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How to Cite a PowerPoint in APA [A Complete Guide]

November 1, 2023 3.7K views

Citing PowerPoint presentations in APA style is essential for students and researchers. It shows you are following academic rules and gives credit to the original source of the information you use. This guide is designed to be easy to understand and follow, even if you are not familiar with APA style. It includes examples and step-by-step instructions to help you learn how to cite PowerPoint presentations correctly.

Part 1: APA Citation for PowerPoint Presentations

1. PowerPoint Presentation as a Source of Data

PowerPoint presentations can be a valuable source of data for researchers and writers. They can contain a variety of information, including text, images, graphics, and charts. This data can be used to support arguments, illustrate points, and provide evidence for claims.

APA Citation Format

The following is the APA citation format for PowerPoint presentations:

Author(s). (Year, Month, Date). Title of PowerPoint presentation. Presented at Name of conference or event, Location of conference or event.

For example:

APA Citation format


Why people like to use powerpoint as source of data:

  • Easy to access and share

  • Present data in a visually appealing way makes data more engaging and easier to understand

  • Can be used to collect and present data in a variety of ways

2. APA Citation for PowerPoint Presentations

There are three main styles of quoting sources: APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association), and Chicago. Each style has its own specific format for citing sources, which is why it is important to be familiar with the style that you are required to use for your particular assignment or publication.

APA

It is also used in some other disciplines, such as business and education. APA style citations are typically placed in parentheses within the text of the paper, with a full list of references at the end of the paper.

MLA

MLA style citations are typically placed in parentheses within the text of the paper, with a full list of works cited at the end of the paper.

MLA style


Chicago

  • There are two main types of Chicago style: notes and bibliography style and author-date style.

  • Notes and bibliography style citations are placed in footnotes or endnotes at the bottom of the page, with a full bibliography at the end of the paper.

  • Author-date style citations are placed in parentheses within the text of the paper, with a full list of references at the end of the paper.

Chicago style


Why Is APA Useful and Important ?

APA style is a useful and important citation style because it is widely used in a variety of disciplines. It is also a very clear and concise style, which makes it easy to read and understand. Additionally, APA style citations are very informative, providing all of the necessary information to identify the source that has been cited.

Part 2: How to Cite a PowerPoint in APA

1. Citing an Accessible PowerPoint

Citing accessible PowerPoint presentations is essential in various situations where these presentations serve as sources of information, research findings, or educational materials. Below, I'll introduce the circumstances in which citing an accessible PowerPoint may be necessary and provide examples of sources from which these PowerPoint presentations can originate:

Examples of APA Citation for Accessible PowerPoint Presentations:

Citing a PowerPoint from a Public Website:

Author(s). (Year). Title of presentation [PowerPoint slides]. Website Name. URL

Example:

Citing a PowerPoint from a Public Website


Citing a PowerPoint from a Lecture or Meeting:

Presenter(s). (Year). Title of presentation [PowerPoint slides]. Meeting/Lecture Name.

Example:

Citing a PowerPoint from a Lecture or Meeting


You can attach the URL link also if applicable

Citing a PowerPoint from an Educational Institution:

Author(s). (Year). Title of presentation [PowerPoint slides]. Course Name, Educational Institution. URL (if applicable)

Example:

Citing a PowerPoint from an Educational Institution


2. Citing an Unaccessible Powerpoint

In some cases, PowerPoint presentations may not be accessible, either because they are user-generated without proper citation details or are not publicly available. Here are circumstances where citing an inaccessible PowerPoint may be used:

Examples of APA Citation for Accessible PowerPoint Presentations:

Citing a User-Generated PowerPoint:

Author. (Year). Title of presentation [PowerPoint slides]. Unpublished.

Example:

Citing a User-Generated PowerPoint


Additional reminder:

If you are citing an inaccessible PowerPoint, it is important to note that your readers may not be able to access the presentation. You should therefore provide as much information as possible about the presentation

3. How to Cite a PowerPoint with Multiple Authors

If the PowerPoint has just two authors, you may use comma(,) or ampersand(&) to separate them but If the PowerPoint has more than two authors, list the authors by commas only.

Examples of APA Citation for multiple authors PowerPoint Presentations:

Two authors example:

In-text citation:

Smith & Davis, 2023


Reference:

Ampersand to separate authors


Multiple Authors example:

In-text citation:

Smith, Jones, & Williams, 2023


Reference:

Use commas and ampersand to separate authors


Part3: In-Text Citations in PowerPoint Presentations

In-text citations help your audience understand the source of your information and allow them to access more details if needed. We'll provide a brief introduction, examples, and tips for using in-text citations in PowerPoint presentations following APA style guidelines.

Example of citing with author’s name:

citing with author’s name


Example of citing without author’s name in the sentence:

citing without author’s name in the sentence


Example of citing author’s name and year when summarizing:

citing author’s name and year when summarizing


Tips for Citing Sources in PowerPoint Presentations:

  • Be consistent with your citation style

  • Use Slide Number

  • Keep It Concise

  • Pay attention to punctuation and formatting

  • Place your in-text citations near the information

Additional Tip:

You can use a citation manager to help you to cite your sources in APA style. Citation managers can help you to create and format your citations, and they can also help you to keep track of your sources.

Part4: Citation Tools and Software

WPS Office



WPS Office is an essential software tool for creating and checking PowerPoint presentations. WPS supports opening PowerPoint documents and offers a range of features and benefits for creating and editing presentations. Here are some of the features and benefits of using WPS Office Presentation:

Free download and free to use Word, Excel, and PPT: WPS Office is completely free to use, with no hidden fees or subscriptions.

● Powerful PDF toolkit: WPS Office includes a powerful PDF toolkit that allows users to create, edit, and convert PDF files.

Rich template store: WPS Office has a rich template store with over 10,000 templates to choose from, including a variety of scheduling templates.

● Rich functions: WPS Office offers a wide range of features and functions, including the ability to collaborate with others online and to create and edit documents on the go.

● Light weight: WPS Office is a lightweight application that takes up very little space on your computer.

● Support online documents: WPS Office allows users to save and access documents online, making it easy to collaborate with others and to access your files from anywhere.

● Safe and stable: WPS Office is a safe and stable application that has been used by millions of people around the world.

If you are looking for some best online citation tools. Here are three of the best online citation tools:

Grammarly


Grammarly is a comprehensive writing assistant that can help you to improve your grammar, spelling, and punctuation. It can also help you to cite your sources in APA style.

Zotero


Zotero is a free and open-source reference management software. It can help you to collect, organize, and cite your sources.

Easybib


EasyBib is a free online citation generator. It can help you to create APA citations for a variety of sources, including PowerPoint presentations.

How to use Grammarly to cite a PowerPoint presentation in APA style

To use Grammarly to cite a PowerPoint presentation in APA style, follow these steps:

Step 1: Access Grammarly

Grammarly


Step 2: Click on the "tools & Guides" tab and choose for citation generator

Tools & Guides tab and citation generator option


Step 3: Select your citation style (APA, MLA or Chicago)

Citation style


Step 4: Enter the information about the PowerPoint presentation that you want to cite

Fill in the information


Step 5: Grammarly will generate an APA citation for the PowerPoint presentation.

Citation been generate


Step 6: You can then copy and paste the citation into your presentation.

Copy citation


Congratulations, you have successfully generated a citation for your powerpoint slide by using grammarly citation generator.

Here is a summary of different situations when choosing one to use:

  • Grammarly: Grammarly is a good option for users who want a comprehensive writing assistant and citations.

  • Zotero: Zotero is a good option for users who need to manage a large number of sources.

  • EasyBib: EasyBib is a good option for users who need to create APA citations for a variety of sources quickly and easily.

All three of these citation tools are excellent choices, but each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. The best citation tool for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences.

If you are not sure which one to choose, I recommend trying out all three of them to see which one you like best.

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FAQs about how to cite a powerpoint in apa

Q1: How do I cite a source with no author in APA Style?

If you need to cite a source with no author in APA style, you should use the title of the source in the in-text citation and reference list entry. If it is a book or article, use italics for the title; if it is a webpage or report, use quotation marks. Here's an example:

  • In-text citation: ("Title of the Source," Year)

  • Reference list: Title of the Source. (Year). Publisher or Website. URL

Q2: How to cite information quoted in a PowerPoint?

To cite information quoted in a PowerPoint presentation, follow the same rules as you would for any other source. Include the author's name, publication year, and specific slide number in the in-text citation. If the presentation is online, provide the URL. Here's an example:

  • In-text citation: (Author, Year, Slide Number)

  • Reference list: Author. (Year). Title of presentation [PowerPoint slides]. Website Name. URL

Q3: How to cite a slideshow that wasn’t made with PowerPoint In APA?

To cite a slideshow created with software like WPS Office in APA:

In-Text Citation:

  • Use author's name (if available), year, and slide number in parentheses: (Author, Year, Slide Number).

Reference List Entry:

  • Include author's name (if available), year, presentation title in italics, source details (e.g., conference name or URL), and specify it's a PowerPoint presentation. Author. (Year). Title of presentation [PowerPoint slides]. Source Details. URL.

Example:

  • In-text: (Smith, 2023, Slide 5)

  • Reference: Smith, J. (2023). Renewable Energy Trends [PowerPoint slides]. International Renewable Energy Conference.

Summary

The article provides a comprehensive guide on citing PowerPoint presentations in APA style. While emphasizing the importance of proper citations, it mentions the use of software like WPS Office for creating presentations. The guide covers in-text citations and reference list entries for various scenarios, including those with or without authors. Overall, it offers clear instructions for citing PowerPoint presentations effectively in APA format.


15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.