How to Hyperlink an APA In-Text Citation

An APA in-text citation is normally an author–date citation, such as (Tversky & Kahneman, 1974). APA style does not require that callout to be clickable. You can add a hyperlink as a navigation feature without changing the citation’s visible wording or punctuation.

First decide what you want the link to do. An internal link takes the reader from the in-text citation to its entry in the reference list. An external link opens the source online, usually through its DOI or URL. These are different destinations, so choose the one that suits your document.

Keep the APA citation and reference intact

A hyperlink is an optional document feature, not a replacement for APA citation and reference formatting. The in-text citation still identifies the source, and the reference list still gives the publication details readers need. For a work with a DOI, APA 7 uses the DOI in URL form in the reference entry.

For example, the in-text citation could be (Tversky & Kahneman, 1974), with this corresponding reference:

Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1974). Judgment under uncertainty: Heuristics and biases. Science, 185(4157), 1124–1131. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.185.4157.1124

You can make the in-text citation jump to that reference entry, or make it open the DOI. Either way, the visible citation remains (Tversky & Kahneman, 1974). The example uses a published article and DOI; for your own source, use the DOI or URL belonging to that work.

Link a citation to its reference in Word

To make an internal link in Microsoft Word, create a bookmark at the reference entry, then link the citation to the bookmark. Menu names can vary slightly by Word version.

1. Go to the reference list and place the cursor at the beginning of the target entry. You can select the entry instead, but a cursor position is often a convenient target.
2. Choose Insert > Bookmark. Enter a short bookmark name, such as TverskyKahneman1974, and select Add. Bookmark names cannot contain spaces.
3. Return to the in-text citation and select its text, including the author and year but not surrounding punctuation unless you want that punctuation included in the link.
4. Press Ctrl+K on Windows or Command+K on Mac. In the link dialog, choose the option for a place in the current document, select the bookmark, and confirm.

Now clicking the citation should move the reader to the reference entry. The bookmark and link do not add text to the citation. If the link appears with different color or underlining, that is a display style; change it only if your document requirements allow it.

Link a citation in Google Docs

Google Docs can also link text to a bookmark within the document:

1. Place the cursor at the relevant reference-list entry and choose Insert > Bookmark.
2. Select the in-text citation.
3. Choose Insert > Link (or press Ctrl+K on Windows or Command+K on Mac), then select the bookmark as the destination.
4. Apply the link and test it in the document.

If your link dialog does not show the bookmark immediately, check that you created it in the same document and reopen the dialog. Interface labels may change over time.

Link the callout directly to the source

If you want a click on the citation to open the article rather than jump to the reference list, select the citation and insert the source’s DOI URL or web address as the link target. For the example above, the destination is https://doi.org/10.1126/science.185.4157.1124.

Another clear option is to leave the in-text citation unlinked and make the DOI or URL in the reference entry clickable. That way, the reader can see the citation in its usual form and click the source link where the full publication details appear. Use a DOI when one is available; otherwise, use the appropriate URL when the source and APA guidance call for one.

Common mistakes

• Changing the citation to a web address. A URL does not replace the author–date citation in the text.
• Linking to the wrong reference. Check that each callout points to the matching author and year, especially when the same author has multiple works in one year.
• Removing the reference entry. A link is not a substitute for the complete reference-list entry.
• Including punctuation by accident. Selecting the closing parenthesis or sentence period may make it clickable too. This is usually harmless, but select only the citation if you want a tighter link.
• Assuming a Word link will survive every export. Export or save the document as the file type you will submit, then test the hyperlink in that version. If you are submitting to a journal or institution, follow its instructions; it may remove links during production or require a particular appearance.

Use an internal link when your main goal is navigation within a long paper. Use a DOI or URL link when your goal is to open the online source. In both cases, retain the APA author–date citation and complete reference entry.