Overview
The following selected citation examples are for documents common to business; in some cases there are different ways to interpret how to cite a specific item. Remember that many sources won't exactly match the style templates. In such cases, identify the elements (author, date, title, source), and do your best to assemble them following the appropriate template's example. See APA's Reference examples or consult Chapter 10 in the guide directly. The important thing is to be both unambiguous and consistent across all of your citations so your reader (the decision maker) can identify, find (if necessary), and evaluate the resources you used.
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This 3-part video series covers the importance of citing, the patterns that underlie the citation rules, and how to get more help when needed.
Why cite? (4 minutes)
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Getting help (5 minutes)
Key elements for business citations
Find more details of the formatting guidelines and rules listed below by following their links to our general APA guide (use the side menu in this APA guide to find the type of source you are citing, e.g. articles, books, tables/figures/images, websites).
Databases with original, proprietary content
If you use one of these databases, you will need to include their name and URL in the source element. Copy and paste the link for the appropriate database to create your reference citation.
Reports and grey literature found in SEDAR+, EDGAR, and other non-Library online databases
The following are examples of filings, annual, quarterly, or industry reports found in a database online. Examples of grey literature include: press releases, codes of ethics, policy briefs, issue briefs, etc. Consult APA's Reports and grey literature or the guide directly for more examples (Section 10.4, pp. 329-331).
Reference list examples
Alphabet, Inc. (2024, April 26). Form 10-Q. EDGAR. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1652044/000165204424000053/goog-20240331.htm
Big Rock Brewery, Inc. (2024, March 28). Management's discussion and analysis [Annual report]. SEDAR. https://www.sedarplus.ca/csa-party/records/document.html?id=0da1251d7735865c70e0f22d943b91f483d756cc28412c3b9c13b849b565bfcd
Canadian National Railway Company. (2023). Annual report: This is scheduled railroading. SEDAR. https://www.sedarplus.ca/csa-party/records/document.html?id=e8fdbc0b92dda89ab63a0ffd9581f3d439a3d88f0c10e4b033a3474f3a3e54b8
Reference in text examples
(Alphabet, Inc., 2024)
(Big Rock Brewery, Inc., 2024)
(Canadian National Railway Company [CN], 2023) [first use]
(CN, 2023) [subsequent use]
(CN, 2023, pp.57-58) [subsequent use - when quoting]
Comments:
- SEDAR+ (Canada) and EDGAR (US) are examples of online databases containing documents for publicly-traded companies:
- SEDAR+ has a "generate URL" option in the search results list that connects directly to the work cited.
- EDGAR has an "open document" which creates an archived link directly to the work cited.
- There is no period after the URL.
- Online reports may not have page numbers. To cite either a direct quotation or a paraphrased section of the report use the heading or section name under which the information you are quoting came from. See the Lombardo example in the section below. For further details, see Adding location information.
Data sets, industry reports, filings found in specific subscription databases
The following are examples of data sets, filings, annual, quarterly, or industry reports found only in these specific databases.
Reference list examples by database
IBISWorld Industry Reports
Lombardo, C. (2024, Jan). Breweries in the US [Industry report]. IBISWorld. https://databases.lib.sfu.ca/record/61245147980003610/IBISWorld-Industry-Reports
Passport
Euromonitor International. (2024a, June 10). Consumer lifestyles in Egypt [Country report]. Passport. https://databases.lib.sfu.ca/record/61245146350003610/Passport
Euromonitor International. (2024b). Market sizes [Annual per capita coffee market in Canada in CAD (retail value) from 2018-2024] [Data set]. Passport. https://databases.lib.sfu.ca/record/61245146350003610/Passport
Statista
Global Wind Energy Council. (2024, April 17). Cumulative installed wind power capacity worldwide from 2001 to 2023 (in gigawatts) [Graph]. Statista. https://databases.lib.sfu.ca/record/61245146000003610/Statista
Statista. (n.d.). Market Insights: Solar Energy - Worldwide [Chart and data set]. Statista. Retrieved June 10, 2024, from https://databases.lib.sfu.ca/record/61245146000003610/Statista
S&P Capital IQ
Nurhayati,W. & Suhaimi, A. (2024, April 24). Pharmaceuticals [Industry survey]. S&P Capital IQ. https://databases.lib.sfu.ca/record/61280619560003610/SandP-Capital-IQ
S&P Global Market Intelligence. (2024). [Apple Inc.'s daily share price and trading volume: June 12, 2023 to June 10, 2024] [Chart]. S&P Capital IQ. https://databases.lib.sfu.ca/record/61280619560003610/SandP-Capital-IQ
Vividata
Template:
Vividata. (date of the Vividata study used). [Constructed title with enough description to re-create table] [Data set]. Database name. URL
Example:
Vividata. (2021, Spring). [Quebec, Ontario and B.C. readers of Canadian Living and Chatelaine in the past year] [Data set]. Vividata. https://databases.lib.sfu.ca/record/61245145910003610/Vividata
Reference in text examples
(Euromonitor International, 2024a)
(Euromonitor International, 2024a, p.10) [subsequent use - when quoting]
(Euromonitor International, 2024b)
(Global Wind Energy Council [GWEC], 2024) [first use]
(GWEC, 2024) [subsequent use]
(Lombardo, 2024, Barriers to Entry section) [use heading or section name when no page numbers]
(Nurhayati & Suhaimi, 2024)
(Statista, n.d.)
(Vividata, 2021)
Comments
- For references with the same author(s) and date, use lowercase letters in order to identify each source properly. See the Euromonitor International examples above. Refer to APA's Citing Works With the Same Author and Date for more details.
- APA guidelines advises bracketed descriptions to identify sources outside academic peer-reviewed literature and/or where titles may not be provided. Square brackets [ ] indicate the writer has provided the information:
- See all reference list examples above for examples with descriptions for type of information: chart, graph, data set, etc.
- See Vividata and S&P Global Market Intelligence reference list examples above for examples of a descriptive title.
- Check out APA's blog post on Using parentheses and brackets for more details on these guidelines.
Other APA business resource guides
The following guides also provide examples and guidelines specific to their institutions and may differ from the guidance above.
APA Management & business sources citation style guide (McGill University)
Includes many business examples from popular databases and content types.
APA Citing business databases & government data [PDF] (UNC Greensboro)
Easily searchable PDF document which includes key points and citation examples for many business/economic sources.
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