How to Cite Cells in APA Format

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

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

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Quick Reference: Cells Citations

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

Cells-Specific Notes:
When citing articles from the journal "Cells" in APA 7th edition, students should be particularly attentive to the specific formatting requirements that may differ from standard citation rules. "Cells" is a scientific journal, and like many specialized publications, it often includes a large number of authors. APA 7th edition allows for the listing of up to 20 authors in a reference entry. When citing "Cells" articles, ensure you list all authors up to 20, using the last name followed by initials and separating each author with a comma. For example: Smith, J. A., Johnson, R. B., & Lee, M. C. (Year). If there are more than 20 authors, list the first 19 authors, followed by an ellipsis (…), and then the final author's name.

A common point of confusion for students is differentiating between the journal's internal citation style and APA guidelines. "Cells" may have its own formatting preferences for its articles, but when citing in APA style, adhere strictly to APA rules, regardless of the journal's internal style. Another challenging aspect can be the DOI format. Ensure that DOIs are formatted as clickable links, beginning with "https://doi.org/".

To avoid common mistakes, students should verify all author names and ensure correct punctuation and spacing, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the citation. Always double-check the DOI and ensure the publication year and other metadata are accurate. As a best practice, utilize citation management tools or journal databases that can export citations in APA format to minimize errors and streamline the citation process for "Cells" articles.

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

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

Last Updated: 2025-11-01 | Reading Time: 5 minutes

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Where to Find Citation Information on Cells

To efficiently locate citation information for articles from the journal Cells, follow these detailed steps. This guide assumes you have access to the journal through a library, institution, or open-access platform. Note that Cells is a scientific journal published by MDPI, and its website is structured to facilitate finding necessary citation details.

Locating Citation Information on Cells:

  1. Accessing the Article:
    - Begin by visiting the Cells journal website directly at mdpi.com/journal/cells. You can also access specific articles via search engines by inputting relevant keywords related to your topic of interest. Ensure you have a stable internet connection to access full-text articles.

  2. Finding the Author(s):
    - Once on the Cells homepage, search for the article using the search bar located at the top right corner. Enter the article title or relevant keywords.
    - Upon locating the desired article from the search results, click on the article title to open the full-text view.
    - The author byline is prominently displayed at the top of the article page, just below the title. All contributing authors are listed here, typically in the order of their contribution.

  3. Locating the Publication Date:
    - The publication date is found directly beneath the author byline. In Cells, this typically appears as "Published: [Date]" and includes the day, month, and year. This information is crucial for APA citations, which require the full date of publication.

  4. Identifying the Article Title:
    - The article title is prominently displayed at the top of the page, just above the author byline. Ensure you transcribe the complete title as it appears, maintaining any capitalization or punctuation used by the journal.

  5. Accessing the URL:
    - The URL for the article is located in your web browser’s address bar at the top of the page. Copy this link directly to ensure accuracy. It typically begins with "https://www.mdpi.com/..." followed by a unique identifier for the article. This URL is essential for accessing the article directly.

  6. Additional Citation Tools:
    - Cells often provides citation tools directly on the article page. Look for a “Cite” button or link, often located in the article’s header or sidebar. Clicking this will display citation formats, including APA, which can be copied and pasted into your bibliography.

By following these steps on the Cells journal website, you can efficiently gather all necessary citation information, ensuring your academic work adheres to APA 7th edition guidelines. Remember to double-check each detail for accuracy, especially when compiling your references list.

Step-by-Step: Creating Your Cells Citation

What You Need

Before you start creating a citation for an article from the journal Cells, make sure you have the following items ready:

  1. Access to the article: You can find the article online through databases, libraries, or the journal's website.
  2. Basic information about the article: This includes the authors' names, year of publication, title of the article, title of the journal, volume number, issue number, and page range.
  3. A computer or device with internet access: You will need this to look up the necessary information and format your citation.
  4. Citation software or a word processor: This can help you organize your references, although you can also write the citation manually.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Find the Article

Action: Search for the article you wish to cite using a reliable source such as an academic database, the journal's website, or Google Scholar.

Verification: Ensure you have the correct article by checking the title and authors against what you find. Aim to spend about 5-10 minutes searching for the article.

Tip for Efficiency: Use specific keywords, including the title of the article and the author's name, to narrow down your search.

2. Gather the Author Information

Action: Identify the authors of the article. If there are multiple authors, note them all down.

Verification: Check that you have the full names of the authors. Write them in the format of last name followed by initials. This step should take about 2-5 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: If there are many authors, list only the first two in your citation, followed by “&” and then the last author’s name.

3. Note the Year of Publication

Action: Look for the year the article was published. This information is typically found near the title or at the top of the article.

Verification: Make sure the year is correct and matches the publication date found in the article. Spend about 1-2 minutes on this step.

Tip for Efficiency: Keep a separate note where you write down all the details as you find them.

4. Record the Title of the Article

Action: Write down the full title of the article as it appears in the journal.

Verification: Check for spelling and capitalization. The title should be in sentence case, meaning only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized. This step should take around 2-3 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: Copy and paste the title directly if possible, to avoid errors.

5. Find the Journal Title, Volume, and Issue Number

Action: Locate the title of the journal, the volume number, and issue number of the article. This information is usually found on the same page as the article title.

Verification: Ensure the journal title is italicized, and double-check the volume and issue numbers. This can take about 3-5 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: If the journal has an online platform, you can often find this information in the citation tools provided.

6. Determine the Page Range

Action: Look for the page numbers of the article. Note the first and last page of the article.

Verification: Make sure you have both page numbers and write them in the format of “pp. xx-xx.” This process may take around 2-3 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: If the article is in PDF format, you can view the page numbers directly on the document.

7. Find the DOI

Action: Locate the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for the article. This is a unique alphanumeric string that provides a permanent link to the article online.

Verification: Ensure you have the complete DOI and that it is formatted correctly, beginning with “https://doi.org/.” This step should take about 2-4 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: Many journals include the DOI at the top or bottom of the article, making it easy to find.

8. Format the Citation

Action: Using the gathered information, format your citation according to the APA style template provided.

Verification: Check your citation against the template: Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume(issue), pages. https://doi.org/xxxxx. This final step may take around 5-10 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: Use a citation generator if you are unsure about formatting, but always double-check for accuracy.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can successfully create an APA citation for an article from the journal Cells. Always remember to verify each piece of information and format your citation according to APA guidelines. With practice, this process will become quicker and easier

Real Examples from Cells

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

To provide accurate and authentic APA citations for articles from the journal "Cells," I will create hypothetical examples based on typical article structures, as I cannot access specific URLs or verify real-time content from the web. Here are the examples:

Example 1: Standard Individual Author

Scenario Description: This is a standard research article authored by a single researcher, focusing on the mechanisms of cell division.

Complete Reference List Citation:
Smith, J. L. (2023). Mechanisms of cell division: New insights into mitosis. Cells, 12(5), 234-245. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12050234

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

In-text Citation (Narrative):
Smith (2023) discusses new insights into the mechanisms of mitosis in cell division.

Notes:
This example demonstrates a standard citation format with a single author, which is straightforward and commonly encountered in academic writing.

Example 2: Corporate Author

Scenario Description: This article was published by a governmental health organization studying the impact of environmental factors on cellular health.

Complete Reference List Citation:
National Institute of Health. (2023). Environmental factors affecting cellular health. Cells, 12(6), 300-312. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12060300

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

In-text Citation (Narrative):
The National Institute of Health (2023) explores how environmental factors influence cellular health.

Notes:
This example is unique as it uses a corporate author, which is essential when organizations or institutions are responsible for the publication.

Example 3: Multiple Authors

Scenario Description: This is a collaborative research study involving multiple researchers examining the role of stem cells in regenerative medicine.

Complete Reference List Citation:
Johnson, T. R., Martinez, L. S., & Nguyen, P. Q. (2023). The role of stem cells in regenerative medicine: Current trends and future directions. Cells, 12(4), 178-190. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12040178

In-text Citation (Parenthetical):
(Johnson, Martinez, & Nguyen, 2023) [Use "et al." after the first citation if cited again: (Johnson et al., 2023)]

In-text Citation (Narrative):
Johnson, Martinez, and Nguyen (2023) provide a comprehensive overview of the role of stem cells in regenerative medicine.

Notes:
This citation involves multiple authors, illustrating how to list up to 20 authors before using an ellipsis in the reference list.

Example 4: Special Formatting Cases

Scenario Description: This is a review article that includes supplementary materials, providing an extensive overview of cell imaging technologies.

Complete Reference List Citation:
Brown, A. G., & Lee, Y. H. (2023). Advances in cell imaging technologies: A comprehensive review. Cells, 12(3), 120-140. Supplementary materials: https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12030120

In-text Citation (Parenthetical):
(Brown & Lee, 2023)

In-text Citation (Narrative):
Brown and Lee (2023) review the latest advances in cell imaging technologies.

Notes:
This citation includes supplementary materials, which are often part of scientific articles, highlighting their importance in providing additional context and data.

Common Issues When Citing Cells

Finding Authors

Issue Description:
Students often struggle with correctly identifying all of the authors when citing articles from "Cells," a peer-reviewed scientific journal. This problem can lead to incomplete or incorrect citations.

Why It Happens:
"Cells" often features articles with multiple authors due to the collaborative nature of scientific research. The author list can be extensive, and sometimes students overlook authors listed in supplementary material or incorrectly interpret the order of authors.

Solution:
1. Locate the Full Author List: Begin by accessing the article on the "Cells" website. The full list of authors is typically found at the beginning of the article, often directly beneath the title.
2. Check Supplementary Sections: Ensure that you verify all parts of the document, including footnotes or supplementary sections, as co-authors may be listed there.
3. Use the DOI Link for Verification: Cross-reference the author list with the DOI link, which will direct you to the publisher's official page for the article where authorship is clearly listed.

Before Example:
Smith, J.

After Example:
Smith, J., Johnson, A. B., & Lee, C. D.

Date Formats

Issue Description:
Students frequently use inconsistent or incorrect date formats when citing articles from "Cells," leading to confusion in the citation.

Why It Happens:
The publication date on "Cells" articles can appear in multiple places and formats. Students may confuse the online publication date with the print issue date or use an incorrect format in their citations.

Solution:
1. Identify the Correct Date: On the "Cells" article page, locate the official publication date, often listed near the author names or at the bottom of the abstract.
2. Use Consistent APA Format: In APA 7th edition, the format is always the year first, followed by the full date if available. For example, if the publication date is March 15, 2023, cite it as (2023, March 15).
3. Include Only Necessary Information: If only the year is available, just cite the year.

Before Example:
15/03/2023

After Example:
(2023, March 15)

URL Handling

Issue Description:
Students often cite URLs improperly, either by omitting them, using outdated links, or applying incorrect formatting.

Why It Happens:
"Cells" articles are primarily accessed online, and students may not understand how to properly include a URL in their citation, especially if the link is long or contains session-specific information.

Solution:
1. Use the DOI Preferably: If available, always use the DOI in the citation instead of a URL, as it provides a permanent, reliable link. Format it as: https://doi.org/10.xxxxx.
2. If No DOI, Use the Stable URL: Locate the stable URL on the article page, often provided alongside other citation details.
3. Ensure Proper APA Format: Include the URL or DOI at the end of the citation without a period following it, as this can break the hyperlink.

Before Example:
http://www.celljournal.com/article/123456789

After Example:
https://doi.org/10.xxxxx/yyyyyyyy

Access Requirements

Issue Description:
Students might have issues with access requirements, leading to incorrect citations or incomplete information.

Why It Happens:
"Cells" may require subscription access, leading students to use secondary sources or databases that might not provide all citation details.

Solution:
1. Access Via Institutional Login: Check if your institution provides access to "Cells." Use institutional credentials to access full articles.
2. Use Interlibrary Loan Services: If access is restricted, request the article through interlibrary loan services provided by your library.
3. Verify All Details from the Article: Ensure you have access to the full article to verify all citation details, such as volume, issue, and page numbers.

By addressing these common citation issues with "Cells," students can ensure their citations are accurate and meet APA 7th edition standards. Proper citation not only gives credit to original authors but also strengthens the credibility of academic work.

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Cells

Q: How can I navigate Cells's website to find the necessary citation information for an article?

A: To locate citation information on Cells's website, first find the article's landing page. Look for sections like "Article Details" or "Citation" near the abstract or the full article text. These sections typically contain author names, publication date, and DOI, which are essential for your citation.

Q: How do I handle unique author formats in Cells when citing in APA?

A: Cells may list multiple authors or use special formatting for author names. In APA, list up to twenty authors in the reference, separating them with commas and using an ampersand before the last author. If there are more than twenty authors, list the first nineteen, followed by an ellipsis, and then the final author's name.

Q: How should I deal with the publication date formats used by Cells in APA citations?

A: Cells typically provides the publication year prominently. In APA format, include the year in parentheses immediately after the author names. If the article provides a more specific date (e.g., month and day), you can include that in the citation for clarity, but the year alone is usually sufficient.

Q: What are the URL and access requirements for citing an article from Cells in APA format?

A: In APA format, include the article's DOI in the reference. If a DOI is unavailable, use the article's stable URL. Ensure the URL is active and accessible, directing to the article's landing page, not a login screen or unrelated page.

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

A: Citing a Cells article in APA is similar to other journals but requires attention to specific details like DOIs and author formats. Cells often provides a DOI, which should always be included. Additionally, Cells may feature unique author affiliations that do not affect the citation but are helpful for understanding the research context.

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