- 1 Wrong Capitalization on Article Titles
- 2 Italicizing the Wrong Things
- 3 Wrong Et Al. Usage
- 4 Missing or Wrong DOI Format
- 5 Including "Retrieved From" Before Every URL
- 6 Including Publisher Location for Books
- 7 Misplacing the In-Text Citation
- 8 Using the Database URL Instead of the DOI
- 9 Citing a Secondary Source as a Primary Source
- 10 Hanging Indent Not Applied to References
- Quick Reference: Common APA 7th Edition Rules
- Related Guides
- Frequently Asked Questions
- 1 Wrong Capitalization on Article Titles
- 2 Italicizing the Wrong Things
- 3 Wrong Et Al. Usage
- 4 Missing or Wrong DOI Format
- 5 Including "Retrieved From" Before Every URL
- 6 Including Publisher Location for Books
- 7 Misplacing the In-Text Citation
- 8 Using the Database URL Instead of the DOI
- 9 Citing a Secondary Source as a Primary Source
- 10 Hanging Indent Not Applied to References
- Quick Reference: Common APA 7th Edition Rules
- Related Guides
- Frequently Asked Questions
Citation errors cost students points on papers even when the research itself is strong. Most mistakes come from applying wrong rules learned in high school, using outdated 6th edition format, or trusting citation tools that haven't been updated for APA 7th edition.
Here are the ten most frequently seen citation errors, with examples of what's wrong and how to fix each one.
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The extension applies APA 7th edition rules consistently. No capitalization guessing, no DOI formatting confusion.
Add to Chrome — Free1 Wrong Capitalization on Article Titles
APA uses Sentence case for article and book titles in the reference list. Sentence case means you capitalize only: the first word of the title, the first word after a colon, and proper nouns.
Exception: The journal name itself stays in Title Case. Only the article title switches to Sentence case.
2 Italicizing the Wrong Things
In a journal citation, many students italicize the article title instead of — or in addition to — the journal name. Only the journal name and volume number are italicized.
Rule to remember: Standalone works (books, entire journals, films, websites) get italicized. Articles and chapters that exist within a larger work do not.
3 Wrong Et Al. Usage
APA 7th edition changed the et al. Rule. Now, any work with three or more authors uses et al. In in-text citations from the very first mention. The old 6th edition rule (spell out 3–5 authors on first cite) no longer applies.
4 Missing or Wrong DOI Format
APA 7th edition changed the DOI format. The old prefix "doi:10.xxxxx" became a full hyperlink: "https://doi.org/10.xxxxx." Many older citation tools still generate the old format.
Also: always include a DOI when one exists, even for print sources. And never put a period after the DOI at the end of a reference entry.
5 Including "Retrieved From" Before Every URL
In APA 6th edition, you wrote "Retrieved from" before every URL. APA 7th edition removed this requirement for most sources. "Retrieved from" is now only used when the retrieval date is also required (for sources that change over time).
6 Including Publisher Location for Books
APA 7th edition removed the publisher city and state from book references. The old format listed "New York, NY:" before the publisher name. Now only the publisher name is included.
7 Misplacing the In-Text Citation
In-text citations should appear immediately after the information they support. Placing all citations at the end of a paragraph, or at the end of a sentence that mixes information from multiple sources, creates ambiguity about what is cited.
8 Using the Database URL Instead of the DOI
When you find a journal article through a database like PsycINFO, JSTOR, or EBSCOhost, students sometimes copy the long database URL into the citation. This is incorrect. The database URL is specific to your institution's access and won't work for anyone else. Use the DOI instead.
9 Citing a Secondary Source as a Primary Source
When you read Author B's book and Author B quotes Author A, you should not cite Author A as if you read their original work. You only read Author B's description of Author A's ideas. If you cite Author A directly without reading them, you may misrepresent their argument.
In the reference list, only list the source you actually read (Baddeley, 2003) — not Miller (1956).
10 Hanging Indent Not Applied to References
Every entry in the APA reference list uses a hanging indent: the first line of each citation is flush with the left margin, and all subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches. Many students skip this or apply a regular first-line indent instead.
https://doi.org/10.xxxx
In Microsoft Word: select the reference list, go to Format → Paragraph → Indentation → Special → Hanging, set to 0.5". In Google Docs: Format → Align & Indent → Indentation options → Hanging, 0.5".
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The extension applies every 7th edition rule correctly — hanging indent, proper capitalization, DOI format, and author listing — every time.
Get the APA Citation GeneratorQuick Reference: Common APA 7th Edition Rules
| Element | Rule |
|---|---|
| Article titles | Sentence case, not italicized |
| Journal names | Title Case, italicized |
| Volume number | Italicized (immediately after journal name) |
| Issue number | In parentheses, not italicized |
| DOI | https://doi.org/xxxxx format, no period at end |
| Et al. | 3+ authors → et al. From first citation |
| Publisher location | Not included for books |
| Retrieved from | Only for sources requiring a retrieval date |
| Running head | Student papers: not required |
| Reference list indent | Hanging indent, 0.5 inches |
Related Guides
- APA 7th Edition Changes from 6th Edition
- How to Cite a Journal Article in APA
- APA Reference Page Format Guide
- Plagiarism vs. Proper Citation
- What Is a DOI and How to Use It
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common APA citation mistake?
The most frequent error is using Title Case instead of Sentence case for article and book titles. In APA, only the first word, proper nouns, and the first word after a colon are capitalized in article titles.
Is it wrong to italicize article titles in APA?
Yes. In APA format, journal article titles are not italicized. Only the journal name and volume number are italicized in a journal article citation.
When should I use et al. In APA citations?
In APA 7th edition, use et al. For any work with three or more authors, starting from the very first citation. This changed from 6th edition, which required spelling out 3–5 author names on the first citation.
Do I need a retrieval date for websites in APA?
Only when citing a page that may change over time and has no stable publication date (like a wiki or social media profile). For most dated web articles, just include the URL without a retrieval date.
Can in-text citations go in the middle of a sentence?
Yes. Place citations immediately after the information they support, even if that's mid-sentence. This is clearer than always placing citations at the sentence end.
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