APA Style Citation Guide 7th Edition

 

The basics of APA style in-text citations

APA in-text citations must be used when:

• Quoting directly from the source.
• Summarizing content from the source.
• Paraphrasing content or sentences from the source.

If it is not your original thought, you MUST cite it.

Basic parenthetical citation formatting: (Author, year, p. page number). One space after a comma and period.

 

Examples of APA style in-text citations for summarizing and paraphrasing: 

 

One work, one author:

• APA style uses the author-date format of in-text citation (Smith, 2010, p. 45).

When the authors' names are in the narrative, use this format:

• In 2010, Smith (45) stated that APA requires that references are listed alphabetically on the reference page.

 

One work, multiple authors (See section 8.17 Number of Authors to Include in In-Text Citations):

If a work has two authors, use an ampersand (&) between the two last names.

• Writing in APA style takes practice (Jones & Smith, 2007, p. 59).

When the authors names are in your narrative, use the word and between the authors' last names.

• Jones and Smith (2007, p. 59) found...

If a work has three, or more authors, cite the first author, plus et al.

• Citing in APA Style takes patience but you can do it (Jones et al.,2007, p. 59).  

In the narrative, use this format:

• Jones et al. (2007, p. 59) also stated that in addition to patience, citing in APA Style takes attention to detail. 

 

​If you have additional questions, please refer to the APA style manuals or the APA Style Center: In-text citations.

Secondary sources should be citing sparingly. APA recommended citing from the original  or primary source.

Follow this guidance from the APA Style Center when citing Secondary Sources.