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APA in-text citations

An APA in-text citation. It puts the author's surname and the year in brackets straight after the information you used, so readers can find the full source in your reference list.

Part of: VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 58, VCE Data Analytics - U3O1 - Data Analytics — Module 54, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 108

Understanding APA in-text citations in VCE Data Analysis

What it does: A group author such as the Australian Bureau of Statistics is written in full where the surname would normally go, followed by the year. In a narrative citation the author is part of the sentence, so only the year sits in brackets right after the name. The citation sits next to the information you used so readers know exactly where it came from. The full details go in the reference list. With two authors, include both surnames. In brackets they are joined with an ampersand (&). When an organisation is the author, use the organisation's name in place of a person's surname.

Common mistakes: The author and year must be separated by a comma. It should be (Smith, 2023). Inside brackets, APA joins two authors with an ampersand, not the word 'and'. It should be (Lee & Wong, 2022).

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 56–67) and word search (Modules 56–80).

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Learning
Duo
Which is the correct APA in-text citation for a source by one author, Jordan Lee, published in 2022?
(Jordan, 2022)(Lee, 2022)
Matches
(Smith 2023)
↓
The comma is missing between the author's surname and the year. It should be (Smith, 2023).
Applying
Meanings
Term
(Smith, 2023)
Meaning
An APA in-text citation. It puts the author's surname and the year in brackets straight after the information you used, so readers can find the full source in your reference list.
Practice
Data is stored digitally (Smith, 2023).
Testing
Gaps
Sleep matters for learning (, 2023).
Check Answer
Spots
1Teens need 9 hours of sleep
2in most cases (Smith 2023).

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Quick Questions

1. Which is the correct APA in-text citation for a source by one author, Jordan Lee, published in 2022?
A. (Jordan, 2022)
B. (Lee, 2022) ✓
APA uses the author's surname (family name) and the year, separated by a comma, inside brackets.
2. Where does an in-text citation go?
A. Straight after the information you used from the source ✓
B. Only at the very end of the whole assignment
The citation sits next to the information you used so readers know exactly where it came from. The full details go in the reference list.
3. Which in-text citation is correct for a source with two authors, Nguyen and Patel, published in 2021?
A. (Nguyen & Patel, 2021) ✓
B. (Nguyen, 2021)
With two authors, include both surnames. In brackets they are joined with an ampersand (&).
4. A report was written by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2023 with no individual author named. What do you use in the citation?
A. (Anonymous, 2023)
B. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2023) ✓
When an organisation is the author, use the organisation's name in place of a person's surname.
5. Which is a correct narrative citation?
A. Smith (2023) found that most students use phones daily. ✓
B. (Smith, 2023) found that most students use phones daily.
In a narrative citation the author's name is part of your sentence and only the year goes in brackets: Smith (2023).

Match the Pairs

(Smith, 2023) → An in-text citation for a source with one author: the surname and year go in brackets after the information.
(Jones & Lee, 2022) → An in-text citation for a source with two authors: both surnames are joined with an ampersand, then the year.
When an organisation wrote the source, use the organisation's name in place of a person's surname. → (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021)
A narrative citation puts the author's name in your sentence and the year in brackets straight after it. → Smith (2023) found that most teens use apps daily.
(Smith 2023) → The comma is missing between the author's surname and the year. It should be (Smith, 2023).
(Jones and Lee, 2022) → Inside brackets, two authors are joined with & instead of the word 'and'. It should be (Jones & Lee, 2022).

Key Term

(Smith, 2023)
An APA in-text citation. It puts the author's surname and the year in brackets straight after the information you used, so readers can find the full source in your reference list.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Source: Jane Smith, published 2023 Sleep matters for learning (Smith, 2023).
Hint: Type the part of the author's name used in an APA in-text citation.
2. Source: Lee and Chen, 2022 Data can be biased (Lee & Chen, 2022).
Hint: Type the symbol that joins two authors inside the brackets.
3. Source: Victorian Government, 2021 Data is open (Victorian Government, 2021).
Hint: Type the organisation that takes the place of an author's surname.
4. Source: Nguyen, 2020 Nguyen (2020) found surveys can be biased.
Hint: Type the part of a narrative citation that goes in brackets after the author's name.
5. Source: Ali and Wong, 2023 Ali and Wong (2023) studied privacy.
Hint: Type the word that joins two authors when their names are part of the sentence.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Teens need 9 hours of sleep
B in most cases (Smith 2023).
C Screens can reduce this.
Line B — The author and year must be separated by a comma. It should be (Smith, 2023).
Question 2
A Exercise improves mood
B and focus in students
C (Lee and Wong, 2022).
Line C — Inside brackets, APA joins two authors with an ampersand, not the word 'and'. It should be (Lee & Wong, 2022).
Question 3
A In a survey of Year 11s,
B (Nguyen, 2020) reports that
C most use phones daily.
Line B — In a narrative citation the author is part of the sentence and only the year goes in brackets. It should be Nguyen (2020) reports that.
Question 4
A About one in seven teens
B report feeling anxious
C (Beyond Blue).
Line C — An in-text citation needs the year as well as the author. For an organisation it should be (Beyond Blue, 2022).
Question 5
A Chen 2023 tested 200 users
B and found the app was easy
C to use.
Line A — In a narrative citation the year must be in brackets straight after the author's name. It should be Chen (2023) tested 200 users.

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