Short in-text citations are used to point the reader to more complete information in the Reference list. Always provide the following in your text (if available):
Here is a great overview video from Western Sydney University:
For more extensive information provided by APA go here: Quoting
For QUOTES provide information about author, date, and the specific part to which you are referring.
SHORT QUOTES: Enclose short quotations (less than 40 words) in double quotation marks and incorporate them in your sentence.
EXAMPLE PRINT BOOK WITH FIXED PAGE NUMBERS AVAILABLE:
According to Smail (2008), Darwinian evolution "follows a rhythm dictated by the rapidity of generational turnover" (p. 99).
One opinion is that Darwinian evolution "follows a rhythm dictated by the rapidity of generational turnover" (Smail, 2008, p. 99).
In 2008, Smail stated that Darwinian evolution "follows a rhythm dictated by the rapidity of generational turnover" (p. 99).
EXAMPLES USING AN ONLINE SOURCE WITH NO PAGE NUMBERS AVAILABLE:
It seems "that there are still substantial theoretical issues at stake that may alter the understanding of evolutionary theory in important ways" (Sloan, 2008, Summary and Conclusion section).
Sloan (2008) concluded "that there are still substantial theoretical issues at stake that may alter the understanding of evolutionary theory in important ways" (Summary and Conclusion section).
Unlike some other scientists, Darwin "did not believe that evolution follows a predetermined direction or that it has an inevitable goal" (O'Neill, 1998-2003, "Darwin," para. 17).
O'Neill (1998-2003) points out that Darwin "did not believe that evolution follows a predetermined direction or that it has an inevitable goal" ("Darwin," para. 17).
LONG QUOTES: Display a quotation of more than 40 words in a block with no quotation marks, indented 1/2 inch from the left margin. Note that the closing punctuation mark precedes the page citation.
EXAMPLE USING AN ONLINE SOURCE WITH CHAPTERS AVAILABLE:
Darwin (1998-2016) concluded the following:
REFERENCE LIST entries for the above examples
For more extensive information provided by APA go here: Paraphrasing
For PARAPHRASES and SUMMARIES provide the author and date information. Although not required, you may include information about the specific part so your reader can find the part more easily.
EXAMPLE:
The speed of human cultural evolution is linked to the turnover rate of cultural entities (Smail, 2008).
OR
The speed of human cultural evolution is linked to the turnover rate of cultural entities (Smail, 2008, pp. 99-100).
Smail (2008) suggested that the speed of human cultural evolution is linked to the turnover rate of cultural entities.
OR
Smail (2008) suggested that the speed of human cultural evolution is linked to the turnover rate of cultural entities (pp. 99-100).
REFERENCE LIST entry for the above examples
For more extensive information provided by APA go here: Author
For TWO authors, cite both names every time. Combine the two names with the word "and" if you use the names in the sentence, but combine them with "&" if you use them in parentheses. Include a page number or other locator if you quote directly.
EXAMPLE:
Clarkson and Mildenberger (2011) conclude that "neither Canada nor Mexico can initiate a trade war without risking its own prosperity" (p. 55).
The economic wellbeing of both Canada and Mexico is dependent on their relations with the United States (Clarkson & Mildenberger, 2011).
For MORE THAN TWO authors, list the first author's last name followed by the words et al. (meaning "and others"). Add a locator if available.
EXAMPLE:
Songer et al. (2012) found that "the actual voting behaviour of the justices is related to the political attitudes they bring to the court" (p. 174).
Recent research shows that "the actual voting behaviour of the justices is related to the political attitudes they bring to the court" (Songer et al., 2012, p. 174).
Songer et al. (2012) concluded that personal ideology was only part of the Canadian appointment process of a justice.
Personal ideology was only part of the Canadian appointment process of a justice (Songer et al., 2012).
For citations with the SAME AUTHOR AND SAME DATE, add the letter a, b, c, etc. to the date. List the citations in alphabetical order of the title in the reference list. For more info, see here
EXAMPLE:
Koriat (2008a) discovered that .... Other research showed .... Koriat (2008b) ...
NO author: Put the title in the author position (abbreviate if long). If the title in the Reference list is in italics, italicize the title in the in-text citation as well. If the title is NOT italicized in the reference list, put it in quotation marks in the in-text citation. Capitalize these titles in the text using title case, even though sentence case is used in the reference list entry. Add a locator if necessary.
EXAMPLES:
One important relationship between nutrition and health is ..... (Good Housekeeping, 1995).
In the health and nutrition section of Good Housekeeping (1995) it states that ...
The effect of lead based ... ("B.C. Wildlife Experts," 2019).
The article "B.C. Wildlife Experts" (2019) describes the effect of ...
REFERENCE LIST entries for the above examples:
For more extensive information provided by APA go here
EXAMPLE ONE - Here, credit is given for each sentence in the author-date parenthetical format. Although this is perfectly correct, it is stylistically not the best writing:
The average person accepts pseudoscience much more readily than real science (Sagan, 1996). One of the reasons is that pseudoscience feeds the illusion of having unrealistic personal powers (Sagan, 1996). Some even go as far as to proclaim that wishful thinking is enough to create the reality we desire (Sagan, 1996). Other branches of pseudoscience satisfy our spiritual longings and promise that we are one with the Universe (Sagan, 1996)
So what could you do differently?
EXAMPLE TWO - a bit better
According to Sagan (1996), the average person accepts pseudoscience much more readily than real science. He states that one of the reasons is that pseudoscience feeds the illusion of having unrealistic personal powers. Some even go as far as to proclaim that wishful thinking is enough to create the reality we desire (Sagan, 1996). Sagan (1996) points out that other branches of pseudoscience satisfy our spiritual longings and promise that we are one with the Universe.
EXAMPLE THREE - a bit better
The average person accepts pseudoscience much more readily than real science (Sagan, 1996). Sagan (1996) states that one of the reasons is that pseudoscience feeds the illusion of having unrealistic personal powers. He declares that some even go as far as to proclaim that wishful thinking is enough to create the reality we desire. Sagan points out that other branches of pseudoscience satisfy our spiritual longings and promise that we are one with the Universe.
EXAMPLE FOUR - better
According to Sagan (1996), the average person accepts pseudoscience much more readily than real science. He states that one of the reasons is that pseudoscience feeds the illusion of having unrealistic personal powers. Sagan declares that some even go as far as to proclaim that wishful thinking is enough to create the reality we desire. He points out that other branches of pseudoscience satisfy our spiritual longings and promise that we are one with the Universe.
EXAMPLE FIVE - better
According to Sagan (1996), the average person accepts pseudoscience much more readily than real science. He states that one of the reasons is that pseudoscience feeds the illusion of having unrealistic personal powers. Sagan declares that some even go as far as to proclaim that wishful thinking is enough to create the reality we desire. Other branches of pseudoscience satisfy our spiritual longings and promise that we are one with the Universe (Sagan, 1996)
EXAMPLE SIX - better
According to Sagan (1996), the average person accepts pseudoscience much more readily than real science. He states that one of the reasons is that pseudoscience feeds the illusion of having unrealistic personal powers. He declares that some even go as far as to proclaim that wishful thinking is enough to create the reality we desire. Lastly, he also points out that other branches of pseudoscience satisfy our spiritual longings and promise that we are one with the Universe.
EXAMPLE SEVEN - even better (combining two sentences)
According to Sagan (1996), the average person accepts pseudoscience much more readily than real science. He states that one of the reasons is that pseudoscience feeds the illusion of having unrealistic personal powers, with some going as far as to proclaim that wishful thinking is enough to create the reality we desire. He also points out that other branches of pseudoscience satisfy our spiritual longings and promise that we are one with the Universe.
EXAMPLE EIGHT- even better (combining two sentences; using a pronoun and other description)
According to Sagan (1996), the average person accepts pseudoscience much more readily than real science. He states that one of the reasons is that pseudoscience feeds the illusion of having unrealistic personal powers, with some going as far as to proclaim that wishful thinking is enough to create the reality we desire. The author also points out that other branches of pseudoscience satisfy our spiritual longings and promise that we are one with the Universe.
EXAMPLE NINE - even better (context makes it clear that the same work is being cited; opening and closing with reference to source; USE CAREFULLY!)
According to Sagan (1996), the average person accepts pseudoscience much more readily than real science. One of the reasons supposedly is that pseudoscience feeds the illusion of having unrealistic personal powers, with some going as far as to proclaim that wishful thinking is enough to create the reality we desire. The author also points out that other branches of pseudoscience satisfy our spiritual longings and promise that we are one with the Universe.
REFERENCE LIST entry for the above examples