{"id":329,"date":"2025-04-17T16:35:53","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T16:35:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/apa-in-text-citations\/"},"modified":"2025-07-16T18:07:37","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T18:07:37","slug":"apa-in-text-citations","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/apa-in-text-citations\/","title":{"raw":"APA Documentation: Learn It 2","rendered":"APA Documentation: Learn It 2"},"content":{"raw":"

APA In-Text Citations<\/h2>\r\nAPA citations follow specific conventions that distinguish them from other styles. In most cases, APA citations in your text will follow the guidelines illustrated below.\r\n\r\n
\r\n

In-text Citations in APA<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Citation Type<\/strong><\/th>\r\nGuidance<\/strong><\/th>\r\nExamples<\/strong><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n
Single Author<\/td>\r\nList the author\u2019s last name, followed by the year of publication in parentheses. For direct quotes, add a page number after the year.<\/td>\r\n\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • Social class is hard to define (Calvert, 1982).<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Calvert (1982) argued that social class is hard to define.<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Calvert (1982) stated it \u201cvaries by context\u201d (p. 43).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Two Authors<\/strong><\/td>\r\nUse an ampersand (&) inside parentheses and \u201cand\u201d outside of them. Add the year.<\/td>\r\n\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • Social class is becoming obsolete (Calvert & Liu, 1987).<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Calvert and Liu (1987) argued that social class is becoming obsolete.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Three or More Authors<\/strong><\/td>\r\nUse only the first author\u2019s last name followed by et al.<\/em>, even in the first citation. Include the year.<\/td>\r\n\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • The concept has evolved (Calvert et al., 1987).<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Calvert et al. (1987) claimed the concept has evolved.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Group Authors \u2013 With Abbreviation<\/strong><\/td>\r\nOn first citation, write the full name and abbreviation. On later citations, use only the abbreviation.<\/td>\r\n\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2019)<\/li>\r\n \t
  • (NIMH, 2019)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Group Authors \u2013 Without Abbreviation<\/strong><\/td>\r\nWrite the full group name with the year.<\/td>\r\n\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • (Stanford University, 2018)<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Stanford University (2018) reported an increase.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Multiple Works \u2013 Same Author<\/strong><\/td>\r\nSeparate years with commas in chronological order. Use letters for sources published in the same year.<\/td>\r\n\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • (Calvert, 2004, 2005a, 2005b)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Multiple Works \u2013 Different Authors<\/strong><\/td>\r\nSeparate citations with semicolons. List authors alphabetically.<\/td>\r\n\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • (Calvert, 1987; Liu, 2004, 2005; Smith, 2003)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Direct Quotes<\/strong><\/td>\r\nAdd page number to the in-text citation using \u201cp.\u201d or \u201cpp.\u201d for multiple pages. Put quote in quotation marks.<\/td>\r\n\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • \u201cClass structure is shifting rapidly\u201d (Calvert, 1982, p. 14).<\/li>\r\n \t
  • According to Calvert (1982), \u201cclass structure is shifting rapidly\u201d (p. 14).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
No Page Numbers<\/strong><\/td>\r\nUse paragraph number, section name, or heading if no page is available.<\/td>\r\n\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • \u201cGravity is actually the bending of space\u201d (Williams, 2019, para. 5).<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Williams (2019) described gravity as \u201cthe bending of space\u201d (para. 5).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/section>
    This video will show you what in-text citations should look like and explain why you must use them.