How do I cite an Encyclopedia & Dictionary in APA Style?

Answer

Online Encyclopedia and Dictionary Entries

Encyclopedias and dictionaries are reference sources that are published in multiple volumes or in just one volume. They can be in print or electronic. Encyclopedia Britannica, The World Book Encyclopedia, and The Oxford English Dictionary are examples of both print and online encyclopedias and dictionaries. Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia that is edited by the community at large.

If the author is a group or publisher, use that name as the author as in the Merriam-Webster example. Use the retrieval date for a publication that updates frequently, like online and free versions of the encyclopedia or dictionary. See also APA, 10.3, ex. 47-48.

Name of Author or Group. (Date). Title of chapter. In Title of Book. Retrieved Month, Date, Year, from URL
Merriam-Webster (n.d.). Dramatic irony. In Merriam-Webster dictionary. Retrieved July 15, 2020, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dramatic%20irony

 

For a signed article in an encyclopedia or other reference work, use the name of the author. If you have an archived version of the entry, like a print version or a specific edition found in a database, you do not need the retrieval date.

Helm, B. (2017). Love. In E.N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy (Fall 2017 ed.). Stanford University https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2017/entries/love/

 

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  • Last Updated Jul 13, 2023
  • Views 109
  • Answered By Nora Rackley

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