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An APA format reference page is the last page of an APA 7th edition paper: a bold, centered “References” label, then every source you cited in the text, in alphabetical order, double-spaced, with each entry set in a 0.5 in. hanging indent. This guide names each element, shows fictitious examples, and lists the ordering cases most guides skip, such as same-author entries and works with 21 or more authors.
The format: every element of the reference page
Layout, in the order you apply it:
- Position. In APA’s student paper setup guide the page order is title page (page 1), text (from page 2), then the reference list, which starts on a new page after the text.
- Label. Write the word “References” at the top of the page, bold and centered (Buena Vista University Library; American College of Greece Library).
- Hanging indent. The first line of each entry sits at the left margin and the following lines are indented 0.5 in. (both library guides).
- Order. Alphabetical by the first word of each entry, which is normally the first author’s surname.
- Spacing. APA’s guide says to double-space the entire paper, including the reference list.
- Page number. Page numbers run top right on every page, and a student paper needs no running head. See APA format page numbers for the header setup.
How the list is ordered
- Several works by the same single author: earliest year first, and an entry with no date before dated ones.
- A single-author entry comes before a multi-author entry that begins with the same author.
- An entry credited to “Anonymous” is alphabetized as if Anonymous were a real surname.
How many authors to list
List every author up to and including 20, with an ampersand before the last. For 21 or more, list the first 19 authors, then an ellipsis (no ampersand), then the final author. APA’s “What’s New in the 7th Edition” guide states this rule.
Examples of APA reference page entries
These entries are fictitious illustrations of the patterns in APA’s reference examples; none describes a real publication. Italics follow APA’s rules: book title, periodical title and volume number.
Book
Smith, J., & Lee, K. (2024). Writing for review boards (2nd ed.). Example Press.
Chapter in an edited book
Smith, J. (2021). Sampling basics. In R. Doe & P. Roe (Eds.), Field methods handbook (pp. 11–26). Example Press.
Journal article with a DOI
Smith, J., & Lee, K. (2023). Effects of sample size on bias. Journal of Example Studies, 12(3), 45–60. https://doi.org/10.0000/example.123
Entry with 21 or more authors (pattern)
[First 19 authors, each as Surname, A. A.], . . . Final, F. F. (Year). Title of article. Journal Name, 1(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/xxxx
The book entry has no publisher location, and the DOI is written as a https://doi.org/ link with no period after it. Sentence case applies to article and book titles.
For other source types, see how to cite a website in APA, citing a YouTube video in APA format and how to cite from a book.
In-text citation version: matching the list
Every in-text citation points to one reference page entry through its author-date pair, so the surname and year in the text must match the first words of the entry. Parenthetical form puts a comma between author and year; narrative form puts the year in parentheses after the name.
- Parenthetical: (Smith, 2021). Narrative: Smith (2021) found…
- Three or more authors: write the first author’s surname plus “et al.” from the first citation, for example (Smith et al., 2019), even though the reference list entry names every author.
- Direct quotation: add the page, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 20).
Before submitting, check both directions: each in-text citation has a list entry, and each list entry is cited in the text. The wider rules are in how to write a research paper in APA style.
Common errors on an APA reference page
- Typing spaces or tabs for the indent instead of applying a hanging indent in the paragraph settings.
- Alphabetizing by title or by first name instead of the first word of the entry.
- Adding a publisher location to a book entry; APA 7th does not use one.
- Writing “DOI:” before the number instead of the https://doi.org/ link.
- Putting an ampersand before the final author in an entry with 21 or more authors.
- Starting the list on the same page as the last paragraph of text.
Reference pages in theses and manuscripts
If your instructor, journal or institution gives its own formatting requirements, follow those where they differ from this layout, and check them before you format the final list.
Style-guide edition
This page describes the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition (2020), as presented in APA’s own 7th edition instructional PDFs listed under Sources. In the 7th edition the label is “References” and the list is called the reference list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct APA format for a reference page?
A new page after the text, with “References” bold and centered at the top, entries in alphabetical order, double-spaced, each with a 0.5 in. hanging indent.
Does the APA reference page start on a new page?
Yes. APA’s student paper setup guide says the reference list starts on a new page after the text.
Is the reference page title bold and centered?
Yes, both library guides cited below say to write “References” in bold, centered at the top of the page.
What is the hanging indent for APA references?
0.5 in. (1.27 cm) on every line after the first line of each entry.
Is the reference page double-spaced?
Yes. APA’s guide says to double-space the entire paper, including the reference list.
How do I order entries by the same author?
Earliest publication year first, with an undated work before dated ones, and single-author entries before multi-author entries that begin with the same author.
Sources
- APA Style, Student Paper Setup Guide (7th ed.): https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/student-paper-setup-guide.pdf. Checked 2026-10-29.
- APA Style, Reference Examples: https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/reference-examples.pdf. Checked 2026-10-28.
- APA Style, Reference Guide: https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/reference-guide.pdf. Checked 2026-10-28.
- APA Style, Guide to What’s New in the 7th Edition: https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/whats-new-7e-guide.pdf. Checked 2026-10-28.
- Buena Vista University Library, “Reference List – APA Citations (7th ed.)”, last updated 17 September 2026: https://bvu.libguides.com/apa/referencelist. Checked 2026-10-29.
- American College of Greece, John S. Bailey Library, “Reference list – APA Student Paper”, page dated 19 July 2023: https://library.acg.edu/apa-student-paper/reference-list. Checked 2026-10-29.
Compare other styles: MLA works cited format.
