have based your findings and conclusions upon.
8. Appendices (If Applicable)
Finally, you may have gathered extra documentation during your research, such
as interview transcripts, marketing material, or financial data. Including this in
the main report would make it too long and unfocused, but you can add it to an
appendix (or multiple appendices) at the end of the document. It will then be
available should your reader need it.
CITATION
Refers to the way of acknowledging books, papers, articles and other
unpublished materials that the writer uses in his/her writing.

Reasons for citation

• It shows the range and nature of the source materials the writer borrows.
• The ethics of academic writing requires citation. This is because it involves
sound evidence which support and strengthen the writer’s own
arguments.
• To show the right person who originates the idea.
• The academic value needs the writer to be able to trace the genealogy of
ideas.

There are two types of citations:

• In-text/Parenthetical citations: Those that are found in the body of a

project are called in-text/parenthetical citations. They're added into a
project when a direct quote or paraphrase has been added into your work.
These citations only include the name(s) of the author(s), date, and page
number(s), if applicable.

• References: Those that are found on the final part of a project are called
references. They're are found in the reference list (sometimes called APA
works cited by some teachers), which is at the end of the assignment. It
includes the full information of all sources used in a project. These types
of references show the author's name, date published, title, publisher,
URL, and other key pieces of information.

Citing a printed book in APA

• The title of the book should be written in sentence case. This means you
should capitalize
• the first letter of the first word of the title and any subtitles, as well as the
first letter of any proper nouns.
• The full title of the book, including any subtitles, should be stated and
italicized.
• You do not need to include the publisher location.

In-text citation template and example:

(i) Narrative

Author Surname (Publication Year)

Bryman (2012)
(ii) Parenthetical
(Author Surname, Publication Year)
(Bryman, 2012)

Reference list entry template and example:

Author Surname, F. M. (Publication Year). Book title in sentence case. Publisher.

Bryman, A. (2012). Social research methods (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Citing an e-book in APA

APA style treats printed books and e-books the same if all the publication details
are the same, and the e-book has the same pagination as the printed book. E-
book is short for “electronic book.” It is a digital version of a book that can be
read on a computer, e-reader (Kindle, Nook, etc.), or another electronic device.

If the e-book does not have pagination, include a DOI or the URL at which you
accessed the book.

In-text citation template and example:

(i) Narrative
Author Surname (Publication Year)
Harari (2015)

(ii) Parenthetical
(Author Surname, Publication Year)
(Harari, 2015)

Reference list entry template and example:

Author Surname, F. M. (Publication Year). Book title in sentence case. Publisher.

URL

Harari, Y. N. (2015). Sapiens: A brief history of humankind. Harper Collins.

https://www.amazon.com/Sapiens-Humankind-Yuval-Noah-Harari-
ebook/dp/B00ICN066A/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=science&qid=1606900
446&s=digital-text&sr=1-4
Citing a translated book in APA
For a book with both an author and a translator, you’ll add information about
the translator to the full reference. The in-text reference will be the same as with
other books, but you will also include the original publication year if applicable.

In-text citation template and example:

(i) Narrative
Author Surname (Publication Year)
Larsson (2005/2008)

(ii) Parenthetical
(Author Surname, Publication Year)
(Larsson, 2005/2008)

Reference list entry template and example:

Author Surname, F. M. (Publication year for the translation). Book title (F.
Translator Surname, Trans.). Publisher. (Original work published year)
Larsson, S. (2008). The girl with the dragon tattoo (R. Keeland, Trans.). Vintage
Books. (Original work published 2005)

Citing an edited book in APA

In-text citation template and example:

(i) Narrative
Editor Surname (Publication Year)
Colomer (2011)

(ii) Parenthetical
(Editor Surname, Publication Year)
(Colomer, 2011)

Reference list entry template and example:

Editor Surname, F. M. (Ed.). (Publication Year). Book title: Subtitle. Publisher.

Colomer, J. M. (Ed.). (2011). Personal representation: The neglected dimension of
electoral systems. ECPR Press.

For more than one editor, use “Eds.” instead of “Ed.” It is enclosed in parentheses
after the editors’ names.

Citing an audiobook in APA

It is not necessary to mention the name of the narrator and/or the audiobook
format unless those are elements you are emphasizing with your reference. If the
book author and narrator are the same, you do not need to list the narrator.

In-text citation template and example:

(i) Narrative
Author Surname (Publication Year)
Grisham (2020)

(ii) Parenthetical
(Author Surname, Publication Year)
(Grisham, 2020)

Reference list entry template and example:

Author Surname, F. M. (Publication Year of the audiobook). Book title (Narrator’s

name, Narr.) [Audiobook]. Publisher. URL

Grisham, J. (2020). A time for mercy: A Jake Brigance novel (M. Beck, Narr.)
[Audiobook]. Random House Audio.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/audible/mlp/mfpdp/B088HH7ZTC

Do not forget to enclose the narrator’s name in parentheses along with the name
“Narr.” Use the word [Audiobook] to represent that the book is an audiobook.

Citing a book from a database in APA

Structure:

Author, A. (Year of Publication). Title of work. Publisher Name. URL or DOI

Example:

Sayre, R., Devercelli, A. E., Neuman, M. J., & Wodon, Q. (2015). Investment in
early childhood development: Review of the world bank’s recent experience. World
Bank Group. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-0403-8

Notes: When citing an online book or e-book in APA, keep in mind:

• A DOI (digital object identifier) is an assigned number that helps link

content to its location on the Internet. It is therefore important, if one is
provided, to use it when creating a citation.
• If an e-book is from an academic database but does not have a DOI or
stable URL, end the citation after the publisher’s name (the citation format
will then be the same as for a print book). Do not include the name of the
database.

Citing a multi-volume work in APA

In-text citation template and example:
Narrative
Author Surname (Publication Year)
Maher (1983)

Parenthetical
(Author Surname, Publication Year)
(Maher, 1983)

Reference list entry template and example:

Author or Editor Surname, F. M. (Publication Year). Book title (Vols. #–#).

Publisher.

Maher, B. A. (1983). Progress in experimental personality research:

Psychopathology (Vols. 1–2). Academic Press.

Citing multiple authors or no author in APA

2 authors

The name of each author is listed. The word “and” is placed between the two
names for narrative citations, and an ampersand (“&”) is used between the two
names for parenthetical citations and references.
3 or more authors

Use only the first author’s surname from the reference list, followed by “et al.”
(“et al.” means “and others.”). Use the same style in first and subsequent
citations. For references with 21 or more authors use the same in-text citation
format, but in the reference list entry, include the first 19 authors, followed by
an ellipsis and then the last name (without an ampersand preceding it).

Organization as author/publisher

An organization may be cited as the author of a work. In addition, you may (but
are not required to) abbreviate long group names as long as the first in-text
citation shows the group’s full name and abbreviations.

No author

If the work does not have an author, cite the source by the book title.

Multiple authors and no authors

2 authors

APA in-text examples

Narrative: Samuels and Shugart (2000)

Parenthetical: (Samuels & Shugart, 2000)

APA reference page example

Samuels, D., & Shugart, M. S. (2000). Presidents, parties, and prime ministers:
How the separation of powers affects party organization and behavior. Cambridge
University Press.

3–20 authors

PA in-text examples
Narrative: Kirp et al. (1995)
Parenthetical: (Kirp et al., 1995)

APA reference page example

Kirp, D. L., Dwyer, J. P., & Rosenthal, L. A. (1995). Our town: Race, housing, and
the soul of suburbia. Rutgers University Press.
21 or more authors

APA in-text examples

Narrative: Hutchins et al. (1995)
Parenthetical: (Hutchins et al., 1995)

APA reference page example

Hutchins, E., Arfken, C., Galderisi, S., Warrick, J., Pratt, G., Iacono, W.,
Cramblet Alvarez, L. D., Leach, J. L., Rodriguez, J. L., Thomas, A., Peter, B.,
Arock, C., Sam, K., Antony, J., Ajay, M., Rodriguez, K. M., Kathy, K., Vincent, J.,
Patel, N., . . . Jones, K. (1995). Cognition in the wild. MIT Press.

Organization as author/publisher

APA in-text examples

Narrative: UNICEF (2007)

Parenthetical: (UNICEF, 2007)

APA reference page example

UNICEF. (2007). Protecting the world’s children: Impact of the convention on the
rights of the child in diverse legal systems. Cambridge University Press.

No author

APA in-text examples

Narrative: Psycholinguistic assessments of language processing in aphasia (1992)

Parenthetical: (Psycholinguistic assessments of language processing in aphasia,

1992)

APA reference page example

Psycholinguistic assessments of language processing in aphasia. (1992).

Psychology Press.

For more information on citing sources in APA, also read these guides on APA
in-text citations and APA reference page examples.
How to cite a journal article in APA
To cite an article in APA, you need to know the author, publication year, article
title, journal title, volume, issue, and page range, and/or DOI (digital object
identifier) or URL (uniform resource locator).

The templates and examples below are based on the 7th edition of the Publication
Manual of the American Psychological Association and the main APA style
website. On this page, you can learn how to cite the following:

• Print journal article

• Online journal article
• Journal article from a database
• Citing multiple authors or no author

If you’re trying to cite an article, the Chegg Writing APA citation generator could
help.

Citing a print journal article in APA style

The article title is in sentence case. Also, the first word after a colon is capitalized
in the article title.

The journal title is in title case and is set in italics. The volume number is also
in italics.

In-text citation template and examples:

(i) Narrative:
Author Surname (Publication Year)
Crowley (2017)
(ii) Parenthetical:
(Author Surname, Publication Year)
(Crowley, 2017)

Reference list entry template and example:

Author Surname, F. M. (Publication Year). Article title: Subtitle. Journal Title,

Volume(issue), page range. URL or DOI
Crowley, F. (2017). Firm subsidies in Central and Eastern Europe and Central
Asia: Is there urban bias? Regional Studies, Regional Science, 4(1), 49–56.
https://doi.org/10.1080/21681376.2017.1307784

Citing an online journal article in APA style

The article title is in sentence case. The journal title is in title case (since it names
a proper noun) and italicized.

In-text citation template and example:

Narrative:
Author Surname (Year)
Duvinage (2013)
Parenthetical:
(Author Surname, Year)
(Duvinage, 2013)

Reference list entry template and example:

Author Surname, F. M. (Publication Year). Article title: Subtitle. Journal Title,

Volume(issue), page range if available. URL or DOI

Duvinage, M. (2013). Performance of the Emotiv Epoc headset for P300-based

applications. BioMedical Engineering Online, 12, Article 56.
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-925X-12-56

Notes: When creating your online journal article citation, keep in mind:

• APA does NOT require you to include the date of access/retrieval date or
database information for electronic sources.
• You can use the URL of the journal homepage if there is no doi number
assigned and the reference was retrieved online.
o Example: Retrieved from
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1467-
8535;jsessionid=956132F3DE76EEB120577E99EE74CE9C.f04t01
• A doi (digital object identifier) is an assigned number that helps link
content to its location on the Internet. It is therefore important, if one is
provided, to use it when creating a citation. All doi numbers begin with a
10 and are separated by a slash.
Citing a Journal article from a database in APA
style

Create a journal citation as you normally would. If you have both a URL and DOI
number for the article, choose the DOI number.

In-text citation template and example:

(i) Narrative:
Author Surname (Year)
Smith (1952)
(ii) Parenthetical:
(Author Surname, Year)
(Smith, 1952)

Reference list entry template and example:

Author Surname, F. (Year, Month Day Published). Article title. Magazine Name.
URL

Smith, J. D. (1952). The Hawaiian Goose (Nene) restoration program. The Journal
of Wildlife Management, 16(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.2307/3797173

Citing multiple authors in APA style

2 authors

The name of each author is listed. The word “and” is placed between the two
names for narrative citations and an ampersand (“&”) is used between the two
names for parenthetical citations and references.

IN-TEXT EXAMPLES:

Audretsch and Keilbach (2004)

(Audretsch & Keilbach, 2004)

REFERENCE EXAMPLE:
Audretsch, D. B., & Keilbach, M. (2004). Entrepreneurship capital and economic
performance. Regional Studies, 38(8), 949–959.
https://doi.org/10.1080/0034340042000280956

3 to 20 authors

For the in-text citaiton, use only the first author’s surname from the reference
list followed by “et al.” (“et al.” means “and others”). In the reference list, list all
the author's names and add an ampersand "&" between the last two names.

IN-TEXT EXAMPLES:

Edwards et al. (2007)

(Edwards et al., 2007)

REFERENCE EXAMPLE:

Edwards, T., Delbridge, R., & Munday, M. (2007). A critical assessment of the
evaluation of EU interventions for innovation in the SME sector in Wales. Urban
Studies, 44(12), 2429–2447. https://doi.org/10.1080/00420980701540960

21+ authors
In the in-text citation, include only the first author’s surname from the reference
list followed by “et al.” (“et al.” means “and others”).
In the reference list, for sources with 21 or more authors include the first 19
authors, followed by an ellipsis and then the last name.

IN-TEXT EXAMPLES:

Boutros et al. (2020)

(Boutros et al., 2020)

REFERENCE EXAMPLE:

Boutros, N. N., Arfken, C., Galderisi, S., Warrick, J., Pratt, G., Iacono, W.,
Cramblet Alvarez, L. D., Leach, J. L., Rodriguez, J. L., Thomas, A., Peter, B.,
Arock, C., Sam, K., Antony, J., Ajay, M., Rodriguez, K. M., Kathy, K., Vincent, J.,
Patel, N.,…Jones, K. (2020). Unsung psychology pioneers: A content analysis of
who makes history (and who doesn’t). The American Journal of Psychology,
133(2), 241–262.
Organization as author/publisher

IN-TEXT CITATIONS

An organization may be cited as the author of a work. In addition, you may (but
are not required to) abbreviate long group names as long as the first in-text
citation shows the group’s full name and abbreviations. You may also mention
the organization within the context of the sentence and include the year
published in parenthesis.

In-text examples:

(World Health Organization [WHO], 2021)

(WHO, 2021)
World Health Organization (2021)

REFERENCE EXAMPLE:

World Health Organization. (2021, August 1). Opening up with COVID-19

passes. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 99(8), 546–547.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8319867/

No author

IN-TEXT CITATIONS

If the work does not have an author, cite the source by its title and use the first
few words or phrase in the in-text citation. If using a parenthetical citation, place
the article title in quotation marks.

In-text examples:

(“The evolution,” 2019)

The evolution of SME policy (2019)

REFERENCE EXAMPLE:
The evolution of SME policy. Regional Studies, Regional Science, 6(1), 32–54.
How to cite only the abstract of a journal article
While it is generally not recommended to cite directly from the abstract of a
journal article, since you may be missing context that is explained later in the
article, there may be a situation where it is appropriate (for example, there is
standalone wording in the abstract that supports your argument and you cannot
access the rest of the article). In order to cite just the abstract, you would then
do the following:

1. Follow the same basic structure as a citation for an online journal article.

2. Insert information about the database where you accessed the abstract after
the title.

Reference list entry template and example:

Author Surname, F. M. (Publication Year). Article title: Subtitle (Accession no. if

applicable) [Abstract from Database Name]. Journal Title, Volume(issue), page
range if available. URL or DOI

Farrall, S. (2021). International perspectives and lessons learned on desistance

[Abstract from The National Criminal Justice Reference Service Virtual
Library]. Desistance From Crime: Implications for Research, Policy, and Practice,
1(1). https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/international-
perspectives-and-lessons-learned-desistance

How to choose between using a DOI or URL when

citing a journal article
1. If a print or online journal article has a DOI available, always use the DOI.
2. If you are citing a print journal article and it does not have a DOI, do not
include a URL or DOI.
3. If you are citing an online journal article and it does not have a DOI:
1. DO include a URL if it is a stable URL and the article is from a
website or from a database that is not well known or only publishes
proprietary articles.
2. DO NOT include a URL if the article is from a well-known and easily
accessible academic database, and instead format your citation like
a citation for a print journal article.
When to include the name of the database in a
citation for a journal article
If you are citing an article from a well-known and widely accessible academic
research database, you do not need to include the database information in your
citation.

However, if you are citing an article from a database that only publishes
proprietary content, you should include the name of the database and the URL.
The template and example below show how to include database information in
your citation.

Reference list entry template and example:

Author Surname, F. M. (Publication Year). Article title. Database

Name. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL

Loro, F. A., Tijeras, E. G., & Brigo, F. (2020). Rapid versus slow withdrawal of
antiepileptic drugs. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Retrieved
November 5, 2021, from
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD005003.pu
b3/full

For more information on citing sources in APA, also read these guides on APA
in-text citations and APA reference page examples.
 How to Structure Publication Dates
General structure is:
• Year, Month Day
• Example: 1998, March 22
Place the date that the source was published in parentheses after the name of
the author. In APA format for periodicals, include the month and day as well. If
no date is available, place n.d. in parentheses, which stands for no date. For
more details, see Section 9.14 of the Publication Manual.

How to Structure the Title

For book titles: Only capitalize the first letter of the first word in the title and
the same for the subtitle. Capitalize the first letter for any proper nouns as well.
Place this information in italics. End it with a period.
Example:
Gone with the wind.
For articles and chapter titles: Only capitalize the first letter of the first word
in the title and the same for the subtitle. Capitalize the first letter for any proper
nouns as well. Do not italicize the title or place it in quotation marks. End it with
a period.
Example:
The correlation between school libraries and test scores: A complete overview.
For web pages on websites: Same as above. The web page title is italicized.
Example:
Simmons, B. (2015, January 9). The tale of two Flaccos. Grantland.
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-tale-of-two-flaccos/
For magazine, journal, and newspaper titles: Each important word should
start with a capital letter.
Example:
The Boston Globe
If you believe that it will help the reader to understand the type of source, such
as a brochure, lecture notes, or an audio podcast, place a description in brackets
directly after the title. Only capitalize the first letter.
Example:
New World Punx. (2014, February 15). A state of trance 650 [Audio file].
https://soundcloud.com/newworldpunx/asot650utrecht

How to Structure Publication Information

Publisher Location
In previous editions of the publication manual, books and sources that were not
periodicals indicated the city and state of publication. However, in the 7th
 edition, the location of publication is no longer given except “for works associated
with specific locations, such as conference presentations” (p. 297).
For conference presentations, give the city, state/province/territory, and
country. If in the US, abbreviate the state name using the two-letter abbreviation.
Place a colon after the location.
Examples:
• Philadelphia, PA:
• Rotterdam, Netherlands:
Periodical Volume and Number
For journals, magazines, newspapers, and other periodicals, place the volume
number after the title. Italicize this information. Place the issue number in
parentheses and do not italicize it. Afterwards, include page numbers.
Example:
Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 57(1), 79-82.
If you're citing a newspaper article, include p. or pp. before the page numbers.

How to Structure the Publisher

The names of publishers are not necessary to include for newspapers,
magazines, journals, and other periodicals.
For books and other sources: It is not necessary to type out the name of the
publisher exactly as it is shown on the source. Use a brief, but understandable
form of the publisher's name. Exclude the terms publishers, company, and
incorporated. Include Books and Press if it is part of the publisher's name. End
this information with a period (See Section 9.29 in the Publication manual for
more details).
Example:
Little Brown and Company would be placed in the APA citation as: Little Brown.
Oxford University Press would be placed in the citation as: Oxford University
Press.

How to Structure Online Sources

For sources found online:
• include the URL at the end of the citation
• do not place a period after the URL
If you're citing a periodical article found online, there might be a DOI number
attached to it. This stands for Direct Object Identifier. A DOI, or digital object
identifier, is a unique string of numbers and letters assigned by a registration
agency. The DOI is used to identify and provide a permanent link to its location
on the Internet. The DOI is assigned when an article is published and made
 electronically. If your article does indeed have a DOI number, use this instead of
the URL as the DOI number is static and never changes. If the source you're
citing has a DOI number, after the publication information add a period and then
http://dx.doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxxx. The x's indicate where you should put the
DOI number. Do not place a period after the DOI number. See sections 9.35-36
in the Publication manual for more details.
If you're using the automatic BibMe APA reference generator, you will see an area
to type in the DOI number.
Example:
Lobo, F. (2017, February 23). Sony just launched the world's fastest SD card.
http://mashable.com/2017/02/23/sony-sf-g-fastest-sd-card/?utm_cid=mash-
prod-nav-sub-st#ErZKV8blqOqO
Chadwell, F.A., Fisher, D.M. (2016). Creating open textbooks: A unique partnership
between Oregon State University libraries and press and Open Oregon
State. Open Praxis, 8(2), 123-130.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5944/openpraxis.8.2.290
Looking for more help and clarification? Check out this great resource!

CITATIONS AND EXAMPLES

Citations for Print Books

Author's Last name, First name initial. Middle name initial. (Year published). Title
of book. Publisher.
Example:
Finney, J. (1970). Time and again. Simon and Schuster.
Looking for an APA formatter? Don't forget that the BibMe APA citation generator
creates citations quickly and easily.
Notes: When creating an APA book citation, keep these in mind:
• Capitalize the first letter of the first word of the title and any subtitles, as
well as the first letter of any proper nouns.
• The full title of the book, including any subtitles, should be stated and
italicized.

Citations for Edited Books

Most edited books state on the cover or title page that they are edited by an
author or multiple authors. The format is the same as a print book, except the
editor's name is in the author's position. Include a parentheses afterwards with
the abbreviation (Ed.) for an edited book by one author or (Eds.) for an edited
book with two or more authors.
Editor, F. M. (Ed.). (Year published). Title of edited book. Publisher.
 Example:
Gupta, R. (Ed.). (2003). Remote sensing geology. Springer-Verlag.

Citations for Chapters in Edited Books

Some edited books contain chapters written by various authors. Use the format
below to cite an author's individual chapter in an edited book.
Chapter author's Last name, F. M. (Year published). Title of chapter. In F. M. Last
name of Editor (Ed.), Title of book (p. x or pp. x-x). Publisher.
Notice that for APA style, the title of the chapter is not italicized, while the title
of the book is. In addition, the chapter author's name is reversed at the beginning
of the reference, but the editor's name is written in standard order.
Example:
Longacre, W. A., & Ayres, J. E. (1968). Archeological lessons from an Apache
wickiup. In S. R. Binford & L. R. Binford (Eds.), Archeology in cultural
systems (pp. 151-160).
https://books.google.com/books?id=vROM3JrrRa0C&lpg=PP1&dq=archeology
&pg=PR9#v=onepage&q=archeology&f=false
In the above example, Longacre and Ayers are the authors of the individual
chapter and Binford & Binford are the editors of the entire book.

Citing an E-book from an E-reader

E-book is short for "electronic book." It is a digital version of a book that can be
read on a computer, e-reader (Kindle, Nook, etc.), or other electronic devices.
Include the DOI or URL if one exists for the e-book.
Author's Last name, F. M. (Year published). Title of work.
https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxxx or URL
https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxxx is used when a source has a DOI number. If the
e-book you're citing has a DOI number, use it in the APA citation. DOIs are
preferred over URLs.
How to cite in APA (an e-book example):
Eggers, D. (2008). The circle. https://www.amazon.com

Citing an E-book Found in a Database and Online

Use this format when citing an e-book that is either found on a website, or found
on a subscription database. APA formatting for this is very similar to the
structure of a print book. The only difference? Instead of the publisher
information, include the DOI number or URL.
Author's Last name, F. M. (Year published). Title of work.
https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxxx OR URL
When citing an online book or e-book, keep in mind:
• A DOI (digital object identifier) is an assigned number that helps link
content to its location on the Internet. It is therefore important, if one is
provided, to use it when creating a citation. In place of the x's in the DOI
format, place the 10 digit DOI number.
• Notice that for e-books, publication information is excluded from the
citation.
Example:
Sayre, R. K., Devercelli, A. E., Neuman, M. J., & Wodon, Q. (2015). Investment in
early childhood development: Review of the world bank's recent experience.
https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-0403-8

Citations for Chapters in E-books

Need to cite a chapter in an e-book? No problem! Citing a chapter in an e-book
is very similar to citing a chapter in a print book. Instead of including the
publisher information, include a DOI number (if one is displayed) or the URL.
Chapter author's Last name, F. M. (Year published). Title of chapter. In F. M. Last
name of Editor (Ed.), Title of book (p. x or pp. x-x).
https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxxx or URL
Epstein W. M. (1999). The ineffectiveness of psychotherapy. In C. Feltham
(Ed.), Controversies in psychotherapy and counselling (pp. 65-73).
https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446217801.n8

Citations for Websites

How to cite a web page on a website in APA:
Author's Last name, F. M. (Year, Month Day published). Title of article or page. Site
Name. URL
APA website citation example:
Simmons, B. (2015, January 9). The tale of two Flaccos. Grantland.
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-tale-of-two-flaccos/
Citing a web page with a group author:
Group Name. (Year, Month Date published). Title of wep page. Saite Name included
if different from Group Name. URL
Examples:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, February 3). Be prepared to
stay safe and healthy in winter.
https://www.cdc.gov/features/winterweather/index.html
National Park Service. (n.d.). Enchanting landscapes beneath the parks.
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/caves/index.htm
Note: "n.d." stands for "no date" and is used when there is no publication date.
 The above follows Section 10.16 of the Publication manual.
Still wondering how to cite a website in APA? Check out BibMe.com! It's quick,
simple, and free! Our APA citation machine also builds references for many other
styles as well!

Citations for Journal Articles Found in Print

Today, most journal articles are found online, but you may be lucky enough to
score a copy of a print version for your research project. If so, use the structure
below for your reference:
Author's Last name, F. M. (Year published). Article title. Periodical Title,
Volume(Issue), pp.-pp.
Notice that the article's title is only capitalized at the beginning. If there are any
proper nouns or subtitles, capitalize the first letter for those words as well. The
journal article's title and the volume number are both italicized. In addition, the
title of the journal is in title case form (all important words are capitalized).
Example:
Nevin, A. (1990). The changing of teacher education special education. Teacher
Education and Special Education: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division
of the Council for Exceptional Children,13(3-4), 147-148.

Citations for Journal Articles Found Online

Databases are a popular place to find high quality journal articles. These
references are formatted the same way as the print versions, except the DOI or
URL is included at the end. If the article has a corresponding DOI number, use
it instead of the URL. No URL? Use the homepage of the journal's website for the
URL. See Section 10.1 in the Publication manual for additional examples.
Author's Last name, F. M. (Year published). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume
number(issue number), page range. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxxx OR URL
Example:
Spreer, P., & Rauschnabel, P. A. (2016). Selling with technology: Understanding the
resistance to mobile sales assistant use in retailing. Journal of Personal Selling
& Sales Management, 36(3), 240-263.
https://doi.org/10.1080/08853134.2016.1208100
Notes: When creating your online journal article citation, keep in mind:
• This citation style does NOT require you to include the date of
access/retrieval date or database information for electronic sources.
• Use the URL of the journal homepage if there is no DOI assigned and the
reference was retrieved online. * If the journal article has a DOI number
assigned to it, include that number in the citation instead of a URL.
• Don't forget, our free BibMe APA generator is simple to use! Check out
BibMe Plus while you're at it! If you have a noun, conjunction,
 or preposition out of place, we'll flag it and offer suggestions for quick
writing fixes!

Citations for a Newspaper Article in Print

Similar to journal articles, most individuals use online newspaper articles for
research projects. However, if you're able to get your hands on a print version,
use this structure for your reference:
Author's Last name, F. M. (Year, Month Day of Publication). Article title. Newspaper
Title, pp. xx-xx.
Example:
Rosenberg, G. (1997, March 31). Electronic discovery proves an effective legal
weapon. The New York Times, p. D5.
Notes: When creating your newspaper citation, keep in mind:
• Begin page numbers with p. (for a single page) or pp. (for multiple pages).
• Even if the article appears on non-consecutive pages, include all page
numbers, and use a comma to separate them. Example: pp. C2, C5, C7-
C9.
• Include the full date of publication, not just the year like in most
references.

Citations for Newspapers found Online

Use this structure when referencing a newspaper article found on a website or
database:
Author's Last name, F. M. (Year, Month Day of Publication). Title of article. Title of
Newspaper. URL of newspaper's homepage
Example:
Rosenberg, G. (1997, March 31). Electronic discovery proves an effective legal
weapon. The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com
Notes: When citing a newspaper, keep in mind:
• If the article was found on the newspaper's website, include the URL for
the newspaper's homepage. For databases, include whatever URL is
provided.
• Multiple lines: If the URL runs onto a second line, only break URL before
punctuation (except for http://).
• This style does NOT require you to include the date of access for electronic
sources. If you discovered a newspaper article via an online database, the
database's information is NOT required for the citation either. If you're
using the BibMe APA formatter, we make it easy for you by only including
what you need in your references!

Citations for Magazines

 Citing a magazine article in print:
Author's Last name, F. M. (Year, Month of publication). Article title. Magazine Title,
Volume(Issue), page range.
APA format citation:
Tumulty, K. (2006, April). Should they stay or should they go? Time, 167(15), 3-40.
Notes: When citing a magazine, keep in mind:
• You can find the volume number with the other publication information of
the magazine.
• You can typically find page numbers at the bottom corners of a magazine
article.
• If you cannot locate an issue number, simply don't include it in the
citation.
Citing a magazine article found online:
Author's Last name, F. M. (Year, Month of publication). Article title. Magazine Title,
Volume(Issue). URL
Example:
Tumulty, K. (2006, April). Should they stay or should they go? Time, 167(15).
http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1179361,00.html
Notes: When creating an online magazine citation, keep in mind:
*The volume and issue number aren't always on the same page as the article.
Check out the other parts of the website before leaving it out of the citation.

Citations for Blogs

Blogs are found on websites and display continuously updated content and posts
by a single author, group, or company. A blog shows news updates, ideas,
information, and many other types of entries. Similar to journal entries, a blog
begins with the date the information was added followed by the content.
If you’re wondering how to cite a blog entry, look no further! Citing a blog is very
similar to citing a website.
Citing a blog post:
Last name of Author, First initial. Middle initial. (Year, Month Day blog post was
published). Title of blog post. Title of Blog. URL
Example:
Gonzalez, J. (2019, February 3). Let’s give our teaching language a makeover. Cult
of Pedagogy. https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/language-makeover/
Notice that the blog title only has a capital letter at the beginning. If there are
any proper nouns in the title, capitalize the first letter for those as well.
Cite a blog post in the text of the paper:
(Author’s last name, Year)
OR
Author’s last name (Year)
 Citations for Research Reports
Research, or technical report, is a piece of work that provides insight into
research done by an individual researcher, a group of researchers, or a company
or organization.
Citing a research report in print:
Author’s Last Name, F. M. or Organization. (Year published). Title of research
report (Report No.). Publisher.
Note: If the publisher is the same as the author, use the name as the the “Author”
and don't list the publisher.
Example:
Michigan Venture Capital Association. (2018). Annual research report.
Citing an online research report:
Author’s Last Name, F. M. or Organization. (Year published). Title of research
report (Report No.). URL
Example:
Newson, S. E. & Berthinussen, A. (2019). Improving our understanding of the
distribution and status of bats within the Ryevitalise Landscape Partnership
Scheme area (BTO Research Report No. 716).
https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/publications/btorr716finalwebsite.pdf

Citations for Films

Producer's Last name, F. M. (Producer), & Director's Last name, F. M. (Director).
(Release Year). Title of motion picture [Motion picture]. Studio.
Example:
Bender, L. (Producer), & Tarantino, Q. (Director). (1994). Pulp fiction [Film].
Miramax.
Citations for Online Films & Videos:
Person who posted the video's Last name, F. M. [User name]. (Year, Month Day of
posting). Title of video [Video]. Publishing site. URL
If the name of the individual who posted the YouTube video is not available, begin
the citation with the user name and do not place this information in brackets.
Smith, R. [Rick Smith] (2013, September 20). Favre to Moss! [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOP_L6hBjn8
Note: If you're discussing a certain part of the film or video in the body of your
project, include a timestamp in the in-text or parenthetical citation. (Pulp
Fiction, 1994, 1:15:30). The time stamp is Hours: Minutes: Seconds.

Citations for Images

Citing an image found in a print publication (such as a book or magazine) or museum:
Creator's Last name, F. M. (Year of Publication). Title of image [Format].
Publisher/Museum.
Including the format helps the reader understand and visualize the type of image
that is being referenced. It can be [Photograph], [Painting], or another medium.
Example:
Roege, W. J. (1938). St. Patrick's Cathedral, Fifth Avenue from 50th St to 51st
Street [Photograph]. New York Historical Society.
Citing an image retrieved online:
Similar to citing an image in print, when citing an image found online, place the
medium, or format, in the brackets. Capitalize the first letter.
Photographer, F. (Year of Publication). Title of photograph [Photograph]. Publisher.
URL
Example:
Ferraro, A. (2014). Liberty enlightening the world [Digital image]. Flickr.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/afer92/14278571753/in/set-
72157644617030616

Citations for TV/Radio Broadcasts

Writer's Last name, F. M. (Writer), & Director's Last name, F. M. (Director). (Year of
Airing). Episode title [TV series episode]. In F. M. Executive Producer's Last name
(Executive Producer), TV series name. Channel.
Kand, K. (Writer), & Fryman, P. (Director). (2006). Slap bet [TV series episode]. In
C. Bays (Executive Producer), How I met your mother. CBS.
TV/Radio Broadcasts found online:
Writer, F. M. (Writer), & Director, F. M. (Director). (Year of Airing). Episode title
[Television series episode]. In F. M. Executive Producer's Last name (Executive
Producer), TV series name. URL
Kand, K. (Writer), & Fryman, P. (Director). (2006). Slap bet [Television series
episode]. In C. Bays (Executive Producer), How I met your
mother. https://www.hulu.com/watch/1134858#i0,p30,d0
Note: When citing a TV show or episode, keep in mind:
• IMDB is a great resource for finding the information needed for your
citation (Director, Writer, Executive Producer, etc.) * This information can
also be found in the opening and closing credits of the show.
Type what you find into the BibMe APA formatter. We'll do the work for you and
structure your references properly!

Citations for Songs

To cite in APA a song from an album listened to online, use the following
structure:
Songwriter's Last name, F. M. (Copyright year). Title of song [Song recorded by F.
M. Last name]. On Album title. Publisher. URL
Notes:
• If the song is done by a band or group, include the band or group's name
instead of an individual's name.
• Only include the "Recorded by F. M. Last name" portion if it's a different
individual than the writer.
• The format can be CD, Online song, mp3, or any other simple description
to allow the reader to understand the format.
Swift, T. (2008). Love Story [Song]. On Fearless. Big Machine Records.
If you're using the BibMe APA citation generator to build your references, choose
"Music/Audio" from the source options.

Citations for Interviews

A personal interview should NOT be included in a reference list. They are not
considered recoverable data (they cannot be found by a researcher). You should
reference personal interviews as citations in the body of the project instead.
Example:
(J. Doe, personal communication, December 12, 2004)

Citations for Encyclopedia and Dictionary Entries

Encyclopedia/Dictionary in print:
Author's Last name, F. M. (Publication Year). Entry title. In F. M. Last name of
Editor (Ed.), Title of encyclopedia or dictionary (pp. xx-xx). Publisher.
Example:
Kammen, C., & Wilson, A. H. (2012). Monuments. Encyclopedia of local history. (pp.
363-364). AltaMira Press.
Encyclopedia/Dictionary online with author(s):
Author’s Last name, F. M. (Publication Year or n.d.). Entry title. In F. M. Last name
of Editor (Ed.), Title of encyclopedia or dictionary. Publisher. Retrieved date, from
URL
Encyclopedia/Dictionary online with group author:
Publisher or group name (Publication Year or n.d.). Entry title. In Title of
encyclopedia or dictionary. Retrieved date, from URL
Example:
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Taciturn. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved
February 10, 2020, from https://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/taciturn
If an entry looks like it goes through many updates, use “n.d.” as the publication
date and show the date you retrieved it. If using an archived version, no retrieval
date is needed.
 How to Reference a Lecture
This style of reference would be used if you were citing a set of notes from a
lecture (e.g., PowerPoint or Google slides provided by your instructor).
Citing online lecture notes or presentation slides:
Author's Last name, F. M. (Publication year). Name or title of lecture [Lectures notes
or PowerPoint slides]. URL
Example:
Saito, T. (2012). Technology and me: A personal timeline of educational
technology [PowerPoint slides].
http://www.slideshare.net/Bclari25/educational-technology-ppt
Tip: If you want to cite information from your own personal notes from a lecture,
this is considered personal communication. The notes may not be available
online for others outside of the class to access. Refer to it only in the body of
your essay or project. You can follow the style guide for personal communication
available in the Interview section.

Citing social media

Social media is everywhere, even in research projects. Many influencers post
thoughts, inspirational quotes, and intriguing stories in their profiles.
If you need to cite a post from a social media platform, use this structure:
Last name, F. M. or Group Name who posted the content [@Username]. (Year,
Month Day posted). First 20 words of the post [Format]. Social Media Site Name.
URL
Last name, F. M. or Group Name who posted the content [@Username]. (Year,
Month Day posted). First 20 words of the post [Format]. Social Media Site Name.
URL
A retrieval date (date you saw the page) is needed for profile pages since the
contents are likely to change over time (e.g., Instagram profile, Facebook page
etc.). The structure for that is:
Last name, F. M. or Group Name who posted the content [@Username].
(n.d.). Tweets or Home [Format]. Social Media Site Name. Retrieved from month
day, year, URL
Some things to keep in mind:
• If the name of the individual or group is unknown, begin the citation with
the handle and remove the brackets.
• If the post only includes an image or video without any text, instead of
including the first 40 words of the post provide a description of the post
and place it in brackets: [video of a NASA rocket leaving the atmosphere].
 • The format, in brackets, can be [Tweet], [Facebook status update],
[Facebook page], [Instagram photo], [Instagram video], or for a Reddit post,
use [Online forum comment].

Citing a Tweet from Twitter:

Example:
BibMe [@BibMe]. (2020, January 22). How to cite primary sources
ow.ly/fUb950vG3N5 [Tweet]. Twitter.
https://twitter.com/bibme/status/1219976780746043392
Citing a Twitter profile:
BibMe [@BibMe] (n.d.). Tweets [Twitter profile]. Twitter. Retrieved February 18,
2020, from https://twitter.com/BibMe
Citing a Facebook post:
Example:
DeGeneres, E. (2018, December 21). Holiday party goals [Facebook status update].
Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/ellentv/photos/a.182755292239/1015718808807
7240/?type=3&theater
Citing a Facebook page:
Example:
Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
(n.d.) Home [Facebook page]. Facebook. Retrieved July 22, 2019, from
https://www.facebook.com/nationalzoo
Citing an Instagram post:
Example:
Lipa, D. [@dualipa]. (2018, December 2). A lil Hollywood glam brunch! Thank you
@variety for by Breakthrough Artist of the Year award and thank you
for [Instagram photo]. Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq33SC2BAsr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

In-Text and Parenthetical Citations

What is an In-Text Citation or Parenthetical Citation?
The purpose of in-text and parenthetical citations is to give the reader a brief
idea as to where you found your information, while they're in the middle of
reading or viewing your project. You may include direct quotes in the body of
your project, which are word-for-word quotes from another source. Or, you may
include a piece of information that you paraphrased in your own words. These
are called parenthetical citations. Both direct quotes and paraphrased
information include a citation next to it. You also need to include the full citation
for the source in the reference list, which is usually the last item in a project.
In-Text Citations for Direct Quotes
In-text and parenthetical citations are found immediately following any direct
quotes or paraphrases. They should include the page number or section
information to help the reader locate the quote themselves.
Example:
Buck needed to adjust rather quickly upon his arrival in Canada. He stated, "no
lazy, sun-kissed life was this, with nothing to do but loaf and be bored. Here was
neither peace, nor rest, nor a moment's safety" (London, 1903, p. 25).

Paraphrased Information
When taking an idea from another source and placing it in your own words (a
paraphrase), it is not necessary to include the page number, but you can add it
if the source is large and you want to direct readers right to the information.
Example:
At the time, papyrus was used to create paper, but it was only grown and
available in mass quantities in Egypt. This posed a problem for the Greeks and
Romans, but they managed to have it exported to their civilizations. Papyrus
thus remained the material of choice for paper creation (Casson, 2001).

How to Format In-Text and Parenthetical Citations

An in-text citation in APA displays the author's name directly in the sentence, or
text, of the paper. Always place the year directly after the author's name. Authors
and dates stick together like peanut butter and jelly! If you're citing a direct
quote, place the page number at the end of the quote.
Parenthetical citations display the author's name and year in parentheses after
a quote or paraphrase. If you're citing a direct quote, include the page number
as well. If you're paraphrasing, it is up to you whether or not you'd like to include
a page number.
Example of various ways to cite in the body of a project:
Smith (2014) states that, "the Museum Effect is concerned with how individuals
look at a work of art, but only in the context of looking at that work along with a
number of other works" (p. 82).
"The Museum Effect is concerned with how individuals look at a work of art, but
only in the context of looking at that work along with a number of other works"
(Smith, 2014, p. 82).
If your source has two authors, always include both names in each in-text or
parenthetical citation.
 Example: (Franks & Beans, 2019)
If your source has three or more authors, only include the first author's name
and follow it with et al.
Example: (Gilley et al., 2015)
If your source was written by a company, organization, government agency, or
other type of group, include the group's name in full in the first in text or
parenthetical citation. In any APA citations following it, it is acceptable to shorten
the group name to something that is simple and understandable.
Example:
1st citation:
(American Eagle Outfitters /[AEO/], 2017)
2nd and subsequent citations:
(AEO, 2017)
Still wondering how to in-text cite in APA? How about citing parenthetically?
Check out this page to learn more about parenthetical citations. Also, BibMe
writing tools can help create your in-text and parenthetical citations quickly and
easily. Towards the end of creating a full reference citation, you'll see the option
to create a citation for the body of your project (in-text) in the APA format
generator.
Need help with your writing? Give the BibMe Plus paper checker a whirl! Upload
your paper or copy and paste it into the text box on the page. We'll run it through
our innovative technology and let you know if there is an adjective, verb,
or pronoun out of place, plus much, much more!

Changes Between the 6th and 7th Editions

Below is a selection of notable citing differences between the two editions.
For journal articles with a DOI number, include the DOI as a URL.
6th edition example:
Lee, C.-H., & Mackinnon, R. (2019). Voltage sensor movements during
Hyperpolarization in the HCN Channel. Cell Studies. doi:
10.1016/j.cell.2019.11.006
7th edition example:
Lee, C.-H., & Mackinnon, R. (2019). Voltage sensor movements during
Hyperpolarization in the HCN Channel. Cell Studies.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2019.11.006
For ebooks, you no longer need to identify the format.
6th edition example:
Murakami, H. (2014). Kafka on the shore [Kindle].
7th edition example:
Murakami, H. (2014). Kafka on the shore.
Full book references no longer need to show where the publisher is located.
6th edition example:
Murakami, H. (2014). Kafka on the shore. London: Vintage Publishing.
7th edition example:
Murakami, H. (2014). Kafka on the shore. Vintage Publishing.
In-text citations for sources with more than 3 authors can use the notation
“et al.” for brevity.
Structure:
(first author’s name et al., year published)
6th edition example:
(Anaydike, Braga, Talfah, Gonzalez, 1980)
7th edition example:
(Anaydike et al., 1980)
When including a website URL, do not include the words “Retrieved from” before
the URL cited.
6th edition example:
Elan, P. (2019, December 6). 'A reflection of inner life': show explores history of the
hoodie. The Guardian. Retrieved from
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/dec/06/a-reflection-of-inner-
life-show-explores-history-of-the-hoodie
7th edition example:
Elan, P. (2019, December 6). 'A reflection of inner life': show explores history of the
hoodie. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/dec/06/a-
reflection-of-inner-life-show-explores-history-of-the-hoodie
The citing format for tables and figures are now the same. For both, indicate a
table number and name at the top, and a note at the bottom.
Here are a few important paper formatting changes: * Running head is only
required for professional (not student) papers * Only a single space should be
placed after punctuation. * The new style version endorses the use of the singular
“they” as an option for a gender neutral pronoun. * The 7th edition promotes the
use of “they” as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun. * In addition to the paper
title, author name, and institutional affiliation, a cover page for a student paper
should also have the course, instructor name, and due date
References
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American
Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/101037/0000165-000