APA-style citations explained
What is APA?
APA, or American Psychological Association, is the US organization of psychologists. It also stands for a citation style that's often used in social sciences, psychology, education, business, and other disciplines.
What does APA citing mean?
APA style is one of the most popular citation formats, along with MLA, Chicago, and Harvard. Typically used for college-level and postgraduate work, it focuses on clarity, consistency, and proper referencing for all sources. The style highlights the publication year and the author's name in the text, which makes it perfect for referencing recent publications.
Key elements of the APA format are:
- In-text citations. These references credit the original source, listing the author and date in the body text of the paper. E.g., Green, 2020.
- Reference lists. This in-depth list at the end of the paper includes all the sources with detailed information. E.g., Green, A.B. (2020). Psychology 101. Guilford Press.
APA style also establishes rules and guidelines for title pages, font, spacing, tables and figures, and other formatting details.
Today, most educational institutions follow the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual, which was released in 2019. At the same time, some schools still use the 6th edition of the APA Manual, which was in effect from 2009 to 2019.
Our tool covers both formats, ensuring accurate and quick referencing for any source, from books and websites to legal cases and academic journals. Since APA rules are often updated, we strive to keep our generator in sync with the latest standards. Use it to cite your sources in APA without the extra stress and effort.
Key features of this APA citation generator
Free to use
Find, format, and edit your sources for free. No mandatory registration, limits, or hidden paywalls.
Quick results
Create APA citations in seconds. Just type in your source name, URL, ISBN, DOI, or keyword.
Up-to-date APA formatting
This tool strives to keep your citations in sync with all the latest APA guidelines.
Edit & copy in one click
Need to update your reference? You can make edits anytime, then copy the results into your bibliography.
Match your paper's layout
Adjust the font and size of your reference to keep it consistent with the rest of your work.
Save for later
Our APA format generator saves your citations for up to 7 days so you can come back anytime.
The WritePaper APA citation generator: how it works
This APA generator is built to be simple and quick. Here's how you can create a formatted reference list for your bibliography:
Frequently asked questions
Why use a citation generator?
This citation generator simplifies the referencing process, creating accurate citations in seconds. Here are some reasons to try it:
- Accurate APA referencing. APA guidelines can be extensive and vague, taking hours to master. Our tool strives to stay up to date with the latest rules, ensuring your references are clear and precise.
- Saves hours of time. Manual referencing can take hours and be very stressful. With this tool, you can focus on research and writing instead of the APA citation style nuances.
- Lowers plagiarism risks. Our tool helps you avoid missing or improperly formatted citations, ensuring a high originality score for your paper.
- Ensures credibility. Clear citations in APA format show that your work is polished, professional, and well-researched.
- Consistent formatting. Don’t waste hours adjusting the bibliography to match your paper’s layout. Generate your citations in a few clicks in your preferred style.
What are the main types of citation in the APA style?
APA style requires both in-text and reference list citations. APA-style citations in the text show partial information about the source and point to the list of references. At the same time, a reference list entry includes full publication details. Our tool helps cite sources accurately and quickly, no matter the type.
Who can use an APA citation generator?
Our APA citation generator is built to support everyone who wants to reference their sources, from students to working professionals. However, this tool is mostly helpful for college and post-graduate students because APA style is most common at these academic levels. Middle and high school students typically use MLA style.
Is this APA citation generator free, or do I have to pay?
This citation generator is entirely free to use. You don't have to create an account, pay anything, or deal with frustrating limits or hidden paid features. Just enter your source details like title, author name, URL, ISBN, keyword, or DOI, and get a strong citation formatted in the APA style.