Getting APA In-Text Citations Right (Without Losing Hours)

If you're studying psychology, you’ve probably heard of APA 7th edition. But when it comes to in-text citations, many students run into the same questions:

  • How many authors do I include?

  • When do I use et al.?

  • Do I need to mention the page number?

  • What if the author is an organisation?

This guide walks through everything you need to know — and shows you how to do it both manually and with the help of a purpose-built tool.

What Are In-Text Citations in APA?

In-text citations in APA show the reader where a particular idea or quote comes from. They're placed within your writing (as opposed to at the end, like a reference list) and usually include:

  • The author’s last name (or group/organisation)

  • The year of publication

  • A page or paragraph number, if you're quoting directly

There are two styles of in-text citations:

  • Parenthetical: everything goes inside the brackets
    (Smith, 2020)

  • Narrative: the author appears as part of the sentence
    Smith (2020) explains...

Basic APA In-Text Citation Rules (Manual Method)

1. Single Author

  • Parenthetical: (Lee, 2022)

  • Narrative: Lee (2022)

2. Two Authors

  • Use an ampersand (&) in parentheses, and “and” in narrative form

  • Parenthetical: (Lee & Zhang, 2022)

  • Narrative: Lee and Zhang (2022)

3. Three or More Authors

  • Use the first author’s name followed by et al., even on first citation (APA 7 changed this!)

  • Parenthetical: (Lee et al., 2022)

  • Narrative: Lee et al. (2022)

4. Group/Corporate Authors

  • Include the organisation's full name

  • Parenthetical: (American Psychological Association, 2020)

  • Narrative: The American Psychological Association (2020)...

Pro tip: On first citation, group names are written out in full. On second citation, you can use abbreviations — but only if introduced.

5. Page or Paragraph Numbers

These are only required for direct quotes, but helpful when citing specific information.

  • Single page: (Lee, 2022, p. 45)

  • Multiple pages: (Lee, 2022, pp. 45–46)

  • Paragraph (no page number): (Lee, 2022, para. 3)

Why It Gets Confusing (Especially in Real Assignments)

In theory, these rules seem manageable. In practice, things get messy:

  • You might have a mix of sources — solo authors, groups, 5-person papers

  • You might forget if it's your first or second time citing a source

  • Formatting errors (especially with “&” vs. “and” or “et al.”) can lead to lost marks

  • Manual consistency across long assignments is hard to maintain

A Time-Saving Option: The APA In-Text Citation Converter (Pro)

If you're comfortable with APA but want a way to speed things up — especially for large assignments or when you're quoting — a tool like our SimplyPutPsych’s APA Citation Converter Pro can help.

What It Lets You Do:

  • Manually enter author names — great for citing research teams

  • Handle group authors and special cases

  • Add optional page/paragraph numbers

  • Indicate whether it’s the first or subsequent citation

  • Instantly see both parenthetical and narrative formats

  • Supports 3 to 20+ authors with APA-compliant logic

  • Auto-saves your inputs, so you don’t lose your place

It’s designed to follow APA 7 rules precisely, while letting you stay in control.

Simply Put: Learn the Rules, Then Make It Easier

Understanding APA in-text citations is a key academic skill — and one you’ll carry into future research and writing. But there’s no rule that says you have to build every citation from scratch.

Use this guide to master the fundamentals. And when you’re ready to speed things up and reduce error, the APA In-Text Citation Converter is there to help.

👉 Try the Citation Converter Pro

References

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).

Purdue Online Writing Lab. (n.d.). APA formatting and style guide (7th edition). Purdue University.

APA Style Blog. (n.d.). Style and grammar guidelines: Tables and figures. American Psychological Association.

Table of Contents

    JC Pass

    JC Pass is a specialist in social and political psychology who merges academic insight with cultural critique. With an MSc in Applied Social and Political Psychology and a BSc in Psychology, JC explores how power, identity, and influence shape everything from global politics to gaming culture. Their work spans political commentary, video game psychology, LGBTQIA+ allyship, and media analysis, all with a focus on how narratives, systems, and social forces affect real lives.

    JC’s writing moves fluidly between the academic and the accessible, offering sharp, psychologically grounded takes on world leaders, fictional characters, player behaviour, and the mechanics of resilience in turbulent times. They also create resources for psychology students, making complex theory feel usable, relevant, and real.

    https://SimplyPutPsych.co.uk/
    Previous
    Previous

    Writing APA-Compliant Informed Consent & Debriefing Forms (Made Simpler)