APA 7th Edition · Diagram
How to Cite A Diagram in APA 7th Edition
In APA 7th Edition, a diagram citation must identify the creator, date, title, format tag, and source. Instructors in psychology and education expect the bracketed format (for example [Diagram]) and a figure note whenever you reproduce the visual in your paper. Diagram citations belong to the textbook or manual that published the figure, not a scraped study-guide mirror.
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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 diagram
Creator, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of work in sentence case [Diagram]. 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
(National Institutes of Health, 2020)
Template: (Creator, Year) or Creator (Year)
Figure caption
Figure 1 Structure of a neuron Note. From NIH Curriculum Supplements, by National Institutes of Health, 2020, (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/). Public domain / fair use for educational citation example.
Special rules for diagrams
- Name the diagram title and the chapter or figure number when the source uses one.
- If you redraw a process diagram, mark it as adapted and cite the original.
- For scientific schematics, keep labels consistent with the source terminology.
Source of truth: The textbook, paper, or technical manual that published the diagram.
Common mistakes
- Citing a study-guide site that scraped the diagram instead of the textbook.
- Dropping figure numbers that readers need to find the original.
- Calling a flowchart a photograph in the format field.
FAQ
How do you cite a diagram in APA 7th?
Build one APA 7th reference from creator → date → title → “Diagram” → 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 diagram in APA 7th?
Match the creator spelling used in the reference entry and apply (Creator, Year) or Creator (Year). If the diagram 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 diagram in my paper (APA 7th)?
Only if you reprint the visual. A mention in prose needs in-text + reference list; a reproduced diagram 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 diagram?
Start on the object or article page that displays the diagram, 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 diagrams in APA 7th?
Students often citing a study-guide site that scraped the diagram instead of the textbook. Another frequent miss: treating a cropped social share as the publisher of record.
How is citing a diagram different from citing a generic online photo in APA 7th?
A generic photo citation can stop at photographer + site + URL. For diagrams, you also have to capture name the diagram title and the chapter or figure number when the source uses one. That extra field is what keeps the entry recoverable.