What Comes First in an APA Citation? Author’s Last Name Explained

Learn what element comes first in an APA citation and how to format authors' names correctly for your reference list.

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Author’s last name comes first in an APA citation, followed by the first initial. For example: Smith, J.A. This ensures proper attribution and helps readers locate the source in alphabetical order within the reference list.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What comes first in an APA citation? The author’s last name comes first in an APA citation, followed by the first initial.
  2. How do I format an author's name in APA style citation? In APA style, the author’s last name is written first, followed by a comma and the author's first and middle initials.
  3. Why is the author's last name placed first in APA references? Placing the author's last name first helps ensure proper attribution and allows sources to be organized alphabetically in the reference list.

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