Basic APA In-Text Citations

When someone reads your paper, citations signal that you have used an author’s words, statistics, or ideas. The author’s name or the title of the work (if there is no author) leads the reader to the final reference page, which is alphabetized. This final page lists information that helps the reader locate the original source for information. If you do not cite your sources, your work is considered plagiarized.

If you take more than two words in order from a source, use quotation marks around those words. Include the author’s last name, the publication date, and the page number in your citation.

“An excellent way to improve your vocabulary is to make a file of three-inch by five-inch index cards” (Flemming, 1996, p.33).

If you use the authors name in the wording of a sentence, only the publication date and page number are needed.

Laraine Flemming (1996), author of reading results, says that writing words with their definition on index cards is and “excellent way to improve your vocabulary” (p.33)

If you put an author’s words or ideas into your own words, don’t use quotes, but do cite the source.

Students who want a stronger vocabulary should make flashcards of new words and their definitions ( Flemming, 1996, p.33)

If you are quoting a paraphrase of a primary reference, you must reference both sources within the text. The primary source must be referenced in the written text and the paraphrase in the parenthesis.

Laraine Flemming believed that “Students who want stronger vocabulary should make flashcards of new words and their definitions. (as cited in smith, 2004, p.26)

American psychologist association. Publication of the American Psychologist Association. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2001.

Flemmingm, Laraine. Reading for results. Boston: Hough Mifflin. 1996.

Smith reference is fictitious.