APA 6th in Minutes: In-Text Citations

Summary

This video tutorial from Humber Libraries offers a concise guide to creating APA-style in-text citations. It explains the necessity of crediting original authors when paraphrasing or quoting, and outlines the basic structure: author's last name, year of publication, and page number. The video also advises on handling multiple authors, anonymous works, and sources without page numbers. For detailed APA guidance, viewers are directed to the Writing Center, Purdue OWL, or the APA manual at Humber Libraries.

Takeaways

• 📝 An in-text citation in APA format is a brief reference within the body of a paper that directs the reader to the full citation in the reference list.
• 👨‍💻 Basic in-text citations include the author's last name, year of publication, and page number where the information can be found.
• 🔍 When quoting directly, use quotation marks and follow with an in-text citation that includes the author's last name, year, and page number preceded by 'p'.
• 📖 For paraphrasing, omit quotation marks but still include the author's last name, year, and page number in parentheses after the paraphrased content.
• 🗣️ If the author's name is mentioned in the sentence, include the publication year next to the name and the page number at the end of the sentence.
• 👥 For sources with two authors, use an ampersand between the names. For three to five, list all names separated by commas, ending with an ampersand before the last name.
• 👥👥👥 For six or more authors, list the first author followed by 'et al.'
• 🏛️ If there is no known author, use a shortened title of the work in place of the author's name.
• 📄 For sources without page numbers, use the abbreviation 'para.' followed by a period to indicate the paragraph where the information is found.
• 📚 The reference list at the end of the paper should contain full citation details, organized alphabetically, double-spaced, and indented after the first line.

Q & A

What is an in-text citation in APA format?

An in-text citation in APA format is a brief reference that directs the reader to the full citation found in the reference list at the end of the paper. It is used to give credit to the original author whenever you paraphrase or quote their work.

What are the components of a basic in-text citation in APA style?

A basic in-text citation in APA style typically includes the author's last name, the year of publication, and the page number where the information can be found.

How do you cite an author's exact words in APA format?

When quoting an author's exact words, you should place the text within quotation marks and follow it with an in-text citation that includes the author's last name, year of publication, and the page number preceded by 'p.', all enclosed in parentheses.

What is the correct way to cite a paraphrase in APA format?

To cite a paraphrase in APA format, you start with the author's last name, followed by a comma, the year of publication, a comma, and the page number, all within parentheses and ending with a period. Quotation marks are not used for paraphrases.

How should you introduce a quote or paraphrase when the author's name is mentioned in the sentence?

When the author's name is mentioned in the sentence, include the date of publication next to the author's name and place the page number at the end of the sentence to complete the in-text citation without repeating the author's name or date.

What is the APA format for citing sources with two authors?

For sources with two authors, use an ampersand (&) after the first author's name to connect both names in the in-text citation.

How do you cite a source with three to five authors in APA format?

For sources with three to five authors, list each author's name separated by commas, and use an ampersand before the last author's name in the in-text citation.

What should you do if there are six or more authors for an in-text citation in APA format?

For sources with six or more authors, include only the first author's name followed by 'et al.' in the in-text citation.

How do you cite a source without a known author in APA format?

If there is no known author, use a shortened version of the title in place of the author's name for the in-text citation.

What should you do if your source does not have page numbers for an in-text citation in APA format?

If a source lacks page numbers, indicate the paragraph where the information is found using the abbreviation 'para.' followed by a period in the in-text citation.

Where can one find more information and support for APA formatting at Humber Libraries?

For more information and support with APA formatting, one can book an appointment with the Writing Center, consult the OWL at Purdue, or refer to the APA manual available at Humber Libraries.