How to Cite Technical Manuals

Learn how to properly cite user guides, instruction manuals, and technical documentation in APA format.

Basic Format

Organization/Author. (Year). Title of manual (Version/Model No.). Publisher.

Organization/Author. (Year). Title of manual (Version/Model No.). URL

Examples

Software Manual

Microsoft Corporation. (2021). Microsoft Teams admin documentation (Version 2.0). https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/

Hardware Manual

Apple Inc. (2023). MacBook Pro user guide (16-inch, M2 Pro/Max). https://support.apple.com/guide/macbook-pro/

Technical Documentation

Red Hat, Inc. (2022). Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 system administrator's guide. https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/9/

Key Elements

Manual Identification

  • Include complete manual title
  • Add version or model numbers
  • Specify edition if applicable
  • Note product line or series

Version Information

  • Include software version numbers
  • Add hardware model identifiers
  • Note revision dates
  • Specify update or patch numbers

Access Information

  • Provide direct URLs to documentation
  • Include DOIs if available
  • Note access requirements
  • Specify format (PDF, HTML, etc.)

Special Cases

Additional Guidelines

  • For beta or preview documentation, note status
  • Include language version for international manuals
  • Specify platform or system requirements
  • Note supplementary materials or appendices

In-Text Citations

First Citation

Use the full organization name:

According to Microsoft Corporation (2021), the feature requires...

Subsequent Citations

Use a shortened form:

The documentation (Microsoft, 2021) states...

Online Documentation

Digital Formats

  • Use permalinks when available
  • Include section identifiers for large documents
  • Note interactive or multimedia elements
  • Specify offline availability options

Version Control

  • Track documentation updates
  • Note archived versions
  • Include last updated dates
  • Reference changelog if available

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't omit version or model numbers
  • Don't use unofficial product names
  • Don't cite outdated documentation without noting version
  • Don't forget to specify platform or system
  • Don't ignore access restrictions or requirements