APA 7: Create In-Text Citations

What do I need to do?

You need to include proper citation throughout your paper. APA publications use the author date citation system, identifying the source for the reader and allowing them to locate the information source among the references. An in-text citation must match up with an information source located in the reference list and vice-versa.  

 

A quick reference

Most notable changes from APA 6th edition to 7th edition for in-text citations is that in-text citations from works with three or more authors is shortened from the first time mentioned to (Hernandez et al., 2020)

See chart below, adapted from The University of Tennessee LibGuide Links to an external site. for quick reference of in-text citations. 

Type of Citation	Mentioned in Text	Subsequent Citations in Text	Parenthetical Format, First Citation in Text	Parenthetical Format, Subsequent Citations in Text
One work by one author	Walker (2007) says...	Walker (2007)	(Walker, 2007)	(Walker, 2007)
One work by two authors	Walker and Allen (2004) believe that...	Walker and Allen (2004)	(Walker & Allen, 2004)	(Walker & Allen, 2004)
One work by three or more authors	Bradley et al. (1999) disagree...	Bradley et al. (1999)	(Bradley et al., 1999)	(Bradley et al., 1999)
Groups as authors (readily identified through abbreviation)	National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, 2003) report...	NIMH (2003)	(National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2003)	(NIMH, 2003)
Groups as authors (no abbreviation)	University of Pittsburgh (2005) professors see...	University of Pittsburgh (2005)	(University of Pittsburgh, 2005)	(University of Pittsburgh, 2005)

See Table 8.2 in APA 7th ed. Manual for additional guidance.