APA in-text citations: author-date format with examples
Quick answer
APA 7 in-text citations use the author-date system: the author's last name and the year of publication, such as (Lopez, 2023). Direct quotes add a page number. Every in-text citation must have a matching entry in the reference list, and every entry must be cited.
In short
There are two formats: parenthetical, (Lopez, 2023), and narrative, Lopez (2023) argued. For exact words, add quotation marks and a page number.
How do you cite in APA 7?
With author and year. Both formats are correct:
| Format | Example |
|---|---|
| Parenthetical | Gardens increased across the city (Lopez, 2023). |
| Narrative | Lopez (2023) found that gardens increased across the city. |
For exact words, add the page: (Lopez, 2023, p. 14).
Which guides are in this section?
- Direct quotes: short, block and page numbers
- Paraphrasing
- Multiple authors: two, three or more
- Secondary sources: when you did not read the original
- Special sources: no author, no date, group author
When do I need to cite?
Whenever you use an idea, fact, figure or wording that is not yours. Common knowledge, like the fact that Paris is the capital of France, needs no citation. If in doubt, cite.
Checklist
- Every borrowed idea has author and year
- Direct quotes have a page number
- Every citation is in the reference list
- Last names and years match
Guides in this section
- APA direct quotes: short and block quotations with page numbers: How to format direct quotations in APA 7th edition: under 40 words in quotation marks, 40 or more in a block, with page numbers and examples of each case.
- APA paraphrasing: how to paraphrase and cite correctly: How to paraphrase in APA 7th edition: restate the idea in your own words, cite author and year, and avoid plagiarism. Includes good and bad paraphrase examples.
- APA citation for multiple authors: 2, 3 or more authors: How to cite one, two, three or more authors in APA 7th edition, in the text and in the reference list, with examples and a clear explanation of the et al. rule.
- APA secondary source citation: how to cite "as cited in": How to cite a secondary source in APA 7th edition: the "as cited in" formula, what goes in the reference list and when to track down the original work instead.
- APA citations with no author, no date or a group author: How to cite special sources in APA 7: no author, no date, group authors, personal communications and same author and year, with clear examples for each.
Frequently asked questions
What is an in-text citation?
A short note inside your text, usually author and year, that tells the reader which source an idea comes from. The full source appears in the reference list at the end.
Where does the period go in a citation?
After the closing parenthesis for most citations: (Lopez, 2023). For a block quote the period comes before the citation, because the quote ends with its own punctuation and the parenthetical follows it.
What is the difference between a citation and a reference?
A citation is the brief in-text mention, author and year. A reference is the complete entry in the list at the end. Every citation needs a reference, and every reference should be cited.