A brief guide to APA (6th ed.), why referencing is important, and how to use in-text and reference page citations.

1. Southwest Florida College’s
Guide to
APA Citation

2. Why do we cite?
• Citing allows your instructor to know
where you found your information
• It shows you researched your topic and
thoughtfully developed your work
• It gives credit to the author
• When you summarize or quote a work and
don’t give a citation, that is considered
plagiarism

3. What do we cite?
• Direct or indirect (paraphrased) quotes
• Terminology coined by an author
• Historic facts
• Images, maps, etc.

4. How do we cite?
• In-text – Citations used within the body
of your paper
• References – A list at the conclusion of
your paper with the full information of
your citations

5. Examples of In-text Citations
Cite your reference with the last name of the
author(s) and year published. Include the page
number if referencing a specific page.
Direct quote:
• “A trademark is a recognizable sign or expression
which identifies a product or service” (Smith & Hart,
2013, p. 12).
• Jones (2013) found “the importance of the study will
completely change healthcare” (p. 55).

6. Corporate author:
• The newest iPod will continue to release
new software updates (Apple, 2013).
No author:
• Children need different activities to meet
their unique learning styles (“Managing
Your Classroom,” 2009).

7. Three to Five Authors - List all the authors the
first time you cite the source
• (Field, Jones, Smith, Berry, & Harlow, 2003)
In subsequent citations, only use the first
author's last name followed by "et al." in the
signal phrase or in parentheses
• (Field et al., 2003)
Six or More Authors - Use the first author's
name followed by et al.
• (Jonas et al., 2001)

8. Reference List
• Continue the
running head and
page number
• Double-space
• Each entry has a
hanging indent
• Alphabetical order
by main author’s
last name (or by
corporate name)
• Check that each in-
text reference is
listed on this page