Free guide · first year
APA referencing, with real examples
How a reference works, and exactly how to write the two you will use most: a book and a journal article. Every example is a real source.
Two places, every time
A reference lives in two places at once. In-text, inside the sentence where you used the idea, short: author and year. In the reference list at the end, in full, so the marker can find the source themselves. If a source is in one place and not the other, it is a mistake — an in-text citation with no entry in the list, or an entry in the list you never cited, both lose marks. Sort the reference list alphabetically by the first author's surname. Do not number it.
A book
Author surname, initials, year in brackets, then the title in italics, then the publisher. Nothing else.
Reference list
Kelegama, J. B. (2009). Sri Lanka economy in transition. Vijitha Yapa Publications.
In-text
(Kelegama, 2009)
A journal article
The article title is plain; the journal name and the volume number are italic. The issue number goes in brackets, then the page range, then the DOI as a full link. If it has a DOI, always give it — it is what lets the marker open the exact paper in one click. Two authors are joined with an ampersand; three or more are listed in full in the reference list but shortened to the first author plus et al. in text.
Reference list
Sriyalatha, M. A. K., Lalanie, P. P., & Withanawasam, M. P. K. (2025). Capturing a digital economy measurement framework for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Social Sciences, 48(2), 3–12. https://doi.org/10.4038/sljss.v48i02.9634
In-text
(Sriyalatha et al., 2025)
Another, with four authors
Kulathunga, G. A. S., Wanniarachchi, P. C., Silva, S., & Abeysundara, P. D. A. (2025). Household food waste and its relationship with consumer demographics and behaviour: A case study from Kegalle District, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Social Sciences, 48(2), 29–41. https://doi.org/10.4038/sljss.v48i02.8760
Common questions
What is the difference between APA and Harvard?
Both are author-and-year styles, so they look alike. The differences are in the details — punctuation, where the year goes, how titles are formatted. Use whichever your department's handbook names, and use it the same way throughout.
Do I number the reference list?
No. In APA the reference list is sorted alphabetically by the first author's surname and is not numbered.
Can I use AI to find sources?
Only as a starting point. AI tools sometimes invent titles, authors and DOIs that look real and do not exist. Open every source yourself before you cite it; if you cannot open it, do not cite it.
Campus Survival Pack
The full guide covers websites, government reports, lecture slides and AI tools, in APA 7 and Harvard, with a Zotero library of Sri Lankan sources ready to cite. Plus an assignment template with automatic contents and more.
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