Overview
APA Style requires that you document all your resources throughout your writing by citing both the author and year of the original source. This allows your reader to identify the information source in your alphabetical reference list at the end of your paper. Your in-text citations should always match your reference list. Please contact a librarian at 415-442-7244 or e-mail askalibrarian@ggu.edu.
- Requirements
- In-Text citations always include the author and the year. Page numbers are required for direct quotes and encouraged for paraphrases/summaries.
- Signal Phrases
- In-Text citations rely on signal phrases to signal the reader where you received your information. Typically, signal phrases use verbs such as: stated, noted, found, etc...
- Signal phrases include the author's name as part of the narrative. If the author's name is not part of the narrative, include it in the parentheses along with the date of publication.
- APA Style dictates that writers use the past or present past tense when citing previous research.
- Past Tense: Smith (2004) noted ...
- Past Present tense: Smith (2004) has noted
- Quotation Marks and Punctuation
- Use quotation marks only when directly quoting a source.
- Look closely at the examples for methods of formatting your punctuation and quotations.
- When using a parenthetical citation, punctuation marks occur after the parentheses.
back to top
Basic Forms
Summary / Paraphrase
If you are summarizing or paraphrasing another person's work, you must include a citation in your paper and an entry in your reference list. For assistance on paraphrasing, see the library Web page on plagiarism.
According to Smith (2004), returning students do not take advantage of their library's services (p. 234).
Returning students fail to use their college library's services (Smith, 2004, p.234).
Short Quotation
A direct quotation, shorter than 40 words, should include the author in the signal phrase, with the year of publication in parentheses directly following. After the quotation, include the page number (preceded by a "p.") in parentheses.
In her 2004 study, Smith noted, "many students, returning to college after a lengthy absence, do not utilize all the services their academic library has to offer" (p.234).
Long Quotation
When your quotation is longer than 40 words, there are a few extra steps. Separate your quote into a free standing block, indented five spaces from the rest of your writing. Keep your spacing, font and text size the same as the rest of your writing.
In a subsequent paragraph, Smith (2004) acknowledges this problem:
Many students, returning to college after a lengthy absence, do not utilize all the services their academic library has to offer. This study shows that library outreach to this student population is critical for the academic library's continued success (p.234).
back to top
Author Variations
Two Authors
When there are two authors, you should always include both authors' last names when making your in-text citation.
-
Example #1 (with signal phrase)
Smith and Johnson (2005, p.4) emphasized one definition of a library by referring to it as the sacred space of the university.
-
Example #2 (without signal phrase)
Some authors have explored the idea of the library as the sacred space of the university (Smith and Johnson, 2005, p. 4).
Three - Five Authors
Identify all the authors of the work in the signal phrase or parentheses for the first citation. In subsequent citations, simply list the first author's name followed by the phrase "et.al." in the signal phrase or parentheses.
-
Example #1 (first instance)
In a 2003 study, Marks, Goff, and Garcia concluded, "Library marketing is one of the most important activities in which librarians should engage" (p.4).
-
Example #2 (subsequent instances)
Marks, et. al. (2003) emphasized this importance stating "Relationships with the university community outside of the library is one of the key aspects of a library's marketing strategy" (p.7).
Six or more Authors
If there are six or more authors, simply use the name the of the first author followed by the phrase "et. al."
-
Example #1 (with signal phrase)
In their 2002 study Poitras, et. al. surveyed over 200 students finding the majority of them never used the library in their undergraduate studies (p. 342).
-
Example #2 (without signal phrase)
One study concluded that a majority of students never used the library during their undergraduate studies (Poitras, et. al., 2002, p.342).
Unknown Author
If the author is unknown, use the title of the work in the signal phrase or give the first word or two of the title in the parenthetical citation. Remember to italicize the titles of books and use quotations around article/chapter titles.
-
Example #1 (with signal phrase)
One 2003 guide, "Using the GGU Library" stated that students had access to over 40 different databases.
-
Example #2 (without signal phrase)
"GGU students have access to over 40 different databases" ("Using the GGU Library," 2003).
Organization as author
If the author is an organization or government agency, use the name of the organization in your signal phrase or parenthetical citation. If the organization has a familiar abbreviation, you can name it in brackets the first time you make a citation and use it in all subsequent citations.
-
Example #1 (with signal phrase)
According to the American Library Association (2004), "Library use increased 12% from 2000-2003.
-
Example #2 (without signal phrase)
Some studies have shown that library use increased from 2000 - 2003 (American Library Association , 2004).
-
Example #3 (using an abbreviation)
In their study, the ALA (2004) concluded that funding must be increased for all types of libraries.
Authors with the same last name
If your reference list includes authors with the same last name, use their initials to differentiate between the two.
J. Smith (2005) argued that libraries are the cornerstone of a democracy.
back to top
Two or more works in the same parentheses
If your citation refers to two or more works, list the authors in your parenthetical citation according to their order in the reference list, separated by semi-colons.
Research has shown that students who frequent the library, perform better on tests and written work (Goff et. al., 2004; Smith, 2003).
back to top
Personal Communications (email, etc...)
Do not include personal communications in your reference list. Rather, cite memos, letters, e-mails, interviews (unpublished) in your in-text citations, labeling the type of communication and the exact date on which it occurred.
Johnson (Personal Interview, November 23, 2002) indicated that her study of student behavior verified the importance of library use to college success.
back to top
Indirect Source
When you use a source that was cited by another source, name the original source in your signal phrase and cite the secondary source in your reference list (only the source that you have seen or read should be included in your reference list). In your parenthetical citation, list the secondary source preceded by the phrase "as cited in." In the example, Jones is the original source and Goff is the secondary source.The article by Goff appears in the reference list.
Jones concluded that librarians are one of the more trusted professions in the United States (as cited in Goff, 2004, p.4).
back to top
Electronic Documents / Articles from a database
If possible, cite electronic documents just as you would cite non-electronic documents. However, electronic documents may have some unique features. Below are some of the more typical issues.
Unknown Author
If no author is listed, use the title of the document in the signal phrase or parenthetical citation. (see above)
The Librarian's Index to the Internet has been deemed a reliable source to find information ("Reliable Sources," 2004).
Unknown Date
If there is no date listed or the date is simply unknown, use the abbreviation "n.d." to indicate no date.
Successfully conducting research is as much an art form as it is a process (Marzluft, n.d.).
Unknown Page Numbers
Although APA requires page numbers for direct quotations and recommends them for paraphrases, many electronic sources lack actual page numbers. If this is the case, try to include information that will help point the reader to locate the particular place where your citation exists.
Some electronic documents have numbered paragraphs. If this is the case, use the paragraph number in place of page numbers by using the abbreviation "para." If there are no paragraph numbers, use section headings and count the paragraph to which you are referring.
-
Example #1 (Signal Phrase with paragraph numbers)
On his website, Jones (2005) stated "good research is the foundation of good writing" (para. 4).
-
Example #2 (Signal phrase with no page or paragraph numbers)
Johnson's research showed that many businesses turn to the public libraries for help in obtaining professional articles (Public Libraries Section, para. 9).
back to top
|
Prospective Students
