Step by step guide to APA 6th edition referencing
One author:
The last name of the author is stated along with the date of publication
e.g. In the study of business culture (Hunter, 2016) we see…
or in the study by Hunter (2016) we learn…
or in in 2016, Hunters study shows us…
Two authors:
Declare both authors each time an insert of their work is referenced in your work in the same layout as if there was one author
e.g. In the study of business culture (Hunter and Smith, 2016), we can see…
Three to five authors:
The first time that an article, study etc. is being used in your work, you must list all of the authors used and the date that the article was published in the same layout as if there were two authors. However, if the source is being quoted within your work again, after the first reference, the first author can be cited followed by et al.
e.g. In the study of business culture (Hunter, Smith, Gallagher, Mann and Reed, 2016)
Then, if referenced again in your work, you simply reference in the format:
In the study of business culture (Hunter et al, 2016) we can see…
Six or more authors:
Even from the first use of referencing from the study, the name of the first author followed by et al, and the date.
e.g. In the study of business culture (Hunter et al 2016) we can see…
What if you can’t identify the author?
If an author cannot be identified, then the second best thing to do would be to quote the first handful of words of the work you are referencing from. This is usually the title.
If you are quoting from a webpage, article or chapter, then use quotation marks around the source.
e.g. The website had some great points regarding business ethics (“Ethics in practice” 2016) and so…
If you are quoting from a report or book, then put the title of the source in italics.
e.g. The book argued against 0 hour contracts (Ethics in business, 2016) which proves…
- References must be declared twice, once after the information that needs to be referenced and another time on a separate page.
- If your quote is less than 40 words then use quotation marks, however if it is more than 40 words then you have to separate your quote from the rest of your work in a free standing, indented block of text. When more than 40 words, quotation marks do not have to be used.
- How to lay out your referencing:
One author:
The last name of the author is stated along with the date of publication
e.g. In the study of business culture (Hunter, 2016) we see…
or in the study by Hunter (2016) we learn…
or in in 2016, Hunters study shows us…
Two authors:
Declare both authors each time an insert of their work is referenced in your work in the same layout as if there was one author
e.g. In the study of business culture (Hunter and Smith, 2016), we can see…
Three to five authors:
The first time that an article, study etc. is being used in your work, you must list all of the authors used and the date that the article was published in the same layout as if there were two authors. However, if the source is being quoted within your work again, after the first reference, the first author can be cited followed by et al.
e.g. In the study of business culture (Hunter, Smith, Gallagher, Mann and Reed, 2016)
Then, if referenced again in your work, you simply reference in the format:
In the study of business culture (Hunter et al, 2016) we can see…
Six or more authors:
Even from the first use of referencing from the study, the name of the first author followed by et al, and the date.
e.g. In the study of business culture (Hunter et al 2016) we can see…
What if you can’t identify the author?
If an author cannot be identified, then the second best thing to do would be to quote the first handful of words of the work you are referencing from. This is usually the title.
If you are quoting from a webpage, article or chapter, then use quotation marks around the source.
e.g. The website had some great points regarding business ethics (“Ethics in practice” 2016) and so…
If you are quoting from a report or book, then put the title of the source in italics.
e.g. The book argued against 0 hour contracts (Ethics in business, 2016) which proves…