How to Cite PubMed in APA Format

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

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

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Quick Reference: PubMed Citations

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

PubMed-Specific Notes:
Citing articles from PubMed involves unique considerations, primarily due to its function as a database and not a standalone source. PubMed entries often include a PMID (PubMed Identifier), which is essential to include in your reference. The specific format for a citation from PubMed in APA 7th edition starts with the authors' last names and initials, followed by the year of publication in parentheses, the title of the article in sentence case, the title of the journal in italics and title case, the volume number also in italics, the issue number in parentheses if available, and the page range. The citation concludes with the DOI or URL, which in the case of PubMed, would be the link to the abstract page or the PMID link.

One key difference when citing from PubMed compared to standard journal articles is the inclusion of the PMID as a unique identifier. This is not a requirement for all journal articles but is specific to PubMed, helping readers easily locate the source. Students often find it confusing to distinguish between citing the database versus the original journal article. It is crucial to remember that PubMed itself is not the publisher or author of the articles; it serves as a repository. Therefore, always cite the original journal article as the primary source.

To avoid common mistakes, always double-check for the presence of the DOI or PMID in your references. When listing multiple authors, follow the APA rule of listing up to 20 authors before using an ellipsis. Students should ensure they are referencing the most recent version of the article and verify all details, such as journal name and volume, directly from the PubMed record. By consistently including the PMID and double-checking all details, students can accurately reference articles sourced from PubMed, maintaining academic integrity and clarity.

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

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

Last Updated: 2025-10-31 | Reading Time: 5 minutes

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Where to Find Citation Information on PubMed

PubMed is a comprehensive resource for accessing medical and life sciences literature, and understanding how to accurately extract citation information from this platform is crucial for academic research. Here’s a step-by-step guide to locating the essential citation elements on PubMed.

1. Locating the Author(s):

When you open an article on PubMed, the author byline is prominently displayed near the top of the article page. You will find it directly beneath the article title. Authors are typically listed in the order of contribution, and their names are hyperlinked if further author details are available. For APA citation, list the last name followed by the initials of the first and middle (if available) names.

2. Finding the Publication Date:

The publication date is located directly under the article title and author list. You will see it alongside other citation information such as the journal name, volume, and issue number. PubMed usually presents the date in the format of Year Month Day (e.g., 2023 Oct 12), which you will need to convert to the APA format of Year, Month Day (e.g., 2023, October 12) when citing.

3. Identifying the Article Title:

The title of the article is at the very top of the page, above the author byline and publication details. It is typically in a larger font size for easy visibility. Ensure you copy the title exactly as it appears for your citation, maintaining any special formatting such as italics or capitalization used by the journal.

4. URL and Access Information:

The URL is crucial for locating the article online. This can be found in the browser address bar once you have opened the article page. Copy this URL directly for your reference list. PubMed URLs typically have the format https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ followed by the article’s unique identifier number.

5. Additional Details:

For comprehensive citation, look at the page’s right-hand panel where additional details like the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) or links to the full text can be found. The DOI, if available, should be included in your citation as it provides a permanent link to the article.

6. Unique Features of PubMed:

One unique feature of PubMed is the “Citation” button, often found on the right-hand side of the article page. Clicking this provides a pre-formatted citation in several styles, including AMA, NLM, and APA. While this tool is useful, always double-check the formatting against APA 7th edition guidelines for accuracy.

By following these steps, you can efficiently gather all necessary citation information from PubMed, ensuring your references are complete and correctly formatted according to academic standards.

Step-by-Step: Creating Your PubMed Citation

How to Create a PubMed Citation

Creating citations can seem daunting, especially for beginners. However, with clear steps, you can easily create a citation for articles found on PubMed. Follow this guide to produce accurate citations in APA format.

What You Need

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Access PubMed
    - Action: Open your web browser and navigate to the PubMed website at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
    - Verification: Ensure that you are on the PubMed homepage, which features a search bar at the top.
    - Time Estimate: 1 minute.
    - Tip for Efficiency: Bookmark the PubMed website for quick access in the future.

  2. Search for Your Article
    - Action: Use the search bar to enter keywords, author names, or the title of the article you are looking for.
    - Verification: Check the search results for the article you want to cite.
    - Time Estimate: 2-5 minutes, depending on how specific your search terms are.
    - Tip for Efficiency: Use quotation marks around phrases to search for exact matches.

  3. Select the Article
    - Action: Click on the title of the article that matches your search intent.
    - Verification: You should be directed to the article's specific page, which contains details about the publication.
    - Time Estimate: 1 minute.
    - Tip for Efficiency: Take note of the article’s title and author(s) as these will be necessary for your citation.

  4. Gather Citation Information
    - Action: Look for the following details on the article page:

    • Authors' names
    • Year of publication
    • Title of the article
    • Journal title
    • Volume and issue number
    • Page range
    • DOI (Digital Object Identifier)
    • Verification: Ensure you have all the required information and that it is accurate.
    • Time Estimate: 3-5 minutes.
    • Tip for Efficiency: Write down the information in a structured format to help with creating the citation.

  5. Format the Citation
    - Action: Using the template provided, format the information you gathered into an APA citation. The template is as follows:

    • Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume(issue), pages. https://doi.org/xxxxx
    • Verification: Double-check each part of the citation to ensure it matches the template format.
    • Time Estimate: 3-5 minutes.
    • Tip for Efficiency: Keep the template handy as a reference while formatting your citation.

  6. Double-Check Your Citation
    - Action: Go through your citation carefully, checking for common formatting errors such as punctuation, capitalization, and spacing.
    - Verification: Compare your citation with the APA guidelines to ensure accuracy.
    - Time Estimate: 2-3 minutes.
    - Tip for Efficiency: Use online citation tools or reference management software to cross-check your formatting if needed.

  7. Save or Copy Your Citation
    - Action: Once you are satisfied with your citation, copy it or save it in your text editor or word processing document.
    - Verification: Ensure that the citation is correctly formatted in your document.
    - Time Estimate: 1 minute.
    - Tip for Efficiency: Create a dedicated document for all your citations to keep them organized for your research project or paper.

  8. Practice with Additional Articles
    - Action: Repeat the process with other articles to become more comfortable with citation creation.
    - Verification: Check the citations you create against the APA guidelines to ensure consistency and accuracy.
    - Time Estimate: Varies based on the number of articles; allow 5-10 minutes per article.
    - Tip for Efficiency: Consider creating a template for yourself to expedite the formatting of future citations.

Conclusion

Creating citations using PubMed is a straightforward process when you break it down into manageable steps. By following the instructions outlined in this guide, you can confidently produce accurate APA citations for any journal article you find on PubMed. Remember to practice regularly to enhance your citation skills and ensure adherence to formatting guidelines.

Real Examples from PubMed

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

I can guide you on how to create APA citations based on your instructions, but please note that I can't access external databases like PubMed to provide real-time, specific article citations from 2023-2024. However, I can illustrate how you might format citations for different scenarios using the APA 7th edition guidelines. Here's an example of how you can structure your citations:

1. Standard Individual Author

2. Corporate Author

3. Multiple Authors

4. Special Formatting Cases Specific to PubMed

These examples illustrate how to adapt APA 7th edition guidelines for various types of authorship and publication scenarios. When creating real citations, ensure you access the articles directly to gather accurate details.

Common Issues When Citing PubMed

Finding Authors on PubMed

Issue Description:
Students often struggle to correctly identify and list authors when citing articles from PubMed. This is primarily because PubMed lists authors in a condensed format and may include extensive lists of contributors, which can be overwhelming.

Explanation:
PubMed typically displays only the first few authors followed by "et al." if there are many contributors. This can make it challenging to determine the complete list of authors, especially if students are accessing the database for the first time or are not familiar with how to expand the list.

Solution:
1. Navigate to the article's PubMed page.
2. Click on the "Authors" link or expand the author list, usually indicated by a button or link such as "See all authors."
3. Write down the full list of authors in the order they appear. If an article has more than 20 authors, list the first 19, followed by an ellipsis, and then the last author, as per APA 7th edition guidelines.

Before/After Example:

Date Formats on PubMed

Issue Description:
Students often face confusion about which date to use when citing articles from PubMed, as the database may list multiple dates such as the publication date, electronic publication date, or the date the article was added to PubMed.

Explanation:
PubMed entries can feature a hierarchy of dates, and it might not be immediately clear which date is the official publication date. This can lead to incorrect citation of dates, affecting the accuracy of the reference.

Solution:
1. Identify the "Publication Date" on the article's PubMed entry. This is typically the date you should use in your citation.
2. If the article was published online ahead of print, use the online publication date, noting it as such in your citation.

Before/After Example:

Handling URLs for PubMed Articles

Issue Description:
Students might be unsure whether to include URLs when citing PubMed articles, given that access to full articles often requires journal subscriptions or institutional access.

Explanation:
While PubMed provides a stable link to the article's abstract or entry, the full text is often hosted on external publishers' sites. This can cause confusion about whether to include a URL and, if so, which one.

Solution:
1. Include the PubMed URL only if it provides direct access to the content used in your work.
2. For articles that require subscription access, provide the DOI if available as it is a more stable and preferred identifier in APA format.

Before/After Example:

Access Requirements and Full-Text Availability

Issue Description:
Students may cite abstracts instead of full articles because PubMed often links to only the abstract, with the full text accessible through subscriptions or institutional logins.

Explanation:
PubMed is primarily an index, and while it offers links to articles, these often lead to external sites requiring payment or institutional access for the full text. This can limit a student's ability to access and properly cite the full content.

Solution:
1. Use institutional access via your university library to obtain the full text.
2. If unavailable, consider contacting the author directly for a copy or using interlibrary loan services.
3. Always cite the full text when possible, referencing the original article and not just the PubMed abstract.

By understanding these unique challenges and solutions, students can ensure their citations from PubMed are accurate and compliant with APA 7th edition guidelines.

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

Frequently Asked Questions About PubMed

Q: How do I find citation information on PubMed's website for APA format?

A: On PubMed, navigate to the article's abstract page. Look for the "Cite" button on the right-hand panel, which provides pre-formatted citation styles, including APA. However, always verify that the citation matches APA 7th edition guidelines, as PubMed formats may not be completely updated.

Q: How should I format multiple authors when citing a PubMed article in APA?

A: PubMed often lists authors with initials only. For APA, use the full last name followed by initials, up to 20 authors. List all authors with an ampersand before the last author's name. If there are more than 20 authors, list the first 19, followed by an ellipsis, and then the last author's name.

Q: How do I handle PubMed publication dates that list only the year and month?

A: In APA format, include as much of the publication date as is available. If only the year and month are provided, format the date as "Year, Month." For example, "2023, April."

Q: Should I include a URL when citing a journal article from PubMed in APA format?

A: Yes, include the URL when accessing articles directly through PubMed. However, APA does not require database URLs, so if you accessed the article through a different platform, the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is preferred if available.

Q: How does citing a PubMed article differ from other journal article sources in APA?

A: PubMed is a database that indexes journal articles, so the main difference is ensuring you don't cite PubMed itself. Instead, cite the original journal article. Use the DOI if available, or the PubMed URL if not, and ensure you adhere to APA guidelines for journal articles, focusing on author, date, title, journal, and access information.

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