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Citing Guide for Business (APA 7th ed.)

The research guide is a concise resource to help you implement APA Style 7th ed. guidelines. It covers formatting in-text citations and reference lists, providing clear examples for both.

Quoting

You can choose between using a narrative or parenthetical in-text citation style when you quote a source in your paper.

Narrative citation of a quoted source: 

Smith (2021) argues that exercise has numerous benefits for mental health because it "decreases sensitivity to the body's reaction to anxiety" (p. 42).

Parenthetical citation of a quoted source:

Exercise can improve mental health because it "decreases sensitivity to the body's reaction to anxiety" (Smith, 2021, p. 42).

Quoting text found on multiple pages

Narrative citation:

Smith (2021) argues that exercise has numerous benefits for mental health because it "decreases sensitivity to the body's reaction to anxiety, releases mood improving chemicals like endorphins and serotonin, and provides a sense of accomplishment" (pp. 42-43).

Parenthetical citation:

Exercise can improve mental health because it "decreases sensitivity to the body's reaction to anxiety, releases mood improving chemicals like endorphins and serotonin, and provides a sense of accomplishment" (Smith, 2021, pp. 42-43).

Quoting text with no page numbers

Some sources like webpages and eBooks might not have page numbers. In these cases, use a page number alternative that will easily tell the reader where the quote is located.

Paragraph numbers

Add the paragraph number(s) where the quote can be found. Abbreviate to para. for text found in a single paragraph and to paras. for text found in multiple paragraphs:

Exercise can improve mental health because it "decreases sensitivity to the body's reaction to anxiety" (Smith, 2021, para. 2).
Exercise can improve mental health because it "decreases sensitivity to the body's reaction to anxiety, releases mood improving chemicals like endorphins and serotonin, and provides a sense of accomplishment" (Smith, 2021, paras. 2-3).

Section names or headings

Add the heading or section name where the quote can be found. You can use the full section name without quotation marks, or you can abbreviate a long section name in quotation marks. 

Here is an example for citing a quote in-text that is found in an article section titled 'Methodology':

Exercise can improve mental health because it "decreases sensitivity to the body's reaction to anxiety" (Smith, 2021, Methodology section).

Here is an example for a citing a quote in-text that is found in an article section titled 'Exercise and Mental Health in Teenagers':

Exercise can improve mental health because it "decreases sensitivity to the body's reaction to anxiety, releases mood improving chemicals like endorphins and serotonin, and provides a sense of accomplishment" (Smith, 2021, "Exercise and Mental Health" section).
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