What are In-Text Citations? How to Write it in APA and MLA (with Examples)

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In-text citations are an integral part of academic writing and help authors acknowledge the works of other authors that they have referred to in their own research articles. In-text citations are shortened references that are included in the main text of the article whereas reference lists or works cited are included at the end of the article. These in-text citations help authors ensure the credibility and validity of their study.

In-text citations are brief and not as detailed as reference lists. They mostly include author names and year of publication but may also include other important information, such as page numbers, based on the referencing style being followed. Some in-text citation formats may also use numbers within brackets, corresponding to the citation order in the reference list. In-text citations are an excellent way to avoid plagiarism and give credit where it’s due.

Here are a few examples of different types of in-text citations:1

Colleges and universities need to create policies that foster inclusion for low-income students (Jack 24).

As Anthony Jack argues, colleges and universities need to create policies that foster inclusion for low-income students (24).

The researchers tested whether an intervention during the first year of college could improve student well-being (Walton and Cohen, 1448).

This article will help you understand the various aspects of different types of in-text citations, including how and why to use them, along with relevant examples of different formats.

What is an In-text Citation?

An in-text citation²^,3 is a brief reference used in the main text of a research article to help authors accredit other works they have referred to in their research. In-text citations can be written in different formats based on the referencing style being followed and provide just enough information to identify the source in your reference list, which would have more details. This also helps save space in the main text.

In-text citations can be of two types: parenthetical (all elements enclosed within parentheses) and narrative (only the year is enclosed within parentheses; author names are a part of the sentence).

Here are a few examples to help differentiate between the two.³

	Parenthetical in-text citation	Narrative in-text citation
One author	(Smith, 2007)	…Smith (2007)
Two authors	(Mihrshahi & Baur, 2018)	…Mihrshahi and Baur (2018)
Three or more authors	(Hewitt et al., 2016)	…Hewitt et al. (2016)
Group author	(Department of Health, 2020)	…Department of Health (2020)

Several tools are available that can help authors create in-text citations easily and conveniently. Some such tools include Paperpal, Citation Machine, EasyBib, Zotero, EndNote, and Mendeley.

If you’re looking for an even simpler way to generate accurate citations while you write, learn how to use Paperpal’s AI Citation Tool, which helps you instantly find credible sources and insert citations in the correct style.

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What Are In-text Citations Used For?

In-text citations have several purposes, as listed below:

Acknowledge or credit the source from which the authors may have borrowed, paraphrased, or quoted information.
Prevent plagiarism by ensuring that the readers understand that you are not passing off someone else’s work as your own.
Help direct readers to the full sources in the reference list or works cited page, which they could refer to if needed.
Ensure the credibility of your work.
Provide a background for your research to help set the context for readers.

When Should In-text Citations Be Used?

In-text citations should always be used when you are referring to other research for your own work, irrespective of how much of the information is being used in your work and in what form. If you’re including a reference list at the end of your paper, the same references should be cited in your text as well. However, the format in which citations appear in text would differ based on referencing guidelines.

In-text citations should be used when you need to:

Credit original sources because you used information from them
Provide context to your readers
Directly quote a source verbatim
Paraphrase or summarize another work’s content or ideas

Types of In-text Citations

The following table shows the different types of in-text citations.⁴^,5

Citation Style	Parenthetical	Narrative
APA Style (Author-Date)	Include the author’s last name and the publication year, separated by a comma.  Example: APA style is a difficult citation format for first-time learners (Jones, 1998).	The author’s name is integrated into the sentence, followed by the publication year in parentheses.  Example: According to Jones (1998), APA style is a difficult citation format for first-time learners.
MLA Style (Author-Page)	Include the author’s last name and the page number(s) of the source, separated by a space.  Example: Romantic poetry is characterized by the “spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” (Wordsworth 263)	The author’s name is integrated into the sentence, followed by the page number(s) in parentheses.  Example: Wordsworth extensively explored the role of emotion in the creative process (263).

How to Write an In-text Citation

Irrespective of the referencing guidelines, every in-text citation has a few common elements. These include the author(s)’ last name, year of publication, and page numbers.

Here are some ways to write in-text citations in MLA and APA styles.^2,4

	APA	MLA
Basic rule	Author’s last name and the publication year, enclosed in parentheses. For direct quotations, include the page number	Author’s last name and the page number without parentheses. If the author’s name is mentioned in the sentence, only the page number is included in parentheses
One author	(Ahmed, 2016)	Wordsworth 263
Two authors	(Wegener & Petty, 1994)	Wordsworth and Burke 263
Three or more authors	(Kernis et al., 1993)	Burke et al. 32
Direct quotation	(Smith, 2020, p. 25)	–
Author’s name in the sentence		According to Burke (25)…
Organization as an author	According to the American Psychological Association (2000), …	American Psychological Association 36
Two or more works in the same parentheses	(Berndt, 2002; Harlow, 1983)	–

All in-text citations should have a corresponding entry in the reference list or works cited page at the end of your paper.

APA Format In-Text Citations

In-text citations follow a general structure, as described below.

Paragraph content

In APA style,² in-text citations typically include the author’s last name and the publication year, enclosed in parentheses. 

Structure

The structure of an in-text citation in APA style depends on whether the author’s name is mentioned in the sentence or not. If the author’s name is part of the sentence, only the publication year is included in parentheses after the author’s name. If the author’s name is not mentioned, both the author’s name and the publication year are included in parentheses, typically at the end of the sentence before the punctuation. 

Examples 

Author’s name in mentioned in the sentence

According to Kernis (2019), citing sources correctly is important. 

Author’s name not mentioned in the sentence

Citing sources correctly is important (Kernis, 2019).

For detailed guidance on the latest version of APA style formatting—including examples, updated rules, and reference list details—see Paperpal’s APA 7th Citation Style Guide

MLA and Chicago Formatting

The following table provides the details of in-text citation formatting in MLA and Chicago styles.²

	MLA	Chicago
Basic format	Author-page Author’s last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken are placed in parentheses at the end of the sentence or clause, with no comma between them	Notes-Bibliography system (common in literature, history, and the arts). A superscript number is placed at the end of the sentence or clause, outside any punctuation. This number corresponds to a footnote or endnote where the full citation is provided. Author-Date system (common in the sciences). The author’s last name, publication year, and page number are placed in parentheses at the end of the sentence or clause, before any punctuation.
Example	(Smith 123)	(Smith 2005, 123)
Signal phrases	Often used to introduce a citation, such as “According to Miller…” No parentheses are used here.	Used, but less frequently
Page numbers	Required	May or may not be required, depends on context and rules
Quotations & punctuation	Punctuation is included after the citation Placed after the closing parenthesis	Punctuation is included after the citation In the Notes-Bibliography system, superscript number goes after the punctuation. In the Author-Date system, citation goes before closing punctuation.

For a deeper understanding of MLA and Chicago formatting beyond citations—covering elements like structure, spacing, and templates—refer to Paperpal’s MLA Format Guidelines and Paperpal’s Chicago Style Guide

Dos and Don’ts of In-text Citations

Few important points should be kept in mind while writing in-text citations. Here are some dos and don’ts:²

Dos

Use appropriate formatting rules consistently.
Ensure accuracy in the individual elements of the in-text citation.
Ensure that every citation in the reference list is also cited in the text at the appropriate instances whenever you have referred to other sources.
Ensure every work being referred to has been cited, including paraphrases and quotations.

Don’ts

Combine different citation styles in the same paper.
Don’t overcite or include citations for every sentence or information that is common knowledge.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do you need an in-text citation?

An in-text citation is needed whenever you’ve referred to any other source, even in the form of paraphrasing, to write parts of your paper. At such instances, always include an in- text citation for accuracy and to inform readers about the source of your claims or data.

Where do in-text citations go?

In-text citations can be placed in two ways—as a narrative phrase or a full parenthetical phrase. As a narrative phrase, the source is introduced in the sentence itself by mentioning the author’s name. In a full parenthetical reference, the source is not mentioned in the sentence and is included in parentheses at the end of the sentence.

Are in-text citations italicized in APA and MLA styles?

In MLA style, in-text citations are not italicized; however, the formatting of the title in the in-text citation should match the formatting in the works cited list. In APA style,3 italicization is not usually used. However, If the title of the work is italicized in your reference list, italicize it and use title case capitalization in the text: The Closing of the American Mind; The Wizard of Oz. If the title of the work is not italicized in your reference list, use double quotation marks and title case capitalization (even though the reference list uses sentence case): "Multimedia Narration: Constructing Possible Worlds." To summarize, in-text citations are shortened versions of reference list citations and are included in the main text wherever any other source has been referred to, either in the form of data, paraphrases, or direct quotations. It is essential to ensure consistency and accuracy while writing in-text citations per specific guidelines. We hope this article has helped you in understanding the uses and structure of in-text citations in different formats.

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References

1. In-text citation examples. Harvard guide to using sources. Harvard University. Accessed Oct 21, 2025. https://usingsources.fas.harvard.edu/text-citation-examples

2. What are in-text citations? APA & MLA examples. Researcher.Life blog. Published February 29, 2024. Accessed October 23, 2025. https://researcher.life/blog/article/what-are-in-text-citations-apa-mla-examples/

3. In-text citations. Edith Cowan University. Accessed October 25, 2025. https://ecu.au.libguides.com/referencing/in-text-citations

4. In-text citations: The basics. APA formatting and style guide, 7^th edition. Purdue Online Writing Lab. Accessed October 26, 2025. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/in_text_citations_the_basics.html

5. MLA In-text citations: The basics. MLA formatting and style guide. Purdue Online Writing Lab. Accessed October 26, 2025. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_in_text_citations_the_basics.html