Lesson 6:
Incorporating Resources

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Understanding Plagiarism

Integrate Your Research

Cite Your Sources

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Cite Your Sources

APA In-Text Citations

To create an in-text citation according to APA format, follow these 4 steps.

After any borrowed information (in quotations or paraphrased), enter a single space, and then the source, a comma, and the year of publication in parentheses.

Use the author's name to indicate the source.
EXAMPLE: (McCryay, 2001)

If there are two authors, use both last names.
EXAMPLE: (Smith & Jones, 2002)

If there is no author, use the title; shorten it if possible. Place quotation marks around article titles and italicize book titles.
EXAMPLE: ("Fun in Libraries," 1998) or (Moby Dick, 1940)

Follow the author's name (or shortened title) with a comma, then the year of publication.
EXAMPLE: (McCray, 2001)

If there is no year, use n.d. for "no date".
EXAMPLE: (Taylor, n.d.)

When citing information contained in quotation marks, insert a space between the quotation mark and the left parenthesis.

EXAMPLE: "Dickinson wore white dresses from the age of twenty-five" (White, 1968).

Put periods, quotation marks, or exclamation points after the right parenthesis. (Except in the case of block quotations. If your quoted segment is longer than 40 words, you have a different set of directions to follow. Check the APA book.)

EXAMPLE: Teasdale broke old stereotypes of women (Smith, 1973).

If the author's name is mentioned in the text, don't put the author's name in the citation. Use only the year in the parentheses.

EXAMPLE: According to Tim Wolfe (1952), Sandburg's best poem was "Chicago."

See also the EWU Libraries web page, Guide to the APA Style.