APA 6th in Minutes: In-Text Citations

Humber and University of Guelph-Humber Library

3 Jun 201302:35

Summary

TLDRThis 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.

Outlines

00:00

📚 APA In-Text Citation Basics

This paragraph introduces the concept of APA in-text citations, emphasizing their importance in academic writing to give credit to original authors. It explains that in-text citations are used when paraphrasing or quoting, and should include the author's last name, year of publication, and page number. The paragraph distinguishes between quoting (which requires quotation marks and a specific citation format) and paraphrasing (which does not use quotation marks but still requires a citation). It also covers how to cite sources with different numbers of authors and what to do when an author is unknown or when page numbers are not available. The paragraph concludes with advice on organizing the reference list and offers resources for further support.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡In-text citation

An in-text citation is a brief reference within the body of a paper that directs the reader to the full citation listed in the reference section. It is essential in APA format to give credit to the original author when paraphrasing or quoting their work. The video emphasizes that it includes the author's last name, year of publication, and page number, which are the core elements for creating an in-text citation.

💡APA format

APA format refers to the set of guidelines for formatting academic papers as established by the American Psychological Association. The video's theme revolves around teaching viewers how to create in-text citations in adherence to APA standards, which is a fundamental aspect of academic writing to ensure proper attribution and avoid plagiarism.

💡Quotation marks

Quotation marks are used in writing to indicate the exact words taken from a source. The video script specifies that when quoting an author's exact words, one must enclose the text within quotation marks and then provide an in-text citation. This practice is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the original work and giving proper credit.

💡Paraphrase

A paraphrase is a restatement of someone else's work using one's own words. The video explains that even when ideas are paraphrased, an in-text citation is necessary to acknowledge the original source. This demonstrates the importance of citation not only for direct quotes but also for any borrowed ideas, regardless of how they are presented.

💡Author's last name

The author's last name is a key component of an in-text citation in APA format. As highlighted in the video, it is used to identify the source of the information and is always mentioned first, followed by the year of publication and page number. This sequence helps in quickly locating the full reference in the bibliography.

💡Year of publication

The year of publication is included in an in-text citation to specify the edition or version of the work being referenced. The video script mentions that it should be placed after the author's last name and before the page number, which helps in distinguishing between multiple works by the same author published in different years.

💡Page number

The page number in an in-text citation refers to the location in the source where the information can be found. According to the video, it is indicated with the letter 'p' followed by the number, enclosed in parentheses. This detail is vital for readers to locate the exact point of reference within the source material.

💡Et al.

Et al. is a Latin abbreviation meaning 'and others,' used in citations when there are six or more authors. The video script instructs that after listing the first author's name, 'et al.' should be used to acknowledge the remaining authors. This convention helps to keep in-text citations concise while still giving credit to all contributors.

💡Reference list

The reference list is a comprehensive compilation of all the sources cited in an academic paper, arranged alphabetically. The video mentions that it should be placed at the end of the paper and includes full citation details. It serves as a roadmap for readers to explore the sources further and is a testament to the research's thoroughness.

💡Double spacing

Double spacing is a formatting requirement in APA style that involves leaving a blank line between successive lines of text. The video script advises to double space the reference list and use indentation after the first line for each entry. This formatting enhances readability and is a standard practice in academic writing.

💡Indentation

Indentation in the context of the video refers to the practice of adding extra space at the beginning of a line, typically the first line of a paragraph or each entry in the reference list. It is part of the APA formatting guidelines to improve the structure and organization of the document.

Highlights

How to create an in-text citation in APA format

An in-text citation refers the reader to the full reference

Must give credit to the original author when paraphrasing or quoting

Basic in-text citation includes author's last name, year, and page number

Quoting requires quotation marks and an in-text site citation

Paraphrases need an in-text citation without quotation marks

Introduce quotations or paraphrases with the author's name and publication date

Page number is placed at the end of the sentence for in-text citations

For two authors, use an ampersand after the first author's name

For three to five authors, list each author with an ampersand before the last

For six or more authors, use 'et al.' after the first author's name

If no known author, use a shortened title in place of the author's name

If no page numbers, indicate the paragraph with 'para' abbreviation

Reference list contains full citation information, in alphabetical order

Double space and indent the reference list after the first line

For more APA support, consult the Writing Center, Purdue OWL, or APA manual