In-Text Citations: Parenthetical vs. Narrative Explained

You know you need to cite your sources in APA style — but why are there two different ways to do it? What’s the difference between parenthetical and narrative citations? And more importantly, when should you use each?

Let’s break it down in under five minutes — no fluff, just clarity.

What Are In-Text Citations (And Why Do We Use Them)?

In-text citations are short references within your writing that point the reader to a full citation in your reference list. They give credit to the original source and show exactly where your information came from.

Every APA-style in-text citation includes:

  • The author’s last name

  • The year of publication

And if you’re quoting? You’ll also include a page number.

Now — let’s look at the two ways you can do this: parenthetical and narrative.

What Is a Parenthetical Citation?

A parenthetical citation is when both the author and the year appear in parentheses, usually at the end of a sentence or clause.

Example:

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health issues (Kessler, 2005).

You’re citing a fact, but you’re not naming the author in the sentence. Everything goes in the brackets.

Use it when:

  • You want to focus on the idea, not the source

  • The author isn’t important to highlight in your sentence

  • You’re summarizing multiple sources together

Multiple sources example:

Anxiety affects many individuals globally (Kessler, 2005; Smith & Jones, 2011).

What Is a Narrative Citation?

A narrative citation is when the author is mentioned as part of your sentence, and the year follows in parentheses.

Example:

Kessler (2005) found that anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health issues.

Here, you’re weaving the source into the structure of your writing. It flows more naturally when you're discussing a specific researcher or study.

Use it when:

  • You want to emphasize who made the claim

  • You’re discussing a study’s methods or findings

  • You’re comparing the contributions of different researchers

What About Direct Quotes?

When quoting directly, both formats still apply — you’ll just add a page number.

Parenthetical:

“Anxiety disorders are prevalent among adults” (Kessler, 2005, p. 182).

Narrative:

Kessler (2005) stated that “anxiety disorders are prevalent among adults” (p. 182).

Short quote? Include it in the sentence. Long quote? Use block formatting — but always cite clearly.

Feature Parenthetical Example Narrative Example
Author & year in brackets (Kessler, 2005) Kessler (2005)
Author named in sentence? No Yes
Best for… General claims or multiple sources Discussing specific research or authors
Direct quote format (Author, year, p. #) Author (year) … (p. #)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Mixing both styles in one sentence
    ✘ Incorrect: According to Kessler (2005), anxiety is common (Kessler, 2005).
    ✔ Correct: Choose either narrative or parenthetical — not both.

  • Omitting the year in narrative form
    ✘ Incorrect: Kessler found that anxiety is common.
    ✔ Correct: Kessler (2005) found that anxiety is common.

  • Missing page numbers in direct quotes
    Always include the page number when quoting, no matter the style.

Final Tip: Use Both Strategically

You’re not locked into one style for your whole paper. In fact, good academic writing uses both to control flow, emphasize authors when needed, and avoid repetition.

Think of narrative citations as your “feature a researcher” tool, and parenthetical citations as your “get to the point” tool.

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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/
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