Mess up your citations, and your paper could get rejected. Follow this guide to get them right the first time!

Citing sources correctly is crucial in academic and scientific writing, ensuring credibility and proper attribution of ideas. APL Materials, published by the American Institute of Physics (AIP), follows a specific citation format that researchers must adhere to when submitting their work.

This guide will walk you through the key aspects of APL Materials citation style, including in-text citations, reference formatting, and proper citation structures for different source types. By following these guidelines, you’ll avoid citation errors and ensure your work meets academic standards.

In-Text Citations in APL Materials Format

APL Materials follows the numerical citation style, meaning sources are cited using superscript numbers that correspond to the reference list. These numbers appear after punctuation and are listed in the order they appear in the text.

Basic Formatting:

• Single author: The study concluded that material properties improve under extreme conditions¹.
  
  
  

• Multiple authors: Recent findings suggest a correlation between structure and conductivity²,³.
  
  
  

• Citing the same source multiple times: Use the same superscript number each time the source is referenced⁴.

Special Cases:

• Citing secondary sources: If referencing a source cited in another paper, mention the original author but cite the secondary source: Smith’s findings (as cited in Jones⁵) suggest…

• Corporate authors: Use the full name of the organization in the first mention: According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)⁶, advanced materials…

By following this structured citation style, APL Materials ensures clarity and consistency in academic writing.