Website
Website Example
American Political Science Association. 2018. APSA Style Manual for Political Science. Washington, DC: APSA. https://connect.apsanet.org/stylemanual/ (accessed March 15, 2024).
APSA Citation Generator
APSA style is published by the American Political Science Association and is used primarily in political science research. This citation generator follows the APSA Style Manual for Political Science.
Political Science
What sources can you cite in APSA format?
- Journal articles
- Books and edited volumes
- Book chapters
- Government documents
- Legal materials
- Websites and online sources
- Conference papers
- Working papers and reports
How to create APSA citations
Reference list citations
APSA references follow Chicago author-date style: Last Name, First Name. Year. Title. Place: Publisher. For journal articles: Last Name, First Name. Year. "Article Title." Journal Name Volume(Issue): Pages. Use title case for all titles. Italicize book and journal titles. Put article titles in quotation marks. The reference list is alphabetized by author's last name, then chronologically for multiple works by the same author.
In-text citations
APSA uses author-date parenthetical citations: (Smith 2024) or Smith (2024). For two or three authors, include all names: (Smith and Doe 2024) or (Smith, Doe, and Brown 2024). For four or more authors, use 'et al.' from the first citation: (Smith et al. 2024). Include page numbers for direct quotes: (Smith 2024, 45). For multiple works in one citation, separate by semicolons: (Smith 2024; Doe 2023).
APSA Citation Examples
See how to format different source types in APSA.
Journal Article
Journal Article Example
Smith, John A., and Mary B. Doe. 2024. Political Research Methods. American Political Science Review 45(2): 123-145.
Book
Book Example
Brown, Charles D. 2023. Introduction to Political Science. 3rd ed. New York: Academic Press.
Quick APSA Rules
Author Format
Last name, First name. Use 'and' before the last author. For four or more authors, use 'et al.' after the first author.
Title Format
Title case for article titles. Italicize book titles and journal names.
Date Format
Year in parentheses after author. Include specific dates for online sources.
Journal/Source
Journal name italicized, volume (issue): page range.
In-text Citations
Author-date format: (Author Year) or (Author Year, page). Use 'and' for two or three authors, 'et al.' for four or more.
About this APSA citation generator
This citation generator formats references according to the APSA Style Manual for Political Science published by the American Political Science Association. It follows Chicago author-date conventions adapted for political science scholarship. The tool supports journal articles, books, government documents, and other sources commonly used in political science research. For specialized citations or disciplinary conventions, consult the full APSA Style Manual.
Expert-Verified APSA Citations You Can Trust
Incorrect citations cost you grades. Our APSA citation generator is built by formatting experts who've refined every algorithm for precision. Trusted by educators and students worldwide, we help you cite sources correctly the first time.
Tom Atkinson
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Garrett Becker
Style Specialist
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Common APSA citation mistakes
- Using 'et al.' for three authors (list all three names)
- Forgetting to include accessed dates for online sources
- Using sentence case instead of title case for titles
- Not including page numbers for direct quotations
- Placing the year in the wrong position in the reference
- Using 'and' in parenthetical citations instead of only in narrative citations
APSA Frequently Asked Questions
What is APSA citation style?
APSA (American Political Science Association) style is used primarily in political science research. It uses an author-date parenthetical citation system similar to Chicago style.
How do I cite a website in APSA?
Include author/organization, year, page title, website name, URL, and accessed date in parentheses. Format: Author. Year. Title. Website. URL (accessed date).
How do I format multiple authors in APSA?
For two or three authors, list all names with 'and' before the last. For four or more authors, use the first author's name followed by 'et al.' even in the first reference.
Does APSA require page numbers?
Page numbers are required for direct quotes and recommended for paraphrases. Include them after the year, separated by a comma: (Author Year, page).
Other Citation Styles
Last updated: December 2025 — APSA formatting rules.