Brief Guide to Using APA Style for References (7th Edition)

For Authors Submitting to JFINES

JFINES requires all manuscripts to follow the APA (7th edition) author–date referencing style. Submissions that do not adhere to APA style will be returned for correction.

1. In-Text Citations

APA uses the author–date system. Do not use numbered citations.

Paraphrasing

One author: (Smith, 2022)
Two authors: (Smith & Jones, 2021)
Three or more authors: (Smith et al., 2020)

Direct Quotation

Include page number:

(Smith, 2022, p. 15)

Every in-text citation must appear in the reference list, and every reference listed must be cited in the text.

2. Reference List

Title the section References (bold, centered).
Arrange entries alphabetically by the first author’s surname.
Use a hanging indent (second and subsequent lines indented).
Use sentence case for article and book titles.
Italicize journal titles, book titles, and volume numbers.
Include DOIs in URL format where available (https://doi.org/xxxxx).
Do not include “Retrieved from” unless a retrieval date is required.

3. Common Reference Formats

Journal Article

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the article. Journal Title, Volume(Issue), page–page. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Example:
Smith, J. A., & Brown, L. M. (2022). Managing malnutrition in LMIC countries. Journal of Food Innovation, Nutrition, and Environmental Sciences, 2(4), 123–140. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Book

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the book. Publisher.

Book Chapter

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the chapter. In B. B. Editor (Ed.), Title of the book (pp. xx–xx). Publisher.

Website

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Website Name. URL

4. Additional Notes

Use “&” inside parentheses and in the reference list; use “and” in narrative text.
Use “et al.” for three or more authors in in-text citations.
Ensure consistency in punctuation, capitalization, and formatting.
Carefully check that the similarity index and citation formatting meet journal standards before submission.

For detailed guidance, authors are encouraged to consult the official APA Publication Manual (7th edition).