In-text citation is a brief reference within the text of a paper that acknowledges the source of information or a quote. It usually includes the author's last name, the year of publication, and sometimes the page number if relevant, directing the reader to the full source details in the bibliography or reference list. Here are key points on how to do in-text citation:
- Include an in-text citation whenever you quote, paraphrase, or summarize information from a source.
- Use either parenthetical citations (author, year, page) or narrative citations (author as part of the sentence with year and page).
- For example, in APA style:
- Parenthetical: (Smith, 2018, p. 11)
- Narrative: Smith (2018) states that... (p. 11)
- For MLA style, in-text citations usually include the author's last name and page number without the year—for example, (Smith 11).
- If there is no page number (as in many online sources), omit it or use paragraph numbers if required.
- Always ensure clear linking to the full reference list to allow readers to locate the sources.
Consistency in using one citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) throughout the text is essential.
