Internal documents, such as memos, company reports, or internal presentations, are not typically published and therefore lack the standard publication information used in APA citations. However, you can still reference them in your APA-formatted work by using the following guidelines:
1. In-Text Citation
When referencing an internal document within your text, use a shortened version of the document title followed by the year of creation (if available) in parentheses.
- Example: "(Company Report, 2023)"
2. Reference List Entry
In the reference list, provide as much information as possible to help the reader locate the document.
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Author: If the document has a specific author, include their name. If not, use the name of the organization that created the document.
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Year: Include the year the document was created.
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Title: Use the full title of the document.
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Type of Document: Specify the type of document (e.g., memo, report, presentation).
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Retrieval Information: If applicable, provide the location where the document can be retrieved (e.g., internal database, file server).
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Example:
Company Name. (2023). Company Report. Internal document. Retrieved from [Internal database name or file server location]Practical Insights:
- Clarity: Make sure your citations are clear and concise, providing enough information for the reader to understand the source.
- Consistency: Use the same format for all internal document citations throughout your work.
- Accessibility: If the document is not publicly available, consider providing a copy to your reader or asking them to contact the appropriate person for access.
Solutions:
- Use a shortened version of the document title: If the document title is long, use a shortened version in your in-text citation.
- Add a unique identifier: If multiple documents have the same title, add a unique identifier (e.g., a document number) to distinguish them.
- Consult with your organization's style guide: If your organization has specific guidelines for citing internal documents, follow them.
