How to Cite Cell in APA Format

Complete guide to citing Cell in APA 7th edition with examples, unique formatting requirements, and common issues specific to this source.

Cell presents unique citation challenges that require specific guidance beyond general source type rules. This page provides targeted help for finding citation information, handling Cell's particular format requirements, and avoiding common mistakes specific to this platform.

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Quick Reference: Cell Citations

Reference List Format:
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume(issue), pages. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Cell-Specific Notes:
Citing sources from Cell, a prominent scientific journal, requires attention to specific formatting details that differ from standard APA citation guidelines. Unlike typical APA citations, which list only up to 20 authors with their last names and initials, Cell mandates listing up to 30 authors before using "et al." This is an important distinction because it ensures that more contributors receive credit for their work, reflecting the collaborative nature of scientific research. Additionally, while APA style typically requires the use of a hanging indent for reference lists, Cell citations must adhere to the journal's own formatting preferences, often requiring a more compact layout which might not include indents.

One common point of confusion for students is the structuring of the reference entry. For instance, in APA, the title of the journal article is in sentence case, whereas in Cell, it might follow different capitalization rules. Students should carefully check the journal's specific guidelines or published articles as examples. Furthermore, the Cell format may also influence how digital object identifiers (DOIs) are presented or how journal volume and issue numbers are arranged, which can deviate from standard APA presentation.

To avoid mistakes, students should thoroughly review Cell's author guidelines or consult recent articles from the journal to understand its citation style. It's also beneficial to use citation management tools that offer customizable templates for different journal requirements, ensuring accuracy and consistency. When in doubt, consulting a librarian or academic advisor familiar with scientific publications can provide additional clarity.

In-Text Citation:
- Parenthetical: ([Author], [Year])
- Narrative: [Author] ([Year])

Key Points:
- Use Journal Article format with Cell specifics
- Locate citation info on Cell's website
- Handle Cell's unique formatting requirements

Last Updated: 2025-10-30 | Reading Time: 5 minutes

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Where to Find Citation Information on Cell

Navigating the Cell website (https://www.cell.com/cell) to find citation information is a straightforward process, once you understand its layout. This guide will walk you through the steps necessary to locate essential citation components: author, publication date, title, and URL/access info.

1. Locating the Author(s):
When you open an article on the Cell website, the author byline is prominently displayed near the top of the article page. Look directly beneath the article title, where you will find the names of the authors listed. If there are multiple authors, they will be separated by commas. This placement allows for easy identification of the contributors to the research.

2. Finding the Publication Date:
The publication date on Cell articles is located directly under the author byline. It is typically formatted as "Published: Month Day, Year" and is easily visible, ensuring that you can quickly determine when the article was published. This is particularly useful for understanding the currency of the research.

3. Identifying the Title of the Article:
The title of the article is prominently displayed at the very top of the page, in a larger and bold font. This makes it the first piece of information you encounter, ensuring that you can easily determine the subject of the article. The title is crucial for your citation as it precisely defines the content and focus of the research.

4. Accessing the URL:
The URL for the article is found in the browser's address bar at the top of your web browser. This URL is unique to the article you are viewing, providing direct access to the online content. Copy the full URL to ensure accurate citation, which is essential for referencing and revisiting the article later.

5. Additional Citation Information:
For further citation details, such as DOI (Digital Object Identifier), scroll to the bottom of the article page. Cell often provides a DOI, which is a permanent identifier that enhances the reliability and accessibility of the source. Including the DOI in your citation is recommended if available.

Unique Features of Cell:
One distinctive feature of Cell's website is its clear and organized presentation of citation information, which is designed to facilitate efficient academic referencing. Moreover, Cell often provides supplementary material and related content links, which can offer additional insights and data for comprehensive research.

By following these steps, you can effectively gather all necessary citation information from the Cell website, ensuring that your academic work is properly referenced in accordance with APA 7th edition guidelines.

Step-by-Step: Creating Your Cell Citation

What You Need

Before you start creating a Cell citation, gather the following materials:

  1. Access to a computer or smart device with internet connectivity.
  2. A web browser to visit the Cell journal website.
  3. A notepad or document editor to record your citation.
  4. Basic information about the article you wish to cite, including the authors, publication year, title, journal name, volume, issue number, and page numbers.
  5. A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) link for the article, if available.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Creating a Cell Citation

Step 1: Find the Article

Action: Go to the Cell journal website.

Verification: Ensure that you are on the Cell journal homepage. The page should display articles related to various research topics in cell biology.

Time Estimate: 2 minutes

Tip for Efficiency: Use the search bar on the Cell website to quickly locate the article by entering keywords related to the title or the authors.

Step 2: Locate the Article Information

Action: Search for the specific article you want to cite.

Verification: Confirm that you have opened the correct article by checking the title and authors listed.

Time Estimate: 5 minutes

Tip for Efficiency: Keep a list of articles you frequently access. Bookmark them for faster retrieval in the future.

Step 3: Gather Citation Details

Action: Collect necessary citation information.

Verification: Double-check that you have noted down all the required details accurately.

Time Estimate: 5 minutes

Tip for Efficiency: Use a structured format, such as a table, to organize the information as you gather it.

Step 4: Format the Authors' Names

Action: Format the authors' names correctly.

Verification: Ensure that the names are in the correct order and format. For example, "Smith, J. A., & Johnson, R. B."

Time Estimate: 3 minutes

Tip for Efficiency: If an article has more than six authors, you can list the first six followed by "et al."

Step 5: Construct the Citation

Action: Begin constructing the citation using the template.

Verification: Read through your constructed citation to ensure it matches the required format exactly.

Time Estimate: 5 minutes

Tip for Efficiency: Use a citation management tool to help format your citations correctly.

Step 6: Finalize the Citation

Action: Review and edit your citation for accuracy.

Verification: Compare your citation against the APA format guidelines to ensure compliance.

Time Estimate: 5 minutes

Tip for Efficiency: Use online citation generators as a secondary source to verify your formatting, but always double-check for accuracy.

Step 7: Save Your Citation

Action: Save the citation in your document or notepad.

Verification: Make sure the citation is saved correctly and is easily accessible when you need it.

Time Estimate: 2 minutes

Tip for Efficiency: Consider using a reference management software to keep all your citations organized for future use.

Step 8: Practice Creating Citations

Action: Repeat the process with different articles.

Verification: Ensure that each new citation you create adheres to the same format you learned.

Time Estimate: 10 minutes

Tip for Efficiency: Create a checklist based on these steps to streamline the citation creation process in future tasks.

By following these steps, you will be able to create accurate citations for articles published in the Cell journal. Remember, practice makes perfect, and becoming familiar with

Real Examples from Cell

This section provides authentic citation examples from Cell using recent publications from 2023-2024.

I'm unable to browse the internet in real-time or access specific articles from Cell's website. However, I can provide you with a general guide on how to format APA citations for journal articles from Cell, using hypothetical examples. Here's how you can approach this:

Example 1: Standard Individual Author

Scenario Description: This is a standard research article written by a single author in 2023.

Reference List Citation:
Smith, J. A. (2023). The role of mitochondria in cellular energy production. Cell, 184(3), 123-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2023.01.001

In-text Citation (Parenthetical):
(Smith, 2023)

In-text Citation (Narrative):
Smith (2023) discusses the role of mitochondria in cellular energy production.

Notes: This example highlights a standard citation format for a single-author research article. It uses a DOI link, which is common for journal articles.

Example 2: Corporate Author

Scenario Description: An article published by a research institute or organization in 2023.

Reference List Citation:
National Institute of Health. (2023). Advances in gene therapy techniques. Cell, 184(4), 234-245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2023.02.002

In-text Citation (Parenthetical):
(National Institute of Health, 2023)

In-text Citation (Narrative):
The National Institute of Health (2023) reports on advances in gene therapy techniques.

Notes: This citation uses a corporate author, which is applicable when an organization authors a piece.

Example 3: Multiple Authors

Scenario Description: A collaborative study conducted by multiple researchers, published in 2023.

Reference List Citation:
Johnson, L. M., Chen, X. Y., & Patel, R. T. (2023). Protein folding mechanisms in cellular environments. Cell, 185(1), 56-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2023.03.003

In-text Citation (Parenthetical):
(Johnson, Chen, & Patel, 2023)

In-text Citation (Narrative):
Johnson, Chen, and Patel (2023) explore protein folding mechanisms.

Notes: This example demonstrates how to cite a paper with multiple authors. In APA 7th edition, list all authors when there are up to 20 authors.

Example 4: Special Formatting Case

Scenario Description: A review article with a special focus section, published in 2023.

Reference List Citation:
Davis, M. E., & Thompson, G. H. (2023). Special focus on CRISPR technologies: A review. Cell, 186(5), 345-360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2023.04.004

In-text Citation (Parenthetical):
(Davis & Thompson, 2023)

In-text Citation (Narrative):
Davis and Thompson (2023) provide a special focus on CRISPR technologies.

Notes: This citation includes a descriptive subtitle indicating a special focus section, which is often used in review articles to highlight their comprehensive nature.

General Guidance

For authentic examples, it is important to access the Cell journal directly or through a library database to gather the most recent and accurate information.

Common Issues When Citing Cell

Problem 1: Identifying Authors

Issue Description:
Students often struggle to correctly identify all the authors of articles published in Cell, especially when there are numerous contributors or when the authors are listed in a non-standard order.

Why It Happens:
Cell often features collaborative research articles with large author lists, sometimes including group authorship or consortiums. This can be confusing, particularly if students are unfamiliar with distinguishing between individual and group authors in academic papers.

Solution:
1. Access the full article on Cell's website.
2. Locate the ‘Authors’ section, typically just below the title or abstract.
3. List all authors in the order they are presented. If there is a group author, list it as presented, without individual names, unless specified.
4. If the author list is extensive, use the first 19 authors followed by an ellipsis, and then the final author, as per APA guidelines.

Example:
- Before: Smith, J., & Jones, L. (only two authors listed for a paper with many more)
- After: Smith, J., Jones, L., Taylor, M., Brown, R., Green, A., White, T., … Young, P. (correctly listing authors as per APA)

Problem 2: Date Format

Issue Description:
Students often misrepresent the publication date, which is crucial for correctly citing academic articles.

Why It Happens:
Cell employs a continuous online publication model, meaning articles may be published online before appearing in a print issue, leading to confusion about which date to use.

Solution:
1. Use the online publication date if the article is available only online or if it appears before the print edition.
2. Locate the 'Published Online' date at the top or bottom of the article.
3. Format the date as Year, Month Day (e.g., 2023, March 14) in APA style.

Example:
- Before: March 2023
- After: 2023, March 14

Problem 3: URL Handling

Issue Description:
Students often struggle with formatting and including URLs in their citations, particularly when dealing with DOIs vs. URLs for Cell articles.

Why It Happens:
Cell articles are often accessed via DOIs rather than direct URLs, which can cause confusion about which to include in citations.

Solution:
1. Always prefer the DOI over a URL when available. It is a more stable and permanent link.
2. Locate the DOI, typically found in the article's header or footer.
3. Format the DOI as a URL: https://doi.org/ followed by the DOI number.

Example:
- Before: Retrieved from https://www.cell.com/article/S0092867419304897
- After: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2023.03.014

Problem 4: Access Requirements

Issue Description:
Students may not realize that access to some articles requires institutional or personal subscriptions, affecting their ability to retrieve and correctly cite these sources.

Why It Happens:
While some Cell articles are open access, many are behind a paywall, necessitating subscription access.

Solution:
1. Verify access through your institution’s library portal.
2. For open access articles, clearly note any Creative Commons licenses that may apply.
3. If citing an article behind a paywall, do not include "Retrieved from" unless the article is openly accessible.

Example:
- Before: Retrieved from https://www.cell.com/article/S0092867419304897
- After: Only include DOI without retrieval URL if behind a paywall.

By addressing these common citation challenges specific to Cell, students can ensure accurate and APA-compliant references, enhancing the quality and credibility of their academic work.

Note: For general Journal Article citation errors, see How to Cite Journal Article.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cell

Q: How can I navigate Cell's website to find the necessary citation information?

A: To find citation information on Cell's website, go to the article's page and look for the "Cite" or "Citation" tool, often located near the article title or abstract. This tool typically provides citation details, including authors, publication date, article title, journal name, volume, issue, and page numbers.

Q: How should I handle the unique author formats used by Cell in my APA citation?

A: Cell sometimes lists authors with initials and without full first names. In APA format, convert these to the standard "Last name, Initial(s)" format. For example, if an author is listed as "J. Doe," cite as "Doe, J." If there are multiple authors, list up to 20 before using an ellipsis.

Q: How do I deal with Cell's publication date formats in APA citations?

A: Cell often provides specific publication dates, including day, month, and year. In APA format, include as much specific information as possible: "Year, Month Day." For instance, if an article was published on March 5, 2023, format the date as "2023, March 5."

Q: What are the URL and access requirements when citing an article from Cell?

A: When citing an online article from Cell, include the direct URL to the article's page. APA 7th edition recommends using a DOI instead of a URL if available. If a DOI is provided, format it as "https://doi.org/xxxx" and include it at the end of your reference.

Q: How does citing an article from Cell differ from other journal article sources in APA format?

A: While the basic APA format for journal articles applies, Cell may have unique features like multiple authors or specific publication details. Ensure you include all available data accurately and format the citation based on APA guidelines, focusing on authorship, publication date, title, journal name, volume, issue, page range, and DOI/URL.

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