How to Write In-Text Citations: APA, MLA & Chicago Examples (2026)

Writing in-text citations correctly can feel like navigating a maze of rules, parentheses, and page numbers. One wrong comma, and your professor marks you down.

But here's the truth: in-text citations follow predictable patterns once you understand them.

This guide breaks down in-text citations for APA, MLA, and Chicago styles with clear examples you can copy and adapt. By the end, you'll know exactly how to cite any source—whether it's a book, journal article, or website—directly in your paper.

What Are In-Text Citations?
APA In-Text Citation Format & Examples
MLA In-Text Citation Format & Examples
Chicago In-Text Citation Format & Examples
When to Use Parenthetical vs. Narrative Citations
In-Text Citations for Different Source Types
Common In-Text Citation Mistakes to Avoid
FAQ

What Are In-Text Citations?

In-text citations are brief references within your paper that point readers to your full bibliography or reference list. They serve two purposes:

Give credit to the original source
Help readers locate the full reference at the end of your paper

Every time you quote, paraphrase, or reference someone else's ideas, you need an in-text citation. The format varies depending on your citation style.

The Two Main Types

Parenthetical citations: The citation appears in parentheses after the information
Narrative citations: The author's name is part of your sentence

Let's look at each citation style in detail.

APA In-Text Citation Format & Examples

APA (American Psychological Association) style uses an author-date format. This is the most common style in social sciences, psychology, education, and nursing.

Basic APA Format

Parenthetical citation:

(Author Last Name, Year)

Narrative citation:

Author Last Name (Year) states that...

APA Examples

One author:

Parenthetical: Students who use active recall perform better on exams (Brown, 2024).
Narrative: Brown (2024) found that students who use active recall perform better on exams.

Two authors:

Parenthetical: (Smith & Johnson, 2023)
Narrative: Smith and Johnson (2023) argue that...

Three or more authors:

Use "et al." after the first author: (Williams et al., 2024)

Direct quote with page number:

"Learning is most effective when spaced over time" (Brown, 2024, p. 47).
Brown (2024) states that "learning is most effective when spaced over time" (p. 47).

No author:

Use the first few words of the title: ("Study Finds," 2024)

Organization as author:

First citation: (American Psychological Association [APA], 2024)
Subsequent citations: (APA, 2024)

APA Quick Reference

| Source Type | First Citation | Subsequent Citations | |-------------|---------------|---------------------| | 1 author | (Smith, 2024) | (Smith, 2024) | | 2 authors | (Smith & Lee, 2024) | (Smith & Lee, 2024) | | 3+ authors | (Smith et al., 2024) | (Smith et al., 2024) | | Organization | (WHO, 2024) | (WHO, 2024) | | No author | ("Title," 2024) | ("Title," 2024) |

MLA In-Text Citation Format & Examples

MLA (Modern Language Association) style uses an author-page format. It's the standard for humanities courses like English, literature, and history.

Basic MLA Format

Parenthetical citation:

(Author Last Name Page Number)

Narrative citation:

According to Author Last Name, "quote" (Page Number).

Key difference from APA: MLA uses page numbers, not years.

MLA Examples

One author:

Parenthetical: The novel explores themes of isolation and identity (Morrison 42).
Narrative: Morrison argues that "memory is never neutral" (42).

Two authors:

(Gilbert and Gubar 89)

Three or more authors:

Use "et al.": (Smith et al. 112)

No page number (websites):

Just use the author: (Johnson)
If no author, use shortened title: ("How to Research")

Multiple works by same author:

Include a shortened title: (Smith, "First Article" 23) and (Smith, "Second Article" 45)

Indirect source (quoting a source within a source):

Use "qtd. in": As Franklin noted, "time is money" (qtd. in Adams 78).

MLA Quick Reference

| Source Type | Format | |-------------|--------| | 1 author | (Smith 42) | | 2 authors | (Smith and Lee 42) | | 3+ authors | (Smith et al. 42) | | No author | ("Shortened Title" 42) | | No page | (Smith) | | Website | (Author) or ("Title") |

Chicago In-Text Citation Format & Examples

Chicago style has two systems:

Notes-Bibliography (NB): Uses footnotes/endnotes—common in humanities
Author-Date: Similar to APA—common in sciences and social sciences

Chicago Author-Date Format

Parenthetical citation:

(Author Last Name Year, Page)

Narrative citation:

Author (Year, Page) states that...

Chicago Author-Date Examples

One author:

(Smith 2024, 45)
Smith (2024, 45) argues that...

Two authors:

(Smith and Johnson 2024, 78)

Three authors:

(Smith, Johnson, and Lee 2024, 90)

Four or more authors:

(Smith et al. 2024, 112)

Chicago Notes-Bibliography Format

With footnotes, you add a superscript number after the sentence and put the citation at the bottom of the page:

Text example: The research demonstrates clear patterns.¹

Footnote (first citation):

1. Jane Smith, The Art of Research (New York: Academic Press, 2024), 45.

Footnote (shortened form for repeated sources):

2. Smith, Art of Research, 78.

When to Use Parenthetical vs. Narrative Citations

Choosing between parenthetical and narrative citations affects your writing flow.

Use Parenthetical Citations When:

The author's name isn't important to your point
You want the information to take center stage
You're citing multiple sources at once

Example: "Studies show that spaced repetition improves long-term retention (Brown, 2024; Smith, 2023; Lee, 2022)."

Use Narrative Citations When:

The author's expertise matters
You're introducing a key study or argument
You're comparing different researchers' views

Example: "Brown (2024), a leading cognitive scientist, argues that spaced repetition is the most effective learning strategy."

Pro Tip: Mix Both

Good academic writing uses both types. Too many parenthetical citations feel choppy. Too many narrative citations feel repetitive.

In-Text Citations for Different Source Types

Books

| Style | One Author | Two Authors | |-------|------------|-------------| | APA | (Smith, 2024) | (Smith & Lee, 2024) | | MLA | (Smith 42) | (Smith and Lee 42) | | Chicago | (Smith 2024, 42) | (Smith and Lee 2024, 42) |