How to Cite Sources in the Body of Your Paper
For APA style, you will need the following information for in-text citation of your sources:
- Name of the author
- Year of publication
- Page number, if applicable
This information goes in parentheses at the end of the quotation, after the final quotation mark. Separate the author name, date, and page number (preceded by "p.") by commas. All punctuation should come after the parentheses.
Example:
"Sinkholes are a result of decaying limestone" (Fremont, 2001, p. 52).
If you include the author's name in your sentence, put the year of publication in parentheses immediately after the name. At the end of the quotation, give the page number (preceded by "p.") followed by final punctuation.
Example:
As Fremont (2001) maintains, we can "avoid disastrous sinkholes by restricting the amount of weight we place on the earth" (p. 73).
Page numbers are not required when you are referencing the complete work.
Example:
Fremont (2001) has done extensive research on the characteristics of limestone.
How to Cite Sources in Your Paper
Citing a Source with Two Authors
If your source has two authors, give both names in the sentence or in the parenthetical citation. When you give the names in the sentence, include the year in parentheses. Use "and" in the sentence, and "&" in the parentheses.
Example:
Research by Smith and Jones (1997) showed....
(Smith & Jones, 1997)
Note that page numbers are not used when you are referencing the complete source. If you are quoting from the source, page numbers are needed.
Example:
Smith and Jones (1997) state that "the gravitational force..." (p. 29).
Citing a Source with Three or More Authors
When your source has three to five authors, the first citation should cite all the authors' names and the date.
Example:
Research by Smith, Jones, Kerns, and Crosby (2002) indicates that...
(Smith, Jones, Kerns, & Crosby, 2002)
In subsequent citations, only use the first author's name, followed by "et al." (note that only "al." contains a period). In the parenthetical citation, insert a comma between "et al." and the publication year.
Example:
Research by Smith et al. (2002) indicates that...
(Smith et al., 2002)
When your source has six or more authors, always use only the first author's name, followed by "et al." and the date.
Example:
Johnson et al. (2005) show that...
(Johnson et al., 2005)
Citing Paragraph Numbers Instead of Page Numbers
When your source does not have page numbers but has numbered paragraphs, use the ¶ symbol or the abbreviation "para." followed by the paragraph number. If the paragraphs are not numbered, but the document includes headings, provide the heading and specify the paragraph under that heading.
Example:
"Postal mail," said Benjamin Billings, "has become almost obsolete with e-mail and the increasingly popular media" (Billings, 2001, ¶ 9), (Billings, 2001, para. 9) or (Billings, 2001, Effects section, para. 2)
"Postal mail," said Benjamin Billings, "has become almost obsolete with e-mail and the increasingly popular media" (Billings, 2001, ¶ 9), (Billings, 2001, para. 9) or (Billings, 2001, Effects section, para. 2)
Citing Literary Works
For classic works, such as plays and poetry, or works that are available in different editions, it is useful to include more detailed information in the parenthetical citation. Use abbreviations in the citation - ch. for chapter, pt. for part, bk. for book, sec. for section, and sc. for scene.
For classic verse plays and poetry, separate the various numbers with periods. For instance, 2.34 would refer to book 2, line 34.
Example:
In Eugene Onegin, Onegin rejects Tanya when she is free to be his, and only decides he wants her when she is already married (Pushkin 4.452-53).
For a classic prose work, give the author's name and page number, separated by a comma. Place a semi-colon after the page number, and list the edition number and part, book, or chapter number separated by commas.
Example:
One of the most memorable scenes in Don Quixote is when the man of La Mancha charges and tilts at the windmills (Cervantes, 4; pt. 4, bk. 5, ch. 16).
Citing Long Quotations
Long quotes are forty words or longer, can be standard prose or poetry, should be five spaces from the left margin, double spaced, and are set off by a colon; therefore, it does not need quotation marks.
For a long quotation, type one space after the concluding punctuation mark of the quote and then type the parenthetical reference.
Example:
Geologist and scientist Lindsey Sumner explains the process:
It begins as magma underneath the surface of the earth. This magma crystallizes
and becomes igneous rock. The igneous rock can then re-melt and returns to magma;
succumb to heat and pressure and turn into metamorphic rock; or be exposed to the
surface of the earth and be subject to weathering, erosion, and deposition. (p. 358)
Citing Poetry
For short quotations of poetry that don't require special emphasis, simply place quotation marks around the selected text. If the selected text spans more than one line in the poem, signify the separate lines by placing a slash ( / ) at the appropriate place. Make sure you type a space before and after the slash. Include the word line or lines in your citation. Do not abbreviate as l. or ll. because these can be confused with roman numerals.
Example:
Corbin loved "all things green / Sweet, new, and serene" (lines 3-4).
Citing Religious Works
When citing the scriptures, it is okay to use abbreviations for the different books of the scriptures. Separate chapter numbers and verse numbers with a period.
Example:
When God commanded Noah to build the ark, despite the people's unrighteousness, Noah still preached repentance (Gen. 3.13-16).
