APAIn-TextCitations Formula and Style
APAIn-TextCitations Formula and Style
For an intext citation of a direct quotation in APA, you need three basic pieces of information:
the author’s family name, publication year and page number. This can be done in a variety
of ways.
“On the chance that they might draw attention away from the subject, first and secondperson
pronouns are frowned upon in school writing” (Gorell, 2005, p. 146).
Gorell writes that “first and secondperson pronouns are frowned upon in school writing” (2005, p.
146).
In her 2005 book Style & Difference, Donna Gorell writes that “first and secondperson pronouns
are frowned upon in school writing” (p. 146).
If you are paraphrasing but not quoting the source, it is best to provide a citation.
It is better not to use I and you when writing papers for class (Gorell, 2005).
Perhaps your source doesn’t include all of these pieces of information. What should you
do? Please look at the chart below.
One author: use the family name (leave out (King, 1967, p. 30)
Jr., etc.), year, and page number.
Two or more authors: use the ampersand (Clinton, Bush, & Lincoln, 2014, p. 2)
(&) and commas. If authors have the same (Obama & Kerry, 2014, p. 453)
last name include both author’s first initials. (J. Smith & P. Smith, 2014, p. 369)
Six or more authors: use only the first (Washington et al., 1776, p. 1)
author’s last name with “et al.” to denote there
are more authors.
Group with easily identifiable (United States Postal Service [USPS], 2014,
abbreviation: the first time you cite, spell out p. 27)
the entire name followed by the abbreviation
in brackets.
In following intext citations, you may use the (USPS, 2014, p. 27)
abbreviation.
Unknown author: mention the source’s title According to “Code of Ethics,” the purpose
in the sentence or use the first word of the of the code is to “serve as a guide to the
source in the citation. everyday professional conduct of social
workers” (2014, para. 1).
Unknown year: instead of a year, write “n.d.” (“Code,” n.d., para. 1).
Missing page numbers: give the paragraph (“Code,” n.d., para. 1).
number after “para.” or a paragraph symbol (“Code,” n.d., ¶ 1).
(¶).
This guide should help you with most basic citation questions. If you have more questions, look
at the Little Seagull Handbook, Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, or
at a trustworthy online source, like Purdue OWL.