General Principle
When you're citing Author A who mentions Author B's work, you should treat it as a secondary source. You cite Author A in your reference list and use the following format in your text:
In-Text Citation:
* (Author A, year, as cited in Author B, year)
Example:
* Original Source (Author B): Smith, J. (2020). The impact of social media on mental health. *Journal of Social Psychology*, 120(4), 450-465.
* Author A's work mentioning Author B: Jones, K. (2022). Social media and its effect on youth. *Journal of Adolescent Research*, 15(2), 100-120.
* Your in-text citation: (Jones, 2022, as cited in Smith, 2020)
Explanation:
* You are acknowledging that you did not directly read Smith's (2020) work but are relying on Jones' (2022) description of it.
* You include the year of both the original source (Smith) and the secondary source (Jones).
When to use "as cited in"
You should use "as cited in" only when:
* You are citing a source that you did not directly read.
* The source you are citing is a secondary source that is discussing the original work.
Important Notes:
* Ideal situation: If possible, try to find and read the original source (Smith, 2020) for the most accurate information.
* Direct quotes: If you quote directly from Author B's work, be sure to include the page number of the quote.
* Reference List: You only list the work you directly read (Jones, 2022) in your reference list.
Let me know if you have any other questions about APA style or citation!