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Figure

The APA defines a figure as any visual element that is not a table. This includes images such as photographs, drawings, plans and maps along with illustrations, infographics and graphs. This page explains how to reference a figure in your paper that was copied or adapted from another author's work. 

Figures that you create yourself do not require a caption and reference list entry. They may, however, require an explanatory note. Please see the APA's sample figures page and the Student Paper Setup Guide for more information.

If you are using clip art or stock images, please see the Clip Art or Stock Images Referencing page on the APA Style blog. Some images do not require an attribution.

General format

If you include a reprinted or adapted figure in your work, you must include a caption below the element (in-text citations are not used for figures) and a reference list entry. It is essential to include a copyright statement in your caption that acknowledges the author/creator of the figure. Reference list entries follow the standard format according to the source of the figure e.g. journal article, book, website etc.  

Caption

Reprinted figure

Note. From “Title", by Author, A. A., Author, B. B. & Author, C.C., Year (URL). Copyright Year by Name of Copyright Holder.

Adapted figure

Note. Adapted from “Title", by Author, A. A., Author, B. B. & Author, C.C., Year (URL). Copyright Year by Name of Copyright Holder.

Reference List

Format in APA style according to the source e.g. website, book, journal article etc.

Examples of copyright statements

The copyright statement added to the end of the caption depends on the way the work is licensed.

  • Use the Copyright year and name of the copyright holder if permission is not required. 
  • Use CC License if Creative Commons licensed.
  • Use Reprinted with permission if permission is required and was provided (in writing) from the copyright holder.
  • Use In the public domain if the copyright has expired. When copyright expires it falls into the 'public domain' and can be freely used.

Permissions not required (paper will not be published)

Caption (if reprinted)

Note. From “Methods for mapping 3D chromosome architecture", by Kempfer, R., & Pombo, A., 2020 (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41576-019-0195-2). Copyright 2020 by Nature Reviews.

Caption (if adapted)

Note. Adapted from “Methods for mapping 3D chromosome architecture", by Kempfer, R., & Pombo, A., 2020 (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41576-019-0195-2). Copyright 2020 by Nature Reviews.

Reference list

Kempfer, R., & Pombo, A. (2020). Methods for mapping 3D chromosome architecture. Nature Reviews, 21(4), 207–226. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41576-019-0195-2

Creative Commons licensed

Caption (if reprinted)

Note. From “Threatened species program: 2020-2040", by Department of Environment and Science, 2020 (https://www.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/209803/threatened-species-program-2020-2040.pdf). Copyright 2020 CC BY 4.0. 

Caption (if adapted)

Note. Adapted from “Threatened species program: 2020-2040", by Department of Environment and Science, 2020 (https://www.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/209803/threatened-species-program-2020-2040.pdf). Copyright 2020 CC BY 4.0. 

Reference List

Department of Environment and Science. (2020). Threatened species program: 2020-2040. Queensland Government. https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/wildlife/threatened-species#species_which_are_threatened 

Permissions granted from the copyright holder

Caption (if reprinted)

Note. From “Forensic Psychology", by Crighton, D. A., & Towl, G. J., 2015 (https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/bond/reader.action?docID=1986937&ppg=288). Copyright 2015 by John Wiley & Sons. Reprinted with permission.

Caption (if adapted)

Note. Adapted from “Forensic Psychology", by Crighton, D. A., & Towl, G. J., 2015 (https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/bond/reader.action?docID=1986937&ppg=288). Copyright 2015 by John Wiley & Sons. Adapted with permission.

Reference List

Crighton, D. A., & Towl, G. J. (2015). Forensic psychology. John Wiley & Sons. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com

In the public domain (copyright has expired)

Caption (if reprinted)

Note. From “Manua islands", by U.S. Department of Congress, 1984 (https://maps.lib.utexas.edu/maps/australia/txu-pclmaps-islands_oceans_poles-samoa_islands-manua_islands-2006.jpg). In the public domain.

Caption (if adapted)

Note. Adapted from “Manua islands", by U.S. Department of Congress, 1984 (https://maps.lib.utexas.edu/maps/australia/txu-pclmaps-islands_oceans_poles-samoa_islands-manua_islands-2006.jpg). In the public domain.

Reference List

U.S. Department of Congress. (1984). Manua islands [Map]. University of Texas Libraries. https://maps.lib.utexas.edu/maps/australia/txu-pclmaps-islands_oceans_poles-samoa_islands-manua_islands-2006.jpg

Style notes

  • Figures require a caption as well as a full reference in the Reference List.
  • In-text references are not used for figures. The caption is used instead.
  • A work is in the public domain if it is out of copyright.