How to Cite a Journal Article in APA (7th edition)
Learn how to cite peer-reviewed and academic journal articles in APA format (7th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
APA Reference List Format
Here is the standard APA format for citing a journal article in your reference list:
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume(issue), page–page. https://doi.org/xxxxx
APA Example for a Journal Article
A complete APA reference for a journal article, formatted by the official APA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Rivera, M., & Chen, D. (2021). The mapping of meaning: A study of citation practice. Journal of Scholarly Communication, 12(3), 145–162. https://doi.org/10.1000/jsc.2021.145
Matching in-text citation: (Rivera & Chen, 2021)
APA In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Smith & Jones, 2024)
Narrative
Smith and Jones (2024) found...
Key APA Formatting Rules
- Italicize the journal name and volume number.
- Do not italicize the issue number.
- Include the DOI as a URL (https://doi.org/xxxxx).
- If no DOI, include the journal homepage URL.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your journal article.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the APA (7th edition) template shown above.
- Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
- Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match APA requirements.
Evidence and review notes
Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.
CSL style record: apa.csl
Metadata to collect
- authors
- article title
- journal title
- year
- volume and issue
- page range or article number
- DOI
Common metadata traps
- Confirm that the DOI resolves to the same title, authors, and version.
- Distinguish a preprint from the final version of record.
Editorial sources
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite a journal article in APA?
- To cite a journal article in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the APA format for a journal article citation?
- The APA format for a journal article is: Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume(issue), page–page. https://doi.org/xxxxx
- What does the in-text citation look like for a journal article in APA?
- In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Smith & Jones, 2024)
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