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OLD Nursing: APA Style

If you are used to using MLA style, APA might seem a little confusing.

Here are some key differences between the two styles:

Parenthetical/In-Text Citations

 

Websites- examples

Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial., & Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Last update or copyright date; if not known, put n.d.). Title of page. Website name if different from author. https://www.xxxxxxx

Example: 

  • Hall-Flavin, D. K. (2016). What is passive-aggressive behavior? What are some of the signs? Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/passive-aggressive-behavior/faq-20057901

Which Style Do I Use?

APA (American Psychological Association) is generally used by Education, Psychology, and Sciences.

MLA (Modern Language Association) style is generally used by the Humanities.

Books - examples

Entire Print Book with an Author: 

  • Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. Publisher.
  • Example: Calfee, R. C., & Valencia, R. R. (1991). APA guide to preparing manuscripts for journal publication. American Psychological Association.

Entire Print Book with an Editor: 

  • Editor Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Eds.). (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. Publisher.
  • Example: Duncan, G. J., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (Eds.). (1997). Consequences of growing up poor. Russell Sage Foundation.

Chapter in a Book:

  • Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial., & Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year of publication). Title of chapter. In Editor First Initial. Second Initial. Surname & Editor First Initial. Second Initial. Surname (Eds.), Title of book (pages of chapter). Publisher.
  • Example: O'Neil, J. M., & Egan, J. (1992). Men's and women's gender role journeys: A metaphor for healing, transition, and transformation. In B. R. Wainrib (Ed.), Gender issues across the life cycle (pp. 107-123). Springer.

Online Book:

  • Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year of publication; use n.d. if no date is available). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. https://www.xxxxxxx
  • Example: De Huff, E. W. (n.d.). Taytay’s tales: Traditional Pueblo Indian tales. https://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/dehuff/taytay/taytay.html

Gov./Organization Reports - examples

Surname, First Initial or Government Agency. (Year of publication). Title of work. Parent Agency. https://www.xxxxxxx

Example: National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. (1979). The Belmont report: Ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/belmont-report/read-the-belmont-report/index.html

What is APA Style?

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association provides detailed guidelines on all aspects of the writing process, from the ethics of authorship to the word choice that best reduces bias in language. APA Style is the preferred citation style for the social and behavioral sciences disciplines.

Journals -examples

Print Journal Article:

  • Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial., Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial., & Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year of publication). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume number(issue number if available), pages.
  • Example: Scruton, R. (1996). The eclipse of listening. The New Criterion, 15(3), 5-13.

Online Journal Article with DOI:

  • Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial., & Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year of publication). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume number(issue number if available), page range. https://doi.org/10.0000/0000
  • Example: Herbst-Damm, K. L., & Kulik, J. A. (2005). Volunteer support, marital status, and the survival times of terminally ill patients. Health Psychology, 24(2), 225–229. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.24.2.225

Online Journal Article with No DOI: 

  • Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial., & Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year of publication). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume number(issue number if available). https://www.xxxxxxx
  • Example: Kenneth, I. A. (2000). A Buddhist response to the nature of human rights. Journal of Buddhist Ethics, 8. https://www.cac.psu.edu/jbe/twocont.html