How to Cite Sustainability in APA Format

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

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

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Quick Reference: Sustainability Citations

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

Sustainability-Specific Notes:
Citing articles from the journal "Sustainability" in APA 7th edition involves adhering to standard APA citation rules with some nuances based on the journal's specific formatting preferences. Generally, when citing articles from Sustainability, students should ensure they list all authors up to 20 before using an ellipsis followed by the last author's name, which aligns with the APA rule for works with more than 20 authors. This requirement is crucial because Sustainability is a multidisciplinary journal that often features works with numerous contributors.

One aspect where citing Sustainability might differ from other sources is the article's DOI presentation. While the DOI is a standard element in APA citations, Sustainability articles often prominently display this information, which should not be overlooked. A common point of confusion for students is the consistent inclusion of the DOI in the format: https://doi.org/xxxx. This is particularly important since online access is a significant aspect of Sustainability's readership. Furthermore, students should ensure the title of the journal is italicized and capitalized correctly, which is a common APA rule but frequently neglected.

To avoid mistakes, students should verify the author order and ensure correct DOI formatting. Double-checking each element against APA guidelines is recommended, especially given the multidisciplinary nature of the journal, which can lead to lengthy author lists. Additionally, maintaining attention to detail with punctuation, such as commas between authors and periods after initials, is essential. These best practices will help in creating accurate and professional citations for articles from Sustainability.

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

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

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

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Where to Find Citation Information on Sustainability

When navigating the Sustainability website to gather citation information, it is essential to understand the layout and unique features that will help you efficiently locate the necessary details for accurate referencing. Here’s a detailed guide to finding the key citation elements: author, publication date, title, and URL/access information.

  1. Author: On the Sustainability website, articles and papers typically list the author's name prominently. To find this, begin by opening the article of interest. Look for the author byline, which is usually located at the top of the article, just below the title. The author's name could be linked to their profile or simply displayed in plain text. If multiple authors are involved, all names will generally be listed in this section.

  2. Publication Date: The publication date can often be found directly under the author's name or byline, sometimes alongside other metadata like the article type or DOI (Digital Object Identifier). It may appear in a smaller font or a different color to distinguish it from the main text. Make sure to note the complete date, including the day, month, and year, as APA 7th edition guidelines require a full date for online articles when available.

  3. Title: The title of the article is prominently displayed at the top of the page. It is usually in a larger font size than the rest of the text and is likely the first thing you’ll notice when the page loads. Ensure you copy the title exactly as it appears, retaining any specific capitalization or punctuation used.

  4. URL/Access Information: The URL is critical for your citation, especially when dealing with online resources. You can find the URL by looking at the browser's address bar at the top of your web browser. Make sure to copy the entire URL, as it will direct readers to the exact location of the article. Ensure that the URL is formatted correctly and includes the necessary protocol (e.g., https://).

When citing an article from the Sustainability website in APA 7th edition format, your citation should look something like this:

Author(s). (Year, Month Day). Title of the article. Sustainability. URL

For example:

Smith, J. (2023, October 15). Advances in sustainable energy technologies. Sustainability. https://www.sustainabilityjournal.com/advances-in-sustainable-energy-technologies

By following these steps, you can efficiently navigate the Sustainability website to gather all necessary citation information, ensuring your academic work adheres to APA 7th edition guidelines.

Step-by-Step: Creating Your Sustainability Citation

Create a Sustainability Citation: Step-by-Step Instructions

Creating proper citations is essential for academic writing. This guide will help you create a citation for an article related to sustainability in APA format. Follow these steps carefully to ensure accuracy.

What You Need

Step 1: Find a Relevant Article

Action: Start by searching for a scholarly article related to sustainability. You can use databases like Google Scholar, JSTOR, or your institution's library resources.

Verification: Ensure that the article you choose has a clear focus on sustainability and is published in a reputable journal. Look for the publication date and the journal title.

Time Estimate: 15-30 minutes, depending on the complexity of your search.

Tip for Efficiency: Use specific search terms like "sustainability practices" or "sustainable development" to narrow down your results quickly.

Step 2: Identify the Authors

Action: Once you have selected an article, identify the authors. Look at the top of the article to find the names of the authors.

Verification: Make sure to note all authors listed. If there are multiple authors, you will need to include all of their names in your citation.

Time Estimate: 5 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: Keep a separate document open to note the authors' names as you find them.

Step 3: Determine the Publication Year

Action: Look for the publication date of the article. This information is usually found near the title or at the beginning of the article.

Verification: Confirm that you have the correct year of publication. It is typically in parentheses.

Time Estimate: 2-5 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: If the date is not clearly visible, check the article’s abstract or introductory section.

Step 4: Note the Title of the Article

Action: Write down the title of the article exactly as it appears, ensuring to capitalize only the first word of the title and any proper nouns.

Verification: Double-check the spelling and formatting of the title.

Time Estimate: 3 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: Highlight the title in your document to keep it distinct from other notes.

Step 5: Find the Journal Title, Volume, and Issue

Action: Locate the title of the journal, the volume number, and the issue number (if applicable). This information is typically found on the first page of the article or in the citation information section.

Verification: Make sure the journal title is italicized and that you have the correct volume and issue numbers.

Time Estimate: 5-10 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: Use a citation tool or reference management software to help gather this information accurately.

Step 6: Identify the Page Numbers

Action: Look for the page range of the article. This is usually listed at the beginning or end of the article.

Verification: Ensure that you have noted the correct page numbers where the article is found.

Time Estimate: 2-5 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: If the article is a PDF, you can quickly find the page numbers at the bottom of the document.

Step 7: Construct the Citation

Action: Using the information you gathered, follow the APA template provided:
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume(issue), pages. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Verification: Ensure you have followed the formatting rules, such as italicizing the journal title and volume number.

Time Estimate: 10 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: Copy and paste the template into your document and fill in the specific details accordingly.

Step 8: Check and Finalize Your Citation

Action: Review your citation for any errors in author names, dates, titles, or journal information. Make sure everything is cited according to APA guidelines.

Verification: Use an online citation guide or your institution’s writing center for reference.

Time Estimate: 5-10 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: Keep a checklist of APA formatting rules handy to ensure accuracy.

Conclusion

Now that you have followed these steps, you should have a correctly formatted citation for your article on sustainability. This process may seem time-consuming at first, but with practice, it will become quicker and more intuitive. Always remember to verify your citations to maintain academic integrity.

Real Examples from Sustainability

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

I’m unable to access external content directly, including performing live searches or browsing the web for recent articles. However, I can guide you on how to format APA citations using hypothetical examples based on the typical structure of articles from a journal like Sustainability. You can then apply this format to real articles you find.

Example 1: Standard Individual Author

  1. Scenario Description: This is a standard peer-reviewed article written by a single author.

  2. Reference List Citation:
    - Smith, J. A. (2023). The impact of renewable energy adoption on urban sustainability. Sustainability, 15(3), 456-470. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15030456

  3. In-text Citation (Parenthetical Format):
    - (Smith, 2023)

  4. In-text Citation (Narrative Format):
    - Smith (2023) discusses the impact of renewable energy adoption on urban sustainability.

  5. Notes: This example demonstrates the simplicity of citing a single-author article, which is straightforward and requires no additional complexities.

Example 2: Corporate Author

  1. Scenario Description: An article published by a corporate author such as a governmental or organizational body.

  2. Reference List Citation:
    - United Nations Environment Programme. (2023). Strategies for achieving global sustainability goals. Sustainability, 15(4), 501-515. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15040501

  3. In-text Citation (Parenthetical Format):
    - (United Nations Environment Programme, 2023)

  4. In-text Citation (Narrative Format):
    - According to the United Nations Environment Programme (2023), strategies for achieving global sustainability goals are critical.

  5. Notes: This example highlights the use of a corporate author, which is common in publications from international organizations.

Example 3: Multiple Authors

  1. Scenario Description: An academic article authored by multiple researchers.

  2. Reference List Citation:
    - Johnson, L. M., & Wang, Y., & Patel, R. (2023). Analyzing the role of policy in sustainability transitions. Sustainability, 15(5), 600-615. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15050600

  3. In-text Citation (Parenthetical Format):
    - (Johnson, Wang, & Patel, 2023)

  4. In-text Citation (Narrative Format):
    - Johnson, Wang, and Patel (2023) analyze the role of policy in sustainability transitions.

  5. Notes: This example illustrates how to format citations with multiple authors. In APA 7th edition, use the ampersand (&) in parenthetical citations, and the word "and" in narrative citations.

Example 4: Special Formatting Cases

  1. Scenario Description: An article with a very long title and DOI.

  2. Reference List Citation:
    - Brown, T. J., & Green, S. L. (2023). Understanding the complexities and interdependencies of sustainable development in modern economies: A comprehensive review. Sustainability, 15(6), 700-720. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15060700

  3. In-text Citation (Parenthetical Format):
    - (Brown & Green, 2023)

  4. In-text Citation (Narrative Format):
    - Brown and Green (2023) provide a comprehensive review of sustainable development complexities.

  5. Notes: This example shows the correct formatting of a lengthy title and demonstrates that long DOIs should be included in their entirety.

For real articles, you would replace the hypothetical data with details from the actual articles you find, ensuring that the author names, article titles, volume, issue numbers, and DOIs are accurately reflected. Always double-check the DOI and other publication details to ensure they are correct.

Common Issues When Citing Sustainability

Problem 1: Identifying Authors

Issue Description:
Students often struggle to identify the correct authors when citing articles from "Sustainability," a peer-reviewed journal. This can happen because some articles have numerous contributors, and the author list can be extensive.

Why It Happens:
"Sustainability" frequently publishes articles with multiple authors, reflecting the collaborative nature of research in environmental science. The challenge is heightened as students may not be familiar with where to find the complete author list, especially if viewing the article on platforms that truncate the list for brevity.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Navigate to the "Sustainability" article's main page.
2. Look for the "Authors" section, usually located at the top of the article or just below the article title.
3. Use the "Expand" or "See more" option if the list is truncated.
4. Ensure all authors are included in the citation in the order they appear in the article.
5. For articles with more than 20 authors, list the first 19 authors, add an ellipsis (…), and then the final author.

Before/After Example:

Before:
Smith, J., Brown, A., & Johnson, L.

After:
Smith, J., Brown, A., Johnson, L., Green, T., White, R., Black, M., Blue, J., … Davis, P.

Problem 2: Date Formats

Issue Description:
Students often misinterpret the publication date format when citing articles from "Sustainability," leading to incorrect citations.

Why It Happens:
"Sustainability" articles might list multiple dates, such as submission, acceptance, and publication dates. This can confuse students as to which date is appropriate for citation.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Identify the "Published" date, which is the official release date of the article.
2. This date is typically found near the article title or abstract.
3. Use this specific date in your citation.

Before/After Example:

Before:
Sustainability, 2023. (using submission date)

After:
Sustainability, 2023, March 15. (using published date)

Problem 3: Handling URLs

Issue Description:
Citing URLs from "Sustainability" can be problematic due to long and complex URLs that are not user-friendly.

Why It Happens:
The URLs for articles in "Sustainability" can be lengthy and may include session-specific information, which is unnecessary for a citation and can become invalid over time.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Use a stable, permanent URL, often found in the "DOI" link section.
2. Copy the article's DOI link, which is typically located near the article title or abstract.
3. Format the URL using the DOI resolver format: https://doi.org/ followed by the DOI number.

Before/After Example:

Before:
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/5/1234/something-unnecessary

After:
https://doi.org/10.3390/su13051234

Problem 4: Access Requirements

Issue Description:
Students sometimes overlook access requirements, leading to citations of content they cannot access or verify later.

Why It Happens:
"Sustainability" is an open-access journal, but accessing content from institutional or specific network settings can lead to confusion about what is freely available versus restricted content.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Always check the open-access status of the article by looking for an open-access icon or statement.
2. If accessing through a library database, ensure to note if full-text access is available.
3. Provide the complete citation details in case the access settings change.

Before/After Example:

Before:
Citing an article without checking access availability.

After:
Smith, J. (2023). Title of the article. Sustainability, 15(3), Article 1234. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031234 (Open Access)

By understanding these specific challenges and following the provided solutions, students can accurately and efficiently cite articles from "Sustainability."

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Sustainability

Q: How can I navigate the Sustainability website to find citation information for a specific article?

A: On the Sustainability website, locate the article you wish to cite. Scroll down to the bottom of the page where you will find citation tools that provide pre-formatted citations in various styles, including APA. Verify the formatting before using it in your work to ensure it meets APA 7th edition standards.

Q: How should I handle citing articles from Sustainability with multiple authors, especially when the formats differ from typical journals?

A: In APA 7th edition, up to 20 authors should be listed in the reference. For articles with more than 20 authors, list the first 19 authors followed by an ellipsis and then the final author’s name. Sustainability often lists all contributing authors, so ensure you include all names as per APA guidelines.

Q: How do I correctly cite the publication date for articles from Sustainability, considering their unique formats?

A: Sustainability typically provides a clear publication date on the article page. Use the year of publication in the citation. If the article was published online first, use the "online" publication date as the official publication date for your reference.

Q: What are the URL and access requirements for citing articles from Sustainability in APA format?

A: Include the direct URL to the article in your reference list. APA 7th edition does not require access dates for articles from databases or stable URLs, so simply ensure that the URL you provide is the most direct and accessible link to the article.

Q: How does citing articles from Sustainability differ from other journal article sources in APA format?

A: While the basic structure of a journal article citation in APA remains the same (Author, Year, Title, Journal Name, Volume(Issue), Page Range, URL), Sustainability articles may have unique author formats and stable URLs. Always double-check the specific details and formatting requirements for the journal to ensure accuracy.

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