APA Style
All the information in this guide is based on the 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Please refer to the original text for complete details. A reference copy is available at the TPH library.
APA Guide Contents
Have questions? Email hlibrary@toronto.ca
Quoting and Paraphrasing Sources
Short Quotations: Using less than 40 words of the author’s own words.
Incorporate the quote into the sentence.
Enclose the borrowed words in quotation marks.
Cite the quoted source (including the author, year, page)
Example:
A subgroup from the Expert Panel of the RNAO's Best Practice Guideline Development Team is involved in refining the purpose and scope of the guideline. The subgroup describes "specific objectives, research questions addressed by the guideline, and target audiences. Inclusion and exclusion criteria, search terms and key words and search databases...to guide the literature search" (Grinspun & Bajnok, 2018, p. 42-3).
Long Quotations: Using more than 40 words of the author’s own words.
Long Quotations: Using more than 40 words of the author’s own words.
Display the quote in a freestanding block of text:
Begin on a new line; indent the entire quote ½ an inch from the left margin. Omit quotation marks.
Double-space quote. Cite the quoted source (if not already directly cited) and include the page or paragraph
number in parentheses after the final punctuation mark. (Author, Year, p. page)
Example:
|
In recent years there has been an emphasis in Ontario on using current and existing evidence to support public health practice. Evidence-informed decision-making is the process of analyzing and using the best available evidence from research, context, and experience to inform decisions on development and delivery of public health programs and services. Evidence to inform the decision-making process may come from a variety [of] sources including: key facts, findings, trends, and recommendations from published scientific research; data and analyses obtained from population health assessment and surveillance; legal and political environments; stakeholder perspectives; public engagement; and recommendations based on past experiences including program evaluation information. (Ontario Public Health Standards, 2018, p.24) |
According to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, it is advisable to provide a paragraph or page number when paraphrasing ideas from other sources (2009, p.171).
According to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association:
- if a citation appears within a direct quote, keep it in your quote
- the reference list does not need to include the reference (2009, p. 173).
| Online sources | What you can do | Sample |
|---|---|---|
|
with no pages (use paragraph count) |
use the abbreviation para. to indicate the paragraph where the quote appears. |
According to the Government of Canada (2019), "Determinants of health are the broad range of personal, social, economic and environmental factors that determine individual and population health" (para. 2)
See corresponding reference list entry below.
|
|
with no pages but text is organized using headings (use heading followed by para #) |
instead of counting paragraphs, use the heading or short title enclosed in quotation marks and count the paragraph # where your quote appears. |
The Public Health Agency of Canada uses the population health approach. It is defined as follows: Population health is an approach to health that aims to improve the health of the entire population and to reduce health inequities among population groups. In order to reach these objectives, it looks at and acts upon the broad range of factors and conditions that have a strong influence on our health. (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2012, "What is Population Health?" para. 1.) |
References
Government of Canada. (2019, July 25). Social Determinants of Health. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/population-health/what-determines-health.html#a4
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2012, February 7). What is the population health approach? Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/population-health/population-health-approach.html
Ideally, you want to consult the original source. However, if you cannot do so, retain citations that appear within the material you have chosen to quote. For example:
According to Health Canada (2001), "The population health approach recognizes that health is a capacity or resource rather than a state ....“the capacity of people to adapt to, respond to, or control life’s challenges and changes” (Frankish et al., 1996)" (p. 7).
Note: The Frankish 1996 reference appears in the original document as Frankish, C.J. et al., Health Impact Assessment as a Tool for Population Health Promotion and Public Policy (Vancouver, Institute of Health Promotion Research, University of British Columbia: 1996) 6. But, you will cite Health Canada's 2001 report in your references (not the Frankish document). See reference below.
References
Health Canada. (2001). Taking action on population health: A position paper for health promotion and programs branch staff. Available from: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/H88-3-30-2001/pdfs/other/taph_e.pdf