What is included in a proper APA in-text citation?

APA in-text citations require the author, year, and sometimes the page number. Citations can be narrative (author and date provided in the main part of the sentence as subject or sometimes object) or parenthetical (author and date provided in parentheses at the end of the sentence). To use proper APA in-text citations, follow these specific guidelines:

• Include a sufficient number of citations. Make sure that your reader can understand (a) what information is from an outside source and (b) which specific source the information comes from.

• Paraphrase accurately. Remember to follow the Writing Center’s guidelines for paraphrasing, and always include a citation for each paraphrase.

• Use quotation marks around direct quotations. For direct quotations, be sure to also include a page or paragraph number in the citation.

• Use direct quotations sparingly. Rather than copying and pasting whole sections of someone else's work, try to use direct quotations only when necessary.

Additional Resources:

• View more details on how to cite your sources properly in APA.

• See How do I cite in my text? for examples of in-text citations.

• Access the recorded webinar "APA Citations: The Method to the Madness", the webinar "APA Citations Part 2: Nontraditional Sources or the webinar "Using and Integrating Quotes" in the webinar archive.

Further Questions?

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Do you have other general writing questions? Ask OASIS ! 

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