How to Cite a Short Story in APA

Use the Publication Date of the Anthology You Consulted: Short stories are often reprinted in different anthologies or editions. Although the story first appeared decades ago, you must cite the edition that you actually read. This will allow your readers to locate the exact source that you read, especially since page numbers and editors vary from one edition to another. If you are citing a vintage story reprinted in a modern collection, always include the date of publication of that collection in your citation.

Employ Hanging Indent Style for Reference Entries: APA Style requires all reference list entries to be presented in a hanging indent format. That means each citation will have the first line against the left margin and the remainder of the line indented by 0.5 inches. The style increases readability and helps distinguish between single entries within an extensive list. Not using a hanging indent is a common format error that can lower the general presentation of your scholarship.

Alphabetize Entries by Last Name of the Short Story Author: APA reference list entries are alphabetized by author of the short story, not alphabetized by title or by editor name. If you need to cite multiple short stories included in one anthology, as separate references and alphabetize by authors’ surname. For works published by the same author, arrange them in chronological order according to year of publication (from oldest to newest).

Use “Eds.” When Citing Anthologies with Multiple Editors: If the anthology has more than one editor, replace the singular abbreviation (Ed.) with the plural (Eds.) to properly reflect the editorial staff. List all editors listed on the title page of the book. Use an ampersand (&) only before the last editor’s name. Editors should be indicated in the format of initials and last names. This information is especially important when recording large academic anthologies or literature collections with editorial staffs.