Correct referencing is a core requirement in university-level academic writing, and APA 7 is one of the most widely used citation styles across social sciences, education, psychology, nursing, and business disciplines. Despite its prevalence, many students lose marks because their reference lists do not fully comply with APA 7 guidelines.
An APA 7 reference list example is particularly valuable because referencing errors are often small but costly. Issues such as incorrect punctuation, missing italics, improper author formatting, or wrong ordering can undermine the professionalism of an otherwise strong assignment.
This guide provides a clear explanation of APA 7 reference list rules, followed by structured reference list examples for the most common academic sources. Each example is designed to reflect real university marking expectations.
What an APA 7 Reference List Is
An APA 7 reference list is a complete alphabetical list of all sources cited in the body of an academic paper. It appears at the end of the document and allows readers to locate and verify the sources used.
The reference list is not optional. Every in-text citation must have a corresponding reference list entry, and every reference list entry must be cited in the text.
APA 7 places strong emphasis on consistency, accuracy, and retrievability of sources.
Core rule: If a source appears in-text, it must appear in the reference list, and vice versa.
General APA 7 Reference List Formatting Rules
Before examining individual reference examples, it is essential to understand the overall formatting requirements that apply to the entire reference list.
- Begin the reference list on a new page
- Title the page References (bold and centered)
- Use double spacing throughout
- Apply a hanging indent (0.5 inches)
- List entries alphabetically by first author’s surname
These formatting rules apply regardless of source type.
Structure of an APA 7 Reference Entry
Every APA 7 reference follows a predictable structure, although specific elements vary by source type.
The standard components include author, year of publication, title, and source information.
APA 7 reference formula: Author. (Year). Title. Source.
APA 7 Reference List Example: Journal Article
Journal articles are among the most commonly cited academic sources. APA 7 uses sentence case for article titles and italics for journal titles and volume numbers.
| Element | Example |
|---|---|
| Author | Smith, J. A. |
| Year | (2022). |
| Article title | Student engagement in online learning environments. |
| Journal details | Journal of Educational Research, 45(3), 210–225. |
Complete reference example:
Smith, J. A. (2022). Student engagement in online learning environments. Journal of Educational Research, 45(3), 210–225.
APA 7 Reference List Example: Book
Books are formatted differently from journal articles. The book title is italicised and written in sentence case.
| Element | Example |
|---|---|
| Author | Brown, L. M. |
| Year | (2020). |
| Title | Research methods in social sciences. |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press. |
Complete reference example:
Brown, L. M. (2020). Research methods in social sciences. Oxford University Press.
APA 7 Reference List Example: Chapter in an Edited Book
Chapters in edited books require both chapter authors and editors to be listed.
| Element | Example |
|---|---|
| Chapter author | Nguyen, T. H. |
| Year | (2021). |
| Chapter title | Digital literacy in higher education. |
| Book editor | In R. K. Patel (Ed.), |
| Book title | Teaching in the digital age (pp. 85–102). |
| Publisher | Routledge. |
Complete reference example:
Nguyen, T. H. (2021). Digital literacy in higher education. In R. K. Patel (Ed.), Teaching in the digital age (pp. 85–102). Routledge.
APA 7 Reference List Example: Website
Web sources are increasingly common in academic writing, but only credible and stable sources should be cited.
| Element | Example |
|---|---|
| Author | World Health Organization |
| Year | (2023). |
| Title | Mental health in the workplace. |
| URL | https://www.who.int |
Complete reference example:
World Health Organization. (2023). Mental health in the workplace. https://www.who.int
Ordering References Alphabetically
APA 7 requires that references be ordered alphabetically by the surname of the first author.
For multiple works by the same author, entries are ordered chronologically from oldest to newest.
If the author is an organisation, alphabetise using the organisation’s full name.
Common APA 7 Reference List Mistakes
Many APA 7 errors occur due to small formatting details rather than misunderstanding of the source itself.
- Using title case instead of sentence case
- Forgetting italics on journal titles or book titles
- Incorrect use of ampersands (&)
- Missing DOIs or URLs where required
- Inconsistent punctuation
Examiner warning: Referencing errors suggest poor academic attention to detail and can reduce grades even when content quality is high.
APA 7 Reference List and Word Count Rules
Reference lists are excluded from the word count in most university assignments. However, this does not mean they are unimportant.
Markers assess reference lists for accuracy, consistency, and adherence to APA 7 standards.
A poorly formatted reference list can undermine the credibility of the entire paper.
Final Guidance on Using APA 7 Reference List Examples
An accurate APA 7 reference list demonstrates academic integrity, scholarly professionalism, and respect for intellectual sources.
Students who rely on clear APA 7 reference list examples and follow formatting rules consistently reduce avoidable citation errors.
By treating referencing as a core academic skill rather than a final formatting task, students can significantly improve assignment quality and marking outcomes.
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