An APA in text citation tells readers which source supports a statement, right inside your sentence. It uses the author-date system, so you place the author’s surname and the year of publication in parentheses, such as (Luna, 2020). Readers then match that citation to a full entry in your reference list.
This guide covers the APA in text citation rules from the 7th edition, with examples for every common situation. You will see how to cite one author, many authors, group authors, quotes, missing details, secondary sources and more.
Quick answer: An APA in text citation gives the author’s surname and the publication year in parentheses, such as (Luna, 2020), and links the statement to a full reference list entry. Direct quotations also need a page number, such as (Luna, 2020, p. 14).
Key Takeaways
- APA uses the author-date system: (Author, Year) or Author (Year).
- Three or more authors are cited as the first author plus “et al.” from the first mention.
- Direct quotes need a page number, paragraph number or other locator. Paraphrases usually do not.
- No author means you use the title, and no date means you use “n.d.”
- Every in-text citation must match one entry in your reference list, and every entry must be cited.
How an APA In Text Citation Works
APA Style asks you to credit every idea, fact or quotation that you take from another source. The in-text citation does this at the moment of use. The reference list then supplies the full details.
Two parts must always agree. The author and year in your sentence must match the first element and the year in the reference list entry. If they do not, readers cannot find the source.
An APA in text citation takes one of two forms.
- Parenthetical citation: the author and year sit in parentheses, usually at the end of the sentence.
- Narrative citation: the author’s name is part of the sentence, and the year follows in parentheses.
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Parenthetical | Sleep supports memory (Luna, 2020). |
| Narrative | Luna (2020) found that sleep supports memory. |
Use an ampersand (&) inside parentheses and the word “and” in running text. That small rule trips up many writers.
APA In Text Citation Format by Number of Authors
The number of authors decides how you write the name. The table below follows the 7th edition author-date rules.
| Author type | Parenthetical citation | Narrative citation |
|---|---|---|
| One author | (Luna, 2020) | Luna (2020) |
| Two authors | (Salas & D’Agostino, 2020) | Salas and D’Agostino (2020) |
| Three or more authors | (Martin et al., 2020) | Martin et al. (2020) |
| Group author with abbreviation, first citation | (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2020) | National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, 2020) |
| Group author with abbreviation, later citations | (NIMH, 2020) | NIMH (2020) |
| Group author without abbreviation | (Stanford University, 2020) | Stanford University (2020) |
APA In Text Citation for One Author
Give the surname and the year. Do not add first names or initials unless two authors share a surname.
- Parenthetical: (Luna, 2020)
- Narrative: Luna (2020)
APA In Text Citation for Two Authors
Always name both authors, joined by an ampersand in parentheses.
- Parenthetical: (Salas & D’Agostino, 2020)
- Narrative: Salas and D’Agostino (2020)
APA In Text Citation for Three or More Authors
Use the first author’s surname followed by “et al.” from the very first citation. This is a change from the 6th edition, which listed several names the first time.
- Parenthetical: (Martin et al., 2020)
- Narrative: Martin et al. (2020)
Group Authors and Abbreviations
For organisations, define the abbreviation once, then use it afterwards. Spell the full name and abbreviation on first use.
- First use: (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2020)
- Later use: (NIMH, 2020)
If a group name is short or has no common abbreviation, write it out every time.
How to Cite Direct Quotations
When you quote a source word for word, you must add a locator. For a printed work, that locator is the page number. Use “p.” for one page and “pp.” for a range.
- One page: (Davis, 1997, p. 95)
- Page range: (Rebar & Greene, 2020, pp. 19–20)
Place the end punctuation after the citation, not inside the closing quotation mark. For example: The results were mixed (Smith, 2019, p. 5).
Block Quotations of 40 Words or More
Longer quotes become block quotations. Follow these steps.
- Introduce the quote with a sentence, often ending in a colon.
- Start the quote on a new line and indent the whole block half an inch.
- Omit quotation marks.
- Place the citation after the final punctuation of the quote.
This is the only case where the period comes before the citation.
Quotes Without Page Numbers
Many online sources have no pages. In that case, use a paragraph number, a heading or a short section name so readers can find the passage.
- Paragraph number: (Rebar, 2020, para. 5)
- Heading and paragraph: (Rapp Young, 2001, Feed Your Brain section, para. 1)
For audio or video, you can give a timestamp, such as (Smith, 2020, 12:34).
How to Cite a Paraphrase
When you restate an idea in your own words, you still need the author and year. A page number is optional for a paraphrase, but adding one helps readers find the passage in a long work.
- Without page: Recent research links running to lower stress (Smith, 2019).
- With page: Recent research links running to lower stress (Smith, 2019, p. 41).
Paraphrasing means changing both the wording and the sentence structure. Swapping a few words does not count, and it can still be plagiarism.
APA In Text Citation When Information Is Missing
Not every source provides an author, a date or a page. APA has a clear fix for each gap.
| Missing element | What to do | Example |
|---|---|---|
| No author | Use the title, or a shortened title | (“Study Finds Sleep Gap,” 2021) |
| No date | Use “n.d.” in place of the year | (Lerner, n.d.) |
| No page number | Use a paragraph number or heading | (Rebar, 2020, para. 5) |
| Accepted but unpublished | Use “in press” | (Chen, in press) |
For no-author sources, italicise the title of a standalone work such as a book or report. Place titles of articles, chapters and web pages in quotation marks.
Citing Multiple Works in One Parenthesis
Sometimes one statement draws on several sources. Order them alphabetically by the first author’s surname and separate them with semicolons.
- (Edwards, 1999; Finster, 1995; Spragu, 1992)
When you cite several works by the same author, list the years in order.
- (Berndt, 1981, 1990)
If two works share an author and year, add lowercase letters to the year in the reference list and in the text.
- (Berndt, 1981a)
- (Berndt, 1981b)
Authors With the Same Surname
If two cited authors share a surname, add initials in every citation, even when the years differ. That keeps readers from confusing them.
- (R. A. Brown, 1995)
- (M. N. Brown, 1998)
Secondary Sources and Personal Communications
Citing a Secondary Source
Always try to find and cite the original work. If you cannot, cite the source you actually read and name the original author in your sentence.
- Johnson argued that fatigue affects judgment (as cited in Smith, 2003, p. 102).
- Parenthetical: (Johnson, 1985, as cited in Smith, 2003, p. 102)
Only the secondary source (Smith, 2003) appears in your reference list.
Citing a Personal Communication
Emails, interviews and private conversations are not recoverable by readers, so APA cites them in the text only.
- (J. Lopez, personal communication, May 4, 2023)
Do not add personal communications to the reference list.
Narrative Citations and Repeated Mentions
In narrative citations, you may drop the year after the first mention within a paragraph. For example, write Luna (2020) once, then simply “Luna” or “she” for later sentences in the same paragraph. The first narrative citation in a new paragraph should include the year again.
Parenthetical citations always keep the author and year. If you cite the same author with several works, include the year every time so readers know which one you mean.
Do not use “ibid.” in APA Style. Repeat the citation instead.
Common APA In Text Citation Mistakes
These errors cost marks and credibility. Check for them before you submit.
| Mistake | Wrong | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| “and” inside parentheses | (Salas and D’Agostino, 2020) | (Salas & D’Agostino, 2020) |
| Listing all authors for three or more | (Martin, Lee, & Park, 2020) | (Martin et al., 2020) |
| Missing page for a quote | “Sleep matters” (Davis, 1997) | “Sleep matters” (Davis, 1997, p. 95) |
| Year mismatch | Text: (Luna, 2021); list: 2020 | Use the same year in both |
| Using “ibid.” | (Ibid.) | (Luna, 2020) |
| Full date in text | (Luna, March 3, 2020) | (Luna, 2020) |
| Cited but not listed | No reference entry | Add a matching entry |
| Listed but not cited | Entry with no in-text citation | Cite it or remove it |
APA In Text Citation Checklist
Run through these points as the final step of your edit.
- Every claim from a source has an author and year.
- Direct quotes include a page, paragraph or timestamp.
- Three or more authors use “et al.” from the first citation.
- Ampersands appear inside parentheses and “and” in running text.
- Group author abbreviations are defined once.
- Sources with no author use a title, and sources with no date use “n.d.”
- Every in-text citation matches one reference list entry.
- No reference list entry is left uncited.
If you are still planning your paper, see our research paper outline template and note where your sources will appear. You can also study how citations sit inside a paragraph in our annotated research paper examples.
Frequently Asked Questions About APA In Text Citation
What is an APA in text citation?
An APA in text citation is a short note in your sentence that names the author and publication year of a source, such as (Luna, 2020). It points readers to the full entry in your reference list.
How do you cite a source with three or more authors in APA 7?
Use the first author’s surname followed by “et al.” from the very first citation, as in (Martin et al., 2020). Do not list every author in the text.
Do I need a page number in an APA in text citation?
Yes, for direct quotations. Use “p.” for one page or “pp.” for a range. For paraphrases, a page number is optional but can help readers find the passage.
How do I cite a source with no author?
Use a shortened version of the title in place of the author. Put article, chapter and web page titles in quotation marks, and italicise book and report titles.
What does n.d. mean in APA?
The abbreviation n.d. means “no date.” Use it in place of the year when a source gives no publication date, as in (Lerner, n.d.).
Where does the period go with an APA in text citation?
For a short quote or a paraphrase, place the period after the closing parenthesis. For a block quotation of 40 words or more, place the period before the citation.
Can I cite two sources in one APA in text citation?
Yes. Put them in one set of parentheses, order them alphabetically by first author, and separate them with semicolons, such as (Edwards, 1999; Finster, 1995).
Is a personal communication included in the APA reference list?
No. Personal communications such as emails and interviews appear only in the text, for example (J. Lopez, personal communication, May 4, 2023).
Get Your APA In Text Citation Right Every Time
Mastering the APA in text citation comes down to a few habits. Name the author and year, add a locator for quotes, and match every citation to the reference list. When information is missing, follow the title, “n.d.” and paragraph rules above.
Keep this page open while you edit, and use the checklist before you submit. For more formatting help, explore our citation formatting guides, or head back to the Papers Open homepage for outlines, examples and thesis support.
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