# APA Format question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apa-format-question/352794>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 15, 2006, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apa-format-question/352794 "2006-04-15T17:32:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Reyemile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@Reyemile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reyemile)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apa-format-question/352794/1 "2006-04-15T17:32:40Z")

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I’m writing a paper for school using the American Psychological Association’s format for citations. One of my sources is a case from the SCOTUS, and I can’t figure out A) how I am supposed to write my bibliographical item and in-text citations for it and B) does it matter if I looked up the ruling directly from the lawbooks or do I need to cite [Findlaw.com](http://Findlaw.com).

Anyone familiar with the format who can help me?

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**Author:** ![Reyemile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@Reyemile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reyemile)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apa-format-question/352794/2 "2006-04-18T03:27:48Z")

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Hey, guys, someone here must have used the APA format at some point, tight?

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**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apa-format-question/352794/3 "2006-04-18T03:31:46Z")

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Well, I haven’t used APA format in a long time, but this website has all the answers you need.

[http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/legalapa.htm](http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/legalapa.htm)

Hope this helps.

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**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apa-format-question/352794/4 "2006-04-18T03:49:56Z")

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> [@Reyemile](#):
>
> B) does it matter if I looked up the ruling directly from the lawbooks or do I need to cite [Findlaw.com](http://Findlaw.com).

No. It does not matter.

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**Author:** ![Mrs\_O\_Malley\_s\_Cow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Mrs\_O\_Malley\_s\_Cow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs_O_Malley_s_Cow)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apa-format-question/352794/5 "2006-04-18T04:09:56Z")

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if you found something from [findlaw.com](http://findlaw.com) then you would need to cite it as a website find. it is better to be safe than sorry. FTR, I hate APA. i used it so much in my undergrad i wanted to puke.