An in text citation is the short note you place inside your sentences to credit the source of an idea, a fact, or a quotation. This guide explains how an in-text citation works in APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, and Chicago (17th edition), with correct examples for each style so you can match the right form to your assignment.
What is an in-text citation?
An in-text citation is a brief pointer inside the body of your paper. It does not contain the full source details. Instead, it gives just enough information (usually the author and either a year or a page number) to lead your reader to the full entry in your reference list, works cited page, or bibliography at the end of the document.
Every in-text citation works as a pair with a full entry. The short note in the text and the long entry at the end share the same first element, almost always the author’s last name. This matching link is what lets a reader move from a sentence in your paper to the complete source. If you are new to the idea, our overview of what a citation is covers the basics.
Two ways to phrase any in-text citation
In every style, you can present an in-text citation in two ways:
- Parenthetical: the author and other details sit inside parentheses at the end of the sentence.
- Narrative: the author’s name appears in your sentence as part of the text, and only the remaining details go in parentheses.
Choosing between them affects flow and emphasis. For a deeper look, see our guide to parenthetical versus narrative citations.
In-text citations in APA style (7th edition)
APA uses the author-date system. The in-text citation includes the author’s last name and the year of publication. You add a page number only for direct quotations, although APA encourages page numbers for paraphrases too when they help the reader.
Note the comma between author and year, and the use of the ampersand (&) inside parentheses for two authors.
Smith, J. (2020). Understanding academic writing. Oxford University Press.
In-text (parenthetical): (Smith, 2020). For a quotation: (Smith, 2020, p. 14).
When you name the author in your sentence, the year follows in parentheses right after the name:
Smith, J. (2020). Understanding academic writing. Oxford University Press.
In-text (narrative): Smith (2020) argued that revision improves clarity.
Multiple authors in APA
For two authors, name both every time. For three or more authors, give the first author’s name followed by “et al.” from the very first citation.
- Two authors: (Smith & Jones, 2020). In a sentence: Smith and Jones (2020) found that…
- Three or more: (Smith et al., 2020).
Notice that “and” is spelled out in narrative form, while the ampersand is used inside parentheses. For more cases, see how to cite multiple authors. You can create parenthetical and narrative forms with our APA in-text citation generator, build full entries with the APA citation generator, and our APA format guide covers the wider rules.
In-text citations in MLA style (9th edition)
MLA uses the author-page system. The in-text citation gives the author’s last name and the page number where the information appears. There is no comma between the name and the page number, and no “p.” abbreviation.
Smith, John. Understanding Academic Writing. Oxford UP, 2020.
In-text (parenthetical): (Smith 14).
In narrative form, place the author’s name in your sentence and put only the page number in parentheses:
Smith, John. Understanding Academic Writing. Oxford UP, 2020.
In-text (narrative): Smith argues that revision improves clarity (14).
Multiple authors and missing page numbers in MLA
- Two authors: (Smith and Jones 14).
- Three or more authors: (Smith et al. 14).
- No page numbers (for example, a website): use the author’s name alone, as in (Smith).
If a source has no named author, use a shortened version of the title in place of the author. For full entries, try the MLA citation generator or read the MLA format guide. To see how the two systems differ, our APA vs MLA comparison is a helpful reference.
In-text citations in Chicago style (17th edition)
Chicago offers two distinct systems, and the in-text citation looks very different in each. Pick the one your instructor or field requires.
Notes-Bibliography system
This system, common in history and the humanities, uses superscript numbers in the text that point to footnotes or endnotes. The note carries the source details, and a bibliography lists sources at the end.
Bibliography: Smith, John. Understanding Academic Writing. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020.
In-text: a superscript number after the sentence.¹ First footnote: 1. John Smith, Understanding Academic Writing (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020), 14.
After the first full note, later references to the same source use a shortened note: the author’s last name, a short title, and the page, as in: 2. Smith, Understanding Academic Writing, 22.
Author-Date system
This system, common in the sciences and social sciences, works much like APA. The in-text citation gives the author’s last name and the year, with a page number added after a comma when needed. Note there is no comma between the name and the year.
Reference list: Smith, John. 2020. Understanding Academic Writing. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
In-text (parenthetical): (Smith 2020, 14).
Build either form with the Chicago citation generator, and see the full rules in the Chicago style guide.
Quick comparison across styles
The same source produces three different in-text forms. Compare them side by side:
- APA: (Smith, 2020) or (Smith, 2020, p. 14)
- MLA: (Smith 14)
- Chicago Author-Date: (Smith 2020, 14)
- Chicago Notes-Bibliography: a superscript number leading to a footnote
The differences are small but they matter: APA centers on the date, MLA centers on the page, and Chicago gives you a choice. If you are unsure which to use, our overview of citation styles explained can help you decide.
Common in-text citation mistakes to avoid
- Mismatched pairs. The name in your in-text citation must match the first word of the full entry. If your text says (Smith, 2020), the list must start with “Smith.”
- Wrong punctuation. APA uses a comma before the year; MLA uses no comma before the page; Chicago Author-Date uses no comma before the year. These small marks are style-specific.
- Citing only at the end of a paragraph. Place the citation close to the borrowed idea, not just once at the end, so readers know exactly what came from the source.
- Forgetting page numbers for quotations. All three styles expect a locator for direct quotes when one is available.
Accurate in-text citations are also one of the simplest ways to avoid plagiarism, because they make the line between your words and the source clear. For a step-by-step routine, see how to cite sources.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an in-text citation and a reference?
An in-text citation is the short note inside your sentences, usually just an author and a date or page. A reference (also called a works cited or bibliography entry) is the full source description at the end of your paper. They work as a pair: the short note points the reader to the matching full entry.
Do I need a page number in every in-text citation?
No. In APA and Chicago Author-Date, a page number is required only for direct quotations, though it is encouraged for paraphrases when it helps the reader. MLA includes a page number whenever the source has page numbers. If a source has no pages, such as many websites, you cite by author alone.
How do I write an in-text citation when there is no author?
Use the work’s title in place of the author. In APA, the format depends on the source type: italicize the title of a stand-alone work such as a book, for example (Understanding Academic Writing, 2020), but put the title of part of a larger work such as an article or webpage in quotation marks, for example (“Revision Strategies,” 2020). In MLA, use a shortened title and page number, italicizing a book title, such as (Understanding 14).
Are in-text citations the same in APA, MLA, and Chicago?
No. APA uses author and year, MLA uses author and page, and Chicago offers either superscript notes (Notes-Bibliography) or author and year (Author-Date). The element order and punctuation differ in each, so always confirm which style your assignment requires before you start.