This is a quick guide on APA in-text citation based on the APA 7th Edition, which was published in October 2019. It provides essential rules and recommendations for using APA in-text citation. Check out “How to Format Reference Page in APA.“

APA citation is a standardized method for citing sources in academic writing, commonly used in psychology, education, business and social sciences. It helps you give proper credit to authors, avoid plagiarism, and ensure your work is credible and well-organized. APA format includes specific rules for in-text citations lists discussed below.

APA In-Text Citation

There are at least three ways to cite a source within your text. They are central reporting, non-central reporting and non-reporting. They are explained below. 

To proceed, consider the following text from a source, which we will use for our in-text citation examples.

Source:

“Amid economic challenges due to sanctions, the needs of vulnerable people – among them refugees as well as Iranians – are increasing. In just one year, the price of basic goods and services has skyrocketed, making it harder for families to afford food items, rent payments and transportation. UNHCR is concerned that any further deterioration in Iran’s economy could weaken the ability of the Government, UNHCR and partners to continue providing education to Afghan children.”

Source: UNHCR, Farha Bhoyroo | 10 December 2019, para 17.

Central Reporting:

In the central reporting, the writer places a lot of emphasize on the source by placing it at the signal phrase right at the beginning of a sentence. Many authors use this strategy when they want to place a lot importance on who says what rather on what was being said.

Example:

According to Bhoyroo (2019), some Iranian families are vulnerable due to economic sanctions. 

Non-Central Reporting:

In the non-central reporting, the original source does not receive the attention of the reader. That is why it is placed at the end of the sentence whiting the bracket. A signal phrase in this case is not used. In this way of citation, the importance is placed on the message or what was being said.

Example:

It has been reported that Afghans immigrants and some vulnerable Iranians cannot afford their basic needs due to international sanctions imposed on Iran (Bhoyroo, 2019).

Non-Reporting:

In the non-reporting style of citation, the writer does not use any signal phrase to introduce the quoted or borrowed information. The source is placed at the end of borrowed materials within the brackets. 

Example:

“Further deterioration in Iran’s economy could weaken the ability of the Government” to educate and support Afghan children in the country (Bohoyroo, 2019).

Note: Students should avoid overusing central reporting in their essays, as it unnecessarily emphasizes who said what rather than what was being said. Focusing on what is being said is more important than who is saying it. We encourage using non-central reporting to highlight the information itself, allowing for better integration of sources into the essay.

Page Number Requirement in APA:

• For a direct quotation, use a page number.
• For summary and paraphrase, the page number is not required-but helpful.
• In-direct sources are generally discouraged to use.
• Do not use a page number if an electronic source does not have a page number. However, there are alternative ways to use a page number. 
• If a source does not have a page number, consider the following options:
• Use the paragraph number instead. Count the paragraphs even if they are not numbered e.g. (John, 2025, para 6).
• If you are citing information from a figure or table, use the table or figure number instead of a page number e.g. (John, 2024, Table 4).
• To better guide your reader, it’s helpful to mention the section from which you cited and include the paragraph number at the end e.g. (John, Geographical Inspection section, para 4–5).

Useful Tip:

Students might be tempted to use direct quotations because they are easy to use; however, overusing direct quotes can make your writing sound less original. Instead, always aim to paraphrase or summarize the information from your sources.

As you paraphrase, you can mix your own ideas with what the source says and ultimately making your writing stronger.