What is "parenthetical citation"?

Answer

Good question!  A "parenthetical citation" is also called an "in-text citation".  They occur in the body of your paper at the end of every sentence where you quote, paraphrase, or summarize somebody else's words or ideas.  If you are using MLA citation style, the in-text citation includes the author's last name and a page number, if it is a print source. It would look just like this (Harding 10).  APA citations include the author's last name and date of publication (Harding, 2012).  The function of an in-text citation is to refer your reader back to your bibliography (also known as Works Cited for MLA or References for APA), so your reader can track down the full information for your source.

Here is a link to our MLA citation style tipsheet.  On all pages after the first page, in the far right column, are examples of how you might handle in-text citations.  There is another tipsheet for APA citation style as well.

Hope this helps!

The YCCC Library

  • Last Updated Jan 17, 2020
  • Views 64
  • Answered By Amber Tatnall

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