How to reference a journal article in APA 7
An article reference in APA 7 has 8 parts. See them labelled on an example, then build your own and copy it.
- In your essay: (Author, year)
- Checked 23 October 2026
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The 8 parts
Author (Year). Title. Journal, Volume(Issue), Pages. DOI
2 · DATE(2024). 3 · TITLESleep and exam results in first-year students. 4 · JOURNALJournal of Student Health, 5 · VOLUME126 · ISSUE(3), 7 · PAGES41–58. 8 · DOIhttps://doi.org/10.5555/jsh.2024.0123
- 2 · DateThe year. In round brackets.The year of the issue, on the article’s first page or the journal’s web page.
- 3 · TitleAs the source gives it.The article’s own title, with any subtitle.
- 4 · JournalIn italics.The journal’s full name, from its cover or website.
- 5 · VolumeThe number. In italics.On the article’s first page or the journal’s web page.
- 6 · IssueThe number. In round brackets.Next to the volume. Some journals have no issue numbers.
- 7 · PagesThe first and last page.The first and last page of the article.
- 8 · DOIAs a link: https://doi.org/ then the DOI.A code starting 10., on the article’s first page or web page.
Two places, one source
Students who slept more did better in their exams (Patel & Shah, 2024).
The author and the year, in brackets.Patel, R., & Shah, M. (2024). Sleep and exam results in first-year students. Journal of Student Health, 12(3), 41–58. https://doi.org/10.5555/jsh.2024.0123
The full reference, in A to Z order by surname.Build your reference
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What if…
Made by an organisation
Give the organisation’s name where the author goes.
Riverside Media Bureau. (2024). Sleep and exam results in first-year students. Journal of Student Health, 12(3), 41–58. https://doi.org/10.5555/jsh.2024.0123
In your essay: (Riverside Media Bureau, 2024)
No date
Write “n.d.” where the date goes.
Patel, R., & Shah, M. (n.d.). Sleep and exam results in first-year students. Journal of Student Health, 12(3), 41–58. https://doi.org/10.5555/jsh.2024.0123
In your essay: (Patel & Shah, n.d.)
Two authors
Give both names, joined with “&”.
Green, A., & Patel, R. (2024). Sleep and exam results in first-year students. Journal of Student Health, 12(3), 41–58. https://doi.org/10.5555/jsh.2024.0123
In your essay: (Green & Patel, 2024)
Four or more authors
Name all four in the reference list. In your essay, give the first author and “et al.”.
Green, A., Patel, R., Okafor, D., & Lee, H. (2024). Sleep and exam results in first-year students. Journal of Student Health, 12(3), 41–58. https://doi.org/10.5555/jsh.2024.0123
In your essay: (Green et al., 2024)
Check your university’s version
Some universities and departments make small changes to APA. Your module handbook always wins.
This guide follows the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition.
Questions
How do I cite a journal article in the text?
Give the author and the year, in brackets: (Patel & Shah, 2024). To point to one place in it: (Patel & Shah, 2024, p. 45)
What if there’s no date?
Check the page or document again first. If there really is none, here’s how APA 7 sets it out: Patel, R., & Shah, M. (n.d.). Sleep and exam results in first-year students. Journal of Student Health, 12(3), 41–58. https://doi.org/10.5555/jsh.2024.0123
Is APA 7 the same at every university?
Some universities and departments make small changes to APA. Your module handbook always wins.
Referencing is easier as you go
KanBananza’s step-by-step guides show how to plan an assignment and keep your sources in order while you research and write, so the reference list is ready when you are.
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