In-Text Citations Made Easy: APA 7th Edition Format

Summary

In this informative video, Chelsea Seaburn guides online college students through the essentials of in-text citations in APA 7th edition formatting. She explains the importance of citing sources to avoid plagiarism and introduces the two main types of in-text citations: parenthetical and narrative. Through practical examples, she demonstrates how to cite works by individual and group authors, handle sources without authors, and address missing dates. Additionally, Seaburn covers the nuances of quoting and formatting direct and block quotes, emphasizing the significance of using citations responsibly. The video concludes with resources for further assistance and a call to join the supportive online community.

Takeaways

• 📚 In-text citations are crucial for distinguishing your ideas from those of other authors to avoid plagiarism.
• 🔍 An in-text citation is a shortened reference that directs readers to the full citation in the reference list.
• 📝 APA 7th edition in-text citations follow the author-date format, including the author's last name and publication year.
• 🔗 When paraphrasing, a source locator is optional, but necessary for direct quotes, which require page numbers or timestamps.
• 📖 There are two types of in-text citations: parenthetical (in parentheses) and narrative (integrated into the text).
• ⚖️ For two authors in a citation, use an ampersand (&) in parenthetical format and 'and' in narrative format.
• 🌐 If citing an organization as an author, spell out the full name initially, then use the abbreviation for subsequent citations.
• 🆔 If there is no author, use a shortened title in place of the author’s name in the citation.
• ⏳ For sources missing a date, use 'n.d.' (no date) in the citation.
• 🔖 Direct quotes under 40 words are enclosed in double quotation marks, while block quotes (40+ words) are formatted as indented paragraphs without quotation marks.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of in-text citations?

In-text citations serve to differentiate your original thoughts and ideas from those of other authors, ensuring proper credit is given to the sources you reference.

What are the consequences of not using in-text citations?

Failing to use in-text citations can lead to plagiarism, which may result in lost points, failing grades, or even failing the entire course.

What is an in-text citation?

An in-text citation is a shortened reference that directs readers to the full citation listed in the reference section of your paper, typically formatted as 'Author's last name, year of publication'.

What are the two types of in-text citations under APA 7th edition?

The two types of in-text citations are parenthetical citations, which enclose the author's last name and year of publication in parentheses, and narrative citations, where the author's name is integrated into the text.

How do you format a parenthetical citation with two authors?

For a parenthetical citation with two authors, use an ampersand (&) to separate the names, formatted as '(Author1 & Author2, Year)'.

What should you do if the author of a source is an organization?

If the author is an organization, write out the full name of the organization in the citation. If the organization can be abbreviated, include the abbreviation in brackets after the full name for subsequent citations.

What is a source locator, and when is it required?

A source locator is a specific reference point for a citation, such as a page number for books or a timestamp for videos. It is required when directly quoting a source but not necessary for paraphrased content unless it aids in location.

What should you do if a source lacks an author?

If a source lacks an author, use a shortened version of the title in place of the author's name. If the title is italicized in the reference list, it should also be italicized in the in-text citation.

How do you cite multiple studies in a single in-text citation?

To cite multiple studies, list each source in parentheses separated by semicolons for parenthetical citations, or use commas for narrative citations, ensuring each citation maintains its formatting.

What distinguishes a direct quote from a block quote?

A direct quote is a citation of fewer than 40 words, enclosed in double quotation marks, while a block quote is for citations of 40 or more words, formatted as a standalone indented paragraph without quotation marks.