When there is no author for a source, the APA reference format changes slightly. According to the APA Publication Manual (7th ed.), for sources with no author, you should use the title of the source in the in-text citation and in the reference list. Here is how you structure these citations:
In-Text Citation
For in-text citations, you use the title of the source in title case (capitalize major words) and the year of publication. If the year is unknown, use “n.d.” (no date).
- Single author and year: Not applicable for no author, but for reference, it is (Author, Year).
- No author and year: (“Title of the source”, Year)
- No author, no year: (“Title of the source”, n.d.)
Examples: - (“Environmental Issues”, 2020) - (“Climate Change Report”, n.d.)
Reference List Entry
In the reference list, you start with the title of the source in title case (capitalize major words), followed by the year of publication in parentheses, and then the rest of the source information (such as publisher for books, or DOI/link for online sources).
Book with no author:
- “Title of the book”. (Year). Publisher. Example:
- “Environmental Science”. (2022). Green Publishing.
Journal, Magazine, or Newspaper Article with no author:
- “Title of the article”. (Year, Month Day of Publication). Title of the Periodical, Volume(Issue), pp-pp. DOI or URL Example:
- “New Strategies for Conservation”. (2020, February 10). The Science Journal, 12(2), 34-37. https://doi.org/10.1037/sci0000123
Webpage with no author:
- “Title of the webpage”. (Year, Month Day of Publication). Retrieved from https://www.url.com Example:
- “Guide to Sustainable Living”. (2022, January 5). Retrieved from https://www.greenvibes.org/sustainable-living-guide
Key Points
- When there is no author, the title is used in both in-text citations and the reference list.
- Use title case for the title in the in-text citation and the reference list entry.
- Include the year of publication if available; otherwise, use “n.d.”
- Ensure you follow the APA guidelines precisely for the type of source you are citing.
Always refer to the most current edition of the APA Publication Manual or visit the APA Style website for the most updated guidelines and examples.
