Figures, such as graphs, charts, or drawings are good sources of material to support your ideas when writing an essay or article. You may have to cite figures using the APA format for your essays or articles in class. Follow a few simple steps below so you can cite figures from books, articles, or websites in the proper APA format.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Creating Quotes
Step 1. Start with “Image” and follow by numbering the image sequence using italics
Figures don't need a specific title. Start with the word “Image” and follow with the number of figures in the order in which they appear in the text.
For example, the first figure to appear should be quoted, “Figure 1.” The fourth figure that appears in the text should be quoted as “Figure 4.”
Step 2. Write a descriptive phrase about the figure
Give the reader a brief explanation of the figure. Phrases should summarize the information depicted in the figure clearly and concisely.
For example, if you quote a statistical graph, you might write, “Statistical graph of household income in Indonesia in 2010.” If you are citing an image, you might write, "Affandi's black and white photo in Paris."
Step 3. Write down the source or reference where you found the figure
Write, “Taken from” or “Adapted from” followed by the title of the book, article, or website where you found the figure. Write down the page number where you got the figure if you took it from a book.
- For example, you could quote a book by writing, “Taken from 100 People Who Changed Indonesia (p 8).
- To cite the article, you might write, “Adapted from ‘Central Statistics Agency Population Data.'”
- If you are citing a website, you might write, "Taken from The Huffington Post."
Step 4. Write the initials of the author's first and middle name and last name
Use the initials of the author's first and middle name, if any, instead of the full name. Write the author's last name. If there are multiple authors, write them all down, separating them with "and."
For example, you might write, “…by K. L. Lee” or “…by B. Lork and M. Casper.”
Step 5. Write the source
If your reference is a book, note the year and location it was published and the name of the publisher. For example, you might write, “2008, Semarang, Central Java: XYZ Publishers” or “2010, South Tangerang, Banten: ABC Publishers.”
- If you are using the article as a reference, write the year of publication, journal name, and volume number in italics. Write down the page number where the figure you picked up is listed.
- For example, you might write, “2017, Journal of Functional Foods, 56, p. 103” or “2002, Journal of Economics and Business, 14, p. 90."
- If the reference you are using is a website, write the year the figure was published on the website, if information is available. Otherwise, use "n.d." for " no date." Then write “Taken from” and the website link.
- For example, you could write, “2008, Retrieved from https://www.bps.go.id” or “n.d., Retrieved from
Step 6. Record the copyright information of the figure
Close the quote by writing the year and copyright owner of the figure. You should be able to find this information at the original source.
- For example, you could write, “Copyright 217 by the Central Bureau of Statistics” or “Copyright 2012 by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences.”
- If you can't find copyright information, you don't need to write it down.
Step 7. Recheck the quote
After you have written a quote for the figure, check and make sure all the required information is available.
- The complete quote for the figure is taken from the book, namely: “Figure 1. Black and white photo of Affandi in Paris. Taken from 100 People Who Changed Indonesia (p 8), by F. Aning, 2007, Yogyakarta, DIY: Narration. Copyright 2007 by Narrative Publishers.”
- The full quote for the figure is taken from the article, namely: “Figure 4. Statistics chart of household income in Indonesia in 2010. Taken from 'Population Data from the Central Statistics Agency,' by B. Lork and M. Casper, 2017, Statistics Indonesia, 56, p. 103. Copyright 217 by the Central Bureau of Statistics.”
- The full quote for the figure is taken from the website, namely: “Figure 6. Painting of little boy playing with plastic toys. Retrieved from the Child Health Column, at The Huffington Post, n.d., Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.childrentoday.com. Copyright 2008 by Joan Lee.”
Part 2 of 2: Formatting Quotes
Step 1. Place the quote below the figure and double-space it
In text, quotations should always appear below figures. This will ensure that the quote clearly identifies the figure. Double space for easy reading.
Step 2. Ask for official permission to use the figure if you intend to publish the article
If you intend to publish in a thesis, journal, or other publication, you must obtain permission from the copyright holder to use the figure. State that you have obtained permission by writing “Loaded with permission” at the end of the quote.
For example, you could write, “Figure 4. Statistics of household income in Indonesia in 2010. Taken from 'Population Data from the Central Statistics Agency,' by B. Lork and M. Casper, 2017, Statistics Indonesia, 56, p. 103. Copyright 217 by the Central Bureau of Statistics. Loaded with permission."
Step 3. Cite the source of the figure in the Bibliography
According to the APA guidelines, you should write the bibliographic entry of the figure source at the end of your article on the Bibliography page. Double-space the entries in the Bibliography and arrange them alphabetically. Follow the APA citation format. Make sure you have written the title of the book, article, or website, author, and publication information of the figure source.
