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In-text citations (APA): Home

About this Page

This page contains information on in-text citation of sources according to APA 7th edition using the Concise Guide to APA Style: The Official APA Style for Students.

Other Information

Periods go at the end of in-text citations (after the parenthesis).

For quotations that go across multiple pages, use "pp" instead e.g. (Travis, 2015, pp. 12-14).

If the author of a work is anonymous or unknown, substitute the title of the work where the author's name would be e.g. (Going to Space, 2020).

Newspapers, webpages, and websites often lack page numbers. If there is no page number to cite for a quote, use the paragraph number in its place e.g. (CDC, 2029, para. 4).

Other Resources

In-text Citation: The Basics

Remember that each source cited must also appear in the reference list. You MUST cite both paraphrased and quoted information. In-text citations:

  • Go at the end of paraphrased or quoted information.
  • Use the "author" and "date" format e.g. (Jones, 2020). Use the author's last name and date of publication.
  • Can be in a parenthetical format OR a narrative format (mixing the two is okay).

Parenthetical format means the in-text citation is enclosed entirely within parenthesis e.g. (Wilmont, 2021).

Narrative format means the author's name appears in the text and the date appears immediately after the author's name e.g., ...... According to Jones (2020).....

(See section 8.10 of the Concise Guide to APA Style)

In-text Citation: Page Numbers

If you are paraphrasing information, you are NOT required to include page numbers as part of the in-text citation e.g. (Weber, 2019) is all the information required for an in-text citation of paraphrased information (although some instructors may still require it, so ask).

If you are quoting information, you ARE required to include page numbers as part of the in-text citation e.g. (Danson, 2020, p. 27).

In-text Citation Formats for Paraphrased Information

Author Parenthetical Citation Narrative Citation
One author (Williams, 2020). Williams (2020) claimed “…”
Two authors (Brady & Clark, 2020). Brady and Clark (2020) stated “…”
Three or more authors (Wilson et al., 2020). Wilson et al. (2020) believed “…”
Group author with abbreviation

First citation:

(Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2020).

Subsequent citation(s):

(CDC, 2020).

First citation:

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 2020) said “…”

Subsequent citation(s):

The CDC (2020) said “….”
Group author without abbreviation (Mason University, 2020). Mason University (2020) said “...”

In-text Citation Formats for Quoted Information

Author Parenthetical Citation Narrative Citation
One author (Williams, 2020, p. 27). Williams (2020) claimed “...” (p. 27).
Two authors (Brady & Clark, 2020, p.18). Brady and Clark (2020) stated “...” (p. 18).
Three or more authors (Wilson et al., 2020, p. 12). Wilson et al. (2020) believed “...” (p. 12).
Group author with abbreviation

First citation:


(Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2020, p. 10).


Subsequent citation(s):


(CDC, 2020, p. 15).

First citation:


The Centers for Disease Control (CDC,
2020) found “...” (p. 10).


Subsequent citation(s):


The CDC (2020) said “...” (p. 15).
Group author without abbreviation (Mason University, 2020, p. 12). Mason University claimed “...” (p. 12).