Mastering APA 7th Edition Format: Expert Tips to Cite Sources

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
   • Purpose of In-Text Citations
2. Basics of Making an In-Text Citation
   • Types of In-Text Citations in APA Format
3. Narrative Citations
   • Formatting Narrative Citations
   • Citing Sources with Multiple Authors
   • Citing Group Authors
   • Citing Multiple Sources
4. Parenthetical Citations
   • Formatting Parenthetical Citations
   • Citing Sources with Multiple Authors
   • Citing Group Authors
   • Citing Multiple Sources
5. Using In-Text Citations in Paraphrases
   • Importance of Paraphrasing
   • Incorporating In-Text Citations in Paraphrases
6. Using In-Text Citations in Direct Quotes
   • When to Use Direct Quotes
   • Formatting In-Text Citations in Direct Quotes
7. Block Quotes
   • Formatting Block Quotes
   • Including In-Text Citations in Block Quotes
8. Putting In-Text Citations into Practice
   • Tips for Using In-Text Citations
9. Additional Resources
   • APA Style Website
   • Center for Academic Performance Website
   • Gibson D. Lewis Library Resources
10. Conclusion

Basics of Making an In-Text Citation

In academic writing, it's crucial to provide proper attribution to the sources you use to support your arguments and claims. In-text citations play a significant role in accomplishing this goal. In the American Psychological Association (APA) format, in-text citations provide key information about the source used, such as the author's name and the publication date. This article will guide you through the basics of making an in-text citation in APA format, including the different types of citations, formatting guidelines, and when to use them.

Introduction

The purpose of in-text citations is threefold. Firstly, they empower the reader to locate and retrieve the sources you have used in your paper, allowing them to verify your claims and delve deeper into the topic if desired. Secondly, in-text citations help you avoid unintentional plagiarism by clearly distinguishing your ideas from those of external sources. By properly citing your sources, you give credit where it is due and maintain academic integrity. Lastly, citing respected sources that accurately represent the topic at hand adds credibility to your arguments and strengthens your overall position.

Types of In-Text Citations in APA Format

In APA format, there are two types of in-text citations: narrative citations and parenthetical citations. Narrative citations involve incorporating the author's name into the sentence, making it part of the narrative itself. For example, "Jameson (2021) showed that the Moderna vaccine was highly effective against COVID-19 infection." This format is called a narrative citation because the author's name is seamlessly integrated into the sentence.

On the other hand, parenthetical citations involve placing the author's name and the publication date in parentheses at the end of the sentence or paragraph. For example, "The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to prevent infection (Jameson, 2021)." Parenthetical citations are useful when the focus is on the content of the sentence rather than emphasizing the author's name.

In the next sections, we will explore how to format both narrative and parenthetical citations, including guidelines for citing sources with multiple authors and group authors. Additionally, we will discuss how to effectively use in-text citations in paraphrases and direct quotes to maintain coherence and clarity in your writing.

Narrative Citations

Narrative citations are commonly used when you want to merge the author's name with the sentence's flow. By including the author's name as part of the sentence itself, you can provide context and smoothly introduce the information from the source. When formatting narrative citations, the author's last name is followed by the publication date in parentheses. For example, "Jameson (2021) conducted a study that demonstrated the high efficacy of the Moderna vaccine against COVID-19."

When citing a source with multiple authors, include all the authors' last names in the narrative citation. If the source has two authors, connect their last names with the word "and." For example, "Jameson and Smith (2021) collaborated on a research paper investigating the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns."

In the case of sources with more than two authors, use the first author's name followed by "et al." For example, "Jameson et al. (2021) found that regular exercise significantly improves overall health."

When citing a source with a group author, such as an organization or a government agency, use the full name of the organization in the first citation. Then, provide the abbreviated form in parentheses, along with the publication date. For example, "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2021) state that vaccination is essential for controlling the spread of infectious diseases."

• Pros:

  • Provides a seamless integration of the author's name into the sentence.
  • Adds clarity and context to the citation.
  • Suitable for narrative-style writing.

• Cons:

  • Requires careful attention to sentence structure and flow.
  • May disrupt the flow of longer sentences or complex ideas.

Formatting Narrative Citations

When formatting narrative citations, the author's last name is followed by the publication date in parentheses. Place a comma between the author's last name and the date. For example, "Jameson (2021) conducted a study that demonstrated the high efficacy of the Moderna vaccine against COVID-19."

If the source has two authors, connect their last names with the word "and" in the narrative citation. Place a comma between the authors' last names and the date. For example, "Jameson and Smith (2021) collaborated on a research paper investigating the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns."

For sources with more than two authors, use the first author's last name followed by "et al." in the narrative citation. Place a comma between the first author's last name and "et al.," as well as between "et al." and the publication date. For example, "Jameson et al. (2021) found that regular exercise significantly improves overall health."

When citing a source with a group author, use the full name of the organization in the first citation, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses. Place a comma between the organization's name and the publication date. For example, "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2021) state that vaccination is essential for controlling the spread of infectious diseases."

Citing Sources with Multiple Authors

When citing a source with two authors, place the word "and" between their last names in the narrative citation. For example, "Jameson and Smith (2021) conducted a study on the effectiveness of vaccination."

For sources with three or more authors, use the last name of the first author followed by "et al." For example, "Jameson et al. (2021) found that regular exercise has numerous health benefits."

Citing Group Authors

When citing a source with a group author, such as an organization or a government agency, use the full name of the organization in the first citation. Then, provide the abbreviated form in parentheses, along with the publication date. For example, "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2021) state that vaccination is essential for preventing the spread of diseases."

If the organization has no initials, use the full name of the organization in every citation. Place a comma between the organization's name and the publication date. For example, "The World Health Organization (2021) recommends regular handwashing to prevent the spread of infectious diseases."

Citing Multiple Sources

When citing multiple sources within the same sentence or paragraph, list the authors' last names in alphabetical order, separated by semicolons. For example, "Several studies (Jameson, 2021; Dawson, 2021; Hinckley, 2020) have demonstrated the effectiveness of the Moderna vaccine against COVID-19."

Remember to maintain alphabetical order when citing multiple sources with narrative citations. This allows for easy reference and ensures the clarity of your citations.

Next, we will explore parenthetical citations, which are another common method of incorporating in-text citations in your writing.