How to Cite a White Paper in APA

• Hannah Berry (Ph.D.)
• Published on 09/27/2024
• Updated on04/13/2025

Referring to a white paper in APA style adheres to specific guidelines based on whether it has been written by one person or a group of individuals. White papers are informational and advocacy documents that are normally released by an organization or the government to push a particular position or stand. They require explicit labeling, and the term “[White paper]” in the citation to specify the document type.

This article will guide you through the citation of white papers’ format, with examples of group and individual authors.

CITATION ELEMENTS FOR A WHITE PAPER

• Author: The author element of a citation dictates the individual authors or the company creating the white paper. When the white paper is written by individual individuals, the last name is provided followed by the initials. In the case of organizations’ published documents, the company’s full name is used as the author.
• Date: Include the year of publication in parentheses immediately after the author’s or organization’s name. This section provides the date when the white paper was published, and it provides background information for the information provided.
• Title: Italicize the whole title of the white paper so that it stands out from other sections of the citation such as the author and date of publication. Italicizing the title highlights its importance and informs the reader about the document.
• Bracketed Description: Immediately following the italicized title, add the term “[White paper]” in square brackets. This description specifies the type of document that is being referenced, making it clear that the source is a white paper, which may be of special significance for the purpose of your work.
• Publisher or Institution: State the institution’s name as given when they released the white paper. Information normally appears on the cover, title page, or within the work somewhere. An institution or a publisher issues the white paper, and the proper citation assist in ascribing appropriate credit to the originator.
• URL: If the white paper is available online, give the full, direct URL. The URL enables readers to access the source directly, providing transparency and ease of retrieval. Use a stable and reliable link to the paper.

CITE WHITE PAPER WITH A GROUP AUTHOR

Here, National Institute of Standards and Technology is named the author of the white paper. The title of the white paper is italicized, followed by the tag “[White paper]” to specify the document type. The publisher is listed as U.S. Department of Commerce. The URL is provided for direct linking to the document so that it can be easily retrieved by the reader.

CITE WHITE PAPER WITH INDIVIDUAL AUTHORS

Dempsey and McKenzie are authors of the white paper in this case. They are listed in the document order and their names are presented with surnames first and then initials. The title is italicized, and the label “[White paper],” is included, and it was published by the University of Toronto. The URL is provided to facilitate direct access to the white paper.

Standard Format for Multiple Authors: If a white paper has up to 20 authors, write down all of them in the reference entry, separating each name with a comma and the last one preceded by an ampersand (&). If the work has more than 20 authors, write down the first 19 authors, followed by an ellipsis (…), and then the name of the last author. Keep Consistent Capitalization: In the white paper title, only the first word in the title and subtitle, along with proper nouns, are capitalized. The same rule has to be applied within the title in the reference list as well as the in-text citations so titles can be given accordingly according to APA guidelines. Check the Most Recent Version: If you are citing a white paper, ensure that you’re using the most current version of the paper. White papers may be revised or updated that significantly change the content. Only use the latest version to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the information that is being cited, particularly with rapidly evolving issues. Ensure Accuracy of the URL: Always verify that the URL included in your citation is accurate and leads directly to the white paper. Avoid using shortened URLs, as they may not provide a reliable link. Instead, provide the complete URL to ensure readers can access the original document without issues.