Parenthetical Citation
An in-text citation enclosed in parentheses, typically including author and year (APA) or author and page number (MLA).
Why it matters
Parenthetical citations let you attribute ideas without disrupting the flow of your writing. They keep the focus on the content while providing a clear trail back to the source. Using them correctly signals academic competence and helps readers quickly locate the full reference in your bibliography or reference list.
How to use
Place the parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence or clause containing the borrowed information, before the period. In APA, include the author's last name and year: (Johnson, 2023). For direct quotes, add the page number: (Johnson, 2023, p. 42). In MLA, use the author and page number without a comma: (Johnson 42).
In academic writing
Parenthetical citations are the default in-text citation format for APA and MLA, the two most widely used styles in North American universities. They contrast with narrative citations, where the author name is woven into the sentence itself. Most style guides recommend using a mix of both parenthetical and narrative citations to vary your writing.
Common mistakes
- •Including the author's first name or initials in the parenthetical citation — only the last name is used.
- •Placing the parenthetical citation after the period instead of before it.
- •Adding "p." for page numbers in MLA style — MLA uses bare page numbers without "p." while APA requires it.
Example
(Johnson, 2023, p. 42)
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