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APA referencing

This guide introduces the APA referencing style and includes examples of citations. Mae'r canllaw hon hefyd ar gael yn Gymreag.

Notes on referencing social media

  • Author could be an individual or an organisation. 

  • Only cite original content, not just links to content. 

How to reference social media

Use this format for posts to social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn etc

Reference order

  1. Author.
  2. @User handle if applicable (in square brackets). 
  3. Date (Year, Month Day in round brackets). 
  4. Content of post up to the first 20 words. (In italics, do not alter spelling or capitalization, retain hashtags and links and replicate emojis where possible, otherwise provide emoji’s name in square brackets).  
  5. Description of audiovisuals e.g. image, infographic, video etc. (In square brackets).
  6. Status update (in square brackets).
  7. Name of social media site, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn etc.   
  8. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL https:// 

In-text example

New books are promoted … (USW Library, 2023) 
OR 
USW Library promotes new books on … (2023). 

Reference list

USWLibrary. [@uswlibrary]. (2023, May 31). Just some of the new titles we've received today. Dim ond rhai o’r teitlau rydyn ni wedi eu derbyn heddiw. [Photograph]. Instagram. Retrieved August 5, 2023, from https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs50Qb3tL8 

Please note, that the software used for this guide does not enable reference list examples to be shown with a 0.5 inch indent, which is how APA references should appear in a reference list.

Use this format for pages on social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn etc. 

Reference order

  1. Social media page owner. 
  2. No date (n.d. in round brackets). 
  3. Type of page, for example Home, Photos, About etc. (in italics). 
  4. Type of social media page, eg. Facebook page, Instagram page, LinkedIn page etc. (in square brackets). 
  5. Name of social media site, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn etc. 
  6. Retrieved Month, Day Year, from URL https://

In-text example

A campaign is being run to keep NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing hubs open (British Psychological Society, n.d.). 
OR 
The British Psychological Society is running a campaign to keep NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing hubs open (n.d.).

Reference list

British Psychological Society. (n.d.) Home [Facebook page]. Facebook. Retrieved July 19, 2023, from https://www.facebook.com/OfficialBPS/ 

Please note, that the software used for this guide does not enable reference list examples to be shown with a 0.5 inch indent, which is how APA references should appear in a reference list.

This format can be applied to posts on other microblogging sites such as BlueSky, Mastodon, Threads etc.

Reference order

  1. Author.
  2. @User handle (in square brackets). 
  3. Date (Year, Month Day in round brackets). 
  4. Content of post up to the first 20 words. (in italics, do not alter spelling or capitalization, retain hashtags and links and replicate emojis where possible, otherwise provide emoji’s name in square brackets).  
  5. Description of audiovisuals e.g. image, infographic, video etc. (in square brackets).
  6. Tweet. (in square brackets). 
  7. Name of social media site.
  8. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL https:// 

In-text example

The weather forecast warned … (Met Office, 2024) 
OR 
The Met Office weather forecast warned (2024)

Reference list

Met Office [@metoffice] (2024, July 16).  [Warning sign emoji] Yellow weather warning updated [Warning sign emoji] Rain across England and Wales valid until 0900 Tuesday. Southern extent across England reduced [Image and Video with link attached]. [Tweet]. X. Retrieved July 18, 2024, from https://x.com/metoffice/status/1813048521680953416  

Please note, that the software used for this guide does not enable reference list examples to be shown with a 0.5 inch indent, which is how APA references should appear in a reference list.