An in-text citation is a signal used within your writing when quoting, summarizing, or paraphrasing that tells your reader about the original source of that information.
In-text citations serve several important purposes in academic writing.
Help you demonstrate academic integrity by distinguishing between your ideas and those of other authors.
Build credibility by showing your work is grounded in established research.
Connect ideas in your writing to the reference list, allowing readers to explore your evidence and sources.
In APA style, in-text citations include at least these two elements:
If you're quoting or referencing a specific part of a source, you also need an additional detail, which could be one of the following.
(Shatila, 2024, p. 49).
(Pappas, 2023, para. 7).
(Greaves, 2019, Chapter 5).
(Barnes et al., 2024, Table 1)
Here is an example of citations within a paragraph:
Stragalas (2010) argued that providing employees with details about an organizational change will help to eliminate difficulties. Similarly, Li et al. (2021) noted that “transparent communication about organizational change provides employees with necessary information regarding future business operations, policies, and procedures related to the changes” (p. 47). Additional research showed that transparency through extensive communication showed that transparency through extensive communication can allow for a wider acceptance of the change (James & Quinn, 2011). Maintaining clear communication with employees during an organizational change, then, can contribute to those employees’ acceptance of the change.
In this example, note these citation elements:
Citation issues can arise when you use too few or too many citations or rely too much on a source instead of blending it with your own ideas. Use these tips to find the right balance between in-text citations and your ideas.
The opening sentence of each paragraph should be your topic sentence, and the final sentence in the paragraph should conclude your point and lead into the next. Without these elements of a paragraph, you leave your reader without a sense of the paragraph's main purpose. Additionally, the reader may not understand your reasons for including that material.
Review OASIS resources on topic sentences and the MEAL Plan for additional support with paragraphs.
All material that you cite should contribute to your main argument (also called a thesis or purpose statement). When reading the literature, keep that argument in mind, noting ideas or research that speak to the issues in your draft.
For additional support, review OASIS resources on academic arguments and thesis statements.
Most research papers should include a variety of sources from the last 3-5 years. You may find one particularly useful study but try to balance your use of that study with research from other authors. Otherwise, your paper becomes a book report on that one source and lacks the richness of other perspectives.
If you need support locating additional sources, Ask OASIS!
Academic writing relies primarily on paraphrasing when using evidence. Although direct quotations can be useful for illustrating the rhetorical choice of an author, in most other cases, paraphrasing the material is more appropriate. Paraphrasing in your own words will show your understanding. It will also let you highlight how the ideas support your paper's main argument.
For additional support, review OASIS resources on paraphrasing.
It’s important to use citations to properly give credit to the sources you use in your writing. However, it’s not necessary to add in-text citations for common knowledge.
Common knowledge refers to information or ideas that are widely known, accepted, and found in many sources.
It’s important to remember that common knowledge depends on context. What may be common knowledge for one audience might not be for another.
Look at a few statements. Consider their context and if they might be considered common knowledge.
The Earth is round.
This statement is widely known in most contexts and would usually be considered common knowledge.
President Barack Obama was a senator from Illinois.
This statement is usually considered common knowledge in the United States, but it may not be in other contexts.
Frequent nurse handwashing reduces the spread of infection in hospitals.
This statement could be widely known in the nursing field but may not be familiar to an audience outside of healthcare. It could be common knowledge, depending on the context.
Alcohol-based sanitizer kills many but not all bacteria and germs, although it is still preferred over soap and water in hospitals (CDC, 2017).
This statement is most likely not widely known in most contexts and would not be considered common knowledge. It would require an in-text citation.
Always consider the audience and context when deciding if information is common knowledge. If you're unsure of the audience for an assignment, ask your instructor. They can provide guidance on the appropriate audience and if a statement is common knowledge for that group.
Remember that in-text citations are tools that strengthen your writing by showing which ideas are yours and which come from other sources. They connect your work to your references, making it easy for readers to explore your sources.
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