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APSA Citation Guide

This guide will provide outlines, examples, and tips for citing in APSA citation style. The APSA style is used mostly in the political sciences.

In-Text Citations: Basics

APSA uses the author-date style of in-text citations. These citations are also parenthetical citations, meaning in-text citations are placed in parentheses at the end of the sentence. Every in-text citation you use must have a source in the reference list at the end of your paper. Citations should be included for all sources, including images and tables.

The tabbed box below provides guidelines and examples for specific in-text citations.

In-text Citations: Examples

In-text citations require, at minimum, the author(s)'s last name and the date. You may need to adjust to the following situations:

  • No Date: Use the abbreviation n.d.
  • Two Authors: Include both last names connected with and.
  • Three or More Authors: Include the first author's last name and the abbreviation et al.

The Template provides elements in order with appropriate punctuation. Each of the Examples shows a fully formatted example.

Template: In-Text Citation, General

(Last Name Date)

Template: In-Text Citation, Quotation

(Last Name Date, Page Numbers)

Example: In-Text Citation, One Author

(Zhao 2014)

Example: In-Text Citation, Two Authors

(Brown and St. Germain 2008)

Example: In-Text Citation, Three or More Authors

(Williams et al. 2023)

Example: In-Text Citation, One Author, No Date

(Mbengi n.d.)

For direct quotations, in-text citations must include page numbers, even if they are not sequential. The Template provides elements in order with appropriate punctuation. Each of the Examples shows a fully formatted example.

Template: In-Text Citation, Quotation

(Last Name Date, Page Numbers)

Example: In-Text Citation, Quotation, Sequential Page Numbers

(Zhao 2014, 12-15)

Example: In-Text Citation, Quotation, Non-Sequential Page Numbers

(Williams et al. 2023, 308, 310)

When citing multiple sources at once, include last name and date for each source. Place the sources in alphabetical order, separated with a semicolon. The Template provides elements in order with appropriate punctuation. Each of the Examples shows a fully formatted example.

Template: In-Text Citation, Multiple Sources

(Last Name Date; Last Name Date)

Example: In Text Citation, Two Sources

(Brown and St. Germain 2008; Mbengi n.d.)

Example: In Text Citation, More Than Two Sources

(Hauck 2000; Hauck et al. 2010; Williams et al. 2023; Zhao 2014)

When citing multiple works by the same author with different years, you include the last name of the author and separate the years of the works. When citing multiple works by the same author in the same year, do the same by separating the years with a semicolon, instead including a lowercase letter in alphabetic order. The Templates provide elements in order with appropriate punctuation. Each of the Examples shows a fully formatted example.

Template: Multiple Works, Same Author, Different Year

(Last Name Date; Date)

Template: Multiple Works, Same Author, Same Year

(Last Name Datea; Dateb)

Example: Multiple Works, Same Author, Different Year

(Barbarosa 1973; 1978)

Example: Multiple Works, Same Author, Same Year

(van Ethan 2023a; 2023b)

When mentioning the author inside the sentence, place the year after the author's name. If including a direct quote, place the page number at the end of the sentence.

Example: Author Mentioned in Sentence

For a lucid assessment, see Ripley (2008).

Example: Author Mentioned in Sentence with Direct Quote

Trish (1988) sharply disagrees, stating "nothing could be further from the truth" (103).