Mistakes Checklist
Common APA Article Citation Mistakes
Published studies report citation/reference error rates between 25-54%. Use this page to catch the most frequent formatting failures before submission.
Top mistakes to avoid
- ⚠Using only the year for dated articles
- ⚠Title case for article titles
- ⚠Forgetting the URL for online articles
- ⚠Adding "Retrieved from" (not needed in APA 7)
Fix checklist
- ✓Include full date for magazine/newspaper articles
- ✓Italicize publication name
- ✓Use sentence case for article title
- ✓Include URL for online articles
Frequently asked questions
How do I cite a newspaper article in APA?
Use full date, article title in sentence case, newspaper name in italics, and URL if online.
What if the magazine article has no author?
Start with the article title in italics, followed by the date and other elements.
Build the corrected citation now
Use the template and guide, then generate the final citation from verified academic sources.