LibGuides: APA tutorial: Types of in-text citations

Narrative Citations

A narrative citation is a type of in-text citation where you include the author’s name in your sentence.
After the author’s name, you put the year in parentheses.
If you are quoting, the page number goes at the end of the quote, also in parentheses. Narrative citations are the preferred method of in text-citation.

Format

Last name (Year) ... "quote" or paraphrase (p. x).

Examples

Paraphrase

Valenas et al. (2017) explored the impact of attentional bias and rumination on test anxiety in first-year university students.

Quote

According to Smith (2020), “students learn better with visual tools” (p. 15).

parenthetical citation

A parenthetical citation puts all the citation details in parentheses at the end of the sentence, just before the period.

Format

"quote" or paraphrase (Last name, Year, p. x)

Examples

Paraphrase

Students often learn better when they use pictures and diagrams to study (Smith, 2020).

Quote

Moreover, Standard II.5.2 explains that school psychologists "do not promote or condone the use of restricted psychological and educational tests…by individuals who are not qualified to use them" (NASP, 2010, p. 9).