How to Do APA in Text Citation: A Step-by-Step Guide

Knowing how to do APA in-text citation is essential for academic writing. It ensures you give proper credit to original sources.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the basics of APA in-text citation. APA, or the American Psychological Association style, is widely used in social sciences. Proper citation helps avoid plagiarism and maintains academic integrity. It can seem complex at first, but it’s straightforward with a little practice.

We’ll break down the process into simple steps. By the end, you’ll be confident in your ability to cite sources correctly. Let’s dive into the essentials of APA in-text citation and make your academic writing more credible and professional.

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Introduction To Apa In-text Citation

Learn how to do APA in-text citation quickly and easily. Cite sources within your text using the author-date method. This helps you give credit to original authors and avoid plagiarism.

Importance Of Proper Citation

Proper citation is very important. It gives credit to original authors. This helps avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism is using others’ work without giving credit. Proper citation also shows you did your research.

Readers can check sources for more details. Citations help build trust and credibility. They show you respect others’ work. APA style is one common way to cite sources. It is used in many fields. It is clear and easy to follow.

Basic Principles Of Apa Style

APA style has some rules. First, always cite the author’s last name. Then, add the year of publication. Place these in parentheses. For example: (Smith, 2020). If you quote, add the page number. Example: (Smith, 2020, p. 15).

For two authors, use both last names. Example: (Smith & Jones, 2020). For three or more, use “et al.” after the first name. Example: (Smith et al., 2020). Always put the period after the citation.

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Types Of In-text Citations

Parenthetical citations are inside parentheses at the end of a sentence. They show the author’s last name and the year of publication. For example, (Smith, 2020). This type is often used in academic writing. It helps readers find the source easily. Always put the period after the citation.

Narrative citations include the author’s name in the sentence. The year of publication follows in parentheses. For example, Smith (2020) states that… This method integrates the citation smoothly into your writing. It is useful for emphasizing the author’s name. Both types are essential for proper APA citation.

Citing Single Authors

When citing a single author, include the author’s last name and the year of publication. Place both elements in parentheses. For example: (Smith, 2020). If the author’s name is in the sentence, only include the year in parentheses. Example: Smith (2020) states that…

Make sure to spell the author’s name correctly. Always check the year of publication. Do not forget the comma between the author’s name and the year. Example: (Smith, 2020) is correct. Example: (Smith 2020) is incorrect.

Citing Multiple Authors

Use both authors’ last names in your citation. Place an ampersand (&) between the names. For example, “Smith & Jones (2020) found that…”. If the citation is in parentheses, it should look like this: (Smith & Jones, 2020).

Use the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” This means “and others.” For example, “Brown et al. (2018) discovered that…”. In parentheses, it looks like this: (Brown et al., 2018). This rule applies to all references with three or more authors.

Citing Corporate Or Group Authors

For corporate authors, use the full name of the organization. Do not use abbreviations. Write the name as it appears in the source. For example, you might write “American Psychological Association” rather than “APA”. Include the year of publication after the name. This format is simple and clear.

Sometimes, the name of the corporate author might be long. In that case, you can use the abbreviation in later citations. Write the full name and the abbreviation in the first citation. For example, “National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, 2020)”. In later citations, you can just use “NIMH (2020)”. Always make sure your readers know who the author is. This keeps your writing clear.

Citing Direct Quotes

For short quotes, use quotation marks. Include the author’s last name and the year of publication. Also, add the page number. For example: “This is a quote” (Smith, 2020, p. 15). This format helps readers find the source. It keeps your writing clear and organized.

Block quotes are used for longer quotes. Quotes longer than 40 words. Start on a new line. Indent the whole quote one-half inch. Do not use quotation marks. At the end, include the author’s last name, year, and page number. Example:

Smith (2020) found that:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus imperdiet, nulla et dictum interdum, nisi lorem egestas odio, vitae scelerisque enim ligula venenatis dolor.

Citing Secondary Sources

Secondary sources are works that cite original sources. These can be books, articles, or websites that refer to another source. Understanding them is key for accurate citations.

First, name the original author. Then, write “as cited in” followed by the secondary source author. Lastly, include the year of the secondary source.

Example: (Smith, as cited in Johnson, 2020).

Handling Special Cases

If there is no author, use the title. Write it in italics or inside quotation marks. For example: (“Study of Birds”, 2020). This shows the reader the source without an author.

Use “n.d.” for no date. Place it where the date usually goes. For example: (Smith, n.d.). This helps when sources do not have a publication date.

If the same author wrote multiple works, add a letter after the year. For example: (Smith, 2020a) and (Smith, 2020b). This shows different works from the same year.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Is An Apa In-text Citation?

An APA in-text citation shows where information in your paper comes from. It includes the author’s last name and year of publication.

How Do You Cite A Book In Apa In-text?

Cite a book by including the author’s last name and the publication year. Example: (Smith, 2020).

Where Do You Place Apa In-text Citations?

Place APA in-text citations at the end of the sentence before the period. Example: (Smith, 2020).

How To Cite Multiple Authors In Apa?

For two authors, use “&” between names. Example: (Smith & Jones, 2020). For three or more, use “et al. ” Example: (Smith et al. , 2020).

Conclusion

Mastering APA in-text citation is essential for clear academic writing. It ensures proper credit to sources. Follow the guidelines and practice regularly. It helps avoid plagiarism and enhances credibility. Remember, consistency is key. Use the APA manual for reference. Always double-check your citations.

Proper in-text citation reflects attention to detail. It shows respect for original work. Happy citing!