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APA Formatting and Style (7th ed.)

  • What's New in the 7th ed.?
  • Principles of Plagiarism: An Overview
  • Basic Paper Formatting
  • Basic Paper Elements
  • Punctuation, Capitalization, Abbreviations, Apostrophes, Numbers, Plurals
  • Tables and Figures
  • Powerpoint Presentations
  • Reference Page Format
  • Periodicals (Journals, Magazines, Newspapers)
  • Books and Reference Works
  • Webpage on a Website
  • Discussion Post
  • Company Information & SWOT Analyses
  • Dissertations or Theses
  • ChatGPT and other AI Large Language Models
  • Online Images
  • Online Video
  • Computer Software and Mobile Apps
  • Missing Information
  • Two Authors
  • Three or More Authors
  • Group Authors
  • Missing Author
  • Chat GPT and other AI Large Language Models
  • Secondary Sources
  • Block Quotations
  • Fillable Template and Sample Paper
  • Government Documents and Legal Materials
  • APA Style 7th ed. Tutorials
  • Additional APA 7th Resources
  • Grammarly - your writing assistant
  • Writing Center - Writing Skills This link opens in a new window
  • Brainfuse Online Tutoring

Formatting a Powerpoint Presentation in APA 7th Style

The apa 7th manual and the apa website do not provide any specific rules about using apa format or citation in powerpoint slides. , here are some recommended guidelines:, 1. always follow any specific instructions given by your instructor., 2. you will need in-text citations on a powerpoint slide where you are quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing someone else's ideas. , 3. you also will include a reference list as your powerpoint's last slide (or slides). , this youtube video from smart student shows you how to create apa7th in-text citations and a reference list: .

  • Citing and Referencing in Powerpoint Presentations | APA 7th Edition This video will show you how to create APA 7th in-text citations and a Reference page for your PowerPoint presentation.
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  • Last Updated: Sep 7, 2024 3:49 PM
  • URL: https://national.libguides.com/apa_7th

University Libraries      University of Nevada, Reno

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APA Citation Guide (7th Edition): Presentations and Class Notes

  • Audiovisual Media
  • Books and eBooks
  • Dictionaries, Thesauruses and Encyclopedias
  • Figures and Tables
  • Generative AI
  • Government Documents
  • Journal, Magazine and Newspaper Articles
  • Personal Communications
  • Presentations and Class Notes
  • Social Media
  • Websites and Webpages
  • In-Text Citation
  • Reference List and Sample Papers
  • Annotated Bibliography
  • Citation Software

In-Text Citation or Reference List?

Handouts distributed in class and presentation slides such as PowerPoint should be cited both in-text and on the Reference list.

Your own notes from lectures are considered personal communications in APA style. They are cited within the text of your assignment, but do not get an entry on the Reference list.

Presentation Slides from a Website

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Date). Title of presentation  [Lecture notes, PowerPoint Slides, etc.]. Publisher. URL

Kunka, J. L. (n.d.). Conquering the comma [PowerPoint presentation]. Purdue Online Writing Lab. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/pp/index.html#presentations

Presentation Slides from WebCampus (Canvas)

Instructor, I. I. (Year Presentation Was Created).  Title of presentation  [PowerPoint presentation]. WebCampus. URL

Graham, J. (2013).  Introduction: Jean Watson  [PowerPoint presentation]. WebCampus. https://unr.instructure.com/login/canvas

Note : The first letter of the word Watson is capitalized as it is part of a person's name.

Class Handouts from WebCampus (Canvas)

Instructor, I. I. (Year Handout Was Created if known).  Title of handout  [Class handout]. WebCampus. URL

Magowan , A. (2013).  Career resources at the library   [Class handout]. WebCampus. https://unr.instructure.com/login/canvas

Class Handout in Print

Instructor, I. I. (Year Handout Was Created if known).  Title of handout  [Class handout]. University Name, Course code.

Wood, D. (2013).  Laboratory safety overview  [Class handout]. University of Nevada, Reno,  BIO173.

Class Lectures (Notes from)

Note : Your own notes from a lecture are considered personal communications in APA style. They are cited within the text of your assignment, but do not get an entry on the Reference list. Put the citation right after a quote or paraphrased content from the class lecture.

(I. I. Instructor who gave lecture, personal communication, Month Day, Year lecture took place)

"Infections are often contracted while patients are recovering in the hospital" (J. D. Black, personal communication, May 30, 2012).

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APA Citation Guide (7th edition) : Powerpoint Presentations

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  • Powerpoint Presentations

On this Page

Powerpoint presentations - what do i need to cite, powerpoint presentations - where do my citations go, other digital assignments - where do my citations go, quick rules for an apa reference list.

Your research paper ends with a list of all the sources cited in the text of the paper. Here are nine quick rules for this Reference list.

  • Start a new page for your Reference list. Centre the title, References, at the top of the page.
  • Double-space the list.
  • Start the first line of each reference at the left margin; indent each subsequent line five spaces (a hanging indent).
  • Put your list in alphabetical order. Alphabetize the list by the first word in the reference. In most cases, the first word will be the author’s last name. Where the author is unknown, alphabetize by the first word in the title, ignoring the words a, an, the.
  • For each author, give the last name followed by a comma and the first (and middle, if listed) initials followed by periods.
  • Italicize the titles of these works: books, audiovisual material, internet documents and newspapers, and the title and volume number of journals and magazines.
  • Do not italicize titles of most parts of works, such as: articles from newspapers, magazines, or journals / essays, poems, short stories or chapter titles from a book / chapters or sections of an Internet document.
  • In titles of non-periodicals (books, videotapes, websites, reports, poems, essays, chapters, etc), capitalize only the first letter of the first word of a title and subtitle, and all proper nouns (names of people, places, organizations, nationalities).
  • If a web source (not from the library) is not a stable archived version, or you are unsure whether it is stable, include a statement of the accessed date before the link.

What am I legally required to cite in my digital assignment?

According to the Copyright Act, you must cite the sources (images, videos, books, websites, etc.) that you used in your digital assignment ( 29.21(1)(b) ). You must cite the source (where you got the information from) and the creator of the content (if available). You must also make sure that any copyrighted materials you used in your assignment meet the conditions set out in section  29.21  of the Copyright Act. For a list of conditions and more information, please visit:  http://studentcopyright.wordpress.com/mashups/

What citation style do I use for the sources in my digital assignment?

There is no one required citation style, so please defer to your instructor's directions and citation style preference.

List your sources in a slide at the end of the Powerpoint presentation, with footnotes throughout your presentation as applicable.

You could also provide a print copy of the sources you used to those attending your presentation.

Seneca Libraries has the following recommendations for how to organize your list of sources for digital assignments. Please check with your instructor first:

Videos you create: 

List your sources in a credits screen at the end of the video.

Websites you create:

  • For images, include a citation under each image using this format “From: XXXX” and then make the image a link back to the original image ( example  - picture of little girl). Or list the citation at the bottom of the web page.
  • For quotes or material from other sources, include an in-text citation that links back to the original material ( example  – second paragraph).

Images you create: 

If possible list your sources at the bottom or side of the image ( example ). Otherwise, include a list of citations alongside the image wherever it’s uploaded (e.g. Flickr, Blackboard).

**Please note that the above are recommendations only and your instructor may have a preference and directions for how and where you list your sources for your assignment.**

If you don't receive specific instructions from your instructor, try to include your citations in a way that doesn't impact the design of your digital assignment.

For more information please contact Seneca Libraries copyright team at  [email protected]

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  • Last Updated: Aug 29, 2024 4:58 PM
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APA Style, 7th Edition

  • Sample Papers & How to Videos
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  • Evaluating a Website
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  • Additional APA Resources

APA for PowerPoint Presentations

  • HU Tutorials

Using PowerPoint for Beginners

The APA manual does not have a section on how to format a PowerPoint presentation, but y ou can follow APA style guidelines within your PowerPoint . For example:

  • Include the same information on your title slide that you would have on a title page. 
  • Include in-text citations for any quote, paraphrase, image, graph, table, data, audio or video file that you use within your presentation. Please note that photographs are considered figures in APA style. 
  • The last slide will be your References List. 
  • “No citation, permission, or copyright attribution is necessary for clip art from programs like Microsoft Word or PowerPoint” (American Psychological Association [APA], 2020, p. 346).
  • Do not reproduce images without permission from the creator or owner of the image. See section 12.15 of the APA manual for more information about this.

Resource: Goodwin University Library. 2019. How to format a PowerPoint presentation in APA Style. Goodwin University.   https://goodwin.libguides.com/apastyle   

  • Citing Business Sources in APA Style Brock University's guide to citing business information sources according the the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition. Includes citing sources in presentations

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  • Last Updated: Sep 11, 2024 11:21 AM
  • URL: https://hallmark.libguides.com/apa7
  • AUT Library
  • Library Guides
  • Referencing styles and applications

APA 7th Referencing Style Guide

Powerpoint slides.

  • Referencing & APA style
  • In-text citation
  • Elements of a reference
  • Format & examples of a reference list
  • Conferences
  • Reports & grey literature
  • Figures (graphs and images)
  • Theses and dissertations
  • Audio works
  • Films, TV & video
  • Visual works
  • Generative artificial intelligence (AI)
  • Computer software, games & apps
  • Lecture notes & Intranet resources
  • Legal resources
  • Personal communications
  • Social media
  • Specific health examples
  • Standards & patents
  • Websites & webpages
  • Footnotes and appendices
  • Frequently asked questions

Reference format for PowerPoint slides available online

 
Author, A. A. (Year). [PowerPoint slides].

Platform e.g. SlideShare.

URL
  • AUT Library recommends adding the paper code and title to the reference

PowerPoint slides online

Vanderbauwhede, W. (2020). [PowerPoint slides]. SlideShare. 

PowerPoint slides come from a learning management system (e.g. Canvas)

Mpofu, C. (2019). [PowerPoint slides]. Blackboard.

  • If your audience are able to access to the resource, provide the name of the site and its URL
  • If the slides are not available to be accessed by your reader, you may treat them as personal communication cited in text. Reference entry is not needed. See the personal communications page
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  • Last Updated: Aug 8, 2024 9:47 AM
  • URL: https://aut.ac.nz.libguides.com/APA7th
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison

APA Style Guidelines

  • About this Guide
  • Blogs, Podcasts, and Social Media
  • Content Marketing
  • Popular Magazines
  • Professional Organizations
  • Trade Publications
  • Scholarly Journals
  • Attributive Tags or Signal Phrases
  • Citation Generators - Problems & Limitations
  • Date Retrieved for Website Reference Entries & When to Use “n.d.” (no date)
  • Differentiating between Sources with the Same Author and Date
  • Hyperlinks & Attribution: "Citation" for Digital Documents
  • Identifying & Citing Content Marketing
  • Indirect Citations, or How to Cite a Quote or Paraphrase from a Source
  • In-text Citations: Conveying Credibility
  • In-text Citations: Using a Source Multiple Times
  • In-text Citations: Principles & Formatting
  • References Page: Principles & Formatting
  • Synthesizing Multiple Sources
  • URLs - When to Include to Entire Address
  • Company Report
  • General Website, Non-government Website
  • Government Publication or Website
  • Industry Report from IBISWorld
  • Informational Interview
  • Job Advertisement
  • Lecture or Conference Presentation
  • O*Net Online
  • Popular Business Magazine
  • Professional/Trade Organization Website
  • Reference Works (Dictionary, Investopedia, Wiki, etc.)
  • Review Sites
  • Scholarly Journal Article
  • Social Media Posts
  • Trade Journal or Magazine Article

Citing Lectures, Conference Presentations, or Other Talks

General Rules: Citing Lectures, Conference Presentations, or other Talks

In-text Citation: Information to Include

In-text citations and signal phrases can be woven into sentences and paragraphs in multiple ways, and what you emphasize depends on what information will be most relevant and/or persuasive to your reader. However, the following information should always be included:

  • Attributive tag or signal phrase that introduces your source
  • Speaker’s name
  • Date of talk

Reference Citation: Information to Include

This depends on whether or not the talk is “recoverable” or available for your reader to view. See below for details.

Specific Example: Lecture Posted to YouTube

In-text Citation

David Ian Howe (2023) argued, in a guest lecture at the University of Wyoming, that most cultures place dogs in a category of their own; they aren’t human, but they also aren’t animals.

According to a guest lecture at the University of Wyoming, most cultures place dogs in a category of their own; they aren’t human, but they also aren’t animals (Howe, 2023).

References Page Entry

Howe, D. (2023, January 9). The history of dogs: Evolution, archaeology, and mythology . [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiD-qZDl9jQ

Specific Example: Lecture Posted to a Website

Eric Jay Dolin (2022), speaking at the University of Mary Washington, demonstrated that the history of piracy in early America is a history of violence and criminality, in contrast to the attractive portrayal of pirates in fiction and film.

The lecture demonstrated that the history of piracy in early America is a history of violence and criminality, in contrast to the attractive portrayal of pirates in fiction and film (Dolin, 2022).

Dolin, E. (2022, February 4). America’s Pirates . [Video]. https://www.umw.edu/greatlives/lecture/page/2/

Specific Example: Lecture That isn’t Publicly Available

This is considered an “unrecoverable” source and is cited as personal communication, similar to an informational interview or an email message.

Frances Laskey, in a lecture on collegiality, noted that, all other things being equal, employees who make the effort to behave pleasantly will receive raises and promotions (personal communication, September 7, 2023).

One thing the professor emphasized was collegiality, noting that, all other things being equal, employees who make the effort to behave pleasantly will receive raises and promotions (F. Laskey, personal communication, September 7, 2023).

None. Sources that your readers can’t access aren’t cited on the References page.

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Citation Help for APA, 7th Edition: Conference Presentations

  • Books & Ebooks
  • Book Chapter & Ebook Chapter
  • Conference Presentations
  • Course Resources (PowerPoint, Handouts, etc.)
  • Encyclopedia
  • Journal Article
  • Legal Materials
  • Magazine Article
  • Master's Thesis, Dissertation, or Capstone Project
  • Movies & Streaming Video
  • Newspaper Article
  • Personal Communication (email, interviews, lectures, course materials, etc.)
  • Webpages & Websites
  • Formatting Your Paper
  • In-text Citations
  • Ethically Use Sources

General Example & Explanation

General example of a conference presentation reference with each part of the reference, including author, conference date, conference presentation title, conference name, conference location, DOI, color coded with explanations in matching color coded text boxes.

Variations - URLs?

Some URLs may be long and complicated. APA 7th edition allows the use of shorter URLs. Shortened URLs can be created using any URL shortener service; however, if you choose to shorten the URL, you must double-check that the URL is functioning and brings the reader to the correct website. 

Common URL Shortner websites include:

More Information

For more information about URLs, see Section 9.36 on page 300 of APA Manual, 7th edition. 

NOTE:  Check your instructor's preference about using short URLs. Some instructors may want the full URL. 

Variations - DOIs?

Some DOIs may be long and complicated. APA 7th edition allows the use of shorter DOI numbers. Shortened DOIs can be located at the International DOI Foundations, shortDOI Service . 

More Information:

For more information about DOIs, see Section 9.36 on page 300 of APA Manual, 7th edition. 

NOTE: Check your instructor's preference for using short DOIs. Some instructors may want the full DOI. 

Variations - Live Hyperlinks?

Should my urls be live.

It depends. When adding URLs to a paper or other work, first, be sure to include the full hyperlink. This includes the http:// or the https://. Additionally, consider where and how the paper or work will be published or read. If the work will only be read in print or as a Word doc or Google Doc, then the URLs should not be live (i.e., they are not blue or underlined). However, if the work will be published or read online, then APA advises to include live URLs. This would allow the reader to click on a link and go to the source.   

For more information, see Section 9.35 on pages 299-300 of the APA Manual, 7th edition. 

NOTE: Check your instructor's preference about using live URLs. Some instructors may not want you to use live URLs. 

Conference Presentation

Conference sessions and presentations include conference sessions, paper presentations, poster presentations, keynote addresses, and symposium contributions. In brackets after the title, disclose the presentation type as described by the conference. 

For more information about conference sessions and presentations, see Section 10.5 on page 332 of the APA Manual, 7th ed. 

Reeve, D., Rottmann, C., & Sacks, R. (2015, June 14-15). The ebb and flow of engineering leadership orientations [Conference session].

2015 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition Proceedings, Seattle, WA, United States. https://doi.org/10.18260/p.24857

Presenters: Reeve, D., Roffmann, C., & Sacks, R. 

Begin the reference with the presenter's last name. Add a comma after the presenter's last name. Then, add the presenter's first and middle name represented by initials. Add a period after each initial. If the presenter provides a middle name, be sure to add a space between the first and middle initial. If there are additional presenters, add a comma after the middle initials, and proceed to add the other presenters using the same format as described. Add additional presenters in the exact order they are listed in the conference session. Do not change the order of the presenters. Before the last presenter, add an ampersand (&).   

Date(s) of Conference: (2015, June 14-17). 

Next, add the date of the conference. In parentheses, add the year, followed by a comma and the month, followed by the day. If the conference took place over multiple days, list the full date range of the conference with a hyphen between the days. Add a period after the parentheses.  

Title of the Conference Session: The ebb and flow of engineering leadership orientations [Conference session]. 

Next, add the title and subtitle of the conference session. The title and subtitle are separated by a colon. Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle as well as proper nouns. Italicize the title. After the title, in brackets, add a description of the contribution (i.e., conference session, poster presentation, keynote address, etc.). Be sure to use the description that the conference uses. Add a period after the brackets.   

Source Information:  2015 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition Proceedings, Seattle, WA, United States. https://doi.org/10.18260/p.24857

Complete the reference with the conference location and the DOI or URL. Add the full title of the conference followed by a comma. Then, add the city, state abbreviation, and country where the conference took place. Finally, add the DOI in the form of https://doi.org OR add the URL to the conference paper. Do not add a period after the DOI or the URL.

For more information and examples, see pages 332-333 of the APA Manual, 7th edition. 

Parenthetical Citation Example:

(Reeve et al., 2015)

Narrative Citation Example:

Reeve et al. (2015) explained .....

If a source has 3 or more authors, list the first author followed by et al. Follow this format even when using the source for the first time in the paper. For more information about author format within parenthetical and narrative citations, see Section 8.17 and Table 8.1 on page 266 of the APA Manual, 7th edition. 

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  • Last Updated: Jul 2, 2024 9:40 AM
  • URL: https://libguides.css.edu/APA7thEd

APA 7th referencing style

  • About APA 7th
  • Printing this guide
  • In-text references
  • Direct quotations
  • Reference list
  • Author information
  • Additional referencing information
  • Using headings
  • Book chapter
  • Brochure and pamphlets
  • ChatGPT and other generative AI tools
  • Conferences
  • Dictionary or encyclopaedia
  • Government legislation
  • Journal article

Lecture notes and slides eg. Powerpoint - Blackboard

Lecture notes and slides eg. powerpoint - online.

  • Legal sources
  • Newspaper or magazine article
  • Other web sources
  • Patents and standards
  • Personal communication
  • Press (media) release
  • Secondary source (indirect citation)
  • Social media
  • Software and mobile apps
  • Specialised health information
  • Television program
  • Works in non-English languages
  • Works in non-English scripts, such as Arabic or Chinese
Elements of the reference

Author(s) - use & for multiple authors. (Year, Month Day). [PowerPoint slides]. Site name. Web address

In-text reference

(Johnson, 2008)

Johnson (2008) stated that...

Reference list

Johnson, A. (2008). [PowerPoint slides]. Learn.UQ. https://learn.uq.edu.au/

EndNote reference type

Online multimedia

Add PowerPoint slides to Type of Work field

Add Site name to Distributor field

Elements of the reference

Name of author(s) or the institution responsible, use & for multiple authors. (Year).  [Type of format]. Site information eg. SlideShare. Web address

In-text reference

(Surden, 2017)

Surden (2017)

Reference list

Surden, H. (2017).  [PowerPoint slides]. SlideShare. https://www.slideshare.net/HarrySurden/harry-surden-artificial-intelligence-and-law-overview

EndNote reference type

Online multimedia

Add Type of format to Type of Work field

Add Site information to Distributor field

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  • Last Updated: Aug 5, 2024 4:04 PM
  • URL: https://guides.library.uq.edu.au/referencing/apa7

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APA Style & Citation 7th edition

  • What's new with the 7th edition
  • Annotated Bibliography
  • PowerPoint and APA
  • Citations: References
  • Citations: In-Text
  • Library Databases
  • Books and Ebooks
  • Media (includes videos)
  • Other types of sources
  • Numbers, Capitalization, Italics
  • Additional Resources

APA and Presentations

APA has a lot of rules for formatting and citing papers. They don't really have rules for when you are creating a presentation or infographic. What we recommend is a blending of the rules APA has set out for papers and best practices for creating presentations and infographics.

In other words, you are going to bend the rules of APA to what looks best in your presentation. For example, the initial slide of your PowerPoint should contain the same information as your title page. The formatting will probably be different as 10-12 point font (as required by papers) is probably too small to be easily read during a presentation. You also probably don't want full paragraphs on your slides. People end up reading the slide, rather than listening to you, and it is visually unappealing.

You still need to cite ! Yes, that includes images. Unless they are stock or clip art images from within the program you are using, you will need an in-text citation and corresponding reference. Visit the other sections of this guide for examples on how to cite.

If your instructor has provided any guidelines, follow them.

This video provides a great example on how to create a PowerPoint incorporating APA guidelines. A few things to clarify:

  • Use an in-text citation with figures and images. A corresponding reference should be on your References slide.
  • Do not lump in-text citations together, each line that has a quote or paraphrase needs an in-text citation.

  • Research Template This is a Powerpoint template created for use in the Research Exhibition
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  • Last Updated: Apr 18, 2023 5:31 PM
  • URL: https://guides.centralpenn.edu/APA7th

APA 7th Edition Citation Examples

  • Volume and Issue Numbers
  • Page Numbers
  • Undated Sources
  • Citing a Source Within a Source
  • In-Text Citations
  • Academic Journals
  • Encyclopedia Articles
  • Book, Film, and Product Reviews
  • Online Classroom Materials
  • Conference Papers
  • Technical + Research Reports
  • Court Decisions
  • Treaties and Other International Agreements
  • Federal Regulations: I. The Code of Federal Regulations
  • Federal Regulations: II. The Federal Register
  • Executive Orders
  • Charter of the United Nations
  • Federal Statutes
  • Dissertations and Theses
  • Interviews, E-mail Messages + Other Personal Communications
  • Social Media
  • Business Sources

Format for PowerPoint presentations

How to format your powerpoint in apa style.

  • AI: ChatGPT, etc.

Author last name, first initial. (Date). Title of the PowerPoint  [PowerPoint slides]. Host site. URL

Thomes, C. (n.d.). UMGC Library APA citation basics [PowerPoint slides]. University of Maryland Global Campus. https://libguides.umgc.edu/ld.php?content_id=68264148

In-text citation:

(Thomes, n.d.)

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  • Last Updated: Mar 18, 2024 12:55 PM
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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / APA Format / How to Cite a Lecture in APA

How to Cite a Lecture in APA

Lecture and PowerPoint presentations are often great sources of information for specific papers. This guide will show you how to cite lectures and PowerPoint presentation slides following APA 7th edition guidelines. The type of lecture (e.g., classroom, conference, etc.) and format of the information (saw lecture, accessed slides, etc.) will determine what citation format you use.

Guide overview

Citing a conference presentation

Citing a classroom presentation/lecture slides.

  • Citing a classroom presentation/lecture you watched
  • Citing a recorded presentation (video)

Troubleshooting

Presenter #1 Last name, F. M., & Presenter #2 Last Name, F. M. (Year, Month Day of conference). Name of presentation [Presentation format]. Name of Conference, Location. URL

Screen Shot 2014-04-02 at 2.02.37 PM

Jacobson, T.E., & Mackey, T. (2013, April 10-13). What’s in the name?: Information literacy, metaliteracy, or transliteracy [Panel session]. Association of College & Research Libraries, Indianapolis, IN, United States. https://www.slideshare.net/tmackey/acrl-2013

In-text citation structure & example:

(Lecture Last Name, Year)

(Jacobson & Mackey, 2013)

If you are citing a classroom presentation file you’ve viewed or accessed, use the following structure.

Lecturer Last name, F. M. (Year, month date). Title of lecture [Description of file type]. Department name, university name. URL

Prosser, M. (2021, October 18). Introduction to rhetorical forms [PowerPoint slides]. English and Modern Languages Department, California Polytechnic State University. https://https://english.calpoly.edu/

(Lecturer Last Name, Year)

(Prosser, 2021)

Citing a presentation/lecture you have watched

If you are citing information you learned through a presentation/lecture you attended, FIRST see if you can find the documented source (e.g., book, article, etc.) the presenter got the information from. If the information is original and the presentation was the primary source, treat the information as personal communication.  This means you ONLY need to cite it in an in-text citation and no reference list entry is needed.

In-text citation structure & examples:

(Presenter First Initial., Last Name, personal communication, Month Day, Year of presentation)

(L. Koerte, personal communication, March 17, 2021)

L. Koerte (personal communication, March 17, 2021)

Citing a recorded presentation/lecture (video)

Cite the recording as you would cite a regular video. The person or channel who uploaded/published the video is credited as the “author” even if they did not conduct the presentation/lecture.

Uploader Last name, F. M. (Year, month date). Title of video [Video]. Website Name. URL

Stanford. (2002, January 13). Einstein’s general theory of relativity | Lecture 1 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbmf0bB38h0

(Uploader Last Name, Year)

(Stanford, 2002)

Solution #1: Citing a presentation that comes from a classroom’s website or learning management system (LMS)

If the slides you are citing come from a classroom website or learning management system (LMS) like Canvas or Blackboard, and you are writing for an audience that has access to the site, then provide the name of the site and the URL for the login page.

Reference page structure:

Last name, F. M. (Date). Presentation title in sentence case [PowerPoint slides]. LMS name@University name acronym. Link to login page

Reference page example:

Vincent, P. (2020).  Recognizing rhetorical devices in visual rhetoric  [PowerPoint slides]. Blackboard@ULV. https://idp.quicklaunchsso.com/laverne

In-text citation structure: 

Narrative citation: Last Name (Year)

Parenthetical citation: (Last Name, Year)

In-text citation examples:

Narrative citation: Vincent (2020)

Parenthetical citation: (Vincent, 2020)

APA Formatting Guide

APA Formatting

  • Annotated Bibliography
  • Block Quotes
  • et al Usage
  • In-text Citations
  • Multiple Authors
  • Paraphrasing
  • Page Numbers
  • Parenthetical Citations
  • Reference Page
  • Sample Paper
  • APA 7 Updates
  • View APA Guide

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  • Magazine Article
  • Newspaper Article
  • Website (no author)
  • View all APA Examples

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How to Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in APA 7?

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By Nikolay Kaloyanov

in How-To Tutorials

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How to Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in APA 7?

💡 Before we show you how to cite a PowerPoint in APA, we would like to tell you that all examples and explanations are about APA 7th edition .

In your PowerPoint presentation, you’re going to use a combination of texts and images to present information. You’ll need to cite the sources for these documents and media so your audience knows where to find out more about the topic.

This way, you will both adhere to the rules of using copyrighted information and show that your knowledge on the topic is well researched and you have spent time finding the resources.

What we will discuss in this article is the APA standard and how to make a proper PowerPoint citation in APA standard. Let’s dig deep.

Article Overview: 1. What is Apa? 2. Why do people use APA as a standard? 3. How to cite a PowerPoint presentation in APA? 4. How to Cite a Picture in PowerPoint?

1. What is APA?

APA is one of the most popular and widely used styles for writing research papers. This style of writing citations and citing sources is used in most social sciences – mainly psychology, sociology, and education. The acronym comes from A merican P sychological A ssociation. You can check APA’s website for more information .

2. Why do people use APA as a standard?

Before we tell you how to cite a PowerPoint presentation in APA style, we need to clarify the main reason why people use this style. As the most common standard, it is widely accepted around the world, and the manuals have been sold millions of times.

What makes the APA citation style so popular among educational institutions is that it gives “weight” to the documents that are being examined. Adding the sources and using the right way to present the sources could greatly influence the credibility of any thesis or PowerPoint presentation.

3. How to cite a PowerPoint presentation in APA?

There aren’t one or two ways to cite a Powerpoint presentation in APA. Why? Because there are different conditions that can affect the accessibility of the original source. Let’s see some of the most common occasions in citing PowerPoint presentations in APA style.

3.1. Citing a PowerPoint in APA – Accessible Documents

This is probably the best-case scenario for citations, as your readers will have access to the information, thus they can easily find the original source. Bear in mind you should not include PowerPoint presentations in the reference list if your audience cannot access them.

3.1.1. Citing in PowerPoint from public sites

When you have the source and it is an available webpage, you will have to link directly to the original source.

(Ritchie & Roser, 2017)
Ritchie H., & Roser M. (2017, August). [PowerPoint slides]. Ourworldindata. https://ourworldindata.org/meat-production

N.B.  You should always  cite the original source. If you have found a piece of statistics somewhere – let’s say a WeForum article , it is not the original source, thus you cannot refer to information that has not been published by the author.

3.1.2. Citing PowerPoints on password-protected portals

When it comes to citing from a university or other password-protected website, you should refer to the login page, as a direct link will lead to it. Let’s see an example I’ve made up myself.

(Kaloyanov, 2022)
Kaloyanov, N.(2022, June 22).  [PowerPoint slides]. Faculty of Design, Graphic Mama University of Design Varna.
https://graphicmama.com/login

N.B.  Sometimes, there is no author mentioned. In such cases, we proceed in two ways:

  • If there is no author, but an organization that is behind the source:
(Graphic Mama, 2022)
Graphic Mama(2022, June 22). [PowerPoint slides]. Faculty of Design, Graphic Mama University of Design Varna.
https://graphicmama.com/login

What we have done is we have replaced the author’s name with the name of the organization that has published the report.

  • If there is an unknown author.
, 2022
[PowerPoint slides] (2022, June 22). Faculty of Design, Graphic Mama University of Design Varna.
https://graphicmama.com/login

In case there’s an unknown author, we replace their name with the title.

3.2. Citing a PowerPoint in APA – Inaccessible Documents

In case your PowerPoint slide is inaccessible to readers, then you have the option to cite the source as personal communication. Let’s see how this happens.

During the presentation, Peterson made a prediction that low-fare airlines will become dominant by 2030 (personal communication, June 3, 2022).

You can add personal communication citations in parentheses somewhere in the text but not in the reference list, as the original source cannot be directly tracked.

3.3. Citing a PowerPoint Slide

Sometimes, a slide during a presentation makes a great impression and you want to add it to your sources. When this happens, it’s better to cite the original source, rather than the PowerPoint slide itself, because of the requirements we discussed in 3.1.1.

4. How to Cite a Picture in PowerPoint?

If you want to learn how to cite a picture in PowerPoint in APA format, then you should apply some different techniques. What you need to do first is to have a very detailed look at the terms and conditions of the original image. Some images require attribution while others don’t.

Once you insert the image, you need to then create a new text box, align it at the center and write the following:

Figure 1. Image Description. Adapted from SOURCE . Retrieved from  SOURCE LINK.  Copyright by  COMPANY NAME COPYRIGHTS  (located at the bottom).

Let’s see how it’s done in practice.

How to cite a PowerPoint example

Figure 1. Carbon Footprint and Renewable Energy. Adapted from GraphicMama. Retrieved from https://graphicmama.com/design-bundle/infographic-template-collection#flat-tree-vector-ecology-infographic-template. Copyright by © 2022 GraphicMama.com

Learning how to cite a PowerPoint presentation correctly is crucial if you are submitting your thesis or working on a serious project. The APA style has specific rules that should be followed for your presentations or paper dissertations to look formatted and credible.

If you found our content useful, why don’t you check some of our other tutorials related to PowerPoint and presentations in general:

  • 10 Practical Tips to Grab Attention and Make an Impact in Your PowerPoint Presentation
  • How to Add Audio to PowerPoint: The Quick Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Get Started with PowerPoint + Guide and Resources

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Nikolay Kaloyanov

Nikolay is a copywriter with vast experience in Technology, Marketing, and Design. When he isn't playing with words and crafting texts, he watches sports and asks questions. He is a funny person...until you put him on a diet.

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APA Citation Style, 7th edition: Conferences

  • General Style Guidelines
  • One Author or Editor
  • Two Authors or Editors
  • Three to Five Authors or Editors
  • Article or Chapter in an Edited Book
  • Article in a Reference Book
  • Edition other than the First
  • Translation
  • Government Publication
  • Journal Article with 1 Author
  • Journal Article with 2 Authors
  • Journal Article with 3–20 Authors
  • Journal Article 21 or more Authors
  • Magazine Article
  • Newspaper Article
  • Basic Web Page
  • Web page from a University site
  • Web Page with No Author
  • Entry in a Reference Work
  • Government Document
  • Film and Television
  • Youtube Video
  • Audio Podcast
  • Electronic Image
  • Twitter/Instagram
  • Lecture/PPT
  • Conferences
  • Secondary Sources
  • Citation Support
  • Avoiding Plagiarism
  • Formatting Your Paper

About Citing Sources

For each type of source in this guide, both the general form and an example will be provided.

The following format will be used:

In-Text Citation (Paraphrase) - entry that appears in the body of your paper when you express the ideas of a researcher or author using your own words.  For more tips on paraphrasing check out The OWL at Purdue .

In-Text Citation (Quotation) - entry that appears in the body of your paper after a direct quote.

References - entry that appears at the end of your paper.

Information on citing and several of the examples were drawn from the APA Manual (7th ed.) .

Conference Sessions, Papers, and Posters

Note: Conference sessions, papers, and posters all follow the same citation style. The only change is in the brackets following the title of the contribution, denoting the format. Use the description provided by the conference, e.g. [Poster presentation], [Key-note address], [Conference session], etc.

General Format

In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):

(Presenter Surname, Year)

In-Text Citation (Quotation):

References:

Presenter Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year, Month Day-Day). Presentation title [Format]. Conference Name, Location. DOI or URL of website.

Tip: Include the full run of the conference in the date section, not just the day of the presentation.

(Pearson, 2018)

Pearson, J. (2018, September 27-30). Fat talk and its effects on state-based body image in women [Poster presentation]. Australian Psychological Society Congress, Sydney, NSW, Australia. http://bit.ly/2XGSThP 

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Generate accurate APA citations for free

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APA Formatting and Citation (7th Ed.) | Generator, Template, Examples

Published on November 6, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on September 5, 2024.

The 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual provides guidelines for clear communication , citing sources , and formatting documents. This article focuses on paper formatting.

Generate accurate APA citations with Scribbr

Throughout your paper, you need to apply the following APA format guidelines:

  • Set page margins to 1 inch on all sides.
  • Double-space all text, including headings.
  • Indent the first line of every paragraph 0.5 inches.
  • Use an accessible font (e.g., Times New Roman 12pt., Arial 11pt., or Georgia 11pt.).
  • Include a page number on every page.

APA format (7th edition)

Let an expert format your paper

Our APA formatting experts can help you to format your paper according to APA guidelines. They can help you with:

  • Margins, line spacing, and indentation
  • Font and headings
  • Running head and page numbering

apa 7 presentation citation

Table of contents

How to set up apa format (with template), apa alphabetization guidelines, apa format template [free download], page header, headings and subheadings, reference page, tables and figures, frequently asked questions about apa format.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

References are ordered alphabetically by the first author’s last name. If the author is unknown, order the reference entry by the first meaningful word of the title (ignoring articles: “the”, “a”, or “an”).

Why set up APA format from scratch if you can download Scribbr’s template for free?

Student papers and professional papers have slightly different guidelines regarding the title page, abstract, and running head. Our template is available in Word and Google Docs format for both versions.

  • Student paper: Word | Google Docs
  • Professional paper: Word | Google Docs

In an APA Style paper, every page has a page header. For student papers, the page header usually consists of just a page number in the page’s top-right corner. For professional papers intended for publication, it also includes a running head .

A running head is simply the paper’s title in all capital letters. It is left-aligned and can be up to 50 characters in length. Longer titles are abbreviated .

APA running head (7th edition)

Are your APA in-text citations flawless?

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apa 7 presentation citation

APA headings have five possible levels. Heading level 1 is used for main sections such as “ Methods ” or “ Results ”. Heading levels 2 to 5 are used for subheadings. Each heading level is formatted differently.

Want to know how many heading levels you should use, when to use which heading level, and how to set up heading styles in Word or Google Docs? Then check out our in-depth article on APA headings .

APA headings (7th edition)

The title page is the first page of an APA Style paper. There are different guidelines for student and professional papers.

Both versions include the paper title and author’s name and affiliation. The student version includes the course number and name, instructor name, and due date of the assignment. The professional version includes an author note and running head .

For more information on writing a striking title, crediting multiple authors (with different affiliations), and writing the author note, check out our in-depth article on the APA title page .

APA title page - student version (7th edition)

The abstract is a 150–250 word summary of your paper. An abstract is usually required in professional papers, but it’s rare to include one in student papers (except for longer texts like theses and dissertations).

The abstract is placed on a separate page after the title page . At the top of the page, write the section label “Abstract” (bold and centered). The contents of the abstract appear directly under the label. Unlike regular paragraphs, the first line is not indented. Abstracts are usually written as a single paragraph without headings or blank lines.

Directly below the abstract, you may list three to five relevant keywords . On a new line, write the label “Keywords:” (italicized and indented), followed by the keywords in lowercase letters, separated by commas.

APA abstract (7th edition)

APA Style does not provide guidelines for formatting the table of contents . It’s also not a required paper element in either professional or student papers. If your instructor wants you to include a table of contents, it’s best to follow the general guidelines.

Place the table of contents on a separate page between the abstract and introduction. Write the section label “Contents” at the top (bold and centered), press “Enter” once, and list the important headings with corresponding page numbers.

The APA reference page is placed after the main body of your paper but before any appendices . Here you list all sources that you’ve cited in your paper (through APA in-text citations ). APA provides guidelines for formatting the references as well as the page itself.

Creating APA Style references

Play around with the Scribbr Citation Example Generator below to learn about the APA reference format of the most common source types or generate APA citations for free with Scribbr’s APA Citation Generator .

Formatting the reference page

Write the section label “References” at the top of a new page (bold and centered). Place the reference entries directly under the label in alphabetical order.

Finally, apply a hanging indent , meaning the first line of each reference is left-aligned, and all subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches.

APA reference page (7th edition)

Tables and figures are presented in a similar format. They’re preceded by a number and title and followed by explanatory notes (if necessary).

Use bold styling for the word “Table” or “Figure” and the number, and place the title on a separate line directly below it (in italics and title case). Try to keep tables clean; don’t use any vertical lines, use as few horizontal lines as possible, and keep row and column labels concise.

Keep the design of figures as simple as possible. Include labels and a legend if needed, and only use color when necessary (not to make it look more appealing).

Check out our in-depth article about table and figure notes to learn when to use notes and how to format them.

APA table (7th edition)

The easiest way to set up APA format in Word is to download Scribbr’s free APA format template for student papers or professional papers.

Alternatively, you can watch Scribbr’s 5-minute step-by-step tutorial or check out our APA format guide with examples.

APA Style papers should be written in a font that is legible and widely accessible. For example:

  • Times New Roman (12pt.)
  • Arial (11pt.)
  • Calibri (11pt.)
  • Georgia (11pt.)

The same font and font size is used throughout the document, including the running head , page numbers, headings , and the reference page . Text in footnotes and figure images may be smaller and use single line spacing.

You need an APA in-text citation and reference entry . Each source type has its own format; for example, a webpage citation is different from a book citation .

Use Scribbr’s free APA Citation Generator to generate flawless citations in seconds or take a look at our APA citation examples .

Yes, page numbers are included on all pages, including the title page , table of contents , and reference page . Page numbers should be right-aligned in the page header.

To insert page numbers in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, click ‘Insert’ and then ‘Page number’.

APA format is widely used by professionals, researchers, and students in the social and behavioral sciences, including fields like education, psychology, and business.

Be sure to check the guidelines of your university or the journal you want to be published in to double-check which style you should be using.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Streefkerk, R. (2024, September 05). APA Formatting and Citation (7th Ed.) | Generator, Template, Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved September 12, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/format/

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APA Style 7th Edition: Citing Your Sources

  • Basics of APA Formatting
  • In Text Quick View
  • Block Quotes
  • Books & eBooks
  • Thesis/Dissertation
  • Audiovisual
  • Conference Presentations

Standard Format

Formatting rules, various examples.

  • Social Media
  • Legal References
  • Reports and Gray Literature
  • Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
  • Additional Resources
  • Reference Page

 

Presenter, A. A. & Presenter, B. B.

 

 (year, Month date range).

[Type of contribution].

 

Conference Name, Location.

https://doi.org/xxxx....

https://xxxx...

 

 

Author, A. A. & Author, B. B.

 

 (year, Month date range).

Title of contribution: Use sentence case.

In C. C.  Chairperson (Chair), [Symposium].  Conference Name, Location.

https://doi.org/xxxx....

https://xxxx...

 

Adapted from American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed).  https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

  • Date should match the date(s) of the full conference
  • Conference Proceedings published in journal or book should follow the same format for a journal or edited book chapter

Paper from published conference proceedings available online

Dahal, G.  (2016).    Paper presented at the 3 Teaching and Education Conference, Barcelona Spain.  Retrieved from http://www.iises.net/proceedings/3rd-teaching-education-conference-barcelona/table-of-content/detail?article=education-policy-and-its-contribution-to-socioeconomic-development-of-nepal-with-reference-to-some-selected-as

Paper from published conference proceedings available in print

Arem, G. L. (2006). The effects of teaching and playing experience on ability to diagnose a motor skill. In P. Brewer & Firmin, M. (Eds.), (pp.1-20). Newcastle, UK: Cambridge Scholars Press.

Paper presentation

Zhang, H. & Llebot, C.  (2019, April).  [Paper presentation]. Association of College and Research Libraries meeting, Cleveland, OH.

See Ch. 10 pp. 313-352 of APA Manual for more examples and formatting rules

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APA 7th Ed. Manual

Free microsoft 365 access, tutorials and workshop recording, paper format: microsoft 365 and google docs, in-text citation, references list, more about dois and urls.

  • Getting Research Help
  • To give credit to others for their ideas
  • To provide support for your argument
  • To help your reader find and read the sources you used

When to Cite

  • Paraphrasing, summarizing, or directly quoting from any source
  • Acknowledging another person for an idea
  • Using your own previous work

How to Cite

APA citation requires two parts:

  • In-Text Citations : brief citations included within the text of your paper. They point your reader to the full citation at the end of your paper.
  • References List : a page at the end of your paper listing all the sources you used.

The APA Publication Manual is the official guide to APA format.

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All Merced College students have access to Microsoft 365 (formerly branded as Office 365), which includes Word, through student email.

  • How to Use Microsoft 365 From Merced College's SSTC.
  • Citing and Formatting in APA (7th ed.)

This interactive tutorial was created by Merced College Faculty Librarian Lindsay Davis and will guide you through:

  • formatting a paper
  • creating in-text citations
  • pulling information from sources to create citations for a References page in APA 7th edition

The tutorial can be used as an assignment because there are quiz questions. Students can retake it as often as they wish, and after completing the tutorial, they can download a PDF certificate of completion with their name and score as a percentage.

APA 7 tutorial from the library

  • Academic Writer Tutorial: Basics of Seventh Edition APA Style

Academic Writer Tutorial: Basics of Seventh Edition APA Style jigsaw puzzle

  • paper elements, format, and organization   
  • academic writing style  
  • grammar and usage    
  • bias-free language guidelines    
  • mechanics of style
  • tables and figures
  • in-text citations, paraphrasing, and quotations
  • reference list format and order

The tutorial doesn't contain checks for understanding. 

  • Student Success APA 7 Workshop Recording
  • Merced College Psychology instructor Susie Williamson gives a workshop about APA 7 formatting every semester.
  • The latest recording is from Spring 2024.
  • The next APA workshop is on September 24, 2024 from 1-2pm in LRC 156 and by Zoom .
  • All upcoming workshops and recordings can be found on the Study Central Workshops page.

Paper format is covered in Chapter 2 of the  APA Publication Manual

  • Paper Format From APA Style.
  • APA General Format From Purdue OWL.
  • APA Style From Excelsior OWL.

Watch the Video: Microsoft 365

Office 365 was rebranded to Microsoft 365 in 2020. The following "...video walks you step-by-step through setting up an Office 365 Word document in APA 7th edition format" ( lsccyfairlibrary , 4:25). 

Watch the Video: Google Docs

"APA format is easy in Google Drive! This video is based on the student guidelines for APA 7th edition, which came out near the end of 2019" ( Amy Whitson , 3:32). 

In-text citation is covered in Chapter 8 of the  APA Publication Manual

  • In-Text Citations From APA Style.
  • In-Text Citations: The Basics From Purdue OWL.
  • APA In-Text Citations From Excelsior OWL.

Reference examples are covered in Chapter 10 of the  APA Publication Manual

  • APA 7 Handout From the Merced College Library; the first page covers print resources, and the second page has electronic resources.
  • Reference Examples From APA Style.
  • Reference List: Basic Rules From Purdue OWL.
  • APA References From Excelsior OWL.

DOI & URL Guidelines

  • If an online work has both a DOI and a URL, include only the DOI.
  • If the DOI is not available, treat the work as a print source. 
  • Don't include the URL or database information. 
  • Don't use a period after a DOI. 
  • If the URL is no longer working, try to find an archived version using the  Internet Archive and use the archived URL. 
  • Don't use a period after a URL. 
  • Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL
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APA 7th Edition Style Guide

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Video: Formatting the APA Reference Page

Reference Page

A reference list contains sources that specifically support the ideas, claims, and concepts in your paper. References provide the information necessary for readers to identify and retrieve each source. 

Formatting Your Reference Page

APA Style includes the following guidelines on how to format the reference list of your paper.  

  • The reference list starts on a new page.
  • The reference list is directly after the main body of text and before any supplemental information like tables and appendices.
  • The page should be labeled "References" bold and centered on the page.
  • Double space all reference list entries.
  • Use a hanging indent for all references.
  • Organize your references in alphabetical order by author. 

A reference list entry generally has four elements: the author, date, title, and source.

  • author:   Who  is responsible for this work?
  • date:   When  was this work published?
  • title:   What  is this work called?
  • source:   Where  can I retrieve this work?

See below for templates of commonly used reference types or the attached handout of examples. 

Reference Templates and Examples

Journal article with a DOI: 

Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article.  Title of Periodical ,  Volume number (Issue number), Page numbers. https://doi.org/xxxx 

Example: 

McCauley, S. M., & Christiansen, M. H. (2019). Language learning as language use: A cross-linguistic model of child language development.  Psychological Review ,  126 (1),1-51. https://doi.org/10.1037/rev0000126

Book:  

Author, A. A. (Year).  Title: Subtitle . Publisher Name. 

Christian, B., & Griffiths, T. (2016).  Algorithms to live by: The computer science of human decisions . Henry Holt and Co. 

Chapter in Edited Book:

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the book chapter. In A. A. Editor & B. B. Editor (Eds.), Title of the book (pp. #–#). Publisher. DOI or URL.

Zeleke, W. A., Hughes, T. L., & Drozda, N. (2020). Home–school collaboration to promote mind-body health. In C. Maykel & M. A. Bray (Eds.), Promoting mind–body health in schools: Interventions for mental health professionals (pp. 11–26). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000157-002

Web page: 

Author, A. A. (Year).  Title of work . Site Name. https://xxxxxx

Example: ​

Avramova, N. (2019).  The secret to a long, happy, healthy life? Think age-positive . CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/03/health/respect-toward-elderly-leads-to-long-life-intl/index.html

Handout: Common Reference Examples

Are you missing information for your source.

Use the below link for help creating references with missing information.

APA Legal Citation

Check out our APA Legal Citation guide for more help on citing legal materials!

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  • Last Updated: Sep 9, 2024 10:51 AM
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American Psychological Association

Figure Setup

All types of visual displays other than tables are considered figures in APA Style. Common types of figures include line graphs, bar graphs, charts (e.g., flowcharts, pie charts), drawings, maps, plots (e.g., scatterplots), photographs, infographics, and other illustrations.

This page addresses the basics of figure setup, including figure components, principles of figure construction, and placement of figures in a paper. Note that tables and figures have the same overall setup.

View the sample figures to see these guidelines in action. Information is also available on how to use color to create accessible figures .

Figure components

APA Style figures have these basic components:

  • number: The figure number (e.g., Figure 1) appears above the figure title and image in bold font. Number figures in the order in which they are mentioned in your paper.
  • title: The figure title appears one double-spaced line below the figure number. Give each figure a brief but descriptive title, and capitalize the figure title in italic title case .
  • image: The image portion of the figure is the graph, chart, photograph, drawing, or other illustration itself. If text appears in the image of the figure (e.g., axis labels), use a sans serif font between 8 and 14 points .
  • legend: A figure legend, or key, if present, should be positioned within the borders of the figure and explains any symbols used in the figure image. Capitalize words in the figure legend in title case .
  • note: Three types of notes (general, specific, and probability) can appear below the figure to describe contents of the figure that cannot be understood from the figure title, image, and/or legend alone (e.g., definitions of abbreviations, copyright attribution, explanations of asterisks use to indicate p values). Include figure notes only as needed.

This diagram illustrates the basic figure components.

Diagram of the components of a prototypical figure (here, a line graph), including the figure number, title, graph, axis labels, legend and notes.

Figures are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Sections 7.22 to 7.36 and the Concise Guide Sections 7.22 to 7.32

apa 7 presentation citation

Related handout

  • Student Paper Setup Guide (PDF, 3MB)

Principles of figure creation

The most important principle to follow when creating a figure is to present information in a way that is easy for readers to understand. Provide sufficient information in the figure itself so that readers do not need to read the text to understand it.

When creating a figure, ensure you meet the following standards:

  • images are clear
  • lines are smooth and sharp
  • font is legible and simple
  • units of measurement are provided
  • axes are clearly labeled
  • elements within the figure are clearly labeled or explained

Use graphics software to create figures in APA Style papers. For example, use the built-in graphics features of your word-processing program (e.g., Microsoft Word or Excel) or dedicated programs such as Photoshop or Inkscape.

Placement of figures in a paper

There are two options for the placement of figures (and tables) in a paper. The first is to embed figures in the text after each is first mentioned (or “called out”); the second is to place each figure on a separate page after the reference list.

An embedded figure may take up an entire page; if the figure is short, however, text may appear on the same page as the figure. In that case, place the figure at either the top or bottom of the page rather than in the middle. Also add one blank double-spaced line between the figure and any text to improve the visual presentation.

View the sample figures for more information on figures.

COMMENTS

  1. APA PowerPoint Slide Presentation

    Cite your source automatically in APA. Media File: APA PowerPoint Slide Presentation. This resource is enhanced by a PowerPoint file. If you have a Microsoft Account, you can view this file with PowerPoint Online. Select the APA PowerPoint Presentation link above to download slides that provide a detailed review of the APA citation style.

  2. Conference Presentation References

    To cite only the abstract of a conference presentation, include the word "abstract" as part of the bracketed description (e.g., "[Conference presentation abstract]"). Learn more Conference presentation references are covered in the seventh edition Publication Manual Section 10.5

  3. How to Cite a PowerPoint in APA Style

    You can also use our free APA Citation Generator to cite a PowerPoint presentation quickly and easily. APA format. Author name, Initials. (Year, Month Day). PowerPoint title [PowerPoint slides]. Department Name, University Name. URL. APA reference entry. Simonton, D. K. (2013).

  4. Powerpoint Presentations

    Formatting a Powerpoint Presentation in APA 7th Style. The APA 7th Manual and the APA website do not provide any specific rules about using APA format or citation in PowerPoint slides. Here are some recommended guidelines: 1. Always follow any specific instructions given by your instructor. 2. You will need in-text citations on a PowerPoint ...

  5. PowerPoint Slide or Lecture Note References

    This page contains reference examples for PowerPoint slides or lecture notes, including the following: Use these formats to cite information obtained directly from slides. If the slides contain citations to information published elsewhere, and you want to cite that information as well, then it is best to find, read, and cite the original source ...

  6. APA Citation Guide (7th Edition): Presentations and Class Notes

    Note: Your own notes from a lecture are considered personal communications in APA style.They are cited within the text of your assignment, but do not get an entry on the Reference list.Put the citation right after a quote or paraphrased content from the class lecture.

  7. APA Citation Style, 7th edition: Lecture/PPT

    Lecture. Important Note: This format would be used if you were citing a set of notes and/or documents from a lecture (e.g. PDF, Excel, Word document, or PowerPoint slides provided by your instructor). Tip: Cite information from your own personal notes from a lecture as personal communication and refer to it only in the body of your essay.

  8. APA Citation Guide (7th edition) : Powerpoint Presentations

    For quotes or material from other sources, include an in-text citation that links back to the original material (example - second paragraph). Images you create: If possible list your sources at the bottom or side of the image (example). Otherwise, include a list of citations alongside the image wherever it's uploaded (e.g. Flickr, Blackboard).

  9. LibGuides: APA Style, 7th Edition: APA for PowerPoint Presentations

    The APA manual does not have a section on how to format a PowerPoint presentation, but you can follow APA style guidelines within your PowerPoint. For example: Include the same information on your title slide that you would have on a title page. Include in-text citations for any quote, paraphrase, image, graph, table, data, audio or video file ...

  10. Library Guides: APA 7th Referencing Style Guide: PowerPoint slides

    APA 7th Referencing Style Guide. Referencing & APA style; In-text citation; Reference list. Elements of a reference ; Format & examples of a reference list ; Articles; Books; Conferences; Reports & grey literature; Figures (graphs and images) Tables; Theses and dissertations; Audiovisual media.

  11. Lecture or Conference Presentation

    General Rules: Citing Lectures, Conference Presentations, or other Talks. In-text Citation: Information to Include. In-text citations and signal phrases can be woven into sentences and paragraphs in multiple ways, and what you emphasize depends on what information will be most relevant and/or persuasive to your reader. However, the following information should always be included:

  12. Citation Help for APA, 7th Edition: Conference Presentations

    In brackets after the title, disclose the presentation type as described by the conference. More Information: For more information about conference sessions and presentations, see Section 10.5 on page 332 of the APA Manual, 7th ed.

  13. Library Guides: APA 7th referencing style: Lecture notes and slides

    Elements of the reference: Author(s) - use & for multiple authors. (Year, Month Day). Title of slides or lecture topic - italicised [PowerPoint slides]. Site name. Web address

  14. APA Style & Citation 7th edition

    In other words, you are going to bend the rules of APA to what looks best in your presentation. For example, the initial slide of your PowerPoint should contain the same information as your title page. The formatting will probably be different as 10-12 point font (as required by papers) is probably too small to be easily read during a presentation.

  15. UMGC Library: APA 7th Edition Citation Examples: PowerPoints

    UMGC Library: APA 7th Edition Citation Examples: PowerPoints

  16. How to Cite a Lecture in APA

    If you are citing a classroom presentation file you've viewed or accessed, use the following structure. Structure: Lecturer Last name, F. M. (Year, month date). Title of lecture [Description of file type]. Department name, university name. URL. Example: Prosser, M. (2021, October 18).

  17. PDF 7th edition Common Reference Examples Guide

    This guide contains examples of common types of APA Style references. Section numbers indicate where to find the examples in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). More information on references and reference examples are in Chapters 9 and 10 of the Publication Manual as well as the Concise Guide to APA ...

  18. PDF Formatting a PowerPoint in APA Style

    presentation and assist in conveying the message. The images chosen for each slide ... Formatting for a PowerPoint reference page is the same as the formatting for an APA formatted essay. If you need assistance with formatting a reference page in APA, please visit the Lewis OWL resource HERE and view the last page in the document. Author:

  19. How to Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in APA 7?

    In case there's an unknown author, we replace their name with the title. 3.2. Citing a PowerPoint in APA - Inaccessible Documents. In case your PowerPoint slide is inaccessible to readers, then you have the option to cite the source as personal communication. Let's see how this happens.

  20. Citations: APA Style (7th ed.)

    You need a References slide at the end of your presentation (or multiple slides, if you have many sources). Individual slides all need APA style in-text citations where appropriate (i.e. anywhere you've used information not original to you). Best practices for PowerPoint and other presentations still apply: this is not a paper pasted into a ...

  21. APA Citation Style, 7th edition: Conferences

    Conference Sessions, Papers, and Posters. Note: Conference sessions, papers, and posters all follow the same citation style. The only change is in the brackets following the title of the contribution, denoting the format. Use the description provided by the conference, e.g. [Poster presentation], [Key-note address], [Conference session], etc.

  22. APA Formatting and Citation (7th Ed.)

    Throughout your paper, you need to apply the following APA format guidelines: Set page margins to 1 inch on all sides. Double-space all text, including headings. Indent the first line of every paragraph 0.5 inches. Use an accessible font (e.g., Times New Roman 12pt., Arial 11pt., or Georgia 11pt.). Include a page number on every page.

  23. APA Style 7th Edition: Citing Your Sources

    Paper presentation. Zhang, H. & Llebot, C. (2019, April). Data sharing wizard: An active learning tool for students and researchers [Paper presentation]. Association of College and Research Libraries meeting, Cleveland, OH.

  24. Citing in APA 7

    Merced College Psychology instructor Susie Williamson gives a workshop about APA 7 formatting every semester. The latest recording is from Spring 2024. The next APA workshop is on September 24, 2024 from 1-2pm in LRC 156 and by Zoom. All upcoming workshops and recordings can be found on the Study Central Workshops page.

  25. APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition)

    Basic guidelines for formatting the reference list at the end of a standard APA research paper Author/Authors Rules for handling works by a single author or multiple authors that apply to all APA-style references in your reference list, regardless of the type of work (book, article, electronic resource, etc.)

  26. LibGuides: APA 7th Edition Style Guide: Reference List

    Formatting Your Reference Page. APA Style includes the following guidelines on how to format the reference list of your paper. The reference list starts on a new page. The reference list is directly after the main body of text and before any supplemental information like tables and appendices.

  27. Self-presentation Motives for Physical Activity Questionnaire

    The Self-presentation Motives for Physical Activity Questionnaire (SMPAQ; Howle et al., 2015) is a 2 by 2 instrument used to assess self-presentation motives in physical activity settings. The 16 items examine Acquisitive-Agentic (5 items), Acquisitive-Communal (4 items), Protective-Agentic (4 items), and Protective-Communal (3 items) self-presentation motives. Respondents answer the items (e ...

  28. Figure Setup

    Figures are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Sections 7.22 to 7.36 and the Concise ... Also add one blank double-spaced line between the figure and any text to improve the visual presentation. View the sample figures for more information on figures. Last updated: December 2021 Date created: September 2019.