5.2 Distinguishing between in-text and parenthetical citations

5.2 In-text and parenthetical citations

This lesson is a fairly simple one. Still, sometimes teachers assume that students know things that they do not. In the interest of avoiding that problem, let's be sure that you know the difference between in-text and parenthetical citations.

5.2 In-text and parenthetical citations

Using a parenthetical citation simply means that you provide documentation for your source in parentheses as close to the information you are citing as possible --without being distracting.

Using an in-text citation means you remove some or all of that information from the parentheses and include it in your text.

5.2 In-text and parenthetical citations

Using an in-text citation frequently means that you referred to the author of your source in the body, or text, of your paper.

As a rule of thumb, refer to the author with her first and last name the first time you mention her -- and just her last name in subsequent references.

5.2 In-text and parenthetical citations

Using an in-text citation may also include a reference to the title of a journal article or other type of source.

In that case, it may or may not include the author's name, but if it doesn't, you need to cite the author in a parenthetical citation. That is, of course, if the source provides a name for an author.

5.2 In-text and parenthetical citations

Occasionally, an in-text citation may include documentation related to the location of specific information in your source.

In Act II, scene iii, of The Importance of Being Earnest, significant commentary on Victorian society is disguised in the author’s delightful wit (Wilde).

5.2 In-text and parenthetical citations

The documentation information required for the source does not change. The only thing that changes is that you can omit information in the parenthetical citation if you include it in the in-text citation.

In some cases, that means you end up with an in-text citation without a parenthetical citation to follow. 

In other cases, you will have both, providing some

information in the text and some in the parentheses.

5.2 In-text and parenthetical citations

Let’s practice.

Locate a scholarly, peer-reviewed article on a topic of interest to you.

Identify:1. One example of a parenthetical citation

2. One example of an in-text citation

3. One example that blends in-text and parenthetical citations