Citing Images in APA Format
Citing Images in APA Format
Citing Images in APA Format
The Basics
“All reproduced images (including tables) should be accompanied by an APA Style copyright
permission statement and have a reference list entry” (APA, 2016c, para. 2).
Copyright statement beneath image: “The format of the statement depends on the type of source,
but in all cases it’s as simple as putting the pieces of the reference in the order of title, author, year of
publication, and source, followed by the copyright year and the name of the copyright holder” (APA,
2016c, para. 3).
Reference list entry: “The reference list entry uses basically the same pieces, but in a different
order” (APA, 2016c, para. 3).
STEP 1 - Look for the type of copyright statement the image has.
Regular copyright or “all rights reserved” copyright-This type has the word “copyright” or the
copyright symbol ©. A copyright statement must be shown in your document or presentation. Unless
you satisfy the requirements as an exception, you must write for permission to reproduce the image.
(See section below “When Permission to Use the Image Is Not Needed”)
Creative commons copyright-This type has the words “creative commons” or “CC.” You may
reproduce and/or adapt the image without permission if you supply a copyright statement that
identifies the original author. (Find images at https://search.creativecommons.org/)
Public domain-This type is not restricted by a copyright; simply cite the original author in your
paper or presentation with a copyright statement that ends with “In the public domain.”
No copyright indicated-This type still must be treated as copyrighted (APA, 2016a).
Journal Article
Figure #. Your own descriptive title. From [or Adapted from] “Title of
Template Article,” by A. N. Author and C. O. Author, year, Title of Journal, Volume,
p. xx. Copyright [year] by Name of Copyright Holder.
Example
Figure 1. Your own descriptive title. From “Social Media: A Contextual
copyright Framework to Guide Research and Practice,” by L.A. McFarland and R. E.
statement Ployhart, 2015, Journal of Applied Psychology, 100, p. 1656. Copyright
2015 by the American Psychological Association.
Example Figure 1. Your own descriptive title. From “Nutrition, Physical Activity and
copyright Obesity: Data, Trends and Maps,” by Centers for Disease Control and
statement Prevention, 2015 (http: //nccd.cdc.gove/NPAO.). In the public domain.
(Templates and examples were adapted from “Navigating Copyright for Reproduced Images: Part 4. Writing the Copyright
Statement.” See reference APA, 2016c, para. 3. Additional templates are available on that web page.)
Ex. PowerPoint: Caption followed by copyright statement and the reference page entry for an image
References
American Psychological Association (APA). (2016a, January 26). Navigating copyright for reproduced images: Part 1.
Understanding copyright status [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2016/01/navigating-
copyright-part-1.html
American Psychological Association. (2016b, January 26). Navigating copyright for reproduced images: Part 2. Determining
whether permission is needed [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2016/01/navigating-
copyright-part-2.html
American Psychological Association. (2016c, January 26). Navigating copyright for reproduced images: Part 4. Writing the
copyright statement [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2016/01/navigating-copyright-part-
4.html