How to Cite a Source With No Author in APA 7th Edition
No byline does not mean no citation. APA replaces the author with the title, but the exact punctuation and formatting still depend on source type.
Quick Rules
The shortest version of this page.
Basic rule: the title replaces the author
When a source truly has no author, APA moves the title into the author position. The reference entry starts with the title and the in-text citation uses a shortened title when needed.
The trick is separating a truly authorless source from a source written by an organization.
If the source belongs to an institution, switch to the group author guide instead.
In-text citation formatting
Titles in quotation marks
Use quotation marks for webpages and articles: ("Climate report," 2024).
Titles in italics
Use italics for standalone works such as books or reports: (Annual economic outlook, 2024).
Reference list entry with no author
Start with the full title, then add the date and source information. Alphabetize the entry by the first significant word of the title.
Website with no author
Climate policy update. (2024, March 8). Policy Lab. https://example.org/report
The title moves into the first position because no person or organization is credited.
Organization as author vs. truly no author
A missing byline does not always mean there is no author. Government reports, university pages, and policy documents often use the organization as the author.
Only use the no-author rule when nobody is credited and no institution clearly owns the content.
If the source actually belongs to an organization, use the organization author pattern.
No author + no date combinations
When the source has no author and no date, replace the year with n.d. and keep the shortened title in the citation.
Short title + n.d.
("Campus transit plan," n.d.)
Use the shortened title and n.d. together.
Dictionary entry
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Citation. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary.
Some entries still have an organization or publisher even if no individual author is listed.
When you need a finished output fast, open the APA citation generator.
FAQ
Answers to the common APA edge cases
Related Guides
Follow the connected APA guides below to move from rule lookup to final citation.
How to Cite Organizations as Authors
First-citation abbreviations, repeat citations, and reference-list rules for organizations.
How to Use Et Al. in APA 7th Edition
Rules, edge cases, and disambiguation examples for citing 3 or more authors.
Free APA Citation Generator
Generate in-text citations and reference entries for websites, books, and journals.