APA Reference Guide: Direct quotes, paraphrasing and in-text citation

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What is a direct quote?

To directly quote is to write down exactly what someone has said or written, and credit the speaker of the words. A direct quote is identified by using quotation marks, as per the example below from Sir David Attenborough:

“But, according to the environmental economists, we must now curb our passion for growth, distribute resources more evenly.”
 

What is a paraphrase (or indirect quote)?

A paraphrase is using someone else's quote in your own words. Also known as an indirect quote, it documents what a person has said without using the exact words of the speaker. Quotation marks are not used when paraphrasing. An example of a paraphrase of the direct quote in the previous example from Sir David Attenborough may be:

It is important to rethink our propensity for growth and consider distributing resources in a more equitable fashion for the sake of the planet.

What is an In-Text Citation?
Regardless of whether you are directly quoting someone or paraphrasing their words, an in-text citation is always required. An in-text citation is acknowledging the person you are quoting within the body of your assignment, and is placed directly after the quote or paraphrase, followed by a full stop.

How to Add an In-Text Citation in your Assignment

There are different ways to include an in-text citation, depending on whether you are using a direct quote, or paraphrasing:

  Take note of the placement of commas, spacing and full stops in the in-text citation.

 Go to the Page Numbers page in this guide for more information about formatting page numbers in in-text citations and reference lists.

Quotations of 40 or more words
Quotes of 40 or more words are set as a block quotation, and indented (shifted) about 1 cm from the left margin.
Quotation marks are not used (even if it is a direct quote). The in-text citation is added at the end of the quote, after the full stop. There is no full stop following the in-text citation.

Example of quote of 40 or more words in a block:
Block quote. (author, year, page number)

Many countries are looking at new ways to measure economic progress to include the effect on the environment. 
          In 2019, New Zealand made the bold step of formally dropping GDP as its primary measure of economic                        success. It didn't adopt any of the existing alternatives, but instead created its own index based upon its                         most pressing national concerns. All three Ps - profit, people and planet - were represented.                                              (Attenborough, 2020, p. 134)

 Take note of the indent (shift) from the left margin, and note the full stops and spacing 

A quote within a quote - secondary source

If an author quotes someone else, and you want to use this quote for your assignment, you are using a secondary source.

For example, if David Attenborough (original source) quotes Jane Goodall (secondary source) in his book, and you want to use Jane Goodall's quote in your assignment, this is using a secondary source. 

Example of a secondary source in-text citation:

Author of secondary source (year of secondary source, [as cited in] author of original source, year of original source, page of original source)

According to Jane Goodall (2002, as cited in Attenborough, 2020, p. 260), the number of gorillas in the wild have fallen dramatically.

 Whenever possible, try and find the original source to reference

 The reference list will include the source you actually used (for this example, the reference list would include David Attenborough's book)

Omitting a word from an original quote

If a word(s) is removed from a quote, a parenthetical ellipsis (...) is added in its place. 

Example:

"We are polluting the Earth with far too many fertilisers, distrupting...phosphorus cycles" (Attenborough, 2020, p. 111).