Parenthetical documentation
- Citing Electronic Sources - MLA Style
- Citing Electronic Sources- APA style
- Citing Electronic Sources - Chicago Style
- Citing Printed Sources - MLA Style
- Citing Printed Sources - APA Style
- Citing Printed Sources - Chicago Style
PARENTHETICAL DOCUMENTATION - APA STYLE
Whenever you use information or ideas from another text in your paper, you must indicate what work you used and where in the text you found it. This is called ‘Parenthetical Documentation.’
General Guidelines
Parenthetical references must be provided for all quotes, paraphrases and summaries in your paper.
Parenthetical references must point to specific sources in the References list except for personal communication such as interviews, conversations, telephone calls, personal letters and notes, as well as personal e-mail. These sources are not recoverable and are therefore cited only in the text and do not appear in the list of references.
Parenthetical references consist of the author’s last name and the year unless the author’s name is used in the text of the paper.
Ex. Critics have tried to label Nabokov’s methods as innovative (Gould, 2003).
If the author’s name is used in the text the year of publication follows the author’s name.
Ex. Gould (2003) argued that Nabokov was not an amateur but a talented, fully qualified taxonomist.
Within a paragraph, the year is not needed in later references, as long as it can’t be confused with other studies cited in the paper.
Ex. Nabokov expressed doubts about Darwinian orthodoxies (Gould), a view which others came to in later years.
Page numbers are included only for direct quotations or references to a specific part of the source, such as a figure, a table or an equation. Use the abbreviation p. for a single page, or pp. for multiple pages. For a range of numbers write out the full beginning and ending numbers and separate them with a hyphen. When quoting, include the page number along with other reference information. Depending on where the quotation falls within a sentence or text, punctuation differs:
At the end of a sentence- Quotation marks close the quoted passage, the source is cited in parentheses immediately after the quotation marks followed by a period.
Ex . Nabokov “worked so long and so intensely in grueling and detailed observation of tiny bits of insect anatomy that his eyesight became permanently compromised” (Gould, 2003, p. 33).
Ex . Gould (2003) said that Nabokov “worked with different excellences as a complete professional in both domains” (p. 51).
In mid-sentence- End the cited passage with quotation marks, cite the source in parentheses immediately after the quotation marks and continue the sentence, punctuating as usual.
Ex. Because he “extolled precision in anatomical description for its scientific virtue” (Gould, 2003, p. 44), he was praised by his peers.
Ex . Gould (2003) said that “Nabokov’s excessive love of detail made him a laboratory drudge” (p. 49), a trait he shared with many brilliant theoreticians.
A direct quote of forty or more words.
Indent the entire quotation ½ “, double spaced, with no quotation marks. Cite the quoted source in parentheses after the final punctuation mark.
Ex .Gould (2003) says that:
Over and over again, Nabokov debunks symbolic readings in the name of respect for factual accuracy as a primary criterion. For example, he criticizes Poe’s symbolic invocation of the death’s-head moth because Poe didn’t describe the animal and even worse, because he placed the species outside its true geographic range. (p. 41)
Other Examples
A work by two authors.
Cite both authors every time the reference occurs in the text.
Ex. Jacobson and Wauch (1985) argue that the death penalty is not warranted because of issues of proving guilt.
A work by three, four or five authors.
Cite all authors the first time a reference to the work appears, placing a comma and a space after each name. Place an ampersand (&) before the last name. When including the names in the text use the word and instead of the ampersand (&). In subsequent references, give only the first author’s name followed by “et al.”
Ex.Grenman, Britz, Rush and Barker (2000) report that one ploy of gang members is to apply for life insurance using false identification and naming another gang member as beneficiary.
Ex. One ploy of gang members is to apply for life insurance using false identification and naming another gang member as beneficiary (Grenman, Britz, Rush & Barker, 2000).
Ex. Grenman et al. (2000) state that Chinese gangs continue to violate the law without serious interruption by federal or local law enforcement.
A work produced by a group or organization.
Refer to the full name and acronym of the group in the first reference..
Ex. New figures for stress-related illnesses reveal a disturbing trend (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 1999).
Use only the acronym afterwards.
Ex. Researchers differ in approaches to dealing with these new challenges (NIMH, 1999).
A work without an identified author.
Use a shortened version of the title beginning with the first word on the References page.
Ex. In dealing with body art, applying different standards for various job categories is acceptable. (How companies are dealing, 2004).
Two or more sources by different authors in the same parenthetical citation.
List the sources in alphabetical order and separate them with a semicolon.
Ex. Recent research (Bolter, 2001; Dugan, 1997; Lutz, 2002; Monroe, 1999) confirms this finding.
Two or more authors with the same last name.
Include the authors’ initials.
Ex. J. F. Murphy (1996) and R. J Murphy (1998) demonstrated methods of laser fluctuations that could also be induced by operation in the time domain.
A recoverable electronic source.
If an electronic source has an Internet address use the same author-date method used for print materials and include either the paragraph number or “n. p.” directly following the quote or paraphrase. When quoting or paraphrasing source material from an Internet source, include either the paragraph number or (n. p.) (for no page) directly following the quote of paraphrase.
Ex. Fagan (1995) predicts a landslide victory in the New Hampshire senatorial election (n. p.).
A non-recoverable electronic or non-electronic source
Personal communications may be letters, memos, some e-mail, non-archived electronic bulletin boards, personal interviews, telephone conversations.
Ex. She anticipated a hostile takeover (P. Diute, personal communication, March 18, 2004 ) so submitted her resignation effective March 12, 2004 .
For more information, please refer to:
American Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. (2001).
(5 th ed.) Washington , D.C.
4/04(jm)