Basic in-text citation rules

citing a single author multiple authors

If both authors have the same last name, indicate their first initials with their last names to prevent confusion

citing a single author multiple authors

If the organization has well-known abbreviation, include the abbreviation in brackets the first time the source is cited, and simply use the abbreviation in later citation

citing a single author multiple authors

If you use a source that was cited in another source, cite the original source in your signal phrase. Put the secondary source in the parentheses and list the secondary source in your reference list. The phrase as cited in is used to indicate that an author cited the earlier work of another author

parenthetical citation

If you utilize the concept of another researcher but do not directly quote it, you may follow the author-date method of parenthetical in-text citation. You should mention the author's last name and the year when the source was published

tenses citation

Use the past tense or present perfect tense when using signal phrases to describe earlier research. A signal phrase introduces a fact, figure, quotation, or paraphrase.

Modern Language Association (MLA), Chicago Manual of Style (CMS), American Psychological Association (APA), Etc.

what are the different style guides that are used in acknowledging sources?

- To show your reader you've done proper research. - To be a responsible scholar. - To avoid plagiarism. - To allow your reader to track down the sources you used

why is citation important?

Long Quotation

A direct quotation of more than four typed lines which should be set off from the rest of the text by indenting each line one inch or ten spaces and double spacing the material. No quotation marks are used.

citing a single author multiple authors

When citing a work by six or more authors, use the first author's last name followed by et al. in the signal phrase or in parenthetical citation

citing a single author multiple authors

When citing a work by two authors, always indicate the names of both authors in a signal phrase or in the parenthetical citation. Use the word and between the authors' last names within the text, and use the ampersand in the parenthetical citation

citing a single author multiple authors

When citing a work of an unknown author, cite the source by its title in the signal phrase in the parenthetical citation. Italicize or underline the titles of books and reports; while titles of articles and chapters are placed in quotation marks.

citing a single author multiple authors

When citing a work of one author, use the author-date method of in-text citation.

citing a single author multiple authors

When citing an electronic source, cite it in the same way as any other document by using the author-date format.

citing a single author multiple authors

When citing an organization as an author, mention the name of the organization in the signal phrase or in the parenthetical citation the first time you cite it

citing a single author multiple authors

When citing an unknown author and an unknown date, use the title of the source in the signal phrase and use n.d. which means "no date." You may also place the title of the source in a parenthetical citation and use n.d

citing a single author multiple authors

When citing three to five authors, list all the authors in the signal phrase or in parentheses the first time the source is cited

citing a single author multiple authors

When citing two or more works by the same author made in the same year, use lowercase letters (a, b, c) together with the year they were published to differentiate them in the in-text citation

Citation

A reference to a source of information

citing a single author multiple authors

When citing two or more works in the same parentheses, order them alphabetically or in the same way that they appear in your reference list. Indicate the last name of the authors and the year when the works were published and separate them using semicolons

Summary or Paraphrase

When summarizing or paraphrasing another work, indicate the author and its year of publication in the in-text reference. The APA encourages researchers to provide the page number, although it is optional.

citing a single author multiple authors

When the work is mentioned again, use only the first author's last name followed by the term et al., which literally means "and others" in the signal phrase or in parenthetical citation

Short Quotation

When using direct quotations, you must cite the author, year of publication, and the page number reference. Present the quotation using a signal phrase that includes the author's last name followed by the date of publication enclosed in parentheses.