In-text citation example

Remembering to cite your sources can be hard, but don’t forget you also have to format them according to the style guide you’re using.

MLA, APA, and Chicago all have different methods for in-text citations, so you may have to change your style from paper to paper. It can be a lot to keep track of.

In this guide, we explain how to do in-text citations for MLA, APA, and Chicago, as well as discuss the difference between parenthetical and narrative citations, the two types of in-text citations.

But first, let’s take a closer look at what an in-text citation is and when you need it.

What is an in-text citation?

An in-text citation is a source citation in academic writing that is placed directly in the body text, typically at the end of the related sentence, clause, or phrase.

This is an alternative style to footnotes, which cite sources at the bottom of a page, or endnotes, which cite sources at the end of a section, chapter, or entire work.

In-text citations give basic source information like the author, page number, or publ