Believe it or not, citations for APA style are not much different from MLA style. Both have the same information, just formatted in a different way. What information you can find will make due, just as in MLA style. In APA, citations are considered references, but both have the same purpose. So, let's look at the burden that is references in the APA format: 

Guidelines for the APA Reference Page Are:

• The running title in the top left corner and the page number in the top right corner are still included in the reference page.
• A title labeled "References" will be centered on the line above the references you list.
• Each reference will have a hanging indent, where the first line of each reference is left-indented and the remaining lines below are indented 1/2-inch.
• Double spaced

In-Text References:

• MLA and APA have their difference in how they cite inside a body of work. APA requires the last name and first initial in parentheses. If the author's name is not provided for the reference, placing the title of the article or book should work.
  • Example for Book Reference: You need a citation manager to help with citations for legal protection. (Doe, J. pp. 20)
  • Example for "Authorless" Book Reference: You need a citation manager to help with citations for legal protection. (How to Reference in APA, pp. 20)
  • Example for Website Reference: You need a citation manager to help with citations for legal protection. (Doe, J.)
  • Example for "Authorless" Website Reference: You need a citation manager to help with citations for legal protection. (How to Reference in APA).

Full References at the End of Your Work:

• Criteria for Website Includes:
  • Last Name, F. M. 
  • (Year, Month Date Published).
  • Article title.
  • Retrieved from URL.

 
EXAMPLE LAYOUT FOR WEBSITE:

• Last Name, F. M. (Year, Month Date Published). Article title. Retrieved from URL.

REAL EXAMPLE FOR WEBSITE: 

• Jane, M. G. (2017, August 10). To Be a Mouse. Retrieved from www.tobeamouse.com/weirdtitle.

Note: The only information that will be in every website reference is the "Retrieved from" portion. 

• Criteria for Book References Include:
  • Last Name, F. M.
  • (Year Published)
  • Book Title: Subtitle, Vol. # (issue number)
  • City,
  • State:
  • Publisher.

EXAMPLE LAYOUT FOR BOOK REFERENCE:

• Last Name, F. M. (Year Published) Book Title: Subtitle, Vol. # (issue number) City, State: Publisher.

REAL EXAMPLE OF BOOK REFERENCE: 

• Jane, M. G. (2017) To Be a Mouse, Vol. 2 (4th Ed.) Dallas, TX: Harbor House Publishing.

Remember: Whatever information you can get from each of your sources is what you use. It's not a requirement to seek out for all eternity the information you can't find by looking for it in the book or on the website. But it is a legal issue to not give credit to the people who helped you reach your conclusion and make your point. Don't shy away from citations or references because it looks like a lot of work - embrace them, because they give you credibility and a firm foundation for your readers!

Citations: 

Modig, D. Zeau. (2016, August 10). IIRP Graduate School Writing & APA Style Guidelines. Retrieved from http://www.iirp.edu/pdf/IIRP-APA-Guidelines.pdf.

Easybib. APA Formatting Rules for Your Paper. Retrieved from http://www.easybib.com/guides/students/writing-guide/iv-write/a-formatting/apa-paper-formatting/.

Paiz, J. M., Angeli, E., Wagner, J., Lawrick, E., Moore, K., Anderson, M., Soderlund, L., Brizee, A., Keck, R. (2017, November 11). Reference List: Electronic Sources (Web Publications). Retrieved from https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/.

(2011, March). MLA vs. APA. Retrieved from writingcenter.appstate.edu
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Although styles may seem like you're being put into a box, it's really an expansion that allows your work to be comprehended. APA style has its own box of rules and guidelines that make it unique. It may not be the most popular style used, but it still has benefits that help publishers or readers better understand what you are wanting to say.

The structure of an APA style work has the following:

1. Title Page
2. Abstract
3. Body of Work
4. References

Standard APA Guidelines include:

• 12-point letter size
• Legible font (Times New Romans is preferred)
• Double Spaced (Everything from title to citations)
• 1-inch margins on all sides, left-justified
• Includes page numbers at the top right of each page after the title page.
• Indent every paragraph by 1/2-inch.

Differences APA has from MLA:

• The cover page (or title page) is on a separate page in the center and includes the capitalized title, along with required personal information, all capitalized as well.
• It includes an abstract page after the cover page, which is a single paragraph summarizing your body of work (described in more detail below).
• It includes a "running head," which is a summarized version of your title, in all caps, at the top left corner of each page, including the cover page. "Running Head:" is included on the title page, but the words ("Running Head:") is taken off of any pages following the title page, and it should be less than 50 letters.
• Two spaces follow every period in each sentence. 
• You cannot have hyphenations at the end of a line of text that continues on the next line. 
• In MLA, the citations within the body of the work is cited as last name, while APA style references by last name, first initial. 
  • MLA: (Smith)
  • APA: (Smith, J.)
  • Note: If author's name isn't provided, title of the reference will suffice. EXAMPLE: (How to Write a Book, pp. 10)

Abstract Guidelines Include:​

• 150-250 words for the paragraph.
• It is in past tense, except the conclusion, which is able to be in present tense if you want.
• The word, "Abstract," should be at the top as a title, centered right above your paragraph (No added effects, like bold or italics).
• Double spaced
• Two spaces after every sentence, like in the body of the work.
• No indentation at the beginning of the paragraph, and it is all left-justified.
• This page will have also the running head at the top left and a page number in the top right.
• At the end of your paragraph, the Abstract page will include a list of keywords, which will also hone down your writing even more for your readers. This line requires an indentation of 1/2-inch and the word, "Keywords," will be italicized. 
  • EXAMPLE: Keywords: action, romantic relationships, black hole, aliens 

MLA and APA are not the same thing, and should not be treated as such. Granted, APA style is similar, but it has its quirks among the style guides available. The APA style allows your work to be respectfully and accurately read as you intended. Each style has a great standard to offer any body of work.

Citations:

Alnaggar, Maryam. Abstract Template APA. Retrieved from https://writingcommons.org/abstract-template-apa.

Modig, D. Zeau. (2016, August 10). IIRP Graduate School Writing & APA Style Guidelines. Retrieved from http://www.iirp.edu/pdf/IIRP-APA-Guidelines.pdf.

Easybib. APA Formatting Rules for Your Paper. Retrieved from http://www.easybib.com/guides/students/writing-guide/iv-write/a-formatting/apa-paper-formatting/.

Although formatting can be tough when getting a book or paper ready for final revision, it doesn't have to be painful. APA Style isn't as popular as MLA style, but it's still the next in line for  being the most used. There are enough difference between MLA style and APA style that it is important to cover the basics.