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APA Citation Style 7th Edition: Online Images

This guide will help you with formatting your citations according to the APA guidelines.

About Crediting Images

 

APA style does not give explicit instructions for crediting images that are reproduced in a print nor online work.  The information presented here is only a suggestion.  If you are unsure of how to credit or reference an image, please consult your instructor.

Though finding images using a search engine such as Google and Bing can be fairly quick, you must still keep researching to find the original owner of the image whether it be a photo, drawing, comic, sound bite, or other media. You cannot cite an image that you find on Google or Bing because those are search engines, not websites.

Crediting Images Found Online

 

When using images in the public domain, state clearly and explicitly that they are in the public domain.

File:Cranbrook, British Columbia Location.png

 

Figure 1. Map of Cranbrook, British Columbia Location,  by Qyd , 2006. Public Domain.

If the image is being used online or in presentation programs such as PowerPoint or Prezi, a hyperlink may be anchored in the text.

Figure 1. Map of Cranbrook, British Columbia Location,  by Qyd , 2006. Public Domain.

The corresponding reference would be:

Qyd. (Artist). (2006). Map of Cranbrook, British Columbia Location [Digital Image].

         Wikimedia Commons website: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/

         File:Cranbrook,_British_Columbia_Location.png?uselang=en-gb 

Be sure to format reference as required: double space and hanging indentation.

Learn More

 

The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University offers an online resource which can be used in some cases.  However, it does not include everything required for citing sources in one place.

The APA citation style does not cover Canadian government sources, and has only a limited section on American government resources.

Please refer to the staff at the Library Reference Desk for clarification when citing Canadian government sources.