How to Cite a Conference Paper in APA 7th Edition
Learn the exact format with examples, in-text citations, and common mistakes to avoid.
Citation Format
Basic Template
Author. (Year, Month). Paper title [Conference presentation]. Conference Name, Location.
Citation Components
Author(s)
Format: (Last, First Initial.). Multiple authors: separate with commas; use '&' before the last author.
Date
Year and month of conference in parentheses: (2023, June).
Paper Title
Sentence case. Not italicized. Follow with [Conference presentation] in brackets.
Conference Name
Full name of conference. Title case.
Location
City and country/state where conference was held.
Real-World Example
Example Source
Martinez, R. K., & Lee, S. Y.
2022, August
Artificial intelligence applications in healthcare delivery systems
International Medical Technology Conference
Toronto, Canada
Formatted Citation
Martinez, R. K., & Lee, S. Y. (2022, August). Artificial intelligence applications in healthcare delivery systems [Conference presentation]. International Medical Technology Conference, Toronto, Canada.
In-Text Citation
(Martinez & Lee, 2022)
(Author, Year) or (Author & Author, Year)
Common Mistakes
Wrong:
Smith, J. (2022, August). Paper Title [paper presented at the conference]. Conference Name, City.
Right:
Smith, J. (2022, August). Paper title [Conference presentation]. Conference Name, City, Country.
Why: Use [Conference presentation] in brackets, not [paper presented at...]. Include country/state in location.
Wrong:
Smith, J. (2022). Paper Title. Conference Name, 2022, August, City.
Right:
Smith, J. (2022, August). Paper title. Conference Name, City, Country.
Why: Date goes after author with (Year, Month) format. Location should be City, Country or City, State/Country.
Wrong:
Smith, J. (2022). Presented at International Conference on Technology, July, New York.
Right:
Smith, J. (2022, July). Title of presentation [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Technology, New York, USA.
Why: Must include paper title, month with year, and [Conference presentation] designation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cite a conference paper that was later published as a journal article? ▼
Cite the published version (journal article) rather than the conference presentation, as it's the more permanent and citable form.
What if I attended a conference but the proceedings weren't published? ▼
You can still cite it as a conference presentation with the location and date, but some instructors may prefer published versions only.
Should I include the conference date if I don't know the exact month? ▼
Include whatever date information is available. At minimum, include the year.
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