The purpose of an in-text citation is to direct the readers of your paper to the exact source on your "References" list from which you got your information or quotation, with as little interruption to your writing as possible. As stated in the 7th edition Publication Manual: "Each work cited in the text must appear in the reference list, and each work in the reference list must be cited in the text" (p. 257).
An in-text citation in APA style is typically made up of author name(s), and date information (year only), and, for direct quotations, the page(s), paragraph number(s), or other specific indicators denoting where the directly quoted information is located.
Note that the 7th edition Publication Manual states that paraphrasing is preferred to quoting directly in most cases, as this "allows you to fit material to the context of your paper and writing style" (p. 270), and is the preferred method of published authors.
References list citation:
Brooks, D. (2011). The social animal: The hidden sources of love, character, and achievement. Random House.
Paraphrased information, author mentioned in your own text:
Using a modern-day high school as his setting, Brooks (2011) provides examples that demonstrate the typical human tendency to form groups. As he shows, the interaction of these groups often results in a clashing of cultures (p. 74).
(Mentioning the author in your own text instead of in a parenthetical citation often helps to avoid confusion. Page numbers are not required when citing paraphrased information in your text, but you may include one as shown here, especially when the source is long or complex.)
Paraphrased information, author not mentioned in your own text:
In any given society (such as that of a modern-day high school, for example) there is a documented human tendency to form groups. This often results in a clashing of cultures (Brooks, 2011, p. 74).
(Note that only one citation is necessary for paraphrased information occurring in the same paragraph that comes from the same source, as long as it is clear which information is being cited.)
Direct quotation, author mentioned in your own text:
As Brooks (2011) has noted, humans "have a tendency to form groups, even on the basis of the most arbitrary characteristics imaginable" (p. 74).
(Note that page numbers or other location indicators are always required for direct quotes.)
Direct quotation, author not mentioned in your own text:
As research has shown, humans "have a tendency to form groups, even on the basis of the most arbitrary characteristics imaginable" (Brooks, 2011, p. 74).
Direct quotation that leaves out some words of the original quote:
As research has shown, humans "have a tendency to form groups . . . and when groups are adjacent, friction will arise" (Brooks, 2011, p. 74).
Citation information may be placed in parentheses in whole or in part, and the placement of this parenthetical citation information varies according to what you are citing, as well as where the cited information or quote occurs in your own sentence.
You may use any combination of these styles throughout your paper as needed. For more examples of how to format your in-text citations, click on the tab above that applies to the type of source information you have.
References list citation:
Segal, R. A. (2010). Myth and ritual. In J. R. Hinnells (Ed.), The Routledge companion to the study of religion (2nd ed., pp. 372-396). Routledge.
(Note that this example shows a single chapter in an edited book. The author of the chapter, not the editor of the book, is the author you cite.)
Paraphrase, author mentioned in your own text:
English anthropologist Edmund Leach found ritual and myth to be on an equal footing, the only difference being that ritual is defined through action and myth through words (Segal, 2010, p. 391).
(Note that page numbers are not required for paraphrased citations, but one is included here because the source is a book. See "Overview" tab.)
Paraphrase, author not mentioned in your own text:
In his discussion of English anthropologist Edmund Leach, Segal (2010) states that Leach saw ritual as physically performing the same function as that accomplished verbally by myth (p. 391).
Direct quote, author mentioned in your own text:
As Segal (2010) has noted, "ritual is a modern as well as primitive phenomenon" (p. 388).
(Note that page numbers are required for direct quotations. See "Overview" tab.)
Direct quote, author not mentioned in your own text:
While 19th-century religious scholar William Robertson Smith "distinguished primitive and ancient religion from modern, where the heart of religion really is belief and not ritual," later theologians held that "ritual puts into practice the primitive belief that personal gods rather than the impersonal laws of nature regulate the world" (Segal, 2010, pp. 387-388).
(Note here that there are two direct quotes from two consecutive pages of the same source. If the quotes had come from non-consecutive pages, the page numbers would be separated by a comma: pp. 387, 391.)
Place your parenthetical citations so it is clear what information you are citing, but avoid unnecessary citations that interrupt the flow of your sentence(s).
References list citation:
McDonald, G., & Clark, L. L. (2020). Mental health impact of admission to the intensive care unit for COVID-19. British Journal of Community Nursing, 25(11), 526–530. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2020.25.11.526
Paraphrase, authors mentioned in your own text:
McDonald and Clark (2020) examined the potential far-reaching mental effects of time spent in an intensive care unit in patients who have been hospitalized with severe cases of COVID-19.
(Note that page numbers are not required for paraphrased citations. See "Overview" tab.)
Paraphrase, authors not mentioned in your own text:
As research has shown, family members of those receiving ICU care for COVID-19 may experience emotional trauma due to their inability to see and communicate with their loved ones (McDonald & Clark, 2020).
Direct quote, authors mentioned in your own text:
In their study of the potential psychological impact of ICU care on COVID-19 patients, McDonald and Clark (2020) conclude that "it would be naive to believe that a patient who has experienced ventilation, sedation and long ICU inpatient admission can be discharged with no further implications on their wellbeing" (p. 529).
(Note that page numbers are required for direct quotations. See "Overview" tab.)
Direct quote, authors not mentioned in your own text:
Although evidence directly related to COVID-19 patients is currently limited, previous research may be utilized to help "predict and prepare for some of the long-term impacts of the disease on survivors, especially with regard to mental health" (McDonald & Clark, 2020, p. 526).
References list citation:
Morris, I. B., Vasudevan, E., Schedel, M., Weymouth, D., Loomis, J., Pinkhasov, T., & Muratori, M. (2019). Music to one’s ears: Familiarity and music engagement in people with Parkinson’s disease. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 13, Article 661. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.00661
(Note that this example has an article number and no issue number.)
When you have three or more authors, the author you list in your in-text citation (along with "et al.") must be what appears first in your References list entry.
Paraphrase, authors mentioned in your own text:
As Morris et al. (2019) has concluded, the enjoyment of music is highly subjective and varies widely from individual to individual.
(Note that page numbers are not required for paraphrased citations. See "Overview" tab.)
Paraphrase, authors not mentioned in your own text:
Research suggests that the enjoyment of music is highly subjective and varies widely from individual to individual, based on a number of factors (Morris et al., 2019).
Direct quote, authors mentioned in your own text:
Morris et al. (2019) go on to conclude that "music enjoyment is a highly personal human reaction" (p. 8).
(Note that page numbers are required for direct quotations. See "Overview" tab. For this example, the article appears online only, and page numbers are included only in the PDF version. In this case, PDF page numbers may be used for parenthetical citations with direct quotes, but should not be included in the References list citation.)
Direct quote, authors not mentioned in your own text:
Research supports the conclusion that "music enjoyment is a highly personal human reaction" (Morris et al., 2019, p. 8).
Instead of an individual person or persons, a group author may be a professional association, commercial company, government agency, or another kind of organization.
Although it is not required, you may include a parenthetical abbreviation for your well-known group author at first mention in your text, and then can use the abbreviation thereafter, especially if the group name will be repeated several times. (Do not abbreviate the group name in your References list entry.)
The group author you credit in your in-text citation must be what appears first in your References list entry.
References list citation:
American Heart Association. (n.d.). Mental health and heart health. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/mental-health-and-wellbeing/mental-health-and-heart-health
(Note that in this example the only date available was a "last reviewed" date, which should not be used. See the "Helpful Tips" tab of the "Website Article" example for more information.)
Paraphrase, group author mentioned in your own text:
As the American Heart Association (AHA, n.d.) notes, while current research does not definitively prove a connection between heart disease and stress, there is increasing evidence to suggest that the two are linked in concerning ways. The AHA further cautions that those with a serious illness should not dismiss any psychological effects brought on by their physical condition.
Paraphrase, group author not mentioned in your own text:
While current research does not definitively prove a connection between heart disease and stress, there is increasing evidence to suggest that the two are linked in concerning ways. In light of this, those who are experiencing a serious illness should not dismiss any psychological effects brought on by their physical condition (American Heart Association [AHA], n.d.).
Direct quote, group author mentioned in your own text:
While there is currently no definitive evidence connecting heart disease to stress, the American Heart Association (AHA, n.d.) has noted that an increasing number of medical doctors share "a growing belief that it's an additional risk factor, and even more dangerous than some others" (para. 5).
(Note here that a paragraph location indicator is used for this website article that does not include page numbers. See the "No Page Numbers" tab.)
Direct quote, group author not mentioned in your own text:
While there is currently no definitive evidence connecting heart disease to stress, there is "a growing belief" among medical doctors that "it's an additional risk factor, and even more dangerous than some others" (American Heart Association [AHA], n.d., para. 5).
When you have a source for which no author is named (group or otherwise), use the title of your source for your in-text citation.
Follow these guidelines:
Do not use "Anonymous" in place of a missing author, unless your source itself actually lists the name Anonymous as the author credit. (Do not go by the "details" included with some database sources; these often plug in the name "Anonymous" as a substitute for no named author.)
References list citation:
This is your brain (and body) on meditation. (2015, March). Yoga Journal, (272), 74-75.
(Note that in this example the periodical cited has only issue numbers with no volume numbers. This is rare; there is almost always a volume number of some kind if there is an issue number.)
Paraphrase, title mentioned in your own text:
As outlined in the article "This Is Your Brain" (2015), a growing body of research supports the belief that multiple health benefits may be derived from regular mindfulness meditation.
(If working the title of an article into your own text seems awkward, the parenthetical citation style may be a better choice, as shown in the next example.)
Paraphrase, title not mentioned in your own text:
A growing body of research supports the belief that multiple health benefits may be derived from regular mindfulness meditation ("This Is Your Brain," 2015).
Direct quote, title mentioned in your own text:
As indicated in the article "This Is Your Brain" (2015), "mindfulness is increasingly being considered a viable complement to conventional health care" (p. 74).
Direct quote, title not mentioned in your own text:
A growing body of research exists to demonstrate why "mindfulness is increasingly being considered a viable complement to conventional health care" ("This Is Your Brain," 2015, p. 74).
If there is no known date for your References list entry (i.e., you are using "n.d." instead), use the same thing for your in-text citation date: (n.d.). (See the "Helpful Tips" tab of the "Website Article" example for more information.)
The date in your in-text citation must match the date shown in your corresponding References list entry.
References list citation:
Mental Health America. (n.d.). Work life balance. https://www.mhanational.org/work-life-balance
Paraphrase, group author mentioned in your own text:
As Mental Health America (n.d.) notes, the chronic stress produced by failing to maintain a healthy work/life balance can double the risk of heart attack.
Paraphrase, group author not mentioned in your own text:
As current research shows, the chronic stress produced by failing to maintain a healthy work/life balance can double the risk of heart attack (Mental Health America, n.d.).
Direct quote, group author mentioned in your own text:
As Mental Health America (n.d.) reminds us, "the newest research shows that chronic stress can actually double our risk of having a heart attack" (para. 3).
(Note here that a paragraph location indicator is used for this website article that does not include page numbers. See the "No Page Numbers" tab.)
Direct quote, group author not mentioned in your own text:
Prominent among the many negative consequences we may face when failing to maintain a healthy work/life balance is the warning that "chronic stress can actually double our risk of having a heart attack" (Mental Health America, n.d., para. 3).
In APA style, paraphrased information does not require a page number or specific location indicator, while a direct quotation always requires some kind of location indicator.
You may, however, choose to add a page number (or other indicator as appropriate), to the paraphrased information you cite, to help your readers locate the information in your source, especially if the source is long and/or complex (e.g., a book or report).
For articles that appear online as well as in print, a PDF version may be available to indicate page numbers. If your article appears only online but you can still choose an official PDF version to view/print out, you may use the PDF page numbers for your in-text citations as needed (note that this type of PDF page numbering, which typically starts with "p. 1," is not included in the References list entry). Do not use the page "numbers" that may appear when you format an online article for printing in non-PDF form, as these can vary from printer to printer.
See examples below for how to handle those articles for which no page numbers can be found.
References list citation (short website article):
Miller, R. W. (2020, November 26). Here’s how much exercise you should get a week, even during a pandemic, WHO says in new guidelines. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/11/26/how-much-exercise-you-should-you-get-week-health-guidelines/6432362002/
Paraphrase:
According to the guidelines recently released by the World Health Organization (WHO), finding ways to engage in increased physical activity is necessary to fight against the potential negative effects of the sedentary lifestyle most of us have adopted due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Miller, 2020).
(No location indicators are needed for a paraphrased citation from a short online article.)
Direct quote:
According to the guidelines recently released by the World Health Organization (WHO), "adults should get 150 to 300 minutes a week of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity, and that includes older adults and those with chronic conditions or disabilities" (Miller, 2020, para. 3).
(Some type of location indicator is always needed when citing a direct quote. In this example, the paragraphs were counted to get the indicator shown.)
References list citation (long online report):
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. (2021, March 23). One Health Toolkit for Health Officials Managing Companion Animals with SARS-CoV-2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://bit.ly/3cYiYDZ
(Note here that the original very long URL was shortened by using a URL shortener, which APA allows as long as the URL still links to the correct source.)
Paraphrase:
The National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (2021) advises on the circumstances under which companion animals that test positive for COVID-19 may be quarantined at home, and outlines the protocol that should be followed ("When a SARS-CoV-2 Test-Positive Animal Can Be Isolated" section).
(Although no location indicators are required when citing paraphrased information, the cited information would be difficult to find in this lengthy report. In this example, a shortened section title is used. Section titles are put in quotation marks when shortened, but no quotation marks are needed if the entire section title is used.)
Direct quote:
Under certain circumstances, a test-positive companion animal may be kept at home, as long as the proper protocol is followed, This includes "daily monitoring, isolation recommendations, and movement restrictions" (National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, 2021, "When a SARS-CoV-2 Test-Positive Animal Can Be Isolated" section, para. 2).
(In this example, both a shortened section title and paragraph number are used as an aid to finding the direct quotation.)
If you are paraphrasing related information from more than one source in the same paragraph, you can include all your sources in the same parenthetical citation as shown below.
You will never include more than one source in the same parenthetical citation for a direct quotation, as the citation for that must be specific to the source in which the direct quote occurs.
References list citations:
Good, C. H., Brager, A. J., Capaldi, V. F., & Mysliwiec, V. (2020). Sleep in the United States military. Neuropsychopharmacology, 45, 176-191. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-019-0431-7
Hughes, J. M., Ulmer, C. S., Gierisch, J. M., & Howard, M. O. (2018). Single-item measures for detecting sleep problems in United States military veterans. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 33(5), 698-704. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-017-4250-4
Matsangas, P., & Shattuck, N. L. (2020). Sleep quality, occupational factors, and psychomotor vigilance performance in the U.S. Navy sailors. Sleep, 43(12), Article zsaa118. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsaa118
Paraphrase from more than one related source, authors not mentioned in your own text:
Studies have shown the negative impacts of insufficient sleep on active-duty military personnel as well as veterans (Good et al., 2020; Hughes et al., 2018; Matsangas & Shattuck, 2020).
(Note that multiple parenthetical sources are arranged alphabetically by authors' names, to make them easier to find in your References list.)
Paraphrase from more than one related source, authors mentioned in your own text:
Matsangas and Shattuck (2020) as well as Good et al. (2020) have done studies that show the negative impact of insufficient sleep on active-duty military personnel, while Hughes et al. (2018) found the same result in veterans.
(No need to worry about alphabetical order of authors' names if you are mentioning them in your own text.)
If you are quoting or paraphrasing information from someone who is not the author of the source you actually have, you are using information from what APA style guidelines refer to as a "secondary source" (which, in the case of an exact quotation, is also known as an "indirect quotation").
When possible, it is best to track down and cite the original (primary) source of the quote or information, but when you cannot access the original source, cite the source you have as shown below.
"References" citation:
Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://assets.openstax.org/oscms-prodcms/media/documents/Psychology2e-WEB_0eRvAre.pdf
Paraphrase of what someone quoted by the author says:
Humanistic psychologist Carl Rogers offered the belief that unconditional love shown by an individual's parents would likely lead to a stronger sense of self-worth later in life (Rogers, 1980, as cited in Spielman et al., 2020, p. 399).
(Although it is not required, note that a page number is included here so that it will be easier to find the secondary paraphrased information in this primary book source.)
Direct quote from someone quoted by the author:
As humanistic psychologist Carl Rogers has noted, when children are loved unconditionally by their parents, "they tend to develop a more caring attitude towards themselves" (Rogers, 1980, as cited in Spielman et al., 2020, p. 399).
Do not include a secondary source you have not actually seen in your References list; include only the primary source from which you derived the secondary information or indirect quotation.
APA style does not advise the inclusion of an entire website in your References list.
Website information may be included only if you are citing a specific page, article, or other specific information from a site. If you want to make a general mention of a whole website in your own text, you may include the name of the website and the URL for the site's home page in parentheses:
For an overview of this topic, websites such as the one maintained by the National Institute of Mental Health (https://www.nimh.nih.gov) provide a wealth of information on mental disorders and treatments.
These general tips are found throughout the "In-Text Citations" example pages; see individual tabs for more information.