Sometimes the information needed to create a reference list entry is missing or unknown. When this is the case, there are various strategies to adapt the reference.
This table shows the basic structure of an APA Style reference to a published work, adapted for missing information, along with the corresponding in-text citations. Refer to the reference examples and Chapters 9 and 10 of the Publication Manual for specific details for the type of work being cited.
Missing
element
Solution
Template
Reference list entry
In-text citation
Nothing—all
elements are present
Provide the author, date, title, and source of the work.
Author. (Date). Title. Source.
Provide the title, date, and source.
Title. (Date). Source.
Provide the author, write “n.d.” for “no date,” and then provide the title and source.
Author. (n.d.). Title. Source.
Provide the author and date, describe the work in square brackets, and then provide the source.
Author. (Date). [Description of work]. Source.
Author and
date
Provide the title, write “n.d.” for “no date,” and then provide the source.
Title. (n.d.). Source.
Author and
title
Describe the work in square brackets, and then provide the date and source.
[Description of work]. (Date). Source.
([Description of work], year)
[Description of work] (year)
Provide the author, write “n.d.” for “no date,” describe the work in square brackets, and then provide
the source.
Author. (n.d.). [Description of work]. Source.
Author, date,
and title
Describe the work in square brackets, write “n.d.” for “no date,” and then provide the source.
[Description of work]. (n.d.). Source.
([Description of work], n.d.)
[Description of work] (n.d.)
Cite as a personal communication or find another work to cite (see the Publication Manual for more information).
No reference list entry
(C. C. Communicator, personal communication, month day, year)
C. C. Communicator (personal communication, month day, year)
Missing reference information is covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Section 9.4 and the Concise Guide Section 9.4
For a missing author, do not use “Anonymous” as the author unless the work is actually signed “Anonymous.” If the work is signed “Anonymous,” use “Anonymous” in the reference and in-text citation.
Anonymous. (2017). Stories from my time as a spy. Bond Publishers.
If the work is not actually signed “Anonymous,” the title moves to the beginning of the reference and is used in place of the author name, as shown in the table.
The date in the reference list entry for a work with a publication date may be a year only, and month and year, or a specific date (e.g., a month, day, and year); however, in the in-text citation, provide the year only.
For an in-press work, use “in press” for the date in both the reference list entry and in-text citation.
For a work with no date, use “n.d.” in both the reference list entry and the in-text citation.
Italic formatting within the title or source varies by reference and is not shown in the table. In general, the title is italicized for a work that stands alone (e.g., book, report, webpage on a website), and some part of the source is italicized for a work that is part of a greater whole (e.g., journal article, newspaper article).
See the reference examples and Chapters 9 and 10 of the Publication Manual for information on what to italicize within a reference.
