APA 7
APA 7th Edition is the most commonly used referencing style here at the University of Portsmouth. Below you will find general guidance on how to reference and cite using APA 7th Edition, as well as examples for the specific sources you are likely to use in your assignments.
Your department or lecturer may prefer you to reference sources differently from the guidance given here. Always follow the requirements of your department or lecturer.
External visitors are welcome to use this guide, but note that your institution's requirements may differ from those suggested here.
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Online report with a single author
Reference
Author, Initials. (Year of publication). Title of report (Series number if available). Publisher. https://doi.org/ or URL
Abrams, D. (2010). Processes of prejudices: Theory, evidence and intervention (Research report 56). Equalities and Human Rights Commission. https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/research-report-56-processes-of-prejudice-theory-evidence-and-intervention.pdf
In-text Citation
For information about the use of page numbers within in-text citations, please see our guidance here.
It was shown that... (Abrams, 2010).
Abrams (2010, p. 84) argued that...
For examples of online reports with multiple authors please click 'more' below.
more
Online report with two authors
Reference
Author, Initials., & Author, Initials. (Year of publication). Title of report (Series number if available). Publisher. https://doi.org/ or URL
Wisdom, J., & Creswell, J. W. (2013). Mixed methods: Integrating quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis while studying patient-centered medical home models (13-0028-EF). Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality - Patient Centred Medical Home Resource Center. https://pcmh.ahrq.gov/page/mixed-methods-integrating-quantitative-and-qualitative-data-collection-and-analysis-while#h=Mixed%20Methods
In-text Citation
For sources with two authors, you should use both authors' surnames in each citation. If the citation is inside brackets, use an ampersand (&) between the names. If they are in the text of your work, use 'and' between them.
For information about the use of page numbers within in-text citations, please see our guidance here.
It has been suggested that... (Wisdom & Creswell, 2013).
Wisdom and Creswell (2013, p. 3) argue that...
Online report with three or more authors
Reference
Author, Initials., Author, Initials., & Author, Initials. (Year of publication). Title of report (Series number if available). Publisher. https://doi.org/ or URL
Donnelly, S., O'Brien, M., Walsh, J., McInerney, J., Campbell, J., & Kodate, N. (2017). Adult safeguarding legislation and policy rapid realist literature review. Health Services Executive. https://researchrepository.ucd.ie/bitstream/10197/9183/1/AdultSafeGuardLitReview%20v0.3%20pdf.pdf
In-text Citation
For sources with three or more authors, you only need to state the name of the first author, followed by 'et al.'
'et al.' is plural, meaning "and others".
For information about the use of page numbers within in-text citations, please see our guidance here.
I can be argued that... (Donnelly et al., 2017).
Donnelly et al. (2017, p. 122) argued that...