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APA 7: In-Text Citations

Crediting Sources in the Text of Your Paper

  • The in-text citations in your paper lead your reader to the full citations on the References page. The references page starts on a new page at the end of your paper.
  • Be sure your reference list and in-text citations match.
  • APA style uses the author-date method of citation. Include the author’s last name (s) and publication year of the source you used to support your work.
  • Use either parenthetical (author, year in parenthesis) or narrative citations per the examples below.

Example: Citation format – one work by a single author

Parenthetical:     A recent study on viral infections in children (Percival, 2020) suggests that ....

Narrative:            In a study of viral infections in children, Percival (2020) discovered that…   (When referring to an author in the text, include the publication year in parenthesis)

Reference List:    Percival, A. A. (2020). Viral infections in young children. Journal of Sickness, 45(2), 150-155. https://doi.org/xxx1213131

Common Reference Examples

This table notes common reference examples. If your citations include authors with the same last name, have the same author or date, or if you have other questions, see the Publication Manual, pp. 267-269.

Number

of authors

How to cite

Example

Two authors

Cite both names each and every time the reference occurs in the text

Narrative:    “and” is used when you write the author’s names in a sentence outside of parentheses

 Kramer and Sewell (2020) concur that the new APA format ...

                         

Parenthetical:    “&” is used when the author’s names are listed (in parentheses), in tables and captions, and in the reference list

Students find the new APA format accessible (Kramer & Sewell, 2009).

Three or more authors

Use the first author’s surname and “et al.” in every citation.*

All citations: 

(Ruppel et al., 2020) or Ruppel et al. (2020)

Well-known  group names that are known by acronyms

Use the full group name first, include the acronym in brackets, then abbreviate

First citation:   (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2020)

OR           … according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 2020)   

Subsequent citations:  According to the CDC (2020) OR (CDC, 2020)

*  If using the author’s name and et al. creates confusion because you’re citing several articles that start with the same names, include as many names as needed to make it clear to which reference you’re referring.

Citing the same source in a paragraph

When making multiple narrative references to the same source within a paragraph, include the author(s) and date the first time you cite the source. You can then omit the date in subsequent in-text citations ONLY within the same paragraph. When using (parenthetical citations), always include the year. 

Citing the DIFFERENT sources in the same paragraph

You can cite several sources in a paragraph as long as it is clear to the reader from which source your information came. You must include the author(s) and date for each citation. See https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/citations/paraphrasing


Sources without an author

No author: For sources without an author, follow these examples in the text of your paper. It helps to create the reference first. Use quotes or italics as noted, and capitalize all significant title words. Examples (see the Publication Manual, pp 264-265):

  • Is the title you are citing in-text written in italics in your reference? Then use italics in your in-text citation and capitalize all important words ONLY in the in-text citation: (Greater Delaware Valley Industrial Buying Guide, 2020) Generally, use italics to cite a book, brochure, report, or website in-text
  • When citing an article or chapter title without an author, use “double quotes” for the in-text citation and capitalize important words:  An article about school reform ("No Child Left Behind," 2007)...

Sources Without a Date

For sources without a date of publication, use n.d. for both the citation and in the reference list:

One study found keyword searches more efficient than full-text searches (Rup, n.d.)

Secondary Sources: citing a work discussed in another work

Secondary sources are works cited in another’s work, such as in a literature review. Generally, you want to use secondary sources sparingly; it is best to go to the original source of information. If in doubt about using a secondary source, check with your instructor.

When citing a work referenced in another’s work, cite in the text of your paper the ORIGINAL information that supports your research (including the year, if available, and the page/paragraph numbers for a direct quote). In your reference list, cite the source you actually READ.

In the text of your paper, cite the ORIGINAL work supporting your research. Example:

                        (Ruppel, 2015, as cited in Wukowitz, 2018)…

In your reference list, however, cite the work you READ which mentions this study:

Wukowitz, L. (2018). Undergraduate use of research databases: Instruction and assessment.

     Library Research Quarterly, 4(6), 523-533.

Personal communications

Personal communications include phone calls, letters, e-mails, memos, and people you interview. These sources are cited in the paper's text but generally not in the reference list because another researcher couldn’t easily locate the source. You may want to verify your professor's preference in this matter.

Include the person's initials, last name, and the date of communication; it is not necessary to indicate the type of communication, although it is best to check with your instructor about this topic. Examples:

               K. K. Ruppel (personal communication, September 1, 2020)...

            …in a memo to staff (D. J. Slowik, personal communication, August 7, 2018)

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