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APA Style

Why Cite Sources?

Citing sources in the body of a research paper tells the reader that outside source material was used in the sentence where the in-text citation appears.  This lets the reader know it is not their original work or thought. Citing sources:

  • It enables the reader to know whose research ideas or theories influenced the paper's author
  • Provides authority and support for the positions taken in the paper
  • Acknowledges others in the field by giving credit for their original work

In-text citations also serve as finding tools. Because in-text citations comprise the first two elements of the reference for the resource (author's last name and publication date), it provides the reader with enough information to find the resource in the paper’s References list. In other words, in-text citations and references match!

What Needs to be Cited?

According to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.),

"Plagiarism is the act of presenting the words, ideas, or images of another as one's own; it denies authors credit where credit is due" (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 21).

In other words, using information from source material must be cited in the text and in the Reference list of APA-style papers. This includes using others:

  • Words - Quotations
  • Ideas - Summaries, Paraphrases
  • Data - Numbers, Data
  • Images - Pictures, Charts, Graphs