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In-Text Citations
The first step is to correctly cite each source you will use in your paper in your list of sources. Then, when you include a quote or a reference from a source, be sure to correctly cite the source in an in-text citation.
- Introduce your quote with a signal phrase (don’t just copy and paste something from your source!).
- Make sure the quote is in quotation marks.
- Properly cite the quote with an in-text citation. Before the end mark, in parenthesis, type the first word/words of the source listing (this will match your Reference list).
- Wrap up your quote by reiterating for readers what point the quote makes (analysis/evaluation).
The in-text citation must match the first word in the list of sources. So, if your source has an author, you would put the author’s name in the in-text citation and also at the end in the Works Cited. See the following example from a paper formatted using APA documentation style:
Formatting In-Text References
Signal Phrases (also known as transitions)
When you use others’ ideas, you have a variety of options for integrating these sources into your text. The main requirement is that you make it clear within your in-text reference that the information is not yours and that you clearly indicate where you got the idea. The following box shows some alternate phrases for signaling that the ideas you are using belong to another writer. Using a variety of wording makes writing more interesting.
Note: APA uses past tense for the signal phrase (“wrote” “argued” etc.), or past perfect tense (“has written”).
Phrases That Signal an Idea Belongs to Another Writer (APA style includes the date of publication in parenthesis):
- According to Starr (2010)…
- Acknowledging that…
- Starr (2010) stated…
- As Starr (2010) noted…
- In 2010, Starr reported…
- In the words of Starr (2010)…
- It is obvious, according to Starr (2010), that…
- Starr (2010) argued that…
- Starr (2010) disagreed when she said…
- Starr (2010) emphasized the importance of…
- Starr (2010) suggested…
- Starr observed in 2010 that…
- Technology specialist, Linda Starr, claimed that…(2010).
- …indicated Starr (2010).
- …wrote Starr (2010)
Integrating Sources (Using Direct Quotations):
The tables below shows some actual examples of integrating sources within the guidelines of APA. Note how the cited details are woven in with the author’s ideas.
| APA | |
|---|---|
| Explanation | Short Quotations: Place within quotation marks and follow with page number in parentheses (p. #). Include the author’s name and date either in a signal phrase before the quotation or at the end (name, year, p. #). |
| Long Quotations (forty words or more): Place in an inset block of text without quotations. Include the author’s name and date either in a signal phrase before the quotation or at the end (name, year, p. #). | |
| Example #1 | According to Fullan (2001), “Educational change depends on what teachers do and think—it’s as simple and complex as that” (p. 107). |
| Example #2 | “Educational change depends on what teachers do and think—it’s as simple and complex as that” (Fullan, 2001, p. 107). |
Long quotations
In APA, a quotation longer than 40 words should be in block form, like this:
Examples 1:
Author’s Name Not in the Sentence:
If you don’t say the author’s name in the sentence, then the author’s name needs to go in the in-text citation. Remember that direct quotes require page numbers (except websites).
Example:
The author writes, “Not mine, not mine, not mine, but Mrs. Price is already turning to page thirty-two, and math problem number four” (Cisneros, 1991, p. 1).
Author’s Name in the Sentence:
If you do say the author’s name in the sentence (usually in the transition or signal phrase), then the author’s name doesn’t need to go in the in-text citation.
Example:
Cisneros (1991) writes, “Not mine, not mine, not mine, but Mrs. Price is already turning to page thirty-two, and math problem number four” (p. 1).
Website:
Since websites don’t have page numbers, you may manually count the paragraph numbers.
Example:
The author writes, “Not mine, not mine, not mine, but Mrs. Price is already turning to page thirty-two, and math problem number four” (Cisneros, 1991, para. 4).
There are other options for websites in the APA Manual. For example, you can provide a heading or section name, or abbreviate headings.
Examples:
The author says that “masks provide protection from Covid-19” (Smith, 2020, “What You Can Do” section).
The author says that “masks provide protection from Covid-19” (Smith, 2020, Further Information section).
Integrating Sources (Summarized or Paraphrased Ideas):
| APA | ||
|---|---|---|
| Explanation | Author’s name: Either within a signal phrase or in parentheses before the period at the end of the sentence. | |
| Year: Either within parentheses after the name that is used in a signal phrase or after the name and a comma within the parentheses before the period at the end of the sentence (name, year). | ||
| Example #1 | Starr (2010) indicated that teachers’ lack of personal understanding of technology could cause roadblocks to integrating technology into classrooms. | |
| Example #2 | Teachers’ lack of personal understanding of technology can cause roadblocks to integrating technology into classrooms (Starr, 2010). |
Two Authors:
| APA | ||
|---|---|---|
| Example #1 | Merriman and Nicoletti (2008) suggested that US K–12 education must take on a structure that is globally acceptable. | |
| Example #2 | US K–12 education must take on a structure that is globally acceptable (Merriman & Nicoletti, 2008). |
Multiple Authors:
| APA | ||
|---|---|---|
| Explanation | Three to five Authors: List all three authors at first reference (name, name, & name) and the first name plus “et al.” for subsequent references (name et al.). | |
| Six or more authors: For all references, list the first name plus “et al.” (name et al.). | ||
| Example #1 | Borsheim, Merritt, and Reed (2008) suggested that teachers do not have to give up traditional curricula in order to integrate technology. | |
| Example #2 | In fact, it has been argued that technology has become part of education without a great deal of effort from teachers (Borsheim et al., 2008). |
Personal Communication:
| APA | ||
|---|---|---|
| Example #1 | M. Stanforth (personal communication, July 17, 2010) indicated she had been using a computer board in her classroom for three years and could not imagine giving it up. | |
| Example #2 | Many teachers are angry that they are being pushed to include technology because they like the way their classrooms work without it (S. Kennedy, personal e-mail, June 25, 2009). |
Examples with No Authors:
It is recommended that you always choose sources that have an author so that you can determine the author’s credibility; however, if your instructor allows you to use sources (usually websites) with no authors, then follow the formatting rules below.
If a source doesn’t have an author, use the title of the source (such as the title of the web page), or the name of the organization.
APA Summary or Paraphrase:
A dry desert is different from a coastal desert in several ways (Deserts, 2018).
According to Center for Disease Control (2020), wearing a mask helps to prevent one from getting Covid-19.
APA Direct Quote (use paragraph numbers (para.) for websites):
A dry desert “has specific characteristics that differentiate” it from a coastal desert (Deserts, 2018, para. 5).
According to Center for Disease Control (2020), the best way to “prevent transmission of Covid-19 is to wear a mask” (para. 4).
According to one organization, the best way to “prevent transmission of Covid-19 is to wear a mask” (Center for Disease Control, 2020, para. 4).
Video Overview
APA Citation
Exercise 1
1. Go through your essay rough draft and make sure that each in-text citation directly matches the Works Cited or Reference page. For example, if my in-text citation says this–
(Smith, 2019, p. 54)
–then “Smith” must be the first word in my Works Cited:
Smith, J. (2019). Staying safe during Covid-19….
Especially watch that your websites match as well. For example, in my in-text citation says this–
(Center for Disease Control, 2020).
–then “Center for Disease Control” must be the first word in my Works Cited:
Center for Disease Control. (2020). Staying safe during Covid-19….
The same goes for websites without authors. My in-text citation:
(Owl and Mouse Education Software, 2020, “Castles” heading).
My corresponding Reference page:
Owl and Mouse Educational Software. (2000). Castles in medieval times….
Exercise 2
1. Go through your essay and check all of your in-text citations that they are in the correct format.
Additional Resource:
The OWL at Purdue is one of the best websites you can use for how to do proper in-text citations. There are several rules about sources such as quoting a source within a source, citing multiple authors, and more. Because of this, it’s important you use this website to determine how to probably use the in-text citations. Also, check the appendix of this textbook for the MLA/APA guides.
Attribution
- Content created by Dr. Sandi Van Lieu and Dr. Karen Palmer and licensed CC BY NC SA.
