Understanding the Basics
* Author-Page Method: This is the most common method. You include the author's last name and the page number in parentheses at the end of the sentence.
* Signal Phrase: This is an introductory phrase that names the author and introduces the quote.
Examples
1. Author-Page Method
* Example: "The study found that 'participants who engaged in regular exercise showed a significant improvement in their mood' (Smith, 2023, p. 15)."
* Explanation:
* The quote is enclosed in quotation marks.
* The author's last name and the year of publication are in parentheses.
* The page number follows a comma.
2. Signal Phrase Method
* Example: According to Smith (2023), "participants who engaged in regular exercise showed a significant improvement in their mood" (p. 15).
* Explanation:
* The signal phrase introduces the author and work.
* The quote is enclosed in quotation marks.
* The page number is in parentheses after the quote.
3. Multiple Authors
* Two authors: (Smith & Jones, 2023, p. 15)
* Three or more authors: (Smith et al., 2023, p. 15)
4. No Author
* Example: ("The study found that...", 2023, p. 15)
* Explanation: If there is no author, use the first few words of the title (in quotation marks) and the year of publication.
5. Direct Quote from a Website
* Example: "The company's mission statement reads: 'We strive to create a world where everyone has access to clean water' (World Water Initiative, 2023)."
* Explanation:
* If there is a website title, use it in place of the author's name.
* If there's no page number, you can use a paragraph number, section heading, or a URL.
Important Notes
* Punctuation: The period goes *after* the closing parenthesis of the in-text citation.
* Formatting: The specific format may vary depending on your style guide (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.).
Always double-check your style guide for the most accurate formatting rules.