Chapter 6: In-Text Citations and Reference List Entries
Introduction
This chapter explains each of the elements that are included in in-text citations and reference list entries. It also explains how to write an in-text citation and a corresponding reference list entry for the most common types of sources that students will cite. It is important to remember that this chapter is not exhaustive; there might be types of resources you will need to cite that are not covered here. In these cases, students should refer to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (the Publication Manual).
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What’s Next?
The next section introduces the elements that are included in all in-text citations and reference list entries.
Sources
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association: The official guide to APA style. (7th ed.).
In-text citations appear in the body of a paper or other assignment. They briefly identify a work by author and date of publication. In-text citations also help the reader to find the full reference list entry in the reference list at the end of the paper. In-text citations must have corresponding reference list entries. In-text citations can be narrative or parenthetical.
A reference list entry is the information in a reference list at the end of an assignment or essay. Each source of information in an essay or assignment must have a reference list entry. An APA Style reference list entry includes author(s), a date, a title, and a source.
Resources, sometimes called sources, are sources of information; this is where information is found when conducting research. This can sometimes lead to confusion, because one of the pieces of information in a reference list entry is also called a source.
Citing is the process of acknowledging the sources of information and ideas. This takes the form of a citation. Citations must include specific pieces of information and must follow a consistent format. There are two parts of a citation – the in-text citation, and the reference list entry.
