This guide is representative of the 7th edition Publication Manual of APA and focuses on a student paper structure.
APA examples are not exhaustive and focus on referencing and citations. Assistance from your professor and/or Writing Centre is suggested for clarification.
Users are responsible for interpretation of APA style guidelines and to seek further assistance when necessary.
Effective September 2020.
This video discusses how to create in-text citations in an APA Style student paper.
Each source of information, which you have made a reference for on your reference page, must also have an in-text citation in the text of your paper. The purpose of the reference is to give your reader more information about the sources of information you've used in your paper, so that they could go and find these sources on their own. The format of your reference will vary depending on the type of source your information was from. For instance, you may have used a book or a website, even a movie or some type of social media. Each different source has its own specific format and examples for each source can be found in the APA manual and online using the Georgian College APA Citing Guide or APA Style website.
This might seem overwhelming, but all references have a similar order to their format. As you practice creating references, you will get used to the order of information included in each reference and it will become easier. Just remember that each different in-text citation must have a matching reference.
In-text citations are placed in the text of your paper and can take either a parenthetical or narrative form. In-text citations typically include the author's last name or an organization's name, the year of publication for the information, and if you are quoting the information word for word, you must also include the page or paragraph number for the quote. So, if you're quoting a book, you will likely have a page number. However, if you are quoting something from a webpage, you will likely have to count the paragraphs on the webpage to determine which paragraph the quote came from.
There are two types of ways to include a citation: parenthetical and narrative. In a parenthetical citation, you do not mention the author as part of your sentence. Instead, you put the author's name and year in parentheses at the end of your sentence. If it is a direct quote, you would put the page or paragraph number in there as well. However, alternatively, you can include the author's name as part of your sentence. You will notice in the example above, it says, “…according to Doe…” In this case, Doe is the author's last name and has been included as part of the sentence. In this case, the publication year appears in parentheses beside the author's name, and a paraphrasing of Doe's work follows this in-text citation.
In-text citations take different forms depending on who your author is and how many you have. If you have one or two authors, you will create the in-text citation by including their last names and the publication year of the source. If there is no publication year, you can use “n.d.” instead, which stands for “no date.” Depending on whether you choose to do a parenthetical or narrative in-text citation, and if your source has two authors, you will either need to use an ampersand or the full word “and” in the in-text citation. You'd use the word “and” if creating a narrative in-text citation, but the ampersand if using a parenthetical in-text citation. If you have more than two authors, you do not need to write out all the author's last names. Instead, you include the first author's last name and then shorten the rest to “et al.” followed by the publication year.
Groups or organizations can also be authors, and sometimes they can be shortened to an abbreviation. For instance, Georgian College could be an author, but it is not abbreviated. However, as you'll see in the example above, the National Institute of Mental Health can be abbreviated to NIMH. If you have an organizational author and want to use its abbreviation instead, you must write out the full name in the first in-text citation and put its abbreviation in brackets alongside it. After that, you can just use the abbreviation throughout the rest of your in-text citations.
When it comes to quotes, there are two types: Short quotes, which are under 40 words in length, or long quotes, which are 40 words or more. When you want to quote someone else's words directly in the text of your paper, you place quotation marks around the words you've taken to indicate they were written by someone else. You also need to include an in-text citation with the quote to show exactly where the quote came from.
As mentioned previously, this can be done in either a parenthetical or narrative way. As you can see in the examples, a parenthetical in-text citation appears following the quote and includes the organizational name, the year of publication, and the page number from which the quote appeared. In the narrative example, the author's name appears as part of the sentence, with the publication year beside it in parentheses. The quote is placed directly after this, followed by the page number which is also placed in parentheses. Then the sentence is ended with a period which appears after the page number, rather than at the end of the direct quote.
Long quotes, which are 40 words or more, are formatted a bit differently, but can still be in either a parenthetical or narrative form. Long quotes are always formatted as block quotations. This means the entire quote is indented in a large chunk (0.5 inches from the left margin). They begin on a new line in your paper and do not use quotation marks. The text of your paper should always include a sentence leading up to the block quotation.
For a parenthetical in-text citation, you would not mention the author as part of the sentence. You would include the author's name, publication year, and page or paragraph number in parentheses at the end of the block quotation. The period would appear at the end of the quote, not after the in-text citation.
For a narrative in-text citation, you would include the author's name in the sentence leading up to the block quotation along with the publication year in parentheses. This is demonstrated on the slide where it states, “…as explained by the Government of Canada (2018).” The block quotation then begins on the next line and is indented 0.5 inches from the left margin. Then the paragraph number appears at the end of the block quote in parentheses. The period is placed at the end of the block quote, rather than after the paragraph number.
In most cases, it is preferable to try and paraphrase information rather than quote it directly. By doing this, it shows that you understand what you have learned well enough to explain the information on your own.
The method of citation for paraphrased information remains the same. It can take a parenthetical or narrative form. The main difference is that a page or paragraph number is not mandatory when paraphrasing information as you may not be able to attribute what you have learned to a specific page or paragraph in the original source. If you can, it's good scholarly practice to still include a page or paragraph number with an in-text citation for paraphrased information as it helps your reader know where you got your information from in the original source. However, it is not mandatory to include a page or paragraph number when paraphrasing.
There are many resources to help you learn about APA. For more APA help, contact the Writing Centre and visit the Georgian College APA Guide and the APA website.
Reference list entry includes all 4 elements (who, what, when, where) that lead a reader to the actual source.
In-text citation is an abbreviated connection from the paper to the reference list and usually is composed of the author and the date of the source.
Every in-text citation must have a corresponding and complete reference list entry.
In-text citations can be written in different ways. They can be quotes, paraphrased, or summarized. The in-text citation is written in the parenthetical or narrative format.
Parenthetical in-text citations means the author and the date are both included within brackets, e.g. (Robertson, 2020)
Narrative in-text citations include the author within the sentence or paragraph structure leading to the quote, paraphrase, or summary. The date must still be included but typically is in brackets. Page or paragraph numbers may also be included in the brackets to direct the reader to the specific content. For example: Robertson (2020) stated that "libraries contribute in many ways to students' academic success" (p. 5).
A signal phrase generally introduces the narrative in-text. In the example above, "Robertson (2020) stated" is the signal phrase.
Quoting is the use of the exact words from the source and are inside quotation marks.
Block quoting is a quote that is longer 40 words and is indented within your paper. See Publication Manual Section 8.27.
Paraphrasing information requires you to write it in your own words and not just replace a few words or switch the order. This is considered plagiarism and is an example of patch writing.
Summarizing information requires the main ideas in your own words and should be shorter than the original text. A good example of summarizing is when you explain to someone else what the book or movie is about in a few key sentences. If you are summarizing multiple works, create one in-text citation that lists each work separated by a semicolon. For example: (Chu et al, 2016; MacPherson & Leung, 2019; Smith, 2015). The works should be listed alphabetically. Each work needs to be represented on the references page. See Publication Manual Section 8.12.
When directly quoting from a webpage without page numbers or section headings, count the paragraphs and indicate a paragraph number in your in-text citation:
Here's an example of an article from Oregon State University, News and Research Communications.
Image source: Klampe, M. (2011, August 17). Study: College students not eating enough fruits and veggies [Press release]. Oregon State University: News and research communications. http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2011/aug/study-college-students-not-eating-enough-fruits-and-veggies
Block quotation from this page with paragraph number:
Cardinal, who is an expert in the psychological and social aspects of health and exercise, said the larger take-away message is that proper eating and nutrition is not integrated enough into our society. He said the surveyed students came from OSU, where healthy options are available in dining halls. (Klampe, 2011, para. 7)
Reference list entry:
Klampe, M. (2011, August 17). Study: College students not eating enough fruits and veggies [Press release]. Oregon State University: News and research communications. http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2011/aug/study-college-students-not-eating-enough-fruits-and-veggies
Signal phrases are used to introduce or lead into a quote. They help the reader to know that you are introducing information from another source. Some common signal phrases are reports, illustrates, claims, etc.
Direct quote using a signal phrase, include the author(s), date and page number:
Smith (2014) reported that "...." (p. 43)
Paraphrase using a signal phrase, include author(s), date and page number:
Smith (2014) reported that ....this is a paraphrase and sentence or idea... (p. 43).
Note: Sometimes a page number is required when you use a signal phrase. Use a page number when you are summarizing information from a specific page. If you are using a signal phrase to summarize a whole work, a page number is not required.
Two authors:
If a work has two authors, all of your in-text citations must have both authors, followed by the date.
However, if you have already mentioned the authors in the running text of your sentence, then only list the date.
2. Smith and Brown (2014) reported that...
Notice in example #1, an "&" is used inside the brackets. In example #2, the full word 'and' is used since the authors are mentioned in the narrative text
Three or more authors
If a work has three or more authors, then give the first author's last name followed by "et al." and then include the date:
Group author without abbreviation
If the author of a work is a group (e.g., corporation, association, government agency or study group) then include the group name followed by the year.
Group author with abbreviation
If the group name has a short form, then for the first, in-text occurrence, use the full name of this group, followed by its shortened form in square brackets, then the date. For subsequent occurrences, just use the short form of the group name followed by the date:
...this is a paraphrased sentence or idea (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2014).
This is the second paraphrased sentence or idea (NIMH, 2014).
See Publication Manual Sections 8.17-8.21.
When information to create the reference list entry is missing, see APA Style website or the Publication Manual, Table 9.1. Examples are also provided for the in-text citation to match the reference list entry with missing elements.
You may be reading a source (secondary source) that reports information from another source (primary source).
First, try to find and access the primary source. If you can, complete a reference list entry and in-text citations from the primary source. This is the preferred approach; check with your professor.
If you are unable to access the primary source:
Example:
Let's say you found this article and wanted to create an in-text for the "success of nursing services is an important factor"
Image Source: Kavuran, E., & Turkoglu, N. (2018). The relationship between care dependency level and satisfaction with nursing care of neurological patients in Turkey. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 11(2), 725–733.
It is preferable to find the original article (use the reference list entry to find it) and prepare an in-text and reference list entry from the Evans et al.article, the original source.
Here is an excerpt from the Evans et al. paper that could then be cited and referenced in your paper. In this instance, we were able to find the primary source material.
Image Source: Evans, M. L. , Martin, M. L. & Winslow, E. H. (1998). Nursing care and patient satisfaction. AJN, American Journal of Nursing, 98(12), 57–59.
In-text citation:
In the Evans et al. (1998) paper "nursing care was the primary determinant of overall patient satisfaction" (p. 57).
See Publication Manual, Section 8.6 or APA Style, Secondary Sources.
To directly quote the highlighted section of an article on concussions, see the example below:
Image Source: Davies, S. C., & Bird, B. M. (2015). Motivations for underreporting suspected concussion in college athletics. Journal Of Clinical Sport Psychology, 9(2), 101-115.
Direct quotation in body of paper or report:
"Although most concussions heal on their own within 2-3 weeks (Collins, Lovell, Iversion, Ide & Maroon, 2006), some individuals experience persistent postconcussion symptoms" (Davies & Bird, 2015, p. 103).
Reference list entry:
Davies, S. C., & Bird, B. M. (2015). Motivations for underreporting suspected concussion in college athletics. Journal Of Clinical Sport Psychology, 9(2), 101-115.
In-text citation:
(Davies & Bird, 2015)
See Publication Manual, Section 8.32.
The personal communication citation format in APA is used when an interaction occurs but there is no print or online record of the conversation or transmission of information. Examples of personal communications might include:
Personal communications are not included on your references page. Personal communications are included in your in-text citation.
Example:
(S. Smith, personal communication, April 17, 2020)
See Publication Manual, Section 8.9 or APA Style
Example:
Image Source: Benzie, R. (2020, January 10). Booming Ontario launches push to attract more young people to trades with thousands of jobs unfilled. Toronto Star, https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2020/01/10/booming-ontario-launches-push-to-attract-more-young-people-to-trades-with-thousands-of-jobs-unfilled.html
| In-text | Reference List Entry (hanging indent excluded) | |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Quote | "province's labour pool starved for skilled workers" (Benzie, 2020, para. 1) | Benzie, R. (2020, January 10). Booming Ontario launches push to attract more young people to trades with thousands of jobs unfilled. Toronto Star, https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2020/01/10/booming-ontario-launches-push-to-attract-more-young-people-to-trades-with-thousands-of-jobs-unfilled.html |
| Paraphrase | There is a shortage of skilled workers in Ontario. The Ontario government is encouraging young people to consider the skilled trades as a career (Benzie, 2020, para. 1). | Benzie, R. (2020, January 10). Booming Ontario launches push to attract more young people to trades with thousands of jobs unfilled. Toronto Star, https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2020/01/10/booming-ontario-launches-push-to-attract-more-young-people-to-trades-with-thousands-of-jobs-unfilled.html |
| Summary | Ontario has a shortage of skilled trades workers and the government has recently started a marketing campaign to promote these professions (Benzie, 2020, para. 1). | Benzie, R. (2020, January 10). Booming Ontario launches push to attract more young people to trades with thousands of jobs unfilled. Toronto Star, https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2020/01/10/booming-ontario-launches-push-to-attract-more-young-people-to-trades-with-thousands-of-jobs-unfilled.html |
Example:
Image Source: Benzie, R. (2020, January 10). Booming Ontario launches push to attract more young people to trades with thousands of jobs unfilled. Toronto Star, https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2020/01/10/booming-ontario-launches-push-to-attract-more-young-people-to-trades-with-thousands-of-jobs-unfilled.html
| In-text | Reference List Entry (hanging indent excluded) | |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Quote | Benzie (2020) wrote "the Ontario government is urging more young people to enter the trades" (para. 1). | Benzie, R. (2020, January 10). Booming Ontario launches push to attract more young people to trades with thousands of jobs unfilled. Toronto Star, https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2020/01/10/booming-ontario-launches-push-to-attract-more-young-people-to-trades-with-thousands-of-jobs-unfilled.html |
| Paraphrase | Benzie (2020, para. 1) reported there is a shortage of skilled workers in Ontario. | Benzie, R. (2020, January 10). Booming Ontario launches push to attract more young people to trades with thousands of jobs unfilled. Toronto Star, https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2020/01/10/booming-ontario-launches-push-to-attract-more-young-people-to-trades-with-thousands-of-jobs-unfilled.html |
| Summary | Benzie (2020, para. 1) reported Ontario has a shortage of skilled trades workers. | Benzie, R. (2020, January 10). Booming Ontario launches push to attract more young people to trades with thousands of jobs unfilled. Toronto Star, https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2020/01/10/booming-ontario-launches-push-to-attract-more-young-people-to-trades-with-thousands-of-jobs-unfilled.html |