There are two types of in-text citations in APA format: parenthetical and narrative. Parenthetical citations include the author(s) and the date of publication within parentheses. Narrative citations intertwine the author as part of the sentence with the date of publication (in parentheses) following.
One work by one author
Narrative citation
Lee (2016) investigated the risks inherent in drinking tap water.
Parenthetical citation
There are risks inherent in drinking tap water (Lee, 2016).
One work by two authors
Narrative citation
Lee and Richards (2016) investigated the risks inherent in drinking tap water.
Parenthetical citation
There are risks inherent in drinking tap water (Lee & Richards, 2016).
One work by three or more authors
Narrative citation
Lee et al. (2016) investigated the risks inherent in drinking tap water.
Parenthetical citations
There are risks inherent in drinking tap water (Lee et al., 2016).
Groups (with well-known abbreviations) of authors
First narrative citation
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 2002) investigated the risks inherent in drinking tap water.
Subsequent narrative citations
The CDC (2002) investigated the risks inherent in drinking tap water.
Parenthetical first citation
There are risks inherent in drinking tap water (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2002).
Subsequent citations
There are risks inherent in drinking tap water (CDC, 2002).
Groups (without well-known abbreviations) as authors
First narrative citation
The University of Minnesota (2007) investigated the risks inherent in drinking tap water.
Subsequent narrative citations
The University of Minnesota (2007) investigated the risks inherent in drinking tap water.
Parenthetical first citation
There are risks inherent in drinking tap water (University of Minnesota, 2007).
Parenthetical subsequent citations
There are risks inherent in drinking tap water (University of Minnesota, 2007).
Multiple citations for one sentence*
There are inherent risks in drinking tap water (Lee & Richards, 2016; North et al., 2017; Zebra, 1999).
*List the sources in alphabetical order, separating each with a semicolon.
In-text quick guide
One author
Parenthetical: (Lee, 2020)
Narrative: Lee (2020)
Two authors
Parenthetical: (Lee & Richards, 2016)
Narrative: Lee and Richards (2016)
Three+ authors
Parenthetical: (Lee et al., 2016)
Narrative: Lee et al. (2016)
Group author with abbreviation
First citation
(Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2002)
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 2002)
Second citation
(CDC, 2002)
The CDC (2002)
Group author without abbreviation
(University of Minnesota, 2007)
The University of Minnesota (2007)
Reference
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association: The official guide to APA style (Seventh ed.). American Psychological Association.