In-Text Documentation
In-text documentation is sometimes called parenthetical documentation
because it requires the use of parentheses ( ).
For every fact or idea you borrowed from another source, you must provide the author's last name, the year of publication in parenthesis, and the specific page of the source. Here are two ways you can do this.
1. Introduce the quote or paraphrase with the author's last name followed by the year and end the borrowed information with the page number in parentheses.
For example:
Becker (2002) noted human capital, "the knowledge, information, ideas, skills, and health of
individuals" (p.3) is the greatest form of capital in the 21st century.
2. Or, provide the author's last name, the publication year, and the page number inside parentheses at the end of the borrowed information.
For example:
As he stated, human capital, "the knowledge, information, ideas, skills, and health of
individuals" (Becker, 2002, p.3), is the greatest form of capital in the 21st century.
What if your source doesn't list the author?
If the source you borrowed information from does not list the author's name, use the first few words of the title and the publication year.
For example:
The Department of Education data indicates that college graduate will earn nearly double what a high
school graduate will earn and live longer, healthier lives ("Closing," 2002, p. A20).
If the source does not have numbered pages, you are not required to provide a page number. However, you may provide the number of the paragraph, if possible.
Use the ¶ symbol or the abbreviation para.
For example:
The evidence clearly proves that the benefits of a college education to an individual and society prevail over
the cost of earning a college degree (Porter, 2002, Conclusion section, para. 1).
In some cases, you might need to provide additional information within your parenthetical documentation.
Work has two authors. Use both names in your signal phrase every time the reference occurs in the text.
For example:
Nist and Holschuh (2006) recommended that students need to become familiar with terminology and
concepts before class (p. 203).
Authors have two or more works in the list of references. Cite both names with the appropriate publication date.
Note: On the References page, arrange two or more works by the same authors by year of publication, the earliest first.
Nist and Holschuh (2000) stressed the importance for students to use a variety of study strategies
while in college (p. 9).
Nist and Holschuh (2006) offered important strategies to help students identify relationships between
ideas (pp. 199-209).
Work has three, four or five authors. Cite all authors the first time the reference occurs in the text.
In subsequent citations, include only the surname (last name) of the first author followed by et al. and the year if it is the first citation of the reference within a paragraph.
For example:
The study (Edmondson, Conger, and Conger, 2007, May) implied .... [First citation]
Edmondson, et al. (2007, May) observed ... [Second citation]
In a recent assessment (Edmondson, et al.) results indicated.... [Omit year from subsequent citations]
Work has six or more authors. Cite only the surname of the first author followed by et al. in the text.
For example:
Researchers compared Adult OCD patients with an early onset symptom with OCD patients with a
later symptom onset (Rosario-Campos, et al., 2001, p.1899).
Classical Works
Reference entries are not required for major classical works and the Bible. Identify the source and the version in the text.
For example: Phil. 4:9 (English Standard Version) ...
Personal Communications
Cite personal communications in text of paper only. Give name and date.
For example:
Microsoft Chairman (B. Gates, personal communication, May 8, 2007) claimed, voice and vision
technology interfaces are underestimated.
Citations within quotations
Citations embedded within the original material you are quoting should be included within the text, but not included in the list of references unless you cite them elsewhere in your paper.
Activity
Click on the DragNDrop Activity below to match in-text documentations to the sources they cite.
Self Check
Test your self by completing the following Self Check.
References
References for this page are below.
References
Becker, G. S. (2002). The age of human capital. In E. P. Lazear (Ed.), Education in the Twenty-first Century (pp. 3-8).
Stanford: Hoover Institution Press.
Closing the education gap. (2002, May 29). Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition), p. A20. Retrieved August 15, 2007,
from Wall Street Journal database. (Document ID: 121839491).
Edmondson, C., Conger, J., & Conger, A. (2007, May). Social skills in college students with high trait anger.
Journal of Social & Clinical Psychology, 26(5), 575-594. Retrieved August 10, 2007, from Psychology and
Behavioral Sciences Collection database.
Nist, S. L. & Holschuh, J. P. (2000). Active learning: Strategies for college success. Boston; Allyn and Bacon.
Nist, S.L., & Holschuh, J. P. (2006). College success strategies. 2nd ed. New York: Pearson Longman.
Porter, K. (2002). The value of a college degree. ERIC Digest. Washington, DC: Office of Educational Research and
Improvement. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED470038). Retrieved August 10, 2007, from the ERIC
database.
Rosario-Campos, M. C., Leckman, J. F., Mercandante, M. T., Shavitt, R. G., Silva Prado, H., Sada, P. et al. (2001).
Adults with early-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 11, 1899. Retrieved
August 10, 2007, from the eLibrary online database.
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Content ©2008. All rights reserved.
Date last modified: February 20, 2008.
Based on SoftChalk LessonBuilder created by Amy Gonzalez Ferguson
Richland College Library
Dallas County Community College District
Adapted with permission by Edna White
Cedar Valley College Library
Send comments to ewhite@dcccd.edu
