Parenthetical Citation - Examples

Parenthetical citations can be utilized in the Chicago, MLA, and the APA (American Psychological Association) style of citing sources. In this citation style one indicates the author's last name, date of publication, and, if applicable, a page number, in parentheses, within the actual text of one’s paper. Presented below are several examples of parenthetical citations as they would appear within the text of a paper.

 

A. In a typical citation of an entire work, we present the author's name and the year of publication, separated by a comma.

Example:
A recent study of youth crime concluded that today’s youth are more influenced by their peers than their parents (Smith, 2003).

Note: Use the last name only in both first and subsequent citations, except when there is more than one author with the same last name. In that case, use the last name and the first initial.

 

B. If the author is named in the text, only the year is cited.

Example:
According to Dr. Alex Smith (2003), today’s youth are more influenced by their peers than their parents.

 

C. If both the name of the author and the date are used in the text, parenthetical reference is not necessary.

Example:

According to a study of youth crime conducted by Alex Smith in 2003, today’s youth are more influenced by their peers than their parents.

D. Specific citations of pages or chapters follow the year.

Example:
Today’s youth are “…more influenced by their peers than their parents” (Smith, 2003, p. 38).

 

E. When the reference is to a work by two authors, cite both names each time the reference appears.

Example:
A recent study of youth crime concluded that today’s youth are more influenced by their peers than their parents (Smith & Zwier, 2003).

 

F. When the reference is to a work by three to five authors, cite all the authors the first time the reference appears. In a subsequent reference, use the first author's last name followed by et al. (meaning "and others").

Example of a subsequent reference:
A recent study of youth crime concluded that today’s youth are more influenced by their peers than their parents (Smith et al., 2003).

Note: When the reference is to a work by six or more authors, use only the first author's name followed et al. in the first and all subsequent reference. The only exceptions to this rule are when some confusion might result because of similar names or the same author being cited. In that case, cite enough authors so that the distinction is clear.

 

G. When the reference is to a work by a corporate author, use the name of the organization as the author.

Example:
A recent study of youth crime concluded that today’s youth are more influenced by their peers than their parents (Corrections Canada, 2003).

 

H. Personal letters, telephone calls, and other material that cannot be retrieved are not listed in References but are cited in the text.

Example:
Steven McPherson (telephone conversation, December 12, 2003) confirmed that today’s youth are in need of structure and a firm sense of boundaries.

 

I. Bill

Example:
The bill defines advertising with respect to pesticides as a "...representation by any means for the purpose of directly or indirectly promoting the distribution of a pest control product" (Bill C-8, 2002).

 

I. Statute

Example:
Federal law defines advertising with respect to pesticides as a "...representation by any means for the purpose of directly or indirectly promoting the distribution of a pest control product" (Pest Control Product Act 2002).

 

J. Case

Example:
Case law has long established that owner's of property owe unexpected visitors a lower than average duty of care
(Baumeister v. Drake 1986).