Government and academic websites often feature pamphlets, statistical brochures, and academic essays in PDF format. Unfortunately, citing an online PDF document in the APA citation style is not the same as citing a print article. Fortunately, the process of citing a PDF document in APA style itself is relatively easy, whether you need to make in-text citations or add reference/bibliographic entries.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Creating In-Text Quotes
Step 1. Insert an opening parenthesis at the end of a clause or sentence
When you want to add a quote at the end of a sentence or clause, you need to insert the citation information between the last word in the sentence and the punctuation mark after it. To start a quote, place an opening parenthesis.
For example, if you wanted to quote a sentence or information about the characteristics of psychological thrillers, you could write: This genre often features emotional and psychological conflicts, rather than physical ones
Step 2. Add the author's last name after the brackets
You do not need to use the author's first name when citing information in the APA citation style. The last name is enough. If the article does not show author information, use the article title (briefly).
- For example, if you want to quote information or text written by someone whose last name is Rachman, at this point your sentence would look something like this: This genre often features emotional and psychological conflicts, rather than physical ones (Rachman.
- To shorten the title of the article, just write the first few words in the title (or up to the first noun if the article is written in English. For example, you could shorten the title "This Psychological Thriller Film is a Must Watch" to "Psychological Thriller Film".
- If the author's name is already mentioned in the sentence, the quotation in parentheses does not need to contain the author's name.
Step 3. Place a comma after the author's name and include the year of publication
This year refers to the year the original publication was published. For example, if you are citing a PDF document for an academic article, write down the year the article was published, and not the year/date the PDF file was created. As an example:
- At this point, your sentence should look something like this: This genre often features emotional and psychic conflicts, rather than physical ones (Rachman, 2016).
- If the document does not have an issue date, use “n.d” (no date) instead of the year information.
Step 4. Add page numbers if you are citing information directly from the document/article
If you include direct quotes or refer to information contained on a specific page, you will need to add the page number. Place a comma after the year, adding "thing." (or “p.” in English), followed by the page number.
If your sentence contains a direct quote, you could write it like this: This genre “often features emotional and psychological conflicts, rather than physical ones” (Rachman, 2016, p. 36)
Step 5. Add closing brackets and insert appropriate punctuation marks to end the quote
Insert a closing parenthesis after the page number and before the closing punctuation mark. If the quote is at the end of the sentence, place a period after the closing parenthesis.
- In full, your quote would look something like this: This genre “often features emotional and psychic conflicts, rather than physical ones” (Rachman, 2016, p. 36).
- For English, use “p. 36” as page number marker.
Method 2 of 2: Creating Reference Entries or Bibliography
Step 1. Enter the author's last name, followed by the initials of his first name
Place a comma between the last name and the initials of the first name. If the article is written by several people, place a comma after the first author's first initial, insert the symbol and (“&”), then write the second author's last name and first initial. Separate the last name and initials of the first name with a comma.
- If the article does not contain the author's name, start with the article title.
- For example, if the author's name is Hesti Purwadinata, write the beginning of the reference entry like this: Purwadinata, H.
- For articles with multiple authors, the beginning of the reference entry would look like this: Purwadinata, H., & Storia, E.
Step 2. Add the year of publication and enclose it in parentheses
After the initials of the author's first name, enter an opening parenthesis, add the year the article was published, followed by a closing parenthesis. Place a period after the closing parenthesis.
- For example, a reference entry for an article written by Hesti Purwadinata in 2006 would look like this: Purwadinata, H. (2006).
- If the year of publication is not available (or is not available), use “n.d.” (no date).
Step 3. Add the title of the article or document and the format “[PDF file]” (or “[PDF file]” for English) after the year of publication
Use only the first letter of the title in capital letters. After that, place a period after the “[PDF file]” section.
- An example of your reference entry would look like this: Purwadinata, H. (2006). Flood frequency in Jakarta [PDF file]. For English, replace “[PDF file]” with “[PDF file]”.
- If the cited document is an e-book, write the title of the document in italics.
Step 4. Include the journal's name, volume, and output number if available
You will need to include available information regarding periodical publications, journals, or other forms of publication that contain the cited article/document. Write the title of the publication in italics after the title of the article, followed by a comma and the volume number (if applicable). If there is an output number, include the number in parentheses after the volume number.
An example of your reference entry would look like this: Purwadinata, H. (2006). Flood frequency in Jakarta [PDF file]. Floods: National Problems, 14 (8)
Step 5. Add the DOI of the article or journal URL
When the article has a DOI (digital object identifier) number, write that number at the end of the reference. If there is no DOI number in the article, enter the URL of the journal's main page. Write the phrase “Taken from” (or “Retrieved from” in English) before the URL.
- Usually, you can find the DOI number on the first page of a PDF document, near the copyright section or on the front page of a database.
- If the article you cite does not have a DOI number, your reference entry will look like this: Purwadinata, H. (2006). Flood frequency in Jakarta [PDF file]. Floods: National Problems, 14 (8). Taken from https://www.condition flooding.com. For entries in English, replace “[PDF file]” and the phrases “Retrieved from” with “[PDF file]” and “Retrieved from”.
- If the article has a DOI number, your reference entry will look like this: Purwadinata, H. (2006). Flood frequency in Jakarta [PDF file]. Floods: National Problems, 14 (8). doi: 222.34334341.431.
Tips
- Sort the entries on the bibliography page alphabetically by author's last name. Use the title of the article if there is no author information.
- Use hanging indents. When using hanging indents, the first line of each reference entry starts from the left side. However, the next line protrudes towards the right.
- Use double spacing on reference pages.
- This article covers the basics of APA citation style formatting for online articles. If you want to learn more, check out Purdue's Online Writing Lab for APA Style article. You can also search for and download the APA manual, a published manual for the American Psychological Association (APA).
