APA Fact of the Week: Citing with No Author or Editor

If the reference you want to cite has neither an author nor an editor, put the title of the book or article in the author position.  Alphabetize such citations according to the first significant word in the title.  In text, use either part of the title or the whole title if it is short in place of the author in the citation.  If an online version refers to a print edition, include the edition number after the title (APA6, p. 205).

 

Examples:

Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary (11th ed.). (2005). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster.

Heuristic. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary (11th ed.). Retrieved from http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/heuristic