You must have 85% of your references in your lit review less than 5 years old [some say 85% of your entire dissertation]. Highlight your references, Right Click, Numbering. Note the number. Now, go through and back space out each reference’s number that is older than [or the other way around] 5 years. Do the math. Use this method for numbering paragraphs in a long article as well.
If you cannot find a reference, simply type whatever you know right into the Google search bar. We have about 95% luck finding missing sources this way.
References….The Basics
Keep this URL handy---http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource
If in doubt…. http://www.apastyle.org/apa-style-help.aspx
Sometimes, something is missing, such as when there is no identifiable author or no date. You can download a pdf chart (http://blog.apastyle.org/files/how-to-cite-something-you-found-on-a-website-in-apa-style---table-1.pdf) or (see Figure 1) that lists all the permutations of information that might occur with an online reference and shows how to adapt the reference.
- Use prefixes in alphabetizing names if commonly part of the surname (De Vries).
- Do not use von [however, do use van] in alphabetizing, or Jr., III, or Sr.
- Treat Mc and Mac literally; Mac comes before Mc.
- Disregard apostrophes, spaces, and capitals in alphabetizing; D'Arcy comes after Daagwood, Decker comes after de Chardin.
- Single-author citations precede multiple-author citations of the same year (Zev, 1990 then Zev et al., 1990).
- Alphabetize corporate authors by first significant word. Do not use abbreviations in corporate names.