APA Style 7th Edition

The link provides directions from the APA Style Center for formatting references and in-text citations for Chat GPT.

"The in-text citations and references shown are adapted from the reference template for software in Section 10.10 of the Publication Manual (American Psychological Association, 2020, Chapter 10). The focus is on ChatGPT, because these guidelines are based on the software template, they can be adapted to note the use of other large language models (e.g., Bard), algorithms, and similar software."

Mobile application software (App)

Name of Company that created the application or Creator's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given (Year current version of the application was released). Name of application (Version version number if given) [Mobile application software]. Publisher Name or App Store. URL application was downloaded from.

Note: Only cite software and apps when they are not widely known or available. Citations are not needed for common apps such as Microsoft Word or Twitter.

Example: National Geographic Society (2012). National parks by National Geographic (Version 1.2) [Mobile app]. App store. http://www.apple.com/itunes

In-Text

• Paraphrase format: (Name of Company or Author's Last Name, Year)
• Paraphrase example: (National Geographic Society, 2012)
• Quote format: (Name of Company or Author's Last Name, Year)
• Quote example: (National Geographic Society, 2012)
  • Note: Because apps typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation.

Blog post

Author's Last Name, First initial. Second Initial if Given. or Username if real name not provided. (Year blog post was published, Month Day). Title of blog post. Title of Blog. URL

Example: Dobbs, D. (2012, June 13). Fun in cities: Feature, not bug. Wired Science. http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/06/fun-in-cities-feature-not-bug/

Note: If the blog author's real name is not provided, use their username instead.

In-Text

• Paraphrase format: (Author's Last Name, Year)
• Paraphrase example: (Dobbs, 2012)
• Quote format: (Author's Last Name, Year, Section Heading section if given)
• Quote example: (Dobbs, 2012, para. 2)
  • Note: This blog post has no section headings, so only a paragraph number is given in the citation.

Podcast episode:

Director/Producer/Host's Last Name, First initial. Second Initial if Given. (Role in the production e.g. Host, Director, Producer) (Year podcast was released, Month Day if given). Title of podcast episode: Subtitle if given (episode number if known) [Audio podcast episode]. In Title of Podcast. Publisher. URL if known

Example: Rogers, S. (Host). (2012, June 18). Richard Wagamese: Children's book panel (No. 225) [Audio podcast episode]. In The Next Chapter. CBC. http://www.cbc.ca/thenextchapter/episode/2012/06/18/richard-wagamese-bookworm-childrens-book-panel/

In-Text

• Paraphrase format: (Director/Producer/Host's Last Name, Year)
• Paraphrase example: (Rogers, 2012)
• Quote format: (Director/Producer/Host's Last Name, Year)
• Quote example: (Rogers, 2012)
  • Note: Because podcasts do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation.

Streaming video from a website (YouTube, Vimeo, Hulu, etc.) - Poster's name known

Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial. of person who posted the video if known. [User name that posted the video] . (Year video was posted, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. Name of Streaming Service. URL

Note: According to APA, for citing purposes the person who posted the video is credited as the author.

Example: Nye, B. [TheRealBillNye]. (2009, April 8). Bill Nye the science guy on energy [Video]. YouTube. http://youtu.be/0ASLLiuejAo

In-Text

• Paraphrase format: (Creator's Last Name, Year)
• Paraphrase example: (Nye, 2009)
• Quote format: (Creator's Last Name, Year)
• Quote example: (Nye, 2009)
  • Note: Because videos typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation.

Streaming video from a website (YouTube, Vimeo, Hulu, etc.) - Group author

User name that posted the video. (Year video was posted, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. Name of Streaming Service. URL

Note: According to APA, for citing purposes the person who posted the video is credited as the author.

Example: All Aces Media. (2012, January 19). Often awesome the series [Video]. Vimeo. http://vimeo.com/35311255

In-Text

• Paraphrase format: (User name, Year)
• Paraphrase example: (All Aces Media, 2012)
• Quote Format: (All Aces Media, 2012)
  • Note: Because videos typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation.

Streaming video from a library database (Films on Demand, Senema, NBC Learn, etc.):

Name of Company/Organization that Provided Content or Creator's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial. if known. (Director). (Year video was created, Month Day if known). Title of video [Video]. Name of Streaming Service.

Example: Owen, D. (Director). (1967). The Ernie game [Video]. NFB Education.

In-Text

• Paraphrase format: (Name of Company/Organization/Creator, Year)
• Paraphrase example: (Owen, 1967)
• Quote format: (Name of Company/Organization, Year)
• Quote example: (Owen, 1967)
  • Note: Because videos typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation.

Twitter/X (Tweets):

Author last name, First initial. Second initial if given [@Twitter/X user name]. (Year tweet was posted, Month Day). Text of post up to the first twenty words [Tweet]. Twitter/X. URL

Example: Giridharadas, A. [@AnandWrites]. (2020, January 17). The fallacy of our age is that we can lift up those down below without interfering with those standing [Tweet]. Twitter/X. https://twitter.com/AnandWrites/status/1218203291982749697

Note: Write out the actual text of the post in the citation and keep spelling, capitalization, and grammar the same as in the original, even if there are errors. Include any emojis that are present. If there is multimedia content note it in square brackets after the post (eg. [Video]).

In-Text

• Paraphrase format: (Last name, Year)
• Paraphrase example: (Giridaradas, 2020)
• Quote format: (Twitter/X user name, Year)
• Quote example: (Giridharadas, 2020)
  • Note: Because tweets do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation.

Streaming video from a website (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) - Poster's name known

Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial. of person who posted the video if known. [User name that posted the video] . (Year video was posted, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. Name of Website. url

Note: According to APA, for citing purposes the person who posted/uploaded the video is credited as the author.

Example: Nye, B. [TheRealBillNye]. (2009, April 8). Bill Nye the science guy on energy [Video]. YouTube. http://youtu.be/0ASLLiuejAo

In-Text

• Paraphrase format: (Creator's Last Name, Year)
• Paraphrase example: (Nye, 2009)
• Quote format: (Creator's Last Name, Year, Time Stamp)
• Quote example: (Nye, 2009, 2:12)
  • Note: Because videos typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, instead provide a time stamp for the beginning of the quotation.

Streaming video from a website (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) - Poster's name not known

User name that posted the video. (Year video was posted, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. Name of Website. url

Note: According to APA, for citing purposes the person who posted the video is credited as the author.

Example: All Aces Media. (2012, January 19). Often awesome the series [Video]. Vimeo. http://vimeo.com/35311255

In-Text

• Paraphrase format: (User name, Year)
• Paraphrase example: (All Aces Media, 2012)
• Quote format: (User name, Year, Time Stamp)
• Quote example: (All Aces Media, 2012, 3:17)
  • Note: Because videos typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, instead provide a time stamp for the beginning of the quotation.

Streaming movie from a subscription media website or library collection (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Kanopy, etc.)

Director's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Director). (Year of Publication). Title of Movie [Film]. Production Company. 

Note: Only specify how you watched a film (on DVD, streaming, etc.) when it is important to indicate a specific version. Put this information in in the square brackets following the word "Film" and a semicolon. If you have more than one director use (Directors) instead and separate their names with commas, adding an ampersand (&) before the final name.  If the director is unknown, credit someone in a similar role (producer/writer) and put their job title in round brackets after their name. 

Example: Gitlitz, R. (Director). (2017). The story of Diana [Film]. ABC Entertainment.

In-Text

• Paraphrase format: (Director Last name, Year)
• Paraphrase example: (Gitlitz, 2017)
• Quote format: (Director Last name, Year, Time Stamp)
• Quote example: (Gitlitz, 2017, 51:45)
  • Note: Because videos typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, instead provide a time stamp for the beginning of the quotation.

DVD with named producer, director, or writer

Director's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if given. (Director). (Year DVD was produced). Title of DVD [Film; optional descriptive information if DVD is a unique version]. Production Company.

Note: In general, you don't need to cite the format of a movie. However, include it if the information you are citing can be found only in that particular format or edition (e.g. special features or commentary).  

Example: Jackson, P. (Director). (2001). The lord of the rings: The fellowship of the ring [Film; four-disc special extended ed. on DVD]. WingNut Films; The Saul Zaentz Company.

Note: If there is more than one production company, separate their names with a semi-colon (;). 

In-Text

• Paraphrase format: (Director Last Name, Year)
• Paraphrase example: (Jackson, 2001)
• Quote format: (Director Last Name, Year, Time Stamp)
• Quote example: (Jackson, 2001, 1:23:46)
  • Note: Because videos typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, instead provide a time stamp for the beginning of the quotation.

Movie with unknown producer, director, and/or writer:

Title of movie [Film]. (Year Movie was Produced). Production Company.

Note: When the Director, Producer and/or Writer is not known, start the citation with the movie title.

Example: Era of viruses [Film]. (2006). Films for the Humanities and Sciences.

In-Text

• Paraphrase format: (Title Of Movie, Year)
• Paraphrase example: (Era Of Viruses, 2006)
  • Note: Italicize the title of the DVD and capitalize the words for the in-text citation.
• Quote format: (Title Of Movie, Year, Time Stamp)
• Quote example: (Era Of Viruses, 2006, 1:03:42)
  • Note: Italicize the title of the DVD and capitalize the words for the in-text citation. Because videos typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, instead provide a time stamp for the beginning of the quotation.

Television series episode:

Writer's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Writer), & Director's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Director). (Year the episode was originally aired, Month Day if known). Title of episode (Season Number, Episode Number) [TV series episode]. In Executive Producer's First Initial. Last Name (Executive Producer), Television series name. Production Company. 

Note: Include the writer and director for the episode and put their job title in round brackets after their name.  If one person did both jobs use (Writer & Director).

Cite the URL for the log-in page instead of the URL for the actual movie. Omit the URL if the TV episode was viewed on cable television rather than online.

Example: (Oakley, B. K. (Writer), & Lynch, J. (Director). (2020, January 1). The Key (Season 6, Episode 5) [TV series episode]. In D. Mirkin, J. L. Brooks, & S. Simon (Executive Producers), Vikings. History.

In-Text

• Paraphrase format: (Writer & Director Last Names, Year)
• Paraphrase example: (Oakley & Lynch, 2020)
• Quote format: (Writer & Director Last Names, Year, Time Stamp)
• Quote example: (Oakley & Lynch, 2020, 17:53)
  • Note: Because videos typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, instead provide a time stamp for the beginning of the quotation.

Below is additional information that may help as you work on your citations. If you need more in-depth assistance with citation formatting, you can book an appointment with a writing tutor.

Websites

Author

It can sometimes be difficult to find out who the author of a website is. Remember that an author can be a corporation or group, not only a specific person. Author information can sometimes be found under an "About" section on a website. If there is no known author, you can start the citation with the title of the website instead. However, APA tends to reserve this type of citation for a very small set of sources: for example, The Bible and some dictionaries and encyclopedias such as Wikipedia (which should not form a central part of your research). 

Date

The best date to use for a website is the date that the content was last updated. Otherwise look for a copyright or original publication date. Unfortunately this information may not be provided or may be hard to find. Often date information is put on the bottom of the pages of a website. If you do not know the complete date, put as much information as you can find. For example you may have a year but no month or day. If there is no date provided, put the letters (n.d.) in round brackets where you'd normally put the date.

Retrieval Date

Most website citations in APA 7th Edition do not require a retrieval date. Unfortunately, however, determining which situations require this date can be challenging. If you use a stable, archived version of a web page, no retrieval date is needed. But if you use a web page that is continually updated, providing a retrieval date can help clarify inconsistencies between the page when you viewed it and when it was viewed by your reader. 

Long URLs

If a URL is too long to fit onto one line, try to break it at a slash (/).

Is it a website?

Be careful! Just because you found something on the web, it doesn’t mean you are citing a website. Look at the material closely – is it a journal article? A newspaper article? An encyclopedia? An eBook? Use the format that best describes the item. APA treats a source as a website only when it does not fit another category. 

Social Media

Author

On sites where items are posted under user names but not necessarily proper names, enter the user name where you would normally put the author's name. Author in this case will be the main creator(s) for the item you are citing. Creator information may often be found under a section called "About" for some types of social media, however this is not always standard.

Date

Most items will provide a date they were posted. The standard format for the date is Year, Month Day. If only part of the date is provided, post what you have such as the year and skip the rest of the date. If no date is provided, use the initials n.d. where you would normally put the date.

Videos and DVDs

Who to Credit - DVD or Film

Many people can be involved in the production of a film but not all need to be listed in the citation. Typically the director is the only name that is used.  If the director is unknown, give credit to someone in a similar role (producer/writer/host etc.).  Their job title (such as Director) is put after their name in round brackets to clarify what role they had in the film production.

Who to Credit - Streaming Video from a Website

For videos from websites such as YouTube or Vimeo, credit the person who posted the content. If a real name is provided, use that followed by the person's user name in square brackets. If the real name of the person who posted the content is not known, just use their user name without brackets.

Who to Credit - TV Series and TV Series Episode

When citing a whole TV series, credit the executive producer(s).  When citing a single episode from a TV series, credit the writer and the director of the episode. For both series and single episodes, include their job titles after their names in round brackets.