How to Cite Translated Works in APA Style
Referencing is one of those details in academic writing that can seem deceptively simple – until you stumble across a source that doesn’t quite fit the usual template. Whether you’re a writer compiling your own references or a proofreader checking someone else’s academic work, accuracy matters. Clear, consistent citations not only give credit where it’s due but also help readers follow the trail of research.
One type of source that often raises questions is a translated work. How should you format it in the reference list? Do you cite the translator? And what about in-text citations? In this post, we’ll walk you through how to cite translated works in APA style, so you can feel confident tackling this less common but still important scenario.
How to Present Translated Works in a Reference List
First things first! When dealing with a translated work, the reference list entry should be written in the same language as the translation, and this will typically be the same language as the main content of the essay. For example, if the source material is an English translation of a work originally published in Spanish, the reference list entry should be written in English.
The reference list entry should give credit to the right people and clearly explain the origin of the work. In practice, this means that it will need to include the following:
- The name of the translator/s
- The abbreviation “Trans.” after the name/s to show the role
- The year the work was originally published
These standards apply to all translated texts – which could be complete works, such as a book or journal, or elements that are a part of a whole, such as an article in a journal or a poem in an anthology.
Examples of Translated Works in APA Reference Lists
To help you format every translated book correctly, here’s a template you can follow:
[Author Surname], [Initial]. ([Year of publication of translated work]). [Book title] ([Initial]. [Translator Surname], Trans.). [Publisher]. (Original work published [year])
And following this template, here’s an example of a reference entry for a book translated from another language:
Smith, J. (1997). The psychology of pizza (L. Cooke, Trans.). American Psychological Association. (Original work published 1980)
But of course, not every translated work is a book! So let’s take a look at a few examples of other types of sources.
When the source is a chapter in an edited book (for example, one essay from a collection on a theme), this is the template to follow:
[Chapter Author Surname], [Initial]. ([Year of publication of translated work]). [Chapter title] ([Initial]. [Translator Surname], Trans.). In [Initial]. [Editor Surname] (Ed.), [Book title] ([page range]). [Publisher]. (Original work published [year])
And, following this template, here’s an example of an APA reference entry for a chapter in an edited book that has been translated from another language:
Smith, J. (1997). What’s the best pizza topping? (J. Doe, Trans.). In L. Jones (Ed.), An in-depth study of pizza (pp. 9–15). American Psychological Association. (Original work published 1980)
If the source is a journal article that’s been published in translation, here’s the template to follow:
[Author Surname], [Initial]. ([Year of publication of translated work]). [Article title] ([Initial]. [Translator Surname], Trans.). [Journal Title], [volume number]([issue number]), ([page range]). [DOI] (Original work published [year])
To show you how this looks in action, here’s an example of a reference entry for a translated journal article:
Smith, J. (1997). A study of the psychology of pizza (J. Doe & K. Moe, Trans.). The Restaurant Journal, 18(1), 2–10. https://doi.org/10.1139/030271325 (Original work published 1980)
Note that this is an example of an article from an online journal, which is why it includes a DOI. For an article from a print journal, the DOI would be omitted.
How to Cite a Work with the Same Editor and Translator
While it’s not very common, you may occasionally come across a work – for example, a collection of poetry or essays – where the same person acted as both translator and editor. In this case, the person’s name and both roles should be included in parentheses after the title. This makes it clear to the reader that the individual contributed to the work in multiple capacities. Here’s an example of a reference entry for this type of work where the source is a book:
Smith, J. (1997). The psychology of pizza (J. Doe, Ed. & Trans.). American Psychological Association. (Original work published 1980)
How to Format In-Text Citations for Translated Works
If you need a refresher on citations, we’ve got you covered! In-text citations are brief mentions of a source given within the main body of a text. They signal to the reader that a particular idea, quotation, or piece of data comes from a specific source. Every in-text citation should have a corresponding entry in the reference list – and everything in the reference list should, in turn, be tied to at least one in-text citation. This makes it easy for readers to find the full source information.
In-text citations for translated works need to include the author’s name and both the original publication date and the date of the republished translation. The earlier year comes first and is separated from the later year with a forward slash.
To show you what we mean, here’s an example of a parenthetical citation for a translated work:
Many claim that pepperoni is the superior pizza topping (Smith, 1980/1997).
And here is the same source mentioned in a narrative citation:
Smith (1980/1997) argues that pepperoni is the superior pizza topping.
Learn to Proofread Academic Writing
Citing translated works in APA style may feel a little daunting at first, but once you understand the rules, it’s simply a matter of applying them consistently. By giving proper credit to translators and noting the details of both the original publication and the translation, you ensure clarity for readers and integrity for the work itself.
If you’d like to sharpen your skills in referencing – or learn how to spot and correct these details when proofreading – our Becoming A Proofreader course includes a module on working with academic writing and a module dedicated to citations and references. You can even get started with two free lessons to see how our training can support your journey into editing and proofreading.
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