In-text examples
The most recent report (Slack 2002) on the use of…
Slack (2002) notes in the report that…
Multiple references
When several in-text references occur at the same point, give them in chronological order from earliest to latest, separated by semicolons. Sequence by month those published in the same year or, if this information is not available, alphabetically by author names.
(Dawson and Briggs 1974; Dawson and Jones 1974; Smith AL 1978; Smith GT 1978; Smith et al. 1978; Tyndall et al. 1978; Zymgomoski 1978; Brown 1980)
Page numbers
(Smith 2016, p. 6)
Page number ranges are also preceded by “p.” and a space, and linked with an en dash.
(Smith 2016, p. 56–63)
With a quotation
This is the text, and Smith (2016) says “quoted text” (p. 1), which supports my argument.
This is the text, and this is supported by “quoted text” (Smith 2016, p. 1).
This is a displayed quotation. (Smith 2016, p. 1)
One author
Smith (2016) or (Smith 2016)
Distinguish multiple works by the same author published in different years by placing the years after the author name in chronological sequence, separated by a comma and a space.
(Smith 1970, 1975)
If the authors of two works published in the same year have the same surname, include their initials in the in-text reference and separate the two in-text references by a semicolon and a space.
(Dawson J 1986; Dawson M 1986)
Two authors
Smith and Jones (2016) or (Smith and Jones 2016)
If both authors have the same surname, include their initials in the in-text reference.
(Smith TL and Smith UV 1990)
Three or more authors
Give only the first author’s name followed by et al. (not in italics) and the year of publication.
Smith et al. (2016) or (Smith et al. 2016)
Multiple works by the same author (or group of authors) in the same year
Put a, b, c, etc. after the year. The sequence is preferably determined by the sequence of publication, but if this cannot be determined, order alphabetically by article title.
(Chen 2011a, 2011b; Chen et al. 2016a, 2016b)
Organisation as author
If the organization’s name occurs several times in the document, a shortened form may be created for the in-text reference by using an abbreviation. For clarity, the abbreviation appears as the initial element in the end reference, within square brackets.
In the text: (IOM 1975)
In the reference list: [IOM] Institute of Medicine (US). 1975.
Organizations’ full names are acceptable in in-text references if they occur only infrequently.
(Institute of Medicine 1975)
No identifiable author
Begin the in-text reference with the first word or first few words of the title followed by an ellipsis
(Handbook… 2000)
Secondary source
When it is not possible to see an original document, cite the source of your information on it; do not cite the original assuming that the secondary source is correct.
Personal communication
References to personal communications are cited only in the text.
… and most of these proved to be fatal (2003 letter from RS Grant to me; unreferenced, see "Notes") …
Unknown date
For in-text references to publications with no date, place the words “date unknown” within square brackets.
(Author [date unknown]).