How to Prepare an APA Reference List (APA 7 Rules + Examples)

What is an APA reference list?

Many students know that they need to include a reference list at the end of their academic paper, but they are not always sure what this list should look like. A common mistake is to copy a few links from the Internet and place them at the end of the assignment. However, a list of links is not a reference list.

In APA style, a reference list is a structured list of all the sources cited in the text. It helps readers identify where the information comes from and allows them to find the original sources. It also shows that the student has used academic sources responsibly and has respected the work of other authors.

Basic rules for preparing a reference list in APA

Placement: The reference list is placed at the end of the work.
Selection: The reference list should include only the sources that were actually cited in the text.
Order: The sources should be organized alphabetically by the surname of the first author.
Format: References must follow APA 7 edition formatting rules.

What information should a reference include?

Although each type of source has its own APA format, most references include the same basic elements: author, date of publication, title, and source. In some cases, a DOI or URL is also included. The exact order and formatting depend on whether the source is a book, a journal article, a website, a report, or another type of publication.

Different sources require different formats

It is important to remember that not all references look the same. A book reference is prepared differently from a journal article reference, and a website reference has a different structure again. This is why students should first understand the general logic of an APA reference list and then learn how to prepare references for specific types of sources.

For more detailed explanations, see also:

How to prepare book references in APA, with practical worked examples.
Six basic rules for book references in APA 7.
How to prepare references for journal articles, newspapers and websites.

These guides explain the specific rules and provide practical examples for the most common sources used in student academic writing. Once your reference list is in place, you will also need to connect each source to the relevant point in your text using APA in-text citations.

Common mistakes students make in APA references

A reference that is just a bare link is not enough. APA requires full information: author, year, title, source, and a link if needed. For example, the following is not an acceptable reference:

https://turingo.net/

A correctly formatted APA reference for an online source looks like this:

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the work. Site Name. https://turingo.net/article-title