In-Text Citation APA Format: Complete Guide with Examples (7th Edition)

APA in-text citations are the parenthetical references you place within your paper to credit sources. Every claim that comes from an outside source — paraphrased or quoted directly — needs an in-text citation. The citation points the reader to the full source entry in your References list.

This guide covers every in-text citation scenario you will encounter, with real examples for each.

The Two Forms of APA In-Text Citation

APA 7th edition uses two forms of in-text citation, both presenting the same information differently:

1. Parenthetical Citation

Author and year in parentheses after the cited material. This is the most common form.

2. Narrative Citation

The author's name is part of the sentence, with only the year in parentheses.

Both forms are correct and acceptable. Use narrative citations when you want to emphasize the author's contribution. Use parenthetical citations when you want to emphasize the finding itself.

One Author

Two Authors

For two authors, always list both names every time you cite the source. Use "&" in parenthetical citations and "and" in narrative citations.

Three or More Authors

In APA 7th edition, three or more authors are always abbreviated to the first author plus "et al." — including the very first citation. This is a change from APA 6th edition, which listed all authors up to five in the first citation.

Group or Organizational Author

When the author is an organization or institution, spell out the full name in the first citation. If the organization has a well-known abbreviation, you may use it in subsequent citations.

No Author

When there is no individual or organizational author, use a shortened title in place of the author.

• If the source is a book, report, or website (title in italics in References): use the title in italics in the in-text citation
• If the source is an article or page (title in quotes in References): use the title in quotation marks in the in-text citation

No Date

Direct Quotes

A direct quote reproduces the source's exact words. Always include a page number (or alternative location) for direct quotes.

Short quotes (fewer than 40 words)

Integrate into your sentence with quotation marks:

Long quotes (40 words or more — block quotes)

Indent the entire block 0.5 inches, no quotation marks. Place the citation after the final period (unlike short quotes, where the citation comes before the period).

Paraphrase and Summary

A paraphrase restates a specific idea from a source in your own words. A summary covers a broader section. Both require an in-text citation; neither requires a page number (though you may include one if it helps readers locate the material).

Multiple Sources in One Citation

When citing multiple sources that support the same point, list them alphabetically within one set of parentheses, separated by semicolons:

Same Author, Multiple Works in One Year

Add lowercase letters after the year to distinguish works published in the same year by the same author:

Secondary Sources ("As Cited In")

If you cannot access the original source but cite it through another work, use "as cited in":

Location Information for Sources Without Page Numbers

When citing a direct quote from a source with no page numbers (common for websites and ebooks), use alternative location identifiers:

Personal Communications

Interviews, emails, text messages, and other personal communications are cited in-text only — do not include them in the References list because readers cannot access them.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the APA in-text citation format?

APA 7th edition uses author-date parenthetical citations. Basic format: (Author Last Name, Year). For direct quotes, add page: (Author, Year, p. X). For example: (Smith, 2024) or (Smith, 2024, p. 45).

How do I cite a source with two authors in APA in-text?

List both names with an ampersand in parenthetical citations: (Smith & Jones, 2024). In narrative citations, use "and": Smith and Jones (2024) found that... This applies every time you cite the source — two-author citations are never shortened.

How do you cite 3 or more authors in APA?

Use only the first author's last name followed by "et al." every time: (Smith et al., 2024). This applies from the very first citation — unlike APA 6th edition, which listed all names in the first citation.

Do APA in-text citations for websites need page numbers?

No — page numbers are only required for direct quotes. For paraphrased web content, (Author, Year) is sufficient. For direct quotes from websites, use a paragraph number (para. 3) or heading if available, but it is optional.

Where exactly do you put an in-text citation in APA?

For paraphrases: at the end of the sentence, before the period: (Smith, 2024). For short quotes: after the closing quotation mark, before the period: "quote" (Smith, 2024, p. 45). For block quotes (40+ words): after the final period of the quote, not before it.

How do I cite a source with no author in APA in-text?

Use a shortened title in place of the author. Article/webpage titles get quotation marks: ("Sleep and Cognition," 2024). Book/report titles get italics: (National Sleep Survey, 2024). Use title case in the in-text citation regardless of how the title appears in References.

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