An in-text citation is the short marker you place immediately after using a source. It's the bridge between your sentence and the full entry in your reference list.
APA In-Text Citations
APA uses an author-date format: (Author, Year). For direct quotes, add a page number: (Author, Year, p. 12).
| Situation | Format |
|---|---|
| One author | (Diaz, 2022) |
| Two authors | (Diaz & Lin, 2022) |
| Three or more authors | (Diaz et al., 2022) |
| No author listed | ("Title of Work," 2022) |
MLA In-Text Citations
MLA uses an author-page format: (Author Page#). No comma, no year. Just the surname and the page number.
| Situation | Format |
|---|---|
| One author | (Diaz 45) |
| Two authors | (Diaz and Lin 45) |
| Three or more authors | (Diaz et al. 45) |
| No page numbers (web source) | (Diaz) |
Chicago In-Text Citations
Chicago Notes-Bibliography uses a superscript number that corresponds to a footnote at the bottom of the page. There's no parenthetical in the text itself. Chicago Author-Date, by contrast, looks almost identical to APA: (Diaz 2022, 45).
When the Author's Name Is Already in the Sentence
If you name the author in your sentence (a "narrative" citation), don't repeat the name in the parenthetical. Just include the remaining required information.
Get Every In-Text Citation Checked
Our editors verify in-text formatting matches your reference list, source by source.
Order Editing Help View ServicesWhere to Place the Citation
Place the citation as close as possible to the material it supports. Usually at the end of the sentence, but mid-sentence if the sentence draws on more than one source. Always place it before the final period.
Frequently Asked Questions
APA encourages but doesn't strictly require a page number for paraphrases. It's required for direct quotes.
Use a paragraph number, section heading, or omit the locator entirely if none is available. This is standard practice in both APA and MLA.
Yes. Separate them with a semicolon: (Diaz, 2022; Lin, 2023).