Citations are a two-part system: in-text citations connected to reference list citations.
This guide will help you create in-text citations that correlate with the corresponding reference list citations.
Follow the assignment formatting instructions provided by your professors. They often dictate which style and edition they prefer you use. If you are uncertain, it's usually best to ask them directly what they prefer.
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Handling In-text Citations:
When writing your paper, you have two basic choices to make when presenting a source to the reader. You can choose to refer to a work in general or you can specifically quote or paraphrase the words and content of that source. You can also choose to mention the author in the text of your sentences or you can choose to leave his or her name out.
Examples*:
Entire work referred to. | Specific statement referred to. | |
Author in Text | Gackenbach (2009) found a connection between video game play and lucid dreaming. | Gackenbach (2009) argues that "daytime exposure to virtual reality through electronic media is associated with important dream structure variables, lucidity, and control" (p. 5). |
Author not Mentioned in Text | Studies show there is a potential connection between video game play and lucid dreaming (Gackenbach, 2009). | "[D]aytime exposure to virtual reality through electronic media is associated with important dream structure variables, lucidity, and control" (Gackenbach, 2009, p. 5). |
* Source: Gackenbach, J. (2009). Electronic media and lucid-control dreams: Morning after reports. Dreaming 19(1), 1-6. doi: 10.1037/a0013781
APA Manual pp. 261-278, Sections 8.10-8.36