89 APA: What Is an In-Text Citation?
Jared Aragona and Christina Frasier
Learning Objectives
- Create in-text citations using MLA style for narrative and parenthetical citation
- Format author names in parenthetical citations
- Format page numbers and other divisions in parenthetical citations
Be sure to follow standard APA format for in-text citations.
An in-text citation is used to let the reader of your work know that an outside source contributed to your writing of a particular phrase, idea, or argument. In-text citations need to be used following every direct quotation and paraphrase/summary that you write.
In-text citation for source with known author
These citations need to include the author’s last name, date that the information was published, and the page (p.) /paragraph (para.) number on which you found the information. If a signal phrase is used earlier in the sentence which includes the author’s name, the name does not need to be included in the citation.
Examples
- Stephen Hawking (2013) describes the climate at Oxford while he was studying there as “very anti-work” (p. 33).
- The climate at Oxford during his studies is described as “very anti-work” (Hawking, 2013, p. 33).
In-text citation for source with unknown author
These citations need to include the title or shortened title of the work in either the signal phrase or in the citation itself, the date when the information was published, and the page/paragraph number on which the information was found. Titles of books and reports are italicized or underlined; titles of articles, chapters, and web pages are in quotation marks.
Examples
- In “Fighting Anti-Trans Violence” (2015), readers are told that while some suggest that transgender individuals should rely on law enforcement for protection, “police often participate in the intimidation themselves rather than providing protection” (para. 2).
- While some suggest that transgender individuals should rely on law enforcement for protection, one source reports that “police often participate in the intimidation themselves rather than providing protection” (“Fighting Anti-Trans Violence”, 2015, para. 2).
In-text citation for source with multiple authors
These citations need to include the authors’ last names, the date when the information was published, and the page/paragraph number on which the information was found. If a signal phrase is used earlier in the sentence which includes the authors’ last names, the names do not need to be included in the citation. If the source has two authors, both authors’ last names need to be listed in the citation.
Examples
- Research by Ishiguro and Garcia (2009), suggest that more scientific study is needed before a conclusion between cause and effect can be drawn (p. 198).
If the source has three to five authors, all the authors’ last names need to be used in either a signal phrase or in the citation the first time the source is cited. After the first citation, only the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” should be used.
Examples
- De Walle, Schmidt, and Lisowski (2010) assert that mainstream scientists and media organizations have ulterior motives when it comes to conducting such research (p. 231).
- The scientists involved in these studies have suggested that mainstream scientists and media organizations may have ulterior motives when it comes to conducting such research (De Walle, Schmidt, & Lisowski, 2010, p. 231).
- However, De Walle et al. (2010) could not provide adequate evidence for this assertion (p. 233).
- However, adequate evidence for this assertion could not be provided (De Walle et al., 2010 p. 233).
If the source has six or more authors, you only need to use the first author’s last name in either a signal phrase or in the citation.
Examples
- Willig et al. (1998) were the first group of researchers to take the issue seriously and perform in-depth research to identify potential negative effects of such events (p. 52).
- The first group of researchers to take the issue seriously and perform in-depth research to identify potential negative effects of such events found some disturbing trends (Willig et al., 1998, p. 52).
In general, be sure that in-text citation cross-references with the first word in the References list.
Example
- Reading offers people a temporary chance to escape from their lives. In reference to this escape, Oates (1988) writes, “Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul” (p. 42).
References
Oates, J.C. (1988). (Woman) writer: occasions and opportunities. Boston: E.P. Dutton.
More information about APA in-text citations can be found here. Purdue’s Online Writing Lab also has examples. Please note that the APA Style site generally does not include page or paragraph numbers in its examples; however, your instructors may require this feature for your citations. Remember to check with your instructor to make sure whether or not you need to include a page or paragraph number.
The MLCKRB (Master List Code Key and Rule Book): An English Grammar & Style Handbook by Jared Aragona, CC BY 4.0