How to Format a APSA References
The references is one of the most important parts of any academic paper formatted in APSA (current). It provides readers with the full details of every source you cited, allowing them to locate and verify your references. Getting the formatting right is essential for academic credibility. This guide covers the exact rules, shows real examples, and highlights the most common mistakes students make.
Formatting Rules
Follow these rules when creating your APSA references:
1.Title the page "References" (centered) at the top
2.Start on a new page after the body of the paper
3.Use a hanging indent for each entry
4.Double-space all entries
5.Alphabetize by the first author's last name
6.The year follows the author's name before the title
7.For journal articles, include the volume number, issue number in parentheses, and page range
Example References
Here is how a APSA references looks with entries for different source types:
Book
Smith, Jane D. 2024. The Art of Research. London: Academic Press.
Journal Article
Lee, Alex B., and Chris Park. 2024. "Modern Citation Practices." Journal of Academic Writing 15(2): 45–67.
Website
World Health Organization. 2024. "Global Health Statistics." https://www.who.int/statistics (March 20, 2024).
Government Document
United States Congress. 2024. "Congressional Research Report on Citation Standards." Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
Book Chapter
Jones, Maria. 2024. "Electoral Systems and Representation." In Handbook of Political Science, ed. Sarah Brown. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 55–80.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
These are the five most frequent formatting errors students make when creating a APSA references:
- Missing or incorrect hanging indent: Every entry should have the first line flush left and all subsequent lines indented by 0.5 inches. Use your word processor's paragraph settings rather than pressing the Tab key.
- Incorrect alphabetization or ordering: Entries must be arranged according to APSA rules. Ignore articles like "A," "An," and "The" when alphabetizing. For numbered styles, list entries in the order they first appear in the text.
- Inconsistent spacing: Double-check your line spacing throughout the entire references. Mixing single and double spacing is a common error that is easy to miss.
- Wrong use of italics: Italicize titles of standalone works such as books and journals, but do not italicize article or chapter titles. Check APSA guidelines for exactly which elements should be italicized.
- Missing or broken DOIs and URLs: Always include a DOI when one is available, formatted as a clickable link. Test every URL before submitting your paper to make sure it leads to the correct source.
Generate Your References Automatically
Skip the manual formatting. Paste a DOI, URL, or ISBN into CitationEasy and get a perfectly formatted APSA citation in seconds, ready for your references.
Cite in APSA Now →Related APSA Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a APSA References?
- A APSA References is the section at the end of your paper that lists all the sources you cited in your text, formatted according to APSA Style Manual (current) guidelines. It allows readers to locate and verify each source you referenced.
- How do I format a APSA references?
- Start on a new page, title it "References," and list all sources you cited in your paper. Follow the specific APSA rules for hanging indents, spacing, alphabetization or numbering order, and italics.
- What is the difference between a references and a bibliography?
- A references includes only the sources you directly cited in your paper, while a bibliography may also include sources you consulted but did not cite. In APSA (current), the end-of-paper list is called the "References."