APA Citation Generator

Encyclopedia Entry

How to Cite an Encyclopedia Entry in APA Style

Citing an encyclopedia entry in APA 7th edition style requires the following elements:

  • Author's name (if available)
  • Publication date or n.d. for no date
  • Title of the entry
  • Title of the encyclopedia (in italics)
  • Editor(s) name(s) (if applicable)
  • Edition (if not the first)
  • Volume and page numbers (for print sources)
  • Publisher (for print sources)
  • DOI or URL (for online sources)

General Format

Author, A. A. (Year). Entry title. In E. E. Editor (Ed.), Title of encyclopedia (Edition, Vol. Number, pp. Page range). Publisher. DOI or URL


Encyclopedia Entry Citation Examples in APA Style

Example 1 (Print): Doe, J. K. (2023). Artificial intelligence. In A. B. Smith (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Technology (3rd ed., Vol. 2, pp. 123-145). Tech Publishers.

Example 2 (Online with author): Johnson, M. L. (2022). Mental health. In B. C. Brown (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Psychology. Psychology Publishers. https://www.psychologyencyclopedia.com/mental-health

Example 3 (Online without author): Quantum computing. (2021). In Encyclopedia of Computer Science. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77525-8_1922

Example 4 (Online with group author): American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Cognitive behavioral therapy. In APA Dictionary of Psychology. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://dictionary.apa.org/cognitive-behavioral-therapy

Example 5 (Print with multiple editors): García, E., & Chen, L. (2020). Climate change. In R. T. Watson, J. A. Patz, & D. J. Gubler (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Environmental Health (2nd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 672-688). Elsevier.

Example 6 (Online encyclopedia entry in another language): Müller, H. (2022). Quantenmechanik [Quantum mechanics]. In Deutsche Enzyklopädie der Physik. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-53878-6_7


Key Points to Remember

For online encyclopedias, include a retrieval date only if the content is likely to change over time.

Italicize the title of the encyclopedia, not the entry title.

If there's no author, start the entry with the title of the entry.

For online sources, include a DOI if available. If no DOI is available, provide the URL.

For entries in languages other than English, include an English translation of the entry title in square brackets.

If citing the entire encyclopedia, list the editor(s) in the author position.


Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I cite an entry from Wikipedia or other collaborative encyclopedias?

A: Use the entry title as the author, include a retrieval date, and note it's a wiki: Title of entry. (Year, Month Day). In Wikipedia. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL

Q: What if the online encyclopedia entry has no publication date?

A: Use "n.d." (no date) in place of the year: Author, A. A. (n.d.). Entry title. In Encyclopedia title. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL

Q: How do I cite an encyclopedia entry that I accessed through a database?

A: Cite it as you would a print version, but include the DOI if available. If no DOI is available, do not include a URL or database information.

Q: Should I include access dates for all online encyclopedia entries?

A: Only include access dates if the source material is likely to change over time (e.g., wikis or entries that are regularly updated).

Q: How do I cite an entry from a specialized encyclopedia in my field?

A: Follow the same format, but you may need to provide additional context about the encyclopedia's significance in your in-text citation or narrative.

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