Citing sources is an essential part of academic writing, and the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th edition style is one of the most widely used citation styles in the social sciences. However, citing sources without an author can be a daunting task, even for experienced writers. In this article, we will delve into the world of APA 7th edition citations and explore how to properly cite sources with no author.
Understanding the Basics of APA 7th Edition Citations
Before diving into the specifics of citing sources with no author, it’s essential to understand the basics of APA 7th edition citations. In APA style, citations typically consist of the author’s last name, publication year, and page numbers (if applicable). The format for an APA citation is as follows:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day of Publication). Title of the work. Publisher.
For example:
Smith, J. (2020, January 1). The impact of climate change on mental health. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 65, 102-115.
However, what happens when there is no author?
No Author, No Problem: APA 7th Edition Guidelines
According to the APA Publication Manual (7th ed.), when a source lacks an author, the title of the work takes the place of the author’s name in the citation. The title should be written in sentence case, with the first word capitalized and the rest of the words in lowercase.
Untitled Sources
If the source is untitled, use the description “No title” in square brackets.
[No title]. (Year, Month Day of Publication).
For example:
[No title]. (2020, February 10). Retrieved from https://www.example.com
Government Reports and Documents
Government reports and documents often lack an author. In these cases, cite the name of the government agency or department as the author.
Government Agency. (Year, Month Day of Publication). Title of the report (Report No. XXX). Publisher.
For example:
National Institute of Mental Health. (2020, January). Mental health statistics (Publication No. 20-XXXX). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Web Pages with No Author
When citing a web page with no author, use the title of the webpage as the author.
Title of the webpage. (Year, Month Day of Publication). Retrieved from https://www.example.com
For example:
Climate Change and Mental Health. (2020, March 15). Retrieved from https://www.aps.org/climate-change-and-mental-health
Newspaper Articles with No Author
Newspaper articles often lack an author. In these cases, cite the title of the article as the author.
Title of the article. (Year, Month Day of Publication). Title of the newspaper, pp. XX-XX.
For example:
Mental Health Awareness Month. (2020, May 1). The New York Times, pp. A12-A15.
Common Scenarios: Citing Sources with No Author
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s explore some common scenarios where citing sources with no author is necessary.
Citing Online Resources
The internet is a vast source of information, and many online resources lack an author. When citing online resources, use the title of the webpage as the author.
Wikipedia
Wikipedia is a popular online encyclopedia that lacks an author. To cite a Wikipedia page, use the title of the page as the author.
Title of the Wikipedia page. (Year, Month Day of last update). Retrieved from https://www.wikipedia.org
For example:
Climate change. (2020, February 20). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change
Blogs and Social Media
Blogs and social media platforms often lack an author. When citing a blog post or social media update, use the title of the post or update as the author.
Title of the blog post. (Year, Month Day of Publication). Retrieved from https://www.example.com
For example:
The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health. (2020, January 10). Retrieved from https://www.mindfulminds.org/the-impact-of-social-media-on-mental-health/
Citing Historical Documents
Historical documents often lack an author. When citing historical documents, use the title of the document as the author.
The Constitution
The United States Constitution is a historical document that lacks an author. To cite the Constitution, use the title of the document as the author.
The Constitution of the United States. (Year, Month Day of ratification).
For example:
The Constitution of the United States. (1789, September 17).
Diaries and Letters
Diaries and letters are another type of historical document that often lack an author. When citing diaries and letters, use the title of the document as the author.
Title of the diary or letter. (Year, Month Day of writing).
For example:
The Diary of a World War I Soldier. (1918, April 10).
Citing Multimedia Sources
Multimedia sources such as videos, podcasts, and films often lack an author. When citing multimedia sources, use the title of the source as the author.
Videos
To cite a video, use the title of the video as the author.
Title of the video. (Year, Month Day of publication). Retrieved from https://www.example.com
For example:
The Impact of Climate Change on Mental Health. (2020, February 15). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXXXX
Podcasts
To cite a podcast, use the title of the podcast as the author.
Title of the podcast. (Year, Month Day of publication). Retrieved from https://www.example.com
For example:
The Mental Health Podcast. (2020, January 10). Retrieved from https://www.mentalhealthpodcast.com/
Conclusion
Citing sources with no author can be challenging, but with the guidelines provided by the APA Publication Manual (7th ed.), you can master the art of APA 7th edition citations. Remember to use the title of the work as the author, and to format the citation according to the type of source. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your citations are accurate and professional.
What do I do if there is no author?
When there is no author, you cannot use the typical author-date format for APA 7th edition citations. Instead, you use the title of the work in the citation, and the reference list entry begins with the title of the work. This can be confusing, but it’s essential to follow the guidelines to ensure academic integrity.
In the case of no author, the title takes the place of the author’s name in the in-text citation and the reference list entry. This means that the title should be written in title case, with major words capitalized. If the source has a title and a subtitle, separate them with a colon, and capitalize the first word of the subtitle.
How do I cite a source with no date?
When a source has no date, the APA 7th edition guidelines recommend using “n.d.” in place of the year. This stands for “no date” and indicates that the source does not provide a publication or revision date. This can be the case for websites, social media posts, and other online sources that do not provide a specific date.
In the reference list entry, “n.d.” is placed where the year would normally be, and the rest of the citation follows the typical format. For example, a website with no date might have a reference list entry that starts with the title, followed by “n.d.”, then the URL, and finally the retrieval date.
What if there is no title?
In rare cases, a source may not have a title. This can be the case for certain types of sources, such as social media posts or online comments. When there is no title, the APA 7th edition guidelines recommend using a descriptive title in the citation. This should be a brief description of the content in title case, enclosed in square brackets.
A descriptive title should be concise and accurately reflect the content of the source. It should not be italicized or enclosed in quotation marks, unlike other titles. In the reference list entry, the descriptive title is followed by the publication date, URL, and other relevant information.
How do I cite a source with no publisher?
When a source has no publisher, the APA 7th edition guidelines recommend omitting the publisher from the citation. This is often the case for self-published works, such as blog posts or personal websites. In the reference list entry, the publication location is omitted, and the rest of the citation follows the typical format.
If the source has a publication location, it can be included in the citation, even if there is no publisher. However, if the publication location is not available, it is not necessary to include it. Instead, focus on providing accurate and relevant information in the citation.
What if there is no DOI?
A DOI (digital object identifier) is a unique alphanumeric string assigned to a digital source. When a source has no DOI, the APA 7th edition guidelines recommend including the URL in the citation. This is typically the case for online sources, such as websites, articles, and blogs.
In the reference list entry, the URL is included in the citation, preceded by “https://” or “http://”, depending on the type of URL. It’s essential to check the URL for accuracy and ensure it is functional. A functional URL allows readers to access the source directly.
How do I cite a source with no page numbers?
When a source has no page numbers, the APA 7th edition guidelines recommend omitting the page numbers from the citation. This is often the case for online sources, such as websites, articles, and blogs. In the reference list entry, the page numbers are omitted, and the rest of the citation follows the typical format.
If the source has headings or section titles, it’s possible to include them in the citation to help readers locate the relevant information. For example, an online article might have a heading or section title that can be included in the citation to provide more context.
What if there is no retrieval date?
A retrieval date is the date on which you accessed a source, typically an online source. When a source has no retrieval date, the APA 7th edition guidelines recommend omitting the retrieval date from the citation. This is rarely the case, as most online sources can be accessed on a specific date.
However, if you are unable to determine the retrieval date, omit it from the citation. Focus on providing accurate and relevant information in the citation, such as the author, title, publication date, and URL.