How to in-text cite a source with no author in APA format can sometimes be confusing for students and researchers. APA (American Psychological Association) style is widely used in the social sciences, education, and other fields. Proper citation is essential for avoiding plagiarism and giving credit to the original authors. In this article, we will guide you through the process of citing a source with no author in APA format.
In APA style, when you cite a source with no author, you should still include the year of publication in the in-text citation. This helps readers to locate the source more easily. To do this, simply place the year of publication in parentheses immediately following the reference to the source. For example:
(2019)
If you are paraphrasing the source, you should also include a signal phrase to introduce the information. For instance:
According to a recent study (2019),
If you are quoting the source directly, you should include the quote in quotation marks and the year of publication in parentheses:
“The findings indicate that… (2019)”
When listing the source in the reference list at the end of your paper, you should still include the author’s name if it is available. However, if the author’s name is not available, you should use a shortened title of the source instead. The shortened title should be placed in quotation marks and followed by the year of publication. For example:
“Study on X” (2019)
In some cases, if the source has no author and no title, you can use a shortened version of the source’s name or a keyword from the source. For example:
“No Author Source” (2019)
Remember that it is crucial to follow the specific guidelines provided by your instructor or publisher when citing sources in APA format. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your paper is properly cited and avoids any issues with plagiarism.
In conclusion, citing a source with no author in APA format is a straightforward process that involves including the year of publication in the in-text citation and listing the source in the reference list with a shortened title or keyword. By following these steps, you can maintain academic integrity and give proper credit to the original authors of your sources.
