APA 7th Edition · Chart
How to Cite A Chart in APA 7th Edition
In APA 7th Edition, a chart citation must identify the creator, date, title, format tag, and source. Instructors in psychology and education expect the bracketed format (for example [Chart]) and a figure note whenever you reproduce the visual in your paper. A chart citation should recover the dataset or report behind the numbers, not just the slide that reused the visual.
Image Citation Generator
APA Style
7th Edition (Section 10.14)💡 "Copy Formatted" copies with HTML styling so pasting into Microsoft Word or Google Docs retains italicized titles and indentation automatically.
APA 7th formula for a chart
Creator, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of work in sentence case [Chart]. Site or Museum Name. URL
Italics: Italicize standalone image titles in sentence case; keep format tags in square brackets roman. Year position: Immediately after the author, in parentheses.
Worked example
In-text citation
(Ritchie, 2023)
Template: (Creator, Year) or Creator (Year)
Figure caption
Figure 1 Global CO₂ emissions by fuel type Note. From Our World in Data, by H. Ritchie, 2023, (https://ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions). Public domain / fair use for educational citation example.
Special rules for charts
- Credit the analyst or organization that published the chart and name the underlying data source when listed.
- If you redraw the chart, cite the data source and note that the figure is adapted.
- Include the chart title exactly as published; add [Chart] or [Graph] when the style needs a format tag.
Source of truth: The dataset or report that produced the chart—not only the slide deck that reused it.
Common mistakes
- Citing only “Statista” without the specific chart title and year.
- Pointing readers to a dashboard login wall with no public URL.
- Treating a screenshot of a chart as a photograph without noting it is a chart.
FAQ
How do you cite a chart in APA 7th?
Build one APA 7th reference from creator → date → title → “Chart” → host. Then paste the finished string into your reference list; do not leave the format field blank or point to a search-results URL.
What is the in-text citation for a chart in APA 7th?
Match the creator spelling used in the reference entry and apply (Creator, Year) or Creator (Year). If the chart is labeled as a numbered figure in the paper, add that figure number only where your instructor’s APA 7th handout allows.
Do I need a figure caption when I include a chart in my paper (APA 7th)?
Only if you reprint the visual. A mention in prose needs in-text + reference list; a reproduced chart also needs a numbered caption so readers can connect the picture on the page to the bibliography entry.
Where should I look for source details for a chart?
Start on the object or article page that displays the chart, then read the credit line, about panel, or download metadata. Skip aggregator cards and thumbnail feeds—they rarely carry a citable creator or permanent link.
What is a common mistake when citing charts in APA 7th?
Students often citing only “Statista” without the specific chart title and year. Another frequent miss: treating a cropped social share as the publisher of record.
How is citing a chart different from citing a generic online photo in APA 7th?
A generic photo citation can stop at photographer + site + URL. For charts, you also have to capture credit the analyst or organization that published the chart and name the underlying data source when listed. That extra field is what keeps the entry recoverable.