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APA Citation: Figures & Images

Figures & Images

A figure is any type of illustration or image other than a table. A figure may be a chart (e.g. flowcharts, pie charts), a graph (e.g. line graphs, bar graphs), a photograph, an infographic, a drawing, a map, plots (e.g. scatterplots) or any other illustration. 

 

Figure Elements

  • Number: The figure number (e.g., Figure 1) appears above the figure in bold.
  • Title: Give each figure a short, descriptive title, and put it one double-spaced line below the figure number in italics and in Title Case. 
  • Image: The image portion of the figure is the chart, graph, photograph, drawing, or illustration itself. For any labels (e.g. axis labels) use sans serif font size 8-14.
  • Legend: If you include a figure legend, or key, to explain any symbols used in the figure, position it within the borders of the figure.
  • Note: A note may appear below the figure to describe contents of the figure that cannot be understood from the figure title, image, and/or legend alone (e.g., definitions of abbreviations, reference information, copyright attribution, etc.). Begin with the word Note. (italicised, period ending) and continue in regular script. 

 

 

General rules

  • In the text, refer to every figure by its number, no italics, but with a capital "F" for "Figure". For example, "As shown in Figure 1, ..." 
  • There are two options for the placement of figures in a paper. The first option is to place all figures on separate pages after the reference list. The second option is to embed each figure within the text. 
  • An embedded figure may take up an entire page; if the figure is short, however, text may appear on the same page as the figure. In that case, place the figure at either the top or bottom of the page rather than in the middle. Also add one blank double-spaced line between the figure and any text to improve the visual presentation.
  • If you reproduce or adapt a figure from another source (e.g., an image you found on the internet), you must include a copyright attribution in the figure note, indicating the origin of the reproduced or adapted material in addition to a reference list entry for the work. Include both, even if the item is in the public domain/copyright free or has a Creative Commons or other open license.

Please check the APA style website for an illustration of a figure in a text.

More information & examples from the  APA Style Manual, s. 7.22-7.36,  pp. 225–250

 

If you only refer to a figure or image that you found in a book, but don't copy/paste it into your assignment, cite as a normal book citation and include the page number of the figure or image in the in-text citation.

 

Figure that you found in a book and reproduce in your text:

 

  • Follow the setup described under the Basics tab
  • In your Note say From if you copied the figure as is; say Adapted from if you made changes to it, and add information of the source
  • Include a copyright attribution, indicating the origin of the reproduced or adapted material. Do so even if the item is in the public domain/copyright free or has a Creative Commons or other open license.
  • Include a full reference for the figure in the reference list
  • If your assignment is going to be published in any way, you may need to get copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce the figure.  You would then say "Reprinted with permission" at the end of your caption.

 

Example:

 

Figure 3

Cultures framework 

Note. The cultures framework places external influences outside the agency boundary, as they are largely beyond any control by individuals. From Culture and Sustainability: Exploring Stability and Transformation with the Cultures Framework (p. 88), by J. Stephenson, 2023, Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25515-1. Copyright 2023 by Janet Stephenson. CCBY 4.0.

 

In-text citation:

As shown in Figure 3, external influences, such as ... 

 

Reference list entry:

Stephenson, J.(2023). Culture and sustainability: Exploring stability and transformation with the cultures framework. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25515-1

 

 

If you only refer to a figure or image that you found in a journal article, but don't copy/paste it into your assignment, cite as a normal article citation and include the page number of the figure or image in the in-text citation.

 

Figure that you found in a journal article and reproduce in your text:

 

  • Follow the setup described under the Basics tab
  • In your Note say From if you copied the figure as is; say Adapted from if you made changes to it, and add information of the source
  • Include a copyright attribution, indicating the origin of the reproduced or adapted material. Do so even if the item is in the public domain/copyright free or has a Creative Commons or other open license.
  • Include a full reference for the figure in the reference list
  • If your assignment is going to be published in any way, you may need to get copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce the figure.  You would then say "Reprinted with permission" at the end of your caption.

 

Example:

 

Figure 2

Overarching themes 

Note. Immediate SWB benefits experienced by all participants. From "The Road to Greater Well-being: Exploring the Impact of an Undergraduate Positive Education Course on University Students' Well-being," by O.L. Pastore, S. McAllister, and M. Fortier, 2023, Discover Psychology, 3(20), Results section, https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-023-00082-6. Copyright 2023 by Springer Nature. CCBY 4.0.

 

In-text citation:

As shown in Figure 2, optimism increased markedly ...

 

Reference list entry:

Pastore, O. L., McAllister, S., & Fortier, M. (2023). The road to greater well-being: Exploring the impact of an undergraduate positive education course on university students' well-being. Discover Psychology, 3(20), https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-023-00082-6.

 

 

If you only refer to a figure or image that you found on a webpage, but don't copy/paste it into your assignment, cite as a normal webpage citation.

 

Figure that you found on a webpage and reproduce in your text:

 

  • Follow the setup described under the Basics tab
  • In your Note say From if you copied the figure as is; say Adapted from if you made changes to it, and add information of the source
  • Include a copyright attribution indicating the origin of the reproduced or adapted material. Do so even if the item is in the public domain/copyright free or has a Creative Commons or other open license.
  • Include a full reference for the figure in the reference list
  • If your assignment is going to be published in any way, you may need to get copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce the figure.  You would then say "Reprinted with permission" at the end of your caption.

 

Example:

 

Figure 4

Languages and Median Age in Canada 

Infographic: Language diversity in Canada

Note. Infographic showing the most common non-official-languages spoken as per 2021 Census. From "Language Diversity in Canada" [Infographic], by Statistics Canada, 2025, (https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2025007-eng.htm). Copyright by His Majesty the King in Right of Canada. Reproduced and distributed on an "as is" basis with the permission of Statistics Canada.

 

In-text citation:

As shown in Figure 4, the three languages spoken most frequently ...

 

Reference list entry:

Statistics Canada. (2025, January 22). Language diversity in Canada [Infographic]. ), https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2025007-eng.htm

 

If you collect information from various sources to use in a figure you create (for example a bar chart that shows the percentage of vegetarians from various countries and in different years), you need to cite all the sources used. 

 

Figure that you create from various information you found:

 

  • Follow the setup described under the Basics tab
  • In your Note indicate all the sources you used to create the figure. Follow this format: The data for ... is from .... and add information for each source
  • Include a copyright attribution for each source, indicating the origin of the reproduced or adapted material. Do so even if the item is in the public domain/copyright free or has a Creative Commons or other open license.
  • Include a full reference for the figure in the reference list

 

Example:

 

Figure 4

Water Consumption Comparison

FIGURE HERE 

Note. Graph showing water consumption rates in several developed countries. Data for Canada is from .... Copyright ... Data for the United States is from .... Copyright ...  Data for Australia is from ..... Copyright .... 

If you create a figure yourself, you will still need to follow APA guidelines in the way you display it, but you do not need to cite it. 

 

Citing your own figures, graphs or images:

 

  • Follow the setup described under the Basics tab
  • In your Note explain the content
  • You do not need an in-text citation or add it to your reference list, because you created the work yourself
  • No copyright attribution is required, because you created the work yourself. You can add a statement that it is your own work
  • See example below and in the APA manual p.247, Figure 7.17 

 

Example:

Figure 1

Mount Baker

Note. Photo of Mount Baker taken from Centennial Beach in Delta, British Columbia. Own work.