how to insert a picture in a research paper apa

Author last name, First initial. (Publication or creation date). [Type of media]. Name of publisher, museum, or university. URL

Stone, M. (2020). [Picture of fireflies at night in Congaree National Park] [Photograph]. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/06/synchronous-fireflies-rare-look-congaree-national-park/#/fireflies-congaree-1994.jpg

Author last name, First initial. (Publication or creation date). [Type of media]. Name of museum, Location of museum. URL if applicable.

Monet, C. (c. 1900) [Painting]. Denver Art Museum, Colorado, United States.

Author last name, First initial. (Publication or creation date). [Infographic]. Name of publisher or organization. URL

Lutz, E. (2014). [Infographic]. Tabletop Whale. https://tabletopwhale.com/2014/08/27/42-butterflies-of-north-america.html

Author last name, First initial. (Publication or creation date). [Map]. Name of publisher or organization. URL

Cambridge University Press. (1912). [Map]. Emerson Kent. https://www.emersonkent.com/map_archive/germany_1610.htm

Program or service. (n.d.). [Description of map]. Retrieval month, day, year, from URL

Google. (n.d.). [Google Maps directions for driving from Auckland to Wellington, New Zealand]. Retrieved June 13, 2020 from https://bit.ly/37wTTvx

Last name, First initial. (Year, Month date of presentation). [PowerPoint slides]. Website name. URL

Rodriguez, M. (2020). [PowerPoint slides]. SlideShare. https://www.slideshare.net/brianhousand/writing-discussion-sec-2020/

Last name, First initial. (Year, Month date of lecture). [Description of lecture topic]. Department name, name of university. URL

Sanchez, C. (2019, March 22). [Lecture notes on commas and semicolons]. English and Modern Languages Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. https://www.cpp.edu/class/english-modern-languages/index.shtml

Last name, First initial. (Year, Month date of publication). [Source type]. Website name. URL

Kuba. (2022, February 6). [Clip art]. Openclipart. https://openclipart.org/detail/335589/bob-marley-improved

Copied Image (reproduced within the document)

For

Example: 

Species such as the Pilotus flower (Figure 2) are ideal for weed control due to their spreading habit.

:  No need to cite the author of an image when you refer to an image figure within your text.  

Provide the full end-text reference for any copyrighted images you have used in your text in your reference list. 

Denisbin. (2012). [Photograph]. Flickr.

This should consist of: Author, year of publication, title, description in brackets, source (usually the name of the website and URL).

See for an example of full attribution required in the below the image, as well as an example of an image not requiring attribution. 

Image (reproduced in the document, no copyright attribution required)

For

Use the title of the image figure if referring to it within your text.  

E.g.: (Figure 1)

No end-text reference is required for images used that do not require copyright attribution. 

: Includes images that are yours and haven't been published elsewhere. 

See with and without attribution for clarification. 

Use the Artist and date the artwork was produced. 

(Millais, 1851-2)

or 

Ophelia by Millais (1851-2)...

Provide a full end-text reference for the artwork or image referred to within your document. 

Millais, J. E. (1851-2).   [Painting]. Tate, London, United Kingdom. 

This image has not been reproduced in the text. 

Copied figure (reproduced within the document)

For   

When you refer to the figure in-text you can just use the figure title rather than the author-date style.

  ....

Provide a full text reference for the source of the figure following the end-text reference guidelines for that format. This reference is for a figure copied from a journal article: 

Watts, N., Amann, M., Arnell, N., Ayeb-Karlsson, S., Belesova, K., Berry, H., Bouley, T., Boykoff, M., Byass, P., Cai, W., Campbell-Lendrum, D., Chambers, J., Daly, M., Dasandi, N., Davies, M., Depoux, A., Dominguez-Salas, P., Drummond, P., Ebi, K. L., ... Costello, A. (2018). The 2018 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: Shaping the health of nations for centuries to come.  (10163), 2479-2514. 

See   for an example of a copyright acknowledgment required in the  below the figure.

Adapted figure

For

Use the figure title.

Provide a full text reference for the source of the figure following the end-text reference guidelines for that format. This reference is for a figure adapted from a webpage:

International Monetary Fund. (2021, April).  . 

See   for an example of a copyright acknowledgment required in the  below the figure.

Copied table (reproduced within the document)

For   Farley's (2018) inquiry into municipalities' economic development

Provide a full text reference for the source of the table following the end-text reference guidelines for that format. This reference is for a table copied from a blog post:

Farley, B. (2018, October 10). Community wealth shapes local economic development programs.

See   for an example of a copyright acknowledgment required in the  below the table.

Source: (Mondrian, 1935/1942)

Mondrian, P. (1935/ 1942).  [Painting]. Google Arts and Culture. 

From by P. Mondrian, 1935/1942, Google Arts and Culture. Copyright Vidal Sassoon

Mondrian, P. (1935/ 1942).  [Painting]. Google Arts and Culture.

2. Reis, .

2. Kahlo, .

(Author, Year, )

OR

Adapted from  (Author, Year, )

(Phutully, 2013, )

(Author, Year)

OR

Author (Year)

... as seen in the palm trees (Phutully, 2013).  

OR

Phutully (2013) captures ...

Author, A.A. (Year). [Description]. Publisher. 

Phutully, C. (2013). [Photograph]. Wikimedia.

(Author, © Year)

OR

Adapted from  (Author, © Year)

(Smith, © 2019)

(Author, Year) 

OR

Author (Year)

... highlighted in  (Smith, 2019).  

OR

Smith (2019) utilises ...   

Author, A.A. (Year). [Description]. Publisher. 

Smith, J. (2019). [Photograph]. 

(Author, © Year)

OR

Adapted from  (Author, © Year)

(Andrews, © 2019)

... (Author, Year)

OR

Author (Year) ...

... is evoked by the colours (Andrews, 2019).

OR

Andrews (2019) evokes ...

Author, A.A. (Year). [Description]. Publisher.

Andrews, J. (2019).   [Photograph]. Images R Us.

(Author, © Year, p. xx)

OR

Adapted from  (Author, © Year, p. xx)

 (Holmesglen Institute of TAFE, © 2002, p. 119)

(Author, Year)

OR

Author (Year) 

... is depicted (Holmesglen Institute of TAFE, 2002, p. 119).

OR

Holmesglen Institute of TAFE (2009) depicts ... (p. 119).

(Author, © Year, p. xx)

OR

Adapted from  (Author, © Year, p. xx)

(Marsh & deBeauvoir, © 2019, p. 5)

(Author, Year)

OR

Author (Year)

... is highlighted (Marsh & de Beauvoir, 2019, p. 5).

OR

Marsh and de Beauvoir (2019) visually highlight ... (p. 5).

Where possible provide the . If DOI is unavailable, provide URL of the journal's homepage. 

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of image [Description]. In Title of article. , Volume (Issue), Page-Page.

Even if retrieving an article from a database, give the newspaper homepage URL.

Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year, Month Day). Title of image [Description] In Title of article.  . 

 (Year)

OR

Adapted from   (Year)

 (n.d.)

( , Year)

OR

 (Year) 

... is shown in the image ( , n.d.). 

OR

In the image  (n.d.) ...

[Description]. (Year).

[Photograph]. (n.d.).

(Author, © Year)

(Google Maps, 2019)

(Author, Year)

... is shown (Google Maps, 2019). 

Author, A.A. (Year). [Description].

Google Maps. (2019). [Screenshot].

Includes images published on a blog or other forms of social media. 

(Smith, personal communication, 2019)

(Smith, © 2019)

If the image is unpublished, you do not need to include a reference. (See: )

As the image is published, include it in the reference list.

 Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). [Photograph or Image]. Platform Name. 

 Smith, J. (2019, September 3). [Photograph]. Instagram. 

Online pictures

The online pictures option is an embedded Bing image search. It contains both non-attribution and Creative Commons images. Treat the image according to its type:

• For non-attribution or public domain images, do not reference. See copyright-free images, non-attribution section.
• For Creative Commons images, see Creative Commons images section to reference these.

Images from Canva / Piktochart (photos, stickers and graphics)

Images via Canva (stated as free) are provided to users on a non-attribution license.  These do not require to be referenced.

To check if an image is free, hover your mouse over the item then click the three dots icon in the right hand corner.

Images via Piktochart are also provided to users on a non-attribution license. These do not require to be referenced.

Alternative sources of images

For further sources of copyright-free images, see the  finding images  tab.  

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APA 7th Referencing Style Guide

• Figures (graphs and images)
• Referencing & APA style
• In-text citation
• Elements of a reference
• Format & examples of a reference list
• Conferences
• Reports & grey literature

General guidelines

From a book, from an article, from a library database, from a website, citing your own work.

• Theses and dissertations
• Audio works
• Films, TV & video
• Visual works
• Generative artificial intelligence (AI)
• Computer software, games & apps
• Lecture notes & Intranet resources
• Legal resources
• Personal communications
• PowerPoint slides
• Social media
• Specific health examples
• Standards & patents
• Websites & webpages
• Footnotes and appendices
• Frequently asked questions

A figure may be a chart, a graph, a photograph, a drawing, or any other illustration or nontextual depiction. Any type of illustration or image other than a table is referred to as a figure.

Figure Components

• Number:  The figure number (e.g., Figure 1 ) appears above the figure in bold (no period finishing).
• Title: The figure title appears one double-spaced line below the figure number in Italic Title Case  (no period finishing).
• Image: The image portion of the figure is the chart, graph, photograph, drawing, or illustration itself.
• Legend: A figure legend, or key, if present, should be positioned within the borders of the figure and explain any symbols used in the figure image.
• Note: A note may appear below the figure to describe contents of the figure that cannot be understood from the figure title, image, and/or legend alone (e.g., definitions of abbreviations, copyright attribution). Not all figures include notes. Notes are flush left, non-italicised. If present they begin with Note. (italicised, period ending). The notes area will include reference information if not an original figure, and copyright information as required.

General rules

• In the text, refer to every figure by its number, no italics, but with a capital "F" for "Figure". For example, "As shown in Figure 1, ..." 
• There are two options for the placement of figures in a paper. The first option is to place all figures on separate pages after the reference list. The second option is to embed each figure within the text.
• If you reproduce or adapt a figure from another source (e.g., an image you found on the internet), you should include a copyright attribution in the figure note, indicating the origin of the reproduced or adapted material, in addition to a reference list entry for the work. Include a permission statement (Reprinted or Adapted with permission) only if you have sought and obtained permission to reproduce or adapt material in your figure. A permission statement is not required for material in the public domain or openly licensed material. For student course work, AUT assignments and internal assessments, a permission statement is also not needed, but copyright attribution is still required.
• Important note for postgraduate students and researchers: If you wish to reproduce or adapt figures that you did not create yourself in your thesis, dissertation, exegesis, or other published work, you must obtain permission from the copyright holder/s, unless the figure is in the public domain (copyright free), or licensed for use with a Creative Commons or other open license. Works under a  Creative Commons licence  should be cited accordingly. See Using works created by others for more information. 

Please check the APA style website for an illustration of the basic figure component & placement of figure in a text.

More information & examples from the   APA Style Manual , s. 7.22-7.36,    pp. 225–250

Figure reproduced in your text

Note format - for notes below the figure

In-text citation:

Reference list entry:

Referring to a figure in a book

If you refer to a figure included in a book but do not include it in your text, format the in-text citation and the reference list entry in the usual way, citing the page number where the figure appears.

Note format -  for notes below the figure

Referring to a figure in an article

If you refer to a figure in an article but do not include it in your text, format the in-text citation and the reference list entry in the usual way for an article, citing the page number where the figure appears.

Note format - for notes below the figure

Reference list:

Referring to a figure on a webpage

If you refer to a figure on a webpage and do not include it in your text, format the in-text citation and the reference list entry in the usual way for a webpage,

Not every reference to an artwork needs a reference list entry. For example, if you refer to a famous painting, as below, it would not need a reference.

Finding image details for your figure caption or reference

• clicking on or hovering your mouse over the image
• looking at the bottom of the image
• looking at the URL
• If there is no title, create a short descriptive one yourself and put it in square brackets e.g. [...]
• For more guidance, see Visual works

If it has been formally published reference your work as you would any other published work.

If the work is available on a website reference it as a webpage (see examples in the webpage section ).

Citing your own figures, graphs or images in an assignment:

• Include the title
• Add a note explaining the content. No copyright attribution is required.
• You can, if you wish, add a statement that it is your own work
• You do not need an in-text citation or add it to your reference list
• See example in APA manual p.247, Figure 7.17 Sample photograph

Great Barrier Island 

Note. Photo of Great Barrier Island taken from Orewa at sunrise. Own work.

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Image Use & Citation

• APA 7th Ed. Image & Artwork Citation
• Creative Commons
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• MLA 9th ed. Artwork & Image Citation
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• ASA Image Citation
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• Online Resources for Images
• Can I Use It?
• Images in Theses/ Dissertations

APA Image Citation

APA does not have a written standard for images. There will be differences in how other Research Guides show you how to do them. You will want to talk with your professor or editor before turning in your work.

APA Original Artwork, Sculpture or Image Citation

A painting, sculpture, or photograph:.

Fig. #. Artist Name. (date). Title of work . [medium]. Location of artwork. city, state/country.

Fig. 4. Francisco de Goya. (1820-1823). Saturn Devouring One of his Sons . [mural painting transferred to canvas]. Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain.

In-Text Citation:

(last name, Date)

(Goya, 1820-1823)

Reference List:

last name, first initial. (date). Title of work . [medium]. Location of artwork. city, state/country.

de Goya, F. (1820-1823). Saturn Devouring One of his Sons . [mural painting transferred to canvas]. Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain.

APA Photographic Reproductions of Art

Fig. number . Description or title of image. From Title of Book (p. xxx), by Author, year, Place of Publication: Publisher. Copyright [year] by the Name of Copyright Holder.

Fig. 1 . Celebration of the modern city in abstract. From Art History (p. 1058), by Umberto Boccioni, 1911, New York, NY: Harry N Abrams, Inc. Copyright [1995] by M. Stockstad.

Artist or Author. (Year of image creation). Description or title of image [Image format]. Place artwork is located. From Author or Editor, Title of Book (pages). Location: Publisher, Year of book publication.

Boccioni, Umberto (1911). States of Mind: The Farewells [Oil on Canvas]. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. From M. Stockstad, Art History (p. 1058). New York, NY: Harry N Abrams, Inc., 1995.

APA Online Image Citation

Captions under illustrations/ figures: 

Figure 1. Alice and the Caterpillar [woodblock]. From "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" (p. 59), by john. Tennial 1865, London: Macmillian and Co. Copyright [1866] by Lewis Carroll. 

Reference List 

Tenniel, John (1865). Advice from a Caterpillar [Woodblock]. Gettysburg College, Musselman Library, Special Collections. Gettysburg, PA. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/alicesadventur00carr/page/58/mode/2up?view=theater` .  

In-Text 

(Fig. 1 Tennial, 1865) 

APA Image from Library Database

Creator (Last, First). (date). Title [medium]. Database. Retrieved from Web address.

Peters, J.L. (1872). Phrenological Waltzes [Print, Electronic resource].  Library of Congress: Music Division .  Retrieved from https://www.loc.gov/item/sm1872.06931/.

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Formatting Graphics and Visuals in APA Style

Statistics and results from data analysis are often best presented in the form of a table, and a theoretical model or pages of information are often best presented in a well-designed visual such as a chart or graph. The American Psychological Association (APA) distinguishes between two types of visuals: tables and figures. Both are used to provide a large amount of information concisely and to promote greater understanding of a text. This article explains how to format tables and figures according to APA Style 7th Edition.

Tables in APA Style (7th ed.)

Tables are organized in a row and column format and provide information that is not already given in the text. Tables should also be able to stand alone and be understandable without the accompanying text. Therefore, having a descriptive title for the table is important and so is using a “note” to explain any symbols, abbreviations, or asterisks used in the table.

When inserting a table in your work, include the following information (also exemplified by Table 1):

• Table number , aligned left, bolded, and presented in sequence: Table 1 , Table 2 , etc.
• Table title , aligned left, italicized, and offering a brief description the table: Title of Table
• The table itself , without shading or vertical borders; use horizontal boarders only for clarity such as a top and bottom border or to separate a row containing the sums of column data. Tables are double spaced unless one or one and a half spacing would enable the table to be displayed on a single page.
• Table note , double-spaced below the table, after the label “note” in italics: Note .

Use a callout such as “See Table 1” in the paragraph before the table to point the reader to it.

Table Notes

Table notes are only used when needed, and there can be up to three notes per table, ordered by type:

• General Note : General notes are given first. Table 1 in this article has a general note. General notes provide definitions, keys, and copyright statements for any information that came from a source.
• Specific Note : Specific notes provide information about individual columns or rows. If, for example, a specific column or cell’s data needed explanation, a superscript letter such as “a” would be placed by the data, e.g. Xa, and the same superscript letter would be placed before the note about it.
• Probability Note : Probability notes explain asterisks (*) or other symbols that provide probability values used in statistical hypothesis testing used for ruling out something occurring due to chance alone.
• In statistical testing, researchers use a probability level between 0 to 1 to describe the chance of an event occurring, with 0 meaning the event will never occur and 1 meaning the event will always occur. In a table or figure, probability levels are assigned asterisks to indicate a range in probability such as p < .05 and * p < .01, and ***p < .001 (APA, 2020). The fewest number of asterisks indicates the largest probability and the greatest number of asterisks indicates the smallest probability level.
• Plus (+) and minus (-) signs are also used in probability notes to show confidence intervals. For example, the results of an opinion poll may show 56% of the respondents prefer candidate A. If the confidence interval is +/-3, then 53%-59% of the population agrees with those sampled.
• Probability notes may also provide confidence levels to indicate how certain the researcher is that the general population will agree with the poll respondents. For example, if the confidence level is 95%, then there is a 95% certainty that 53% to 59% of the population agrees with those polled. Researchers typically use a 95% confidence level.

Example of a general note, specific note, and probability note:

Note . The poll revealed that respondents prefer candidate A. YA = ages 18-30. A = ages 31-43. Adapted from “Title of Article,” by A. Author, Copyright Year, Publication Title, vol(issue) page-page. (URL). Copyright year by Copyright holder or Copyright License or In the public domain.

Data are for all genders.

p < .05. * p < .01.

In the example above, the notes are to be double spaced as shown in Table 1, and each type of note begins on a new line with the first note providing general information about the table including a copyright note for the data used in the table. The second note gives specific information about the data in the rows, and the third note provides the probability (p) values.

Reference Entries for Table Data

A reference entry would also be included for any source of information used in the table and noted in the table note. The reference entry goes on a reference list at the end of the paper.

Table Checklist

• Is the table necessary?
• Is the table mentioned in the text?
• Is the table inserted under the paragraph where it is first mentioned?
• Is the title brief but explanatory and one double-spaced line below the table number?
• Are all vertical borders in the table eliminated?
• Does every column have a heading including?
• Are the notes in the following order: general note, specific note, probability note?
• Are the notes double spaced?
• Are all abbreviations, symbols, and special uses of dashes, italics, or boldface explained in a note?
• If the table is for statistical testing, are probability levels identified?
• If more than one table is used, are probability level asterisks consistent from table to table?
• With statistical testing data, are confidence intervals reported and consistent for all tables?
• If all or part of a copyrighted table is reproduced or adapted, does the general table note give full credit to the copyright owner and have a corresponding reference entry?

Figures in APA Style (7th ed.)

Figures include visuals such as charts graphs, pictures, maps, etc. When inserting a figure in your work, include the following information (also exemplified in Figure 1):

• Figure # , aligned left, bolded, and in sequence: Figure 1 , Figure 2 , etc.
• Figure title , aligned left, italicized, and offering a brief description the table: Figure Title
• The figure itself
• Figure note , double-spaced below the table after the label “note” in italics: Note .

Use a callout such as “See Figure 1” in the paragraph before the figure to point the reader to it.

The Chart tool in Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint provides options for various types of graphs and charts. With so many types to choose from, it’s important to carefully consider which type will best present the information. For example,

• a column chart displays categories of variables; • a bar chart demonstrates comparisons between single items; • a pie chart shows percentages; • a scatter plot illustrates correlations; and • a line graph demonstrates relationships.

The Microsoft Office Support webpage provides examples of these types of charts and more.

Figure Notes

As with tables, there can be up to three notes under the figure, ordered by type: (a) general information about the figure including a copyright statement for compiled data or images from the Internet, (b) specific information about individual sections, bars, graphs, or other elements of the figure, and (c)) probability explanations as discussed in the section on tables.

Copyright Statements for Compiled Data

When you use data and information in your table or figure that was compiled from research, the figure must contain a general note with a copyright statement identifying the copyright holder of that information. Because you are using this information for an academic purpose that is not for profit, you will not need to also acquire permission from the copyholder. It is considered “fair use” for students and scholars to use information that has been previously published if the information is attributed to the copyright holder with proper documentation.

Use the following copyright statement template in a note for data or information that came from a journal or book:

Journal : Note . From [or Adapted from] “Title of Article,” by A. A. Author, year, Journal Title, Volume (Issue), p. xx (DOI or URL). Copyright year by Name of Copyright Holder or In the public domain or Copyright License such as CC BY-NC .

Book : Note . From [or Adapted from] Title of Book (p. xx), by A. A. Author, year, Publisher (DOI or URL). Copyright year by Name of Copyright Holder or In the public domain or CC BY-NC .

Copyright Statements for Images

Images are different than compiled data. Depending on where the image is from, it may or may not require a copyright statement in a note under the image.

Copyrighted images : To use a copyrighted photograph, permission from the copyright holder is needed. It is an act of plagiarism to use a copyrighted image without permission.

Copyright statement template for copyrighted image that you have permission to use:

From [or Adapted from]. Title of Work [Photograph], by A. A. Author, year of publication, Site Name (URL). Copyright year by Name of Copyright holder. Reprinted or Adapted with permission.

Creative Commons licensed images : Photographs with Creative Commons licenses may be used without permission, but each type of Creative Commons license has different stipulations. You can read about each here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ . The licenses generally all require attribution to the source or creator of the image. (See Figure 2).

Copyright statement for Creative Commons image:

From [or Adapted from]. Title of Work [Photograph], by A. A. Author, year of publication, Site Name (URL). License such as CC BY-NC .

Photograph With a Creative Commons License for Reproduction With Attribution

Note . From Lilies After Rain [Photograph], by C. Cairns, 2015, Flicker. (https://flic.kr/p/vDHife) . CC BY 2.0 .

Public Domain images : Public domain works are not protected by copyright law or they have expired copyrights such as works published before January 1, 1924. In APA Style, works in the public domain are credited in a copyright statement in the note. (See Figure 3).

Copyright statement for image in the public domain:

From [or Adapted from]. Title of Work [Photograph], by A. A. Author, year of publication, Site Name (URL). In the public domain.

Photograph in the Public Domain

Note . From Study for The Cellist [Photograph], by A. Modigliani, 1909, Abcgallery (http://www.abcgallery.com/M/modigliani/modigliani12.html) . In the public domain.

Free Photos Online: Some photo sites allow for reproduction of images without attribution to the source or creator of that image. Sites such as Pixabay , Pexels , and Unsplash , for example, provide images that do not require attribution. A copyright statement is not needed for these images.

Reference Entries for Figures

In addition to a copyright attribution, include a reference entry for any source credited in a figure note. Below is the APA Style (7th ed.) reference entry template for a photograph:

Author last name, First initial. Middle initial. (year). Title of photograph [Photograph]. Site or Source Name. URL

Figure Checklist

• Is the figure necessary?
• Is the resolution of the image clear enough to be read and understood?
• Is the figure mentioned in the paper’s text?
• Is the figure inserted under the paragraph where it is first mentioned?
• Does the text explain how the figure is relevant to the discussion in the paper without repeating all the information from the figure in the text?
• Does the figure title provide a brief explanation?
• Are all elements of the figure clearly labeled?
• Are all figures numbered consecutively?
• Is proper credit given to the source of the figure in the figure note?
• Has a reference entry been provided for the source of the figure?

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association: The official guide to APA style (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

© 2020 by Purdue Global Academic Success Center and Writing Center

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3 Responses

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What size should the visual be in the actual paper? I have students ask this, and frequently their visuals cover half an entire page, but I cannot find the answer.

Hi Leslie, the American Psychological Association (APA) does not specify the size of visuals used, but does state that tables and figures should fit on one page. The publication manual of APA (2020) also states that tables and figures “should not be used for mere decoration in an academic paper. Instead, every table and figure should serve a purpose” (p. 195). It may be helpful to direct students with questions to review the sample tables and figures available here: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/tables-figures

I”ve learned a lot from reading this.. I have never an apa paper before

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How do I put figures (images, photos, bar graphs, charts) into my paper in APA style?

• Figures are any type of graphical illustration other than a table.
• They are used to illustrate a point and deepen readers' understanding.

Usage Guidelines:

• Figures must add to the reader’s understanding of the content of the paper; they should not be added just to provide visual interest.  For more information, see section 7.22 of the APA Publication Manual (7th ed.).
• Figures must be used ethically. Copyright laws must be followed; simply citing a source does not make its use copyright compliant. A good rule of thumb: Use figures from ClipArt, Creative Commons, or the library’s rights-cleared image database, Image Quest.

References and Citations:

• You must provide complete citations for figures and tables in your paper and in your reference list. 

References with NoodleTools:

• If the figure came from an image database, such as Image Quest, choose Painting, Sculpture, or Photograph from NoodleTools’s citation type drop-down menu.
• If the figure came from within a source like a book, an article, or a web site, choose a citation type that matches the source.

Citations Guidelines:

• Appears above the figure, bolded
• The number will reflect if it is the first (1), second (2), third (3), etc. figure in the paper.
• Figure Title
• The title appears one double-spaced line below the figure number in italics title face.
• The note appears below the figure and describes what the figure is about and how it relates to the content of the paper. 
• If the image was taken from a source and is not clipart, the note should include a copyright attribution statement.
• If the figure was taken from source material, a reference for the figures should be included in the reference list.

EXAMPLE FIGURE

• Figure numbers are used in the text (a "call out") to refer to and explain the presence of the figures.

For more information, see:

• APA Guide > References > Images & Audiovisual Media
• APA Academic Writer > Learn > Sample Figures
• Research and Library
• Last Updated May 10, 2021
• Views 351861
• Answered By Kerry Louvier

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Tables, Images, & Appendices in APA Style

In some of the assignments, you may find it practical to add a table or an image. In addition, you may need to include an appendix at the end of your writing. Both figures and appendices help to convey data to the reader in a more detailed or visual form. Use this guide to understand how to create and properly integrate tables, images, and appendices in your paper.

How to Create a Table in Microsoft Word

A table puts numerical or textual information into rows and columns. You may use tables if you need to give precise values for complex structured data. It is possible to create a table using Microsoft Word, where you may either insert table and enter the desired number of rows and columns, or draw table by dragging the pencil to make horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines. In addition, a table may be copied from the original source. Each table should have:

• a number according to the order in which it is presented in the text
• a descriptive title so that a reader can immediately understand what information the table contains
• a complete citation, if you are presenting data produced by someone else.

How to Format a Table in APA Style

• Number the table. Example: Table 1
• Give a meaningful and understandable title in italics.

Factors contributing to nurses’ involvement in setting health policy

• Include a “ Note ” to give any additional information regarding the table or give a full citation.

Note : Reprinted from Shariff, N. (2014). Factors that act as facilitators and barriers to nurse leaders’ participation in health policy development. BMC Nursing, 13(20) . doi:10.1186/1472-6955-13-20

• Refer to the table by its label (for example, Table 1) rather than by its name.

“The factors contributing to greater involvement of nurses in the development of health policy and agenda setting can be seen in Table 1.”

Table 1 The factors contributing to nurses’ involvement in setting health policy

Note : Reprinted from Shariff, N. (2014). The factors that act as facilitators and barriers to nurse leaders’ participation in health policy development. BMC Nursing, 13(20) . doi:10.1186/1472-6955-13-20

When to Use and How to Incorporate Images

Use a graph or an image to present a specific object or a drawing within the body of your work. Figures should add to the reader’s understanding of the content of a paper. An image or a graph may be copied from the original source. All figures must be of good quality, informative, and fit on one page. An image should have a number, a title, and a full reference citation.

How to Format an Image in APA Style

• Label an image as Figure and give it a corresponding number. Example: Figure 1
• Give your image a meaningful title. Example: Figure 1: Current vehicle license plate in Georgia
• After writing a title, include a full reference citation to indicate the original source of the image
• Refer to an image by its label. Example: “Refer to Figure 1 to learn about the standard format for license plates in Georgia.”

What Is an Appendix in a Paper?

An appendix includes supplemental materials that are inappropriate for the body of the paper as they may distract a reader. For example, these may be questionnaires or surveys, raw statistical data, or interview transcripts. The information presented in an appendix is not required to understand the main argument of your work. Therefore, an appendix or appendices should be presented at the end of your work after a Works Cited or References page.

How to Create and Integrate an Appendix

• The appendix heading should begin on a separate page and be in upper case.
• If the work has one appendix, it should be labeled “APPENDIX.” If a paper has two or more appendices, they should be labeled “APPENDIX A,” “APPENDIX B,” and so on.
• Label appendices in the order in which they are presented in the text.
• Each appendix should be referred to by its name in the body of the paper.

“For additional information about the statistical data, see Appendix A.”

• An appendix may include citations, which should be included in the reference list.
• An appendix label should be centered at the top of a page.

To sum up, tables, images, and appendices may help you to provide a comprehensive representation of the data, as well as give readers additional information about the topic. This guide has discussed how to create and integrate each one of these features into your paper. In addition, it has explained how to properly format tables, figures, and appendices according to the rules of APA style.

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• Library Catalogue

Citing tables, figures & images: APA (7th ed.) citation guide

On this page, introduction, general guidelines, examples for citing figures & images, examples for citing tables.

This guide is based on the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th ed. It provides selected citation examples for common types of sources. For more detailed information consult directly a  print copy  of the style manual.

Check out APA's Guide to what's new for APA 7 .

Keep track of your document references/citations and format your reference lists easily with Citation management software .

Tables and figures (includes images) follow similar set up and formatting. The guidelines below focus on common examples used by students for academic papers . For details on creating tables or figures for submission to journals or graduate theses, see APA's Tables and figures or consult the guide directly (Section 7, pp. 195–250).

Wondering if you can use that image you found online? Refer to SFU's Copyright and your coursework or the FAQ What is fair dealing? for guidelines on use.

• All figures and tables must be mentioned in the text (a "callout") by their number. Do not refer to the table/figure using either "the table above" or "the figure below."
• Assign table/figure # in the order as it appears, numbered consecutively, in your paper - not the figure # assigned to it in its original resource.
• A note is added when further description, for example, definitions or copyright attribution, is necessary to explain the figure or table. Most student papers will require a general note for copyright attribution and acknowledgement whether it is reprinted or adapted from another source. Consult the guide directly for detailed instructions on formatting notes (Section 7.14, pp. 203–205).
• For copyright attribution templates , consult Table 12.1 on page 390 of the guide (Section 12.18, pp. 389-390).
• If permission is required for reprinting or adapting, at the end of the citation place: Reprinted with permission or  Adapted with permission followed by a period.
• All the sources must have a full bibliographic entry in your Reference List .
• Review your figure/table against the appropriate checklist found only in the guide (Sections 7.20, Table, p. 206 and 7.35, Figure, p. 232).

Order of components

Above the figure/table.

• Write " Figure " or " Table " in bold font, flush left, followed by the number, for example, Figure 1 .
• Write the figure/table title using italic case below the figure/table number,
• Double-space the figure/table number and title,
• Embed image.

Below the figure/table

• On a new line below the figure/table, flush left, place Note. Provide further details/explanation about the information in the figure/table only if necessary. State if material is reprinted or adapted —use " From " if reprinted or " Adapted from " if adapted. Followed directly by the copyright attribution —this is basically the same information as found in the reference list entry but in a different order.
• Separate figure/table from the text with one blank double-spaced line.

Placement in paper

• embed in the text after it is first mentioned or,
• place on a separate page after the reference list (an appendix).
• When embedding all figures and tables are aligned with the left margin .
• All examples in this guide show embedded figures and tables.

Refer directly to the guide for more detailed notes on placement (Section 7.6, p. 198).

Figures include: images found online, maps , graphs , charts, drawings, and photographs, or any other illustration or non-textual depiction in printed or electronic resources.

See APA's Figure set up for detailed information on the basic components of a figure, principles of creation, and placement in papers with formatting requirements, or consult the guide directly (Section 7.22–7.36, pp. 225–250).

Review APA's guide for Accessible use of colour in table/figures for best practices.

Exact copy from a single source (aka reprinted)

The following example is when it is reproduced in your paper exactly as it appears in another source : Same format or state, no reconfiguration or new analysis.

Compiled from variety of sources

The following example is for citing a figure that you have created by compiling information from a variety of sources. For example, if you combined data from a database, a website , and a government report to create a new chart. Each source requires a copyright attribution in a general note and full bibliographic entry in the Reference List.

See APA's Clip art or stock image references ,  Image with no attribution required ,  Image requires an attribution , or consult the guide directly (Section 12.14–12.18, pp. 384–390 ).

Citing but not reproducing the image? See Visual: Artwork in museum, PowerPoint slides, photographs, clipart/stock image, maps retrieved online in this guide for examples or consult the guide directly (Section 10.14, pp. 346–347).

Image with attribution

Reference list examples

Beletsky, Y. (2013).  Three planets dance over La Silla [Photograph]. European Southern Observatory. https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw1322a/

Euromonitor International. (2020). [Statistical data on market sizes of fresh food]. Passport . Retrieved January 21, 2021, from https://go.euromonitor.com/passport.html

FranceAgriMer. (2020, September). Consommation des produits carnes en 2019 . https://www.franceagrimer.fr/content/download/64994/document/STA-VIA-Consommation%20des%20produits%20carn%C3%A9s%20en%202019.pdf

Natural Resources Institute Finland. (2020). Consumption of food commodities per capita by year and commodity [Statistics database]. http://statdb.luke.fi/PXWeb/sq/d1b368d7-9c07-4efd-b727-13e57db90ee6

Okemasim–Sicotte, D. R., Gingell, S., & Bouvier, R. (2018). Iskwewuk E–wichiwitochik. In K. Anderson, M. Campbell, & C. Belcourt (Eds.), Keetsahnak /Our missing and murdered Indigenous sisters (pp. 243–269). University of Alberta Press.

Irish, J. (2019).  Sequoia National Park.  [Photograph]. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/north-america/united-states/61-national-parks-photos/#/giant-tree-trail-sequoia-national-park.jpg

Drewes, W. (n.d.).  Frog and insects (no.200) . [Painting]. The Smithsonian Institution. https://www.si.edu/object/saam_1968.9.50

• See the General Notes in this guide for help with creating citations with missing information , e.g. using a description if no title—see Euromonitor International in the reference list above.
• For figures compiled from multiple sources, identify individual source information using the following format in the "From" statement: Note . The data for Country Name are from [copyright attribution according to source]. End each copyright attribution with a period.
• Use author-date in-text citation when the data is transformed (reconfigured or reanalyzed) to produce different numbers. (Section 12.15 Data subsection, p. 385).
• If work is published or read online, use live links—check with your instructor for their preference.

Tables are characterized by a row-column structure. See APA's Table set up for detailed information on the basic components of a table, principles of creation, and placement in papers with formatting requirements, or consult the guide directly (Section 7.8–7.21, pp. 199–224).

Exact copy from a single source (aka reprint)

If you have compiled data from a variety of different sources and put it together to form your own table, you still need to cite where you got the information from. Each source requires a copyright attribution in a general note and full bibliographic entry in the Reference List.

British Columbia Ministry of Health. (2019). Baby’s most chosen names in British Columbia, 2019 . https://connect.health.gov.bc.ca/babynames?year=2019

eHealth Saskatchewan. (2019). Most popular baby names for 2019 . https://www.ehealthsask.ca/health-data/babynames/Pages/mostpopular2019.aspx

Government of Alberta. (2019). Alberta’s top baby names . https://www.alberta.ca/top-baby-names.aspx

Manitoba Vital Statistics Agency . (2020). Annual report 2019-2020 . https://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/pdf/2020_vs_annual_report_en.pdf

Williams, C. L. (1992). The glass escalator: Hidden advantages for men in the "female" professions. Social Problems , 39 (3), 253-267. https://doi.org/10.2307/3096961

• For tables compiled from multiple sources, in the "From" statement, identify each individual source information. e.g.: Note . The data for Country Name are from [copyright attribution according to source]. End each copyright attribution with a period.
• ​If you have multiple kinds of data (population figures, consumer information, etc...) in one table you would describe each set of data. e.g.: Note.  Population figures for XYZ are from [ copyright attribution according to source ] and for ABC are from [ copyright attribution according to source ]. Data for pet ownership for XYZ are from [ copyright attribution according to source ] and for ABC are from [ copyright attribution according to source ]. End each copyright attribution with a period.
• Use an author-date in-text citation when the data is transformed (reconfigured or reanalyzed) to produce different numbers. (Section 12.15 Data subsection, p. 385).
• All the sources must have a full bibliographic entry in your Reference List even though the information in the Note  field uses a lot of the same information.
• If work is published or read online, APA recommends using live links— check with your instructor for their preference.

How to Insert an Image on an APA-Style Paper

Harrison pennybaker.

The American Psychological Association (APA) guide is typically used to format works in the social sciences. The guide covers a wide variety of formatting for references, lists, charts, graphs, pictures and other elements of a paper. Inserting an image into an APA-style paper is simple and the guide offers a standard procedure for doing so.

Explore this article

• Choose your image
• Size the image
• Insert a caption
• For example : Figure 1
• Add a photo caption

1 Choose your image

Choose your image. Decide on the image you would like to place in your paper and locate it on your computer. Ensure that the image is appropriate for your paper, then insert it onto the page in the desired location.

2 Size the image

Size the image. The APA has set specifications for image and font size. The height of an image should not exceed standard margins -- determined by the requirements set for your assignment -- and font size used in the caption or photo credit must be between 8 and 14 points.

3 Insert a caption

Insert a caption describing the figure or image. Number the image you are inserting and, if applicable, give the image a title and describe what it is depicting using sentence case style.

4 For example : Figure 1

For example: Figure 1. The solar system. This figure demonstrates the movement of the solar system.

5 Add a photo caption

Add a photo caption. If the image is not your own, you must include the copyright information as instructed by the copyright holder just below the image and above the figure heading. Include this information in your final reference page.

• Remember: using an image that is not your own, without giving credit, is plagiarism.
• 1 Purdue, The Owl: APA Tables and Figures 2

About the Author

Harrison Pennybaker began writing in 2004. He has written as a student and a journalist, specializing in politics, travel, arts and culture and current affairs. He holds a Master of Arts in political science and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in political science.

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How to Write a Table of Contents in APA Style

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APA Referencing guide: Images and Figures

• RefQuest game
• Book APA 6th edition and 7th edition
• Journal article
• Thesis or Dissertation
• Conference/Symposium
• Government publication / report / circular
• Webpage/Internet resource

Images and Figures

• Personal communication
• Citing Business material in APA
• To find out more

How to reference Artwork?

• APA's own guide to referencing ARTWORK

APA does not  provide specific rules or examples for citing images so you may see variations on other guides.  This only occurs with images and figures.  Note: the following is just an interpretation of the rules.

Figures  - graphs, flow charts, maps, drawings, photographs etc. & ​ Tables  - information displayed in orderly columns and rows.

With Figures you could in theory be mentioning them 4 times. 

• List of Figures in Table of Contents

Intext Citation

• Label under the Image/Figure
• Full reference at back of work.

Artist Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Title of the artwork [Format]. Retrieved from URL

Van Gogh, V. (1889). Irises [Painting]. Retrieved from http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/

objects/826/vincent-van-gogh-irises-dutch-1889/

• Image from a Book
• Image from a journal article
• Image from a Website
• Caption on a Figure/Chart
• Tables & Charts
• Table Notes

Format:  Author(s) Surname/Last name, Initials. (Year).  Title . Place of publication: Publisher.

An image from a book is treated similar to any other material referred to within a book.  

Format as above for the Reference list.

Intext citation

Is the picture of the Sunflowers the most iconic artwork in the world (Wallace, 1972)?

Reference List:  

Wallace, R. (1972) The world of Van Gogh, 1853-1890.  New York: Time-Life Books.

Image reproduced from a book source

Figure 1 . Social distances of animals (Fowler, 2008, p. 13)

• Reference List

Fowler, M. (2008).  Restraint and handing of wild and domestic animals  (3 rd  ed.). Ames, IA: Wiley Blackwell.

Treat like a journal article.   Format:  Author(s) Surname/Last name, Initials. (Year). Article title.  Journal title ,  Volume , Page numbers.

Only differences to a journal article reference will be the inclusion of a List of Figures in a Table of Contents and a Figure number as a label under the image/Figure.

Figure 2.  Male holotye of Hypsiboas gladiator (Kholer et al., 2010, p. 584).

Kohler, J., Koscinski, D., Padial, J. M., Chaparro, J. C., Handford, P., Lougheed, S. C., & Riva, I. (2010). Systematics of Andean gladiator frogs of the Hypsiboas pulchellus species group (Anura, Hylidae).  Zoologica Scripta, 39 (6), 572-590. doi:10.111/j.1463-6409.2010.00448.x  

Figure 3 displays the beauty of the panda.

Figure 3 .  A ponderous panda.   Reprinted from National Geographic by S. Pradhan, 2016, Retrieved from http://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/2016/2/darjeeling-red-panda/

Pradhan, S. (2016) A ponderous panda [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/2016/2/darjeeling-red-panda/

Figure 4.    Perugini , C. E. (1878 ) Girl reading . From Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester.  Retrieved from http://artuk.org/discover/artworks/girl-reading-205798. Reprinted with permission.

Perugini, C. E. (1878) Girl Reading . [Painting] R etrieved from http://artuk.org/discover/artworks/girl-reading-205798. Reprinted with permission.

A caption should include

• The word  Figure  (with a capital letter and in italics)
• A number (from 1, in numerical order)
• A title for the figure or brief description of the work
• If the title is standalone then put in italics but if part of a greater work then do not.
• An in text citation for the reference of the source (if not your own work), which includes the Author(s), date and page number for the source, i.e. (Smith, 2010, p.13)

Note that if you modify or create a table from raw data found elsewhere e.g. Central Statistics Office then you should replace the word 'Reprinted' with 'Adapted'.

Similiar to Figures you could in theory be mentioning the Table 4 times;

• List of Tables (always different to list of Figures)

According to the CSO (Table 1) only 17% of all age groups have not used the internet between 2010 and 2015.

Title above the Table:

Table 1 Descriptive title, e.g. Table 1 When People last used the Internet by Age Group in Ireland.

Caption/Label below table

Note . From 'When people last used the internet by age group'. Copyright 2014 by Central Statistics Office. Reprinted with permission.

Reference List:

Central Statistics Office (2014) 'When people last used the internet by age group' [Table] Retrieved from http://www.cso.ie/multiquicktables/quickTables.aspx?id=ica05

• Auckland University of Technology APA library guide for charts Helpful guide for referencing business chart or table material
• Tables are different to Figures in that they are normally in a row-column structure.
• All tables must be referred to in text.
• The information that should appear in the Note  below the table must include the following: Reprinted from Title of Work, by Author.  Retrieved from....Date of Copyright by Copyright Holder.
• This work must have a full bibliographic entry in your Reference List even though the information in the Note  field uses a lot of the same information.

If in doubt check with me at [email protected].

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How to cite images and graphs in your research paper

Table of Contents

If you are confused about whether you should include pictures, images, charts, and other non-textual elements in your research paper or not, I would suggest you must insert such elements in your research paper. Including non-textual elements like images and charts in the research paper helps extract a higher acceptance of your proposed theories.

An image or chart will make your research paper more attractive, interesting, explanatory, and understandable for the audience. In addition, when you cite an image or chart, it helps you describe your research and its parts with far more precision than simple, long paragraphs.

There are plenty of reasons why you should cite images in your research paper. However, most scholars and academicians avoid it altogether, losing the opportunity to make their research papers more interesting and garner higher readership.

Additionally, it has been observed that there are many misconceptions around the use or citation of images in research papers. For example, it is widely believed and practiced that using pictures or any graphics in the research papers will render it unprofessional or non-academic. However, in reality, no such legit rules or regulations prohibit citing images or any graphic elements in the research papers.

You will find it much easier once you know the appropriate way to cite images or non-textual elements in your research paper. But, it’s important to keep in mind some rules and regulations for using different non-textual elements in your research paper. You can easily upgrade your academic/ research writing skills by leveraging various guides in our repository.

In this guide, you will find clear explanations and guidelines that will teach you how to identify appropriate images and other non-textual elements and cite them in your research paper. So, cut the clutter; let’s start.

Importance of citing images in a research paper

Although it’s not mandatory to cite images in a research paper, however, if you choose to include them, it will help showcase your deep understanding of the research topic. It can even represent the clarity you carry for your research topic and help the audience navigate your paper easily.

There are several reasons why you must cite images in your research paper like:

(i) A better explanation for the various phenomenon

While writing your research paper, certain topics will be comparatively more complex than others. In such a scenario where you find out that words are not providing the necessary explanation, you can always switch to illustrating the process using images. For example, you can write paragraphs describing climate change and its associated factors and/or cite a single illustration to describe the complete process with its embedded factors.

(ii) To simplify examples

To create an impeccable research paper, you need to include evidence and examples supporting your argument for the research topic. Rather than always explaining the supporting evidence and examples through words, it will be better to depict them through images. For example, to demonstrate climate change's effects on a region, you can always showcase and cite the “before and after” images.

(iii) Easy Classification

If your research topic requires segregation into various sub-topics and further, you can easily group and classify them in the form of a classification tree or a chart. Providing such massive information in the format of a classification tree will save you a lot of words and present the information in a more straightforward and understandable form to your audience.

(iv) Acquire greater attention from the audience

Including images in your research paper, theses, and dissertations will help you garner the audience's greater attention. If you add or cite images in the paper, it will provide a better understanding and clarification of the topics covered in your research. Additionally, it will make your research paper visually attractive.

Types of Images that you can use or cite in your research paper

Using and citing images in a research paper as already explained can make your research paper more understanding and structured in appearance. For this, you can use photos, drawings, charts, graphs, infographics, etc. However, there are no mandatory regulations to use or cite images in a research paper, but there are some recommendations as per the journal style.

Before including any images in your research paper, you need to ensure that it fits the research topic and syncs with your writing style. As already mentioned, there are no strict regulations around the usage of images. However, you should make sure that it satisfies certain parameters like:

• Try using HD quality images for better picture clarity in both print and electronic formats
• It should not be copyrighted, and if it is, you must obtain the license to use it. In short cite the image properly by providing necessary credits to its owner
• The image should satisfy the context of the research topic

You can cite images in your research paper either at the end, in between the topics, or in a separate section for all the non-textual elements used in the paper. You can choose to insert images in between texts, but you need to provide the in-text citations for every image that has been used.

Additionally, you need to attach the name, description and image number so that your research paper stays structured. Moreover, you must cite or add the copyright details of the image if you borrow images from other platforms to avoid any copyright infringement.

Graphs and Charts

You can earn an advantage by providing better and simple explanations through graphs and charts rather than wordy descriptions. There are several reasons why you must cite or include graphs and charts in your research paper:

• To draw a comparison between two events, phenomena, or any two random parameters
• Illustration of statistics through charts and graphs are most significant in drawing audience attention towards your research topic
• Classification tree or pie charts goes best to show off the degree of influence of a specific event, or phenomenon in your research paper

With the usage of graphs and charts, you can answer several questions of your readers without them even questioning. With charts and graphs, you can provide an immense amount of information in a brief yet attractive manner to your readers, as these elements keep them interested in your research topic.

Providing these non-textual elements in your research paper increases its readability. Moreover, the graphs and charts will drive the reader’s attention compared to text-heavy paragraphs.

You can easily use the graphs or charts of some previously done research in your chosen domain, provided that you cite them appropriately, or else you can create your graphs through different tools like Canva, Excel, or MS PowerPoint. Additionally, you must provide supporting statements for the graphs and charts so that readers can understand the meaning of these illustrations easily.

Similarly, like pictures or images, you can choose one of the three possible methods of placement in your research paper, i.e., either after the text or on a different page right after the corresponding paragraph or inside the paragraph itself.

How to Cite Images and Graphs in a Research Paper?

Once you have decided the type of images you will be using in your paper, understand the rules of various journals for the fair usage of these elements. Using pictures or graphs as per these rules will help your reader navigate and understand your research paper easily. If you borrow or cite previously used pictures or images, you need to follow the correct procedure for that citation.

Usage or citation of pictures or graphs is not prohibited in any academic writing style, and it just differs from each other due to their respective formats.

Cite an Image/Graphs in APA (American Psychological Association) style

Most of the scientific works, society, and media-based research topics are presented in the APA style. It is usually followed by museums, exhibitions, galleries, libraries, etc. If you create your research paper in APA style and cite already used images or graphics, you need to provide complete information about the source.

In APA style, the list of the information that you must provide while citing an element is as follows:

• Owner of the image (artist, designer, photographer, etc.)
• Complete Date of the Image: Follow the simple DD/MM/YYYY to provide the details about the date of the image. If you have chosen a certain historical image, you can choose to provide the year only, as the exact date or month may be unknown
• Country or City where the Image was first published
• A Name or Title of the Image (Optional: Means If it is not available, you can skip it)
• Publisher Name: Organization, association, or the person to whom the image was first submitted

If you want to cite some images from the internet, try providing its source link rather than the name or webpage.

Format/Example of Image Citation:

Johanson, M. (Photographer). (2017, September, Vienna, Austria. Rescued bird. National gallery.

Cite an Image/Graphs in MLA (Modern Language Association) style

MLA style is again one of the most preferred styles worldwide for research paper publication. You can easily use or cite images in this style provided no rights of the image owner get violated. Additionally, the format or the information required for citation or usage is very brief yet precise.

In the MLA style, the following are the details that a used image or graph must carry:

• Name of the creator of the owner
• Title, Name, or the Description of the Image
• Website Or the Source were first published
• Contributors Name (if any)
• Version or Serial Number (if any)
• Publisher’s Details; at least Name must be provided
• Full Date (DD:MM: YYYY) of the first published Image
• Link to the original image

Auteur, Henry. “Abandoned gardens, Potawatomi, Ontario.” Historical Museum, Reproduction no. QW-YUJ78-1503141, 1989, www.flickr.com/pictures/item/609168336/

Final Words

It is easy to cite images in your research paper, and you should add different forms of non-textual elements in the paper. There are different rules for using or citing images in research papers depending on writing styles to ensure that your paper doesn’t fall for copyright infringement or the owner's rights get violated.

No matter which writing style you choose to write your paper, make sure that you provide all the details in the appropriate format. Once you have all the details and understanding of the format of usage or citation, feel free to use as many images that make your research paper intriguing and interesting enough.

If you still have doubts about how to use or cite images, join our SciSpace (Formerly Typeset) Community and post your questions there. Our experts will address your queries at the earliest. Explore the community to know what's buzzing and be a part of hot discussion topics in the academic domain.

Learn more about SciSpace's dedicated research solutions by heading to our product page. Our suite of products can simplify your research workflows so that you can focus more on what you do best: advance science.

With a best-in-class solution, you can handle everything from literature search and discovery to profile management, research writing, and formatting.

But Before You Go,

You might also like.

Consensus GPT vs. SciSpace GPT: Choose the Best GPT for Research

Literature Review and Theoretical Framework: Understanding the Differences

Types of Essays in Academic Writing - Quick Guide (2024)

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• Get Started Here

Basic Paper Setup

Paper sections formatting.

• Citations Types
• Using In-Text Citations
• Reference Quick Guides
• Reference Samples
• Course Material

APA Style has specific rules about the format of your paper. Review the following Academic Writer tutorial to learn how to set up your paper in APA style, including the font, line spacing, margins, paragraphs, and page numbers.

Basic Paper Setup opens a new window

Once you have the basic formatting down for the paper, you'll need to ensure the formatting for the title page, body paragraph, and reference pages also follows APA formatting. Take a look at each section to learn more. 

The title page of a student paper includes the page number in the header and lists the following information centered in the top half of the page.

Title of Paper, bolded

Student Name

Rasmussen University

Course Number: Course Title

Instructors Name

Assignment Due Date (Note: For CBE courses, please use assignment submission date)

For more information on title pages and how to set them up, visit the following Academic Writer quick guide.

Title Page Quick Guide

Body of Paper

• Titled centered and bolded at the top of the page
• One-inch margins (Word default margins)
• Text double-spaces
• The paragraph begins with a 1/2 inch indent (one stroke of the tab key)
• One space between sentences

Reference List

In academic writing, research resources support positions in a paper. Cited sources are listed alphabetically in a reference list, providing access information. The reference list appears at the end of the paper.

• The references list is the last section of the paper and begins on its page.
• The word References is centered and  bolded  at the top of the page
• Entries are double-spaced and are listed in alphabetical order by the first word of the entry
• A hanging indent is used for references that continue beyond one line
• All sources listed in the References section are cited using matching in-text citations within the text of the paper

View example references on the  Reference page  in this Guide.

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APA Referencing: Formatting, Footnotes and Appendices

• In-Text Citation
• Reference List
• Formatting, Footnotes and Appendices
• AI - ChatGPT, Grammarly, Quilbot
• Audio Visual Material - Film, TV, YouTube, TED Talks
• Books, eBooks, Dictionaries, Encyclopedias
• Figures (Including images), Tables
• Health Resources
• Journal Articles, Magazines, Newspapers
• Legal Material - Acts, Regulations, Standards, Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi
• Other - Brochures, Course Handouts
• Personal communication, Intranet, Indigenous Oral Traditions
• Webpages, Blog Post, Social Media
• Theses, Conference Papers, Reports, Grey Literature

For papers or manuscripts being submitted for publication , the order is as follows.

Student assignments will not include all these sections.

• Your tutor may or may not request a cover page for the front of your assignment. Please check with them. If they do request a cover page, there should be a copy of it in Moodle.
• Student assignments do not include an abstract.
• You do have text (the body of your assignment)
• You have a reference list
• You may have tables, figures or appendices depending on your assignment
• APA does not use footnotes for references as it is an author-date citation style. The only time you use footnotes with APA is to provide additional content or copyright attribution (See information below)

Font Size and Line Spacing

Papers or manuscripts being submitted for publication

Check the guidelines set out in the journal you are submitting to or the Whitireia/WelTec Master's theses guidelines. The APA Manual has these recommendations:

• Font size is Calibri 11, Arial 11, Times New Roman 12, Georgia 11, Lucida Sans Unicode 10 (see APA Manual p. 44 for more information)
• Line spacing is usually double-spaced for the entire paper (for exceptions see the APA Manual p. 45)

Student assignments

Check with your tutor or in your programme handbook about what font size and spacing you should use for assignments.

Some options APA suggest for font size are:

• Times New Roman 12

Line spacing

• For the body of your assignment it is usually 1.5
• The reference list is double-spaced. Check out the  APA Referencing Guide to Hanging Indentation  to see how to do this)

APA does not use footnotes for references because it is an author-date citation style where it uses in-text citations to direct the reader to a source in the reference list. The footnote – bibliography method is used in other referencing styles such as MHRA or Chicago etc.

The only time you use footnotes with APA is to provide additional content or copyright attribution .

Content footnotes:

• Additional content that supplements the text
• Should be included only if they strengthen/enhance the discussion

Copyright attribution:

• Copyright attribution is required in a footnote when reproducing lengthy quotations or test/scale items in text

Numbering and Formatting

• Number all footnotes consecutively in the order they appear, use superscript Arabic numerals within the text
• They appear in the footer or on a separate page following references
• If on a separate page - Label section "Footnotes" in bold, centred at the top of the page.  Write footnotes as double-spaced indented paragraphs which begin with superscript footnote number.

Sometimes you may want to include information that supplements your assignment or manuscript's content. Include an Appendix only if it helps your reader understand, evaluate or replicate the study or theoretical argument being made. 

• Begin each appendix on a separate page
• Appendices are after any references, footnotes, tables and figures
• If a paper has one appendix label it Appendix
• If there is more than one appendix, label each with Appendix and a capital letter e.g., Appendix A Appendix B etc in the order in which they are mentioned in text
• Each appendix should be mentioned at least once in the text by its label 
• The appendix title should describe its contents
• Place the appendix labels and titles in bold and centred on separate lines at the top of the page on which the appendix begins
• Use Title Case for the appendix label and appendix title i.e., Main words have a capital letter, minor words have a lower case

Appendix A  (Appendix label)

 List of Research Questions (Appendix title)

• The content of the appendix is formatted the same as the body of the assignment.

For more information see the APA Manual p. 41.

Useful links

Whitireia/weltec library guides.

APA Referencing Quick Guide 

APA Referencing Guide to Hanging Indentation 

Introduction to APA Referencing Guide

Key Changes between APA 6th and APA 7th edition  (University of Auckland)

Paraphrasing Author(s) Multiple Times in a Paragraph 

Whitireia/WelTec Learning Support Guides

Assignment Writing - Covers p lagiarism , paraphrasing

Tūāpapa Online Study Hub Modules. To access go to  Moodle:

Click here if you are a Whitireia student.  

Click here if you are a Weltec student.  

• Log in if prompted
• Click Academic Communication, then   Introduction to APA and Plagiarism & Academic Integrity

Referencing Tools 

APA Interactive, Massey University

APA Style Blog

Referencite, University of Auckland

Referencing software

Mendeley  

Avoiding plagiarism guide 

Hill, D. J. (2015). A beginners' guide to plagiarism: What is plagiarism and how can you avoid it? Ako Aotearoa.  https://ako.ac.nz/assets/Knowledge-centre/RHPF-c57-A-beginners-guide-to-plagiarism/PRACTICAL-GUIDE-BOOK-A-Beginners-Guide-to-Plagiarism.pdf

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How to include pictures in a research paper

It is often said that a picture can speak more than a thousand words. In all kinds of research papers, pictures are essential in adding to the richness of the literature and analysis because of the valuable insight they can offer. For example, pictures of measured data from statistical applications are very important additions to the “Data presentation and analysis” chapter or section of any research paper.

This is because they help to complement verbal discussions or analysis by offering a visual presentation of the statistical technique used to measure the variables of interest. However, where the researcher is not the originator of such pictures, it is very important to cite the source of the picture according to the prescribed format. In the case of statistical applications mentioned above, for example, be sure to disclose which application generated the picture or printout as well as the version of such an application (e.g., SPSS version 27).   

What is a research paper?

A research paper is a form of academic writing which involves formally investigating a field of knowledge or topic of interest in order to add to the existing stock of knowledge in that field and/or solve a particular problem. Educational research is formal because it is not based on the subjective discretions of the researcher but on an accepted and objective standard such as the scientific method of inquiry. Research papers can be of different types. These include term papers, seminar presentations, undergraduate projects, post-graduate thesis or dissertations, conference/workshop papers, and journal entries, among others.

Though these highlighted papers and others can be structured in diverse ways, conducting research in this context basically requires that the researcher identifies a problem or area of interest; formulates research questions and/or hypothesis; reviews the existing literature in the field; collects, measures and analyzes relevant data; discusses the findings; makes conclusions and recommendations based on the findings and then suggests possible directions for future research.

Some things to consider before including pictures in a research paper

As noted above, pictures can complement words to make a research paper richer in terms of providing more insight. However, the researcher must ensure that such pictures are optimally included to generate the desired effects. To this end, some of the tips below can help.

Ensure the picture adds value to your research paper

Pictures may be a necessary aspect of some research papers but this does not imply that they should not be selected meticulously and meritoriously. The researcher must critically evaluate all pictures he or she intends to include in their paper and select only the most relevant, i.e., those that will help illuminate verbal discussions/analysis and consequently deepen the understanding of readers.   

Proper labeling and citation

Research papers are formal documents with rules on how each of them should be written, structured, or formatted. Therefore, ensure that your pictures are labeled according to the rules provided by whoever the paper is meant for (such as a university department or a print journal). The rules are usually determined by Style Guides like the Modern Language Association (MLA), the American Psychological Association, etc. Properly citing the sources of any picture you have borrowed is necessary to enable you avoid plagiarism.

Pictures should be suitably located

After toiling hard to gather the pictures needed for his or her research, the researcher should ensure that the selected pictures are appropriately inserted into the desired areas of the paper. In some social science projects and theses, for example, a tabular presentation of the data used for the research is located on the first page of the fourth chapter titled “Data presentation and analysis.”

Sometimes the researcher may have several pictures that cannot all be accommodated in the main body of a project or thesis/dissertation. In such instances, it will be appropriate to attach such pictures in the “Appendices” section at the end of the paper.

Carry the images along

The pictures do not serve as mere decorations but have been selected to help provide more insight and thus enrich the research paper. To this end, the researcher should ensure that the pictures are properly integrated into the verbal discussions or analysis in the paper.  For example, “Figure 1.0 is a graphical representation of all the differenced variables in the time series.” etc.

Citing pictures in a research paper

There are many kinds of pictures as well as picture sources and they can also be cited in a variety of ways. For simplicity, the examples in this article will focus entirely on how to cite digital (internet) pictures.

Format: Image Creator’s Last Name, First Name. “Image Title.”  Website Name , Day Month Year Published, URL.  

Example: Jones, Daniel. “The Hope Creek nuclear plant.” LearnersHub ,  9 November 2017, www.learnershub.net/2017/09/11/nuclear-technology-explained.html.

Chicago style

Format: Last Name, First Name. M [initials]. “Title.” Digital image. Website Title. Month Date, Year published. Accessed Month Date, Year. URL.

If the picture has no title, then a description can be used instead.

Date Accessed should only be included if the publication date is unavailable.

Example: Jones, Daniel R. “The Hope Creek nuclear plant.”Digital image. LearnersHub ,  Accessed 9 November 2017. www.learnershub.net.

Format: Author’s last name. First initial. (Publication or creation date). Title of image [Type of image]. Name of publisher. Museum or university. URL.

Example: Jones,  R. 2017.   The Hope Creek nuclear plant .[Photo]. National Science Museum. https//:www.nationalsciencemsuem.org/nuclearscience/2017/11/the-hope-creek-nuclear-plant.jpg.

Pictures of all kinds (including tables, charts, graphs, figures, photographs, etc) are useful components in a research paper. This is because of the insight they can bring by complementing verbal discussions and analysis. However, pictures should not be included in a research paper arbitrarily but follow some guidelines such as those presented above.

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