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APA Style

In academic scholarship, researchers have agreed on specific guidelines about how to format their papers and how to cite their sources. This Guide provides an introduction to the APA style.

In-Text Citations -- The Basics

drawing of a question mark in multiple colors    WHAT ARE IN-TEXT CITATIONS?

APA Style uses the author-date system, in which a brief in-text citation directs readers to a full reference list entry. The in-text citation appears within the body of the paper and briefly identifies the cited work by its author and date of publication. In-text citations create the link from the information you took from another source to the complete citation in the reference list at the end of the paper. You keep them short so you are not interrupting the logical development of the thoughts in your paper.

Each work cited must appear in the reference list, and each work in the reference list must be cited in the text (or in a table, figure, footnote, or appendix).

drawing of a question mark in multiple colors   WHY ARE IN-TEXT CITATIONS NEEDED?

Any information you borrow from other authors must be acknowledged in your paperIn-text citations provide the exact source of the quotation (somebody else’s words), or of facts that were gathered by someone else. They give added authority to your paper. They also provide your reader with leads to other sources and permit the reader to check (verify) the sources that you used to come to your conclusions.

image of a question mark in multiple colors  HOW ARE IN-TEXT CITATIONS PREPARED?

In-text citations are brief references within the text of your paper. They refer the reader to your reference listIn-text citations usually include the author’s last name and date of publication. The reader can then turn to your reference list for complete publishing information. In-text citations can take on two different forms:

  • A parenthetical citation follows the words or facts you borrow from another author: "It is an absolute privilege to share the practices of mindfulness with you" (Saltzman 2018).
  • A narrative citation introduces the words or facts you borrow from another author: Saltzman advises us to be "an athlete who is committed to training not only your body but also your mind and spirit." (2018).

 Note: To keep these in-text citations short, do not list more than 2 authors. If there are more than two authors, put: the first author followed by <et al.>, meaning <and others>.

Using Data

small image of a pie chart, a bar chart, and a graph  When you include actual data like numerical facts or statistics in your work, you also need to clearly state where you saw the data. Make sure to include an in-text citation.

Example:

Amy Saltzman (2018) reports that junior elite soccer players showed an almost 50 % decrease in injuries after only 7 mindfulness sessions.