Citations in the text of your paper are most often made up of a signal phrase introducing information you have taken from the source (a quotation, summary, paraphrase, or fact). The signal phrase usually includes the author’s name. A parenthetical reference comes after the cited material, often at the end of the sentence. It includes at least a page number (except for unpaginated sources, such as those found on the Web).

Resnik acknowledges that his argument relies on “slippery slope” thinking, but he insists that “social and political pressures” regarding food regulation make his concerns valid (31).

The following sections provide details about citing various types of sources.

General guidelines for in-text citations

How to cite a source with an author or authors

How to cite a source with no author