APA Citation Style Guide - Preparing a List of References
Basic Guidelines
• The list of works cited appears at the end of the paper, on a new page.
• Centre the title, “References”, an inch from the top of the page and then double space between the title and
the first entry.
• Use a hanging indent after the first line of entries.
• Double-space the entire list, between and within entries.
• Alphabetize entries by author last name (or by title if author name is unknown).
Non-periodical Print Publications – Such as books
Book by a Single Author
Author’s last name, Author’s first initial. (Year). Title. Place: Publisher.
Schuster, M. (2008). Don DeLillo, Jean Baudrillard, and the Consumer Conundrum. Youngstown: Cambria
Press.
Book by Two or More Authors
A correct embedded citation includes the first word of the reference
page entry followed by the year of publication. A citation for words or
ideas taken from Mark Schuster’s book would look like this:
(Schuster, 2008). See back page of this handout if there is no author.
Author’s last name, Author’s first initial, & Author’s last name, Author’s first initial. (Year). Title.
Place: Publisher.
Heer, J., & Worcester, K. (2008). A Comics Studies Reader. Jackson: UP of Mississippi.
Book (with editor)
Editor’s last name, Editors’ first initial. (Ed.). (Year). Title. Place: Publisher.
Mowat, B. (Ed). (1992). Dictionary of musicians. New York: Washington Square-Pocket.
Work in an Anthology (such as a chapter, essay, short story)
Author’s (of work) last name, Author’s first initial. (Year). Title of work. In Editor’s first initial.
Editor’s last name. (Ed.), Title of Anthology (pages). Place: Publisher.
Raynor, D. (2007). Morrison and the Critical Community. In J. Tally (Ed.), The Cambridge
*TDSB Student Research Guide, Adapted with permission, 2011, Toronto District School Board
Companion to Toni Morrison (pp. 12-16). Cambridge: Cambridge UP.
Article in a Reference Book (such as an encyclopedia or dictionary entry)
Author’s last name, Author’s first initial. (Year). Article title. In Title. Place: Publisher.
Hernandez, T. (2009). Portugal. In World Book. Chicago: World Book.
Newspapers
Newspaper Article
Author’s last name, Author’s first initial. (Date). Article Title. Name of Newspaper, page numbers.
Tower, K. (2012, July 5). Sappyfest Draws 1,500 Music Fans From Across Canada.Sackville Tribune-Post, p. A4.
Internet
Website
Author’s last name, Author’s first initial. (Year). Title of Site or Page. Retrieved from web address.
Beers, D. (2009). Garden Fresh. Retrieved from http://www.freshfoodmatters.com.
Because websites do not have page numbers the embedded citation
includes only the first word of the Works Cited entry. A citation for words
or ideas taken from this website would look like this: (Beers, 2009). If
there were no author it would look like this: (Garden Fresh, 2009)
Scholarly Journal in an Online Database (such as an article in a library database)
Author’s last name, Author’s first initial. (Year). Title of the Article. Title of original source. Retrieved
from web address.
Harcum, C. (2009) A Statue of Aphrodite in the Royal Ontario Museum. Newsweek. Retrieved from
http://elibrary.bigchalk.com
Images
Last name, First initial. (Date). Title of the work. [Photograph]. Retrieved from web address
Pawel D. CN Tower. (2008, Oct, 5). [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.archives.toronto.ca.
*TDSB Student Research Guide, Adapted with permission, 2011, Toronto District School Board
Reducing Acid Rain: A Success Story?
Acid rain is an environmental issue that affects plant and animal life, lakes and rivers, buildings and
structures, and human beings. Precipitation that contains acidic gases such as sulphur dioxide or nitrogen oxide has
the potential to cause serious environmental problems. Since the 1960’s scientists have studied the harmful results of
acid rain and looked for ways to reduce harmful atmospheric pollutants (Howard and Johnston, 2000). In recent
years, efforts to reduce the negative effects have been successful. People have recognized acid rain as a serious
environmental threat and have taken steps to stop it (Anderson, 1999).
Laws reducing air pollution have helped to reduce the initial causes of acid rain. In the 1970s a drop in the
fish population and changes in lakes and forests alerted environmentalists to the problem (Lucas, 2004). In response,
the federal and provincial governments together created the Eastern Canada Acid Rain Program, aimed at reducing
the amount and type of pollutants allowed into the atmosphere (Thompson, 2004). In 1991 the Canada-US Air Quality
Agreement was signed, designed to control air pollution that would move from one country to another. A recent report
states that “in the Great Lakes region, there has been a 76% reduction in toxic substances and that greater numbers
and diversity of wildlife, including frogs, turtles muskrats and herons are reappearing in the area” (Thompson, 2004).
Public awareness of the dangers of acid rain to the environment has led to voluntary measures that have a
positive effect. Some large corporations have used technology to control dangerous emissions and are now using
energy more efficiently. Other companies have done their part by inventing and manufacturing environmentally
friendly products used by both industry and individuals (Lucas, 2004). There are many things that ordinary people are
doing in their homes and yards and while shopping and travelling, to reduce acid rain emissions.
Many people automatically turn off lights and electrical equipment, reduce their driving and select public
transportation or carpools, take up sports that do not require the use of fuel, make responsible choices when
shopping, recycle at home and at work, and express opinions to elected officials regarding environmental
policies. (Ferguson, 2003)
*TDSB Student Research Guide, Adapted with permission, 2011, Toronto District School Board
References
Acid Rain. (2002). The New Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from
http://www. canadianencyclopedia.com.
Anderson, L. (1999) Acid Rain. New York: Gloucester Press.
Ferguson, H.L. (2001). Acid Rain. Retrieved from http://www.environmentalissues.ca.
Howard, R. & Johnston, W. (2000). Poison in the Sky. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart.
Lucas, G. (2000). How Healthy are Our Lakes?. Toronto Star. Retrieved from
http://elibrary.bigchalk.com.
Thompson, H. (2000). Working Towards a Healthy and Sustainable Great Lakes Basin
Ecosystem. Our Great Lakes. Chicago: Preston Publishing.
No Author?
If an entry in your reference page does not have the author’s name available, begin your entry
with the title of the work (see the first entry above).
When using parenthetical citations and there is no author, as is often the case with web
pages, include either the whole title of the work or use a shortened form of the title in
parentheses.
*TDSB Student Research Guide, Adapted with permission, 2011, Toronto District School Board