How to Use This APA In-Text Citation Generator
- Select your source type (Website, Book, Journal, PDF, or YouTube) using the tabs above
- Enter the source details: author, year, title, and URL or publisher
- Click Generate Citation to produce the formatted APA reference entry
- Use the Copy button to paste the reference into your paper
- For your in-text citation, use: (Author Last Name, Year) or (Author Last Name, Year, p. X) for direct quotes
APA In-Text Citation Quick Reference
| Situation | In-Text Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| One author, paraphrase | (Last, Year) | (Smith, 2023) |
| One author, direct quote | (Last, Year, p. X) | (Smith, 2023, p. 45) |
| Two authors | (Last & Last, Year) | (Smith & Jones, 2023) |
| Three or more authors | (Last et al., Year) | (Lee et al., 2023) |
| Organization author | (Org, Year) | (WHO, 2024) |
| No author — article title | ("Short Title," Year) | ("Climate Study," 2023) |
| No date | (Last, n.d.) | (Smith, n.d.) |
Also see our complete APA citation examples for every source type.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an APA in-text citation?
An APA in-text citation is a brief reference within the body of your paper that points to the full reference in your reference list. APA in-text citations use the author-date format: (Smith, 2023). For direct quotes, include the page number: (Smith, 2023, p. 45). Every in-text citation corresponds to a full reference entry in your reference list.
How do I format an APA in-text citation for a website?
For a website in APA 7th edition: (Author, Year) or (Organization, Year). If the author is the same as the website name, use a short form: (WHO, 2024). If there is no author, use the title (in italics for shorter titles, in quotation marks for longer ones) and the year: ("Article Title," 2024). If there is no date, use n.d.: (Smith, n.d.).
How do I use et al. in APA in-text citations?
In APA 7th edition, use et al. for works with three or more authors — from the first citation onward. Example: (Lee et al., 2023). For two authors, always list both: (Smith & Jones, 2023). For one author, just use the last name: (Smith, 2023). Do not write "et al." for one or two authors. The 7th edition changed this rule from the 6th edition, which used et al. for 6+ authors.
Do I need an in-text citation for every sentence?
You need an in-text citation every time you paraphrase, quote, or summarize information from a source. You do not need a citation for every sentence if you are discussing the same source across multiple sentences — one citation at the end of the passage can cover it. However, be clear about where your source's information begins and ends to avoid ambiguity.
What is the difference between an in-text citation and a reference?
An in-text citation is the brief parenthetical notation within your paper body: (Smith, 2023, p. 45). A reference (or reference entry) is the full bibliographic information at the end of your paper: Smith, J. A. (2023). Title of work. Publisher. Every in-text citation must have a matching reference entry, and every reference entry must be cited somewhere in the text.
How do I cite a source with no author in-text in APA?
If a source has no author, use the title (or a shortened form of the title) and the year. For article/webpage titles, use quotation marks: ("How Climate Change Affects Health," 2024). For book/report titles, use italics: (*Climate Health Report*, 2024). Use as much of the title as needed to clearly identify the source in your reference list.
Can I put multiple sources in one APA in-text citation?
Yes. To cite multiple sources in one parenthetical, list them alphabetically by author last name, separated by semicolons: (Brown, 2021; Jones, 2022; Smith, 2023). Order them the same way they appear in your reference list. For narrative citations using multiple sources, you can list them within the text: "Research by Brown (2021), Jones (2022), and Smith (2023) all found..."
Does this tool generate both in-text citations and references?
Yes. Our APA citation generator produces the full reference entry for your reference list. The corresponding in-text citation follows the pattern shown below each reference type: (Author Last Name, Year) for paraphrases or (Author Last Name, Year, p. X) for direct quotes. Both the reference and in-text format are displayed when you generate a citation.