How to Cite a Patent in ASA (7th Edition)

This guide explains how to format a patent citation in ASA (7th Edition). Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a patent in ASA (7th Edition):

Template

Inventor, First Name. Year. "Title of Patent." Country Patent No. x,xxx,xxx. Retrieved Month Day, Year (URL).

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(Johnson 2022)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Johnson, Lisa K. 2022. "System and Method for Adaptive Neural Network Training." U.S. Patent No. 11,345,678. Retrieved March 28, 2026 (https://patents.google.com/patent/US11345678B2).

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the inventor(s)
Invert all inventor names: Last, First. Use "and" before the last inventor.
2
Add the year
Use the year the patent was issued, followed by a period.
3
Write the patent title
Place the title in quotation marks with headline-style capitalization.
4
Include the patent number
Write the country designation and patent number.
5
Add retrieval date and URL
Write 'Retrieved' followed by the date, then the URL in parentheses.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using initials instead of full first names.
Not using the ASA 'Retrieved Date (URL)' format.
Using the filing date instead of the issue date as the primary year.
Omitting the patent number.
Not inverting the inventor name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does ASA use full first names for patent inventors?

Yes. ASA always requires full first names for all authors, including patent inventors.

Should I use the filing date or issue date?

Use the issue (grant) date as the primary year. Include the filing date in the text if relevant.

How does the ASA URL format apply to patents?

Use the standard ASA format: Retrieved March 28, 2026 (URL). The URL should link to the patent record on Google Patents, USPTO, or a similar database.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your patent:

Inventor
Title
Patent Number
Country
Filing Date
Issue Date

Generate citations automatically with CiteDash

Stop formatting citations by hand. CiteDash automatically generates accurate ASA (7th Edition) citations for all your sources while you research and write.

Start Free Trial More ASA (7th Edition) Guides

Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the inventor(s)

Invert all inventor names: Last, First. Use "and" before the last inventor.

Add the year

Use the year the patent was issued, followed by a period.

Write the patent title

Place the title in quotation marks with headline-style capitalization.

Include the patent number

Write the country designation and patent number.

Add retrieval date and URL

Write 'Retrieved' followed by the date, then the URL in parentheses.