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APA Citation Guide (7th edition) : Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing

When you write information from a source in your own words, cite the source by adding an in-text citation at the end of the paraphrased portion as follows:

Mother-infant attachment became a leading topic of developmental research following the publication of John Bowlby's studies (Hunt, 1993).

Note: If you refer to the author's name in a sentence you do not have to include the name again as part of your in-text citation, instead include the year of publication following his/her name:

Hunt (1993) noted that mother-infant attachment became a leading topic of developmental research after the publication of John Bowlby's studies.

Paraphrasing Examples

Original Source

Homeless individuals commonly come from families who are riddled with problems and marital disharmony, and are alienated from their parents. They have often been physically and even sexually abused, have relocated frequently, and many of them may be asked to leave home or are actually thrown out, or alternatively are placed in group homes or in foster care. They often have no one to care for them and no one knows them intimately.

Source from: 

Rokach, A. (2005). The causes of loneliness in homeless youth. The Journal of Psychology, 139, 469-480. 

Example: Incorrect Paraphrasing

The homeless come from families with problems. Frequently, they have been physically or sexually abused, or have lived in group homes. Usually no one cares for them or knows them intimately (Rokach, 2005). 

Note: In this incorrect example the writing is too similar to the original source. The student only changed or removed a few words and has not phrased the ideas in a new way. 

Example: Correct Paraphrasing

Many homeless experience isolation in part due to suffering from abuse or neglect during their childhood (Rokach, 2005).

Note: The example keeps the idea of the original writing but phrases it in a new way.

No Author and/or No Date

No Known Author:

Note that in most cases where a personal author is not named, a group author may be cited instead (eg. Statistics Canada). However, in certain cases, such as religious ancient texts, the author is unknown. Where you'd normally put the author's last name, instead use the first one, two, or three words from the title. Don't count initial articles like "A", "An" or "The". You should provide enough words to make it clear which work you're referring to from your References List.

If the title in the References list is in italics, italicize the words from the title in the in-text citation.

If you are citing an article, a chapter of a book or a page from a website, put the words in double quotation marks.

Capitalize the titles using title case (every major word is capitalized) even if the reference list entry uses sentence case (only first word is capitalized).

Examples:

(Cell Biology, 2012, p. 157)

("Nursing," 2011, p. 9)

No Known Date of Publication:

Where you'd normally put the year of publication, instead use the letters "n.d.".

Example:

(Smith, n.d., p. 200)


In-Text Citation For Two or More Authors/Editors

For two authors/editors

First Time Paraphrased

(Case & Daristotle, 2011)

Second and Subsequent Times Paraphrased

(Case & Daristotle, 2011)

First Time Quoting

(Case & Daristotle, 2011, p. 57)

Second and Subsequent Times Quoting

(Case & Daristotle, 2011, p. 57)


For more authors/editors

First Time Paraphrased

(Case et al., 2011)

Second and Subsequent Times Paraphrased

(Case et al., 2011)

First Time Quoting

(Case et al., 2011, p. 57)

Second and Subsequent Times Quoting

(Case et al., 2011, p. 57)

In-Text Citation for Group or Corporate Authors

Groups readily identified through abbreviations

First Time Paraphrased

(National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2003)

Second and Subsequent Times Paraphrased

(NIMH, 2003)

First Time Quoting

(National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2003, p. 5)

Second and Subsequent Times Quoting

(NIMH, 2003, p. 5)


Groups with no abbreviations

First Time Paraphrased

(University of Pittsburgh, 2005)

Second and Subsequent Times Paraphrased

(University of Pittsburgh, 2005)

First Time Quoting

(University of Pittsburgh, 2005, p. 2)

Second and Subsequent Times Quoting

(University of Pittsburgh, 2005, p. 2)

APA Handbook

Lower Canada College Libraries

514-482-9916 ext. 473

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LCC is an English coeducational K-11 school leading to the MEES Secondary Leaving Diploma / LCC est une école anglophone mixte de la maternelle à la 5e secondaire menant au DES du MEES.