APA 7 in-text citations

There are two types of in-text citations in APA format: parenthetical and narrative. Parenthetical citations include the author(s) and the date of publication within parentheses. Narrative citations intertwine the author as part of the sentence with the date of publication (in parentheses) following.

One work by one author

Narrative citation

• Lee (2016) investigated the risks inherent in drinking tap water.

Parenthetical citation

• There are risks inherent in drinking tap water (Lee, 2016).

One work by two authors

Narrative citation

• Lee and Richards (2016) investigated the risks inherent in drinking tap water.

Parenthetical citation

• There are risks inherent in drinking tap water (Lee & Richards, 2016).

One work by three or more authors

Narrative citation

• Lee et al. (2016) investigated the risks inherent in drinking tap water.

Parenthetical citations

• There are risks inherent in drinking tap water (Lee et al., 2016).

Groups (with well-known abbreviations) of authors

First narrative citation

• The Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 2002) investigated the risks inherent in drinking tap water.

Subsequent narrative citations

• The CDC (2002) investigated the risks inherent in drinking tap water.

Parenthetical first citation

• There are risks inherent in drinking tap water (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2002).

Subsequent citations

• There are risks inherent in drinking tap water (CDC, 2002).

Groups (without well-known abbreviations) as authors

First narrative citation

• The University of Minnesota (2007) investigated the risks inherent in drinking tap water.

Subsequent narrative citations

• The University of Minnesota (2007) investigated the risks inherent in drinking tap water.

Parenthetical first citation

• There are risks inherent in drinking tap water (University of Minnesota, 2007).

Parenthetical subsequent citations

• There are risks inherent in drinking tap water (University of Minnesota, 2007).

Multiple citations for one sentence*

• There are inherent risks in drinking tap water (Lee & Richards, 2016; North et al., 2017; Zebra, 1999).

*List the sources in alphabetical order, separating each with a semicolon.

In-text quick guide

One author

• Parenthetical: (Lee, 2020)
• Narrative: Lee (2020)

Two authors

• Parenthetical: (Lee & Richards, 2016)
• Narrative: Lee and Richards (2016)

Three+ authors

• Parenthetical: (Lee et al., 2016)
• Narrative: Lee et al. (2016)

Group author with abbreviation

• First citation
  • (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2002)
  • The Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 2002)
• Second citation
  • (CDC, 2002)
  • The CDC (2002)

Group author without abbreviation

• (University of Minnesota, 2007)
• The University of Minnesota (2007)

Reference

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association: The official guide to APA style (Seventh ed.). American Psychological Association.

Information compiled from sections 8.12 and 8.17.