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Citing sources according to APA guidelines

APA Style @ TiU

1.4 Works with an unknown author

Please note If "Anonymous" is the identified author of a work, use this designation (see Works with an anonymous author).

What type of works stand alone?

Examples of works that stand alone include:

  • books;
  • reports;
  • periodicals (e.g., journals, magazines, newspapers, blogs);
  • webpages;
  • podcasts.

For works that stand alone, the title takes the author position

When the author of a work is unknown, cite the work by its italicized title (if the title is long, use a shortened title). In doing so, write with a capital letter:

  1. the first word of the title and the subtitle (if any);
  2. major words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns); and
  3. all words with four letters or more (including “Between,” “About,” “From,” “With”).

Example

The title of the work cited below is: About marriages that work: Marriage secrets from couples married 25 years or more.

  • Parenthetical citation
    Couples who marry young report lower levels of marital satisfaction (About Marriages That Work, 2023).
  • Narrative citation
    According to About Marriages That Work (2023), couples who marry young report lower levels of marital satisfaction.

In the reference list, the full title (not in italics) is listed on the author position. Only the first word of the title and the subtitle, and any proper nouns are capitalized.

Please note If "Anonymous" is the identified author of a work, use this designation (see the text box below for an example).

What works are part of a greater whole?

Examples include:

  • articles in journals, magazines, and newspapers;
  • chapters from edited books;
  • blog posts; 
  • podcast episodes.

For works that are part of a greater whole, the title takes the position of the author

Cite the work by its title, enclosed in double quotation marks (if the title is long, use a shortened title). In doing so, write with a capital letter:

  1. the first word of the title and the subtitle (if any);
  2. major words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns); and
  3. all words with four letters or more (including “Between,” “About,” “From,” “With”).

Example

The title of the cited work in the example below is: Fighting against plagiarism in Dutch universities: The need for intellectual honesty.

  • Parenthetical citation
    These days, every Dutch university uses plagiarism software (“Fighting Against Plagiarism,” 2021)..
  • Narrative citation
    According to “Fighting Against Plagiarism” (2021), every Dutch university uses plagiarism software these days.

In the reference list, the full title (without double quotation marks) is listed in the author position. Only the first word of the title and the subtitle, and any proper nouns are capitalized.

Works with an anonymous author

Please note Cite a work by the designation "Anonymous" only if the author is explicitly referred to as such. If the author is unknown, use the format described above.

  • Parenthetical citation
    In an article published in the New York Times, the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in 2014-2015 is described (Anonymous, 2016).
  • Narrative citation
    In an article published in the New York Times, Anonymous (2016) describes the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in 2014-2015.