What is Parenthetical Citation? APA, MLA & Chicago Examples

Table of Contents

What is parenthetical citation?

Parenthetical citation uses parentheses to cite sources in a text from which the information or quote is taken. This type of citation is commonly used in academic writing, particularly in disciplines that follow the Modern Language Association (MLA), the American Psychological Association (APA), or the Chicago Manual of Style guides.

Parenthetical citations serve several purposes:

Crediting Sources: This is essential for academic integrity, as it gives credit to the original authors and allows readers to verify information in your work.
Avoiding Plagiarism: Proper citation helps to avoid plagiarism by acknowledging the original source of the information.
Providing Context: Parenthetical citations offer brief information about the source directly within the text, allowing readers to understand the context and significance of the cited information.
Supporting Claims: Citing relevant sources in parentheses adds credibility to your work and shows that your statements are grounded in established research and scholarship.
Guiding Readers to Sources: Readers who want to explore a topic further or check the accuracy of your claims may use the parenthetical citations as a guide to find the complete citation in the bibliography.

What is an in-text or parenthetical citation

An in-text citation, or parenthetical citation, is a way to reference a source within the body of an academic work. The basic components of an in-text citation typically include the author’s last name, publication year, and page number(s) where the information was found. The specific format may vary depending on your citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago Manual). Both APA and MLA are known as parenthetical citation styles. In contrast, the Chicago Style uses extensive footnotes and endnotes to refer to sources.¹ These are discussed in detail in the following sections.

Parenthetical citation in MLA

In MLA style, parenthetical citations are used within the body of your paper. This allows readers to locate the corresponding entry in your Works Cited page easily. Here are some general guidelines for using parenthetical citations in MLA:^2,3

Author’s name in the sentence: If you mention the author’s name in the sentence, only include the page number in the parentheses. Example: According to Smith, “Direct quotation” (45).
Author’s name not in the sentence: If the author’s name is not mentioned in the sentence, include both the author’s name and the page number in parentheses. Example: “Direct quotation” (Smith 45).
Multiple Authors:
- Works with two authors: Include both names in the citation. Example: (Smith and Johnson 36).
- Works with three or more authors: Use the first author’s name followed by “et al.” Example: (Jones et al. 78).

No Author: If a source has no named author, use a shortened title version. Example: (“Title of the Article” 22).
No Page Number: If a source does not have page numbers, use other locators like paragraph number (par.), section (sec.), or chapter (ch.). Example: (Smith par. 5).
Citing Multiple Works by the Same Author: Differentiate between works by the same author by adding a shortened title version in the citation. Example: (Smith, Title A 22; Title B 45).

For more specific information or parenthetical citation examples, it’s always a good idea to refer to the latest edition of the MLA Handbook or consult the official MLA website.

Parenthetical citation in APA

In APA style, parenthetical citations are included within the text of a paper. The general format for parenthetical citations in APA includes the author’s last name and the publication year, separated by a comma, all enclosed in parentheses. Here are some examples:^2,3

One Author: Include the author name and publication year (Smith, 2019).
Two Authors: Include both names joined by an ampersand (&) in parentheses. Example: (John & Williams, 2020)
Three or More Authors: use the first author’s name followed by “et al.” and the publication year Example: (James et al., 2018)
No Author: If the source has no author, use the first few words of the title in the citation, italicized and in quotation marks, followed by the year. Example: (“Title of the Article,” 2021)
Multiple Works by the Same Author: (Johnson, 2017a) and (Johnson, 2017b)
Page Numbers: Include the page number in the citation when quoting directly from a source. Example: (Johnson, 2018, p. 45).
Corporate Author: (American Psychological Association, 2015)
Quotations: For direct quotations, include the page number after the year, preceded by “p.” for one page or “pp.” for multiple pages. Example: (Brown, 2017, p. 25).
Secondary Source: When citing a source you have not read directly but cited in another work, use “as cited in” or “as noted in” before the indirect source in the parenthetical citation. Example: (Smith, 2008, as cited in Johnson, 2010)

Please note that specific circumstances may require variations in the format, and it’s always a good idea to consult the latest edition of the APA Publication Manual or the official APA Style website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Parenthetical citation in Chicago

The Chicago Manual of Style, sometimes referred to as Turabian or Chicago/Turabian,

follows two main citation styles: the Notes and Bibliography system (commonly used in the humanities) and the Author-Date system (commonly used in the sciences). Both use parenthetical citations in slightly different ways.³

Notes and Bibliography System: The primary form of citation is footnotes or endnotes, and the parenthetical citation is used for commentary or explanatory notes. Here’s how you would use parenthetical citations in this system:

The first citation for a source includes the full bibliographic information, while subsequent citations can use a shortened form. If the source has multiple authors, use the format “Last name of first author et al.” for subsequent citations.

Example of citing a book: (Author’s Last then First Name, Title of Book, Place of Publication: Publisher, Year), page number.

Subsequent citations can be shortened: (Last Name of First Author et al., Shortened Title), page number.

Author-Date System: The parenthetical citation includes the author’s last name and the publication year, with no punctuation between them. This system is similar to the APA style. For in-text citations, place the author’s last name and the publication year in parentheses at the end of the sentence containing the cited information.

Example: (Author’s Last Name Year, page number).

Make sure to consult the Chicago Manual of Style for specific cases, variations, and more detailed guidelines, as there may be exceptions or special cases depending on the type of source you are citing.

Parenthetical vs. Narrative In-Text Citations

In-text citations are a crucial component of academic writing as they inform readers about the source of the information or ideas presented in the text. Parenthetical and narrative in-text citations are two common styles used to attribute credit to the original sources, and their usage can vary depending on the citation style.

Citation Style	Parenthetical In-Text Citations (Description)	Example	Narrative In-Text Citations (Description)	Example
APA	Include the author’s last name and the publication year, separated by a comma	(Smith, 2010)	Integrate the author’s name into the sentence and include the publication year in parentheses.	According to Smith (2010),…
MLA	Use the author’s last name and the page number, without a comma between them.	(Smith 45)	Integrate the author’s name into the sentence, followed by the page number in parentheses.	Smith argues that “…” (45).
Chicago	Include the author’s last name, publication year, and page number (if applicable).	(Jones 2015, 72)	Author’s name is placed in the text, with the publication year and page number (if applicable) provided in parentheses.	According to Jones (2015, 72),

The main differences between parenthetical and narrative citations are given in the Table below

Differences	Parenthetical In-Text Citations	Narrative In-Text Citations
Use of Author’s Name	Author’s name in parentheses, separate from the sentence.	Author’s name forms part of the sentence.
Verb Tense	Often uses past tense for reporting research findings.	The verb tense can vary but is often in the present tense.
Placement of Year/ Page Number	Information is enclosed in parentheses at the end of the sentence.	Year and page number (if applicable) are placed after the author’s name within the sentence.

The choice between these styles often depends on the citation style guidelines you are using and how you want to incorporate the information into your text. Both styles serve the purpose of attributing information to its source and maintaining academic integrity.

Examples of parenthetical citation

Parenthetical citations are commonly used in various citation styles to indicate the source of information within the text of a document. Here are parenthetical citation examples in different citation styles:

Number of authors	APA Example	MLA Example	Chicago Example
Single author	(Smith, 2010)	(Smith 45)	(Smith 2010, 45)
Two authors	(Johnson & Williams, 2015)	(Johnson & Williams 78)	(Johnson and Williams 2015, 78)
Three or more authors	(Brown et al., 2018)	(Brown et al. 112)	Three authors: (Johnson, Smith, and Williams 2018, 23) More than three authors: (Brown et al. 112)
No author	(“Title of Article,” 2017)	(“Title of Article” 27)	(Title, 2017)
Multiple works by the same author	(Smith, 2001, 2003a)	(Smith, Title 45)	(Smith 2010, 45; 2012, 56)

Frequently asked questions

What are parenthetical citations?

Parenthetical citation involves citing sources directly within the text, in parentheses, to give credit to the original author in academic writing. This type of citation includes the author’s last name, year of publication, and the page number where the information can be found. Different academic disciplines and publications may have specific rules for formatting parenthetical citations, so it’s essential to follow the guidelines provided by the style manual relevant to your field (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).

When should parenthetical citation be used?

Parenthetical citations are used to credit the source of information within the text of a document. They are placed at the end of the sentence, just before the closing punctuation mark. The purpose is to acknowledge the source of the information and provide enough information for the reader to locate the complete citation in the bibliography or works cited page.

What’s the difference between parenthetical citation and narrative in-text citation?

The primary difference between parenthetical citations and narrative in-text citations is the presentation style. Parenthetical citations place the citation information in parentheses, separate from the narrative, while narrative in-text citations integrate the citation information into the flow of the text itself. The choice between the two often depends on the citation style guide you follow (such as APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).

Examples:

Parenthetical Citation: A recent study found that “the impact of climate change is increasing rapidly” (Johnson 76).

Narrative In-Text Citation: Johnson discusses in her recent study how “the impact of climate change is increasing rapidly” (76).

How do I use parenthetical citations in MLA?

In MLA, include the author’s last name and the page number(s) from the source in parentheses. Place the citation at the end of the sentence, before the period.

Example:

According to recent research, sleep patterns can significantly affect cognitive function (Beth 7)

How do I use parenthetical citations in APA?

The APA style follows the “Author-Date” format and includes the author’s last name and the publication date in parentheses.

Example:

The sun is at the center of our solar system (Smith, 2019).

References:

Woodrow, L., & Woodrow, L. (2014). Academic Style. Writing about Quantitative Research in Applied Linguistics, 170-188.
List, Y. W. C. (2000). Paper Format.
Heimerman, K. Z. (2018). Noreen Reale Falcone Library: Academic Integrity Tutorial: How Do I Cite?.

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