Writing accurate references is one of the most essential components of academic and scientific writing. Whether you are preparing a term paper, thesis, or research article in agriculture, veterinary science, or any research field, your work becomes credible only when your sources are properly documented. A reference citation validates your arguments, supports your evidence, and ensures your paper meets international research standards.
APA (American Psychological Association) style is widely used for academic writing, and understanding its structure helps students write stronger, more accepted research papers.
In APA style, a basic reference list entry for a journal article must include several key elements. The surname of the author is followed by initials, and the publication year is placed in round brackets. This is followed by the article title, the journal title in italics, the journal volume in italics, the issue number in brackets, the page range, and finally the DOI or URL. The first line of each citation is left aligned, and each subsequent line is indented to maintain readability.
Understanding these components is essential for agriculture and veterinary students preparing research reports, lab assignments, or thesis work. When referencing journal articles, APA provides clear rules based on the number of authors and the availability of a DOI. For example, a single-author reference uses only the author’s surname in in-text citations, while a work with two authors requires both surnames each time it is cited. For articles with three or more authors, APA uses the surname of the first author followed by et al. in in-text citations.
Referencing journals articles: Examples references
| MATERIAL TYPE | IN-TEXT EXAMPLE | REFERENCE LIST EXAMPLE |
| Journal Article: Single author | “Black tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water” (Ruxton, 2016, p. 34). OR Ruxton (2016) suggests “Unsweetened tea can be part of a recommended diet” (p. 40). Include page numbers for direct quotes. | Ruxton, C. (2016). Tea: Hydration and other health benefits. Primary Health Care, 26(8), 34-42. https://doi.org/10.7748/phc.2016.e1162 Where a DOI is available it must be included at the end of the reference, in the format https://doi.org/10.xxxx |
| Journal Article: 2 authors | … connection and optimism (Aspy & Proeve, 2017), but others contend … OR Aspy and Proeve (2017) have found … Cite both authors each time the reference occurs. | Aspy, D. J., & Proeve, M. (2017). Mindfulness and loving-kindness meditation: Effects on connectedness to humanity and to the natural world. Psychological Reports, 120(1), 102-117. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033294116685867 |
| Journal Article: 3 to 20 authors | … nurses must care as well as be competent (Geraghty et al., 2016). OR Geraghty et al. (2016) suggest … Cite only the surname of the first author followed by et al. and the year. | Geraghty, S., Lauva, M., & Oliver, K. (2016). Reconstructing compassion: Should it be taught as part of the curriculum? British Journal of Nursing, 25(15), 836-839. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2016.25.15.836 Provide the names of all authors in the reference list. |
| Journal Article: 21 or more authors | Research indicated that “lost sense of smell is a factor” (Khan et al., 2017, p. 344). OR Khan et al. (2019) used criteria which included “reduced or lost sense of smell” (p. 344). Cite only the surname of the first author followed by et al. and the year. Include page numbers for direct quotes. | Khan, A., Huynh, T. M. T., Vandeplas, G., Joish, V. N., Mannent, L. P., Tomassen P., van Zele, T., Cardell, L.O., Arebro, J., Olze, H., Forster-Ruhrmann, U., Kowalski, M. L., Olszewska-Ziaber, A., Fokkens, W., van Drunen, C., Mullol, J., Alobid, I., Hellings, P.W., Hox, V., …Bachert, C. (2019). The GALEN rhinosinusitis cohort: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps affects health-related quality of life. Rhinology, 57(5), 343-351. https://doi.org/10.4193/Rhin19.158 Provide the names of the first 19 authors, insert an ellipsis […] (but no ampersand [&]), then add the final author’s name. |
| Journal Article from most Library databases: No DOI | Nairne and Wilkinson (2018) assert that “our relationship with ourselves is essential to how we each show up professionally” (p. 106). OR “Our relationship with ourselves is essential to how we each show up professionally” (Nairne & Wilkinson, 2018, p. 106). | Nairne, D. C., & Wilkinson, H. (2018). What’s love got to do with it? Vermont Connection, 39(1), 106-112. An article retrieved from most Library databases that does not have a DOI can be presented as though it were a print article. |
| Journal Article from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | The review included 78 trials employing a variety of intervention approaches (Hodder et al., 2019). OR Hodder et al. (2019) identified 78 relevant trials that employed a variety of intervention approaches. | Hodder, R. K., O’Brien, K. M., Stacey, F. G., Tzelepis, F., Wyse, R. J., Bartlem, K. M., Sutherland, R., James, E. L., Barnes, C., & Wolfenden, L. (2019). Interventions for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in children aged five years and under. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008552.pub6. Articles in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews can only be retrieved from this database, therefore the name of the database (in italics) is included as the source of the article. |
| Online Journal Article: No DOI (With an Article Number) | Marion et al. (2018) explores whether evil characters in film share … OR … including stereotypical depictions of evil characters in film (Marion et al., 2018). | Marion, T., Reese, V., & Wagner, R. F. (2018). Dermatologic features in good film characters who turn evil: The transformation. Dermatology Online Journal, 24(9), Article 4. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1666h4z5 For an online journal article with no DOI (other than those retrieved from a Library database), provide the direct URL for the article. For journal issues with article numbers (rather than consecutive pagination) replace with page numbers with the word ‘Article’ followed by the article number or eLocator. |
| Print Journal Article: No DOI assigned | … Aussie Rules is the people’s game (Duncan, 2016)… OR Duncan (2016) states that a sense of belonging… | Duncan, S. (2016). Voices from the grandstands: The attitudes of Australian football fans towards the concept of creating, developing and binding communities. Sporting Traditions, 33(2), 19-40. Note: Where a print journal article has a DOI you must include it, even though you did not access the electronic version. |
| Online Journal Article: No page numbers | … in all outcomes (Christensen et al., 2019). OR Christensen et al. (2019) examine … For direct quotes of online material without pagination, name the sections and paragraph number: The authors’ “objective was to identify control journals that did not require data posting” (Christensen et al., 2019, Broad Analysis section, para. 4). | Christensen, G., Dafoe, A., Miguel, E., Moore, D. A., & Rose, A. K. (2019). A study of the impact of data sharing on article citations using journal policies as a natural experiment. PLoS ONE, 14(2), Article e0225883. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225883 |
| Secondary Sources: When you are referring to the ideas or words of an author who has been cited in another work. Also called ‘secondary citation’. Only recommended where the original work cannot be obtained. | Constituting a “global movement toward a more naturalistic approach for childbirth” (Goldbas, 2012, as cited in Sullivan & McGuiness, 2015, p. 20). OR Goldbas’s overview (2012, as cited in Sullivan & McGuiness, 2015) indicates… Provide names of both authors. Where the year is known for the original work, include it as well as the year of the publication you read. | Sullivan, D. H., & McGuiness, C. (2015). Natural labor pain management. International Journal of Childbirth Education, 30(2), 20-25. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/sn_pubs/51/ Provide the full reference for the journal article that you actually read. |
When citing works with 21 or more authors, APA requires the first nineteen authors to be listed, followed by an ellipsis, and then the final author’s name. Articles retrieved from most library databases without a DOI are cited as though they were print articles, while Cochrane Reviews require the database name because they are only available through that specific source.
Online journal articles without a DOI must include a direct URL, and articles with article numbers replace page ranges with terms such as “Article” followed by the article code. For materials without page numbers, sections and paragraph numbers help readers locate the referenced information accurately. Secondary citations, where one author is quoted in another’s work, should be used sparingly and only when the original source cannot be accessed.
Mastering APA referencing is especially valuable for students who aspire to publish research in agricultural sciences, animal science, veterinary medicine, and related fields. Clear and consistent referencing not only strengthens academic writing but also prepares students for future research and professional communication.
Conclusion on writing references
Accurate referencing is the backbone of credible academic writing. By understanding APA rules for journal articles, online sources, and secondary citations, students can produce high-quality research papers that meet global academic standards. As agriculture and veterinary studies grow more research-oriented in Nepal, mastering APA referencing becomes essential for every learner and researcher.
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Updated on 08 December 2025
