Referencing a poem in APA style requires following specific guidelines to ensure proper citation and attribution. Key elements to consider include the poet’s name, the title of the poem, the publication details, and any specific line or stanza being referenced. Understanding these elements and formatting them correctly is crucial for academic integrity and scholarly communication.
How to Reference a Poem in APA
Referencing a poem in APA style requires you to provide specific information about the source. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
1. In-text Citation (Parenthetical Reference)
- When mentioning the poem in your text, include the author’s last name and the year of publication (if different from the date in the citation).
- For example: (Stevens, 1923)
2. Reference List Entry (Works Cited)
- In the reference list, follow this structure:
Author’s Last Name, First Name Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of Poem in Title of Anthology or Collection (Edited by Editor’s Name). Publisher.
Example:
Stevens, W. (1923). The Emperor of Ice-Cream in Harmonium (Edited by Alfred A. Knopf). Knopf.
3. Specific Line or Stanza Citation
- If you’re referencing a specific line or stanza, use the following format:
Author’s Last Name, First Name Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of Poem, line/stanza number(s). in Title of Anthology or Collection (Edited by Editor’s Name). Publisher.
Example:
Stevens, W. (1923). The Emperor of Ice-Cream, lines 1-4. in Harmonium (Edited by Alfred A. Knopf). Knopf.
4. Poem Published as Standalone Work
- If the poem is published as a standalone work, without being part of an anthology or collection, include the following information:
Author’s Last Name, First Name Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of Poem. Publisher.
Example:
Blake, W. (1800). The Tyger. Pickering.
Table Summarizing Reference Formats
| Source Type | In-text Citation | Reference List Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Poem in Anthology | (Stevens, 1923) | Stevens, W. (1923). The Emperor of Ice-Cream in Harmonium (Edited by Alfred A. Knopf). Knopf. |
| Standalone Poem | (Blake, 1800) | Blake, W. (1800). The Tyger. Pickering. |
| Specific Line/Stanza | (Stevens, 1923, lines 1-4) | Stevens, W. (1923). The Emperor of Ice-Cream, lines 1-4. in Harmonium (Edited by Alfred A. Knopf). Knopf. |
Question 1:
How to correctly cite a poem using APA style?
Answer:
To correctly reference a poem using APA style, the following format should be followed:
- Author: Last name, Initials.
- Year of publication: (n.d.) if no year is available, or year of publication in parentheses.
- Title of poem: Title of poem in quotation marks.
- Title of collection: Title of collection in italics.
- Editor: (Ed.) if applicable, followed by editor’s name.
- Publisher: Publisher’s name.
- Location: City of publication.
- DOI: Digital Object Identifier (DOI) if available.
Question 2:
What information is necessary to reference a poem in APA style?
Answer:
The following information is necessary to reference a poem in APA style:
- Author’s name
- Year of publication
- Title of poem
- Title of collection
- Publisher’s name
- Location of publication
- DOI (if available)
Question 3:
What is the correct format for citing a poem in APA style?
Answer:
The correct format for citing a poem in APA style is:
Author, L. I. (Year of publication). Title of poem. In Title of collection (pp. Page numbers). Publisher. DOI (if available).
Thanks so much for sticking with me through this quick guide on how to reference a poem in APA style. I know it can be a bit dry, but it’s important to get it right, especially if you’re writing an academic paper or giving a presentation. If you have any more questions, feel free to drop me a line. And be sure to check back later for more helpful writing tips and tricks. In the meantime, keep on writing!