How to Do APA In-Text Citation Without Author
In the realm of academic writing, the American Psychological Association (APA) citation style is widely used to ensure proper acknowledgment of sources. One common scenario in APA citation is when you need to reference a source without an author. This can occur in various situations, such as citing government documents, works with no known author, or sources with anonymous contributors. In this article, we will explore how to do APA in-text citation without an author effectively.
Firstly, it’s essential to understand the basic structure of APA in-text citation. Typically, APA in-text citations consist of the author’s last name and the year of publication, separated by a comma. However, when an author is not available, the year of publication is followed by a shortened title of the source, placed in quotation marks. The shortened title should be relevant and informative, allowing readers to identify the source quickly.
For example, if you were to cite a government document without an author, the in-text citation would look like this:
“(U.S. Census Bureau, 2020)”
In this case, “U.S. Census Bureau” is the shortened title, and “2020” is the year of publication.
Similarly, when citing an anonymous source, such as a work with no known author or a source with a title that serves as the author’s name, you can follow the same format. For instance:
“(The Great Gatsby, 1925)”
In this example, “The Great Gatsby” is the shortened title, and “1925” is the year of publication.
It’s important to note that when citing a source without an author, the reference list entry should still include the author’s name, if available, in the full citation. However, the in-text citation will only display the shortened title and the year of publication.
In some cases, when the source has multiple authors, but only one is known, you can still use the APA in-text citation format without an author. For example:
“(Smith & Doe, 2019)”
In this case, “Smith & Doe” represents the known authors, and “2019” is the year of publication.
In conclusion, when dealing with APA in-text citation without an author, it’s crucial to use the shortened title of the source, placed in quotation marks, followed by the year of publication. This format ensures that your citation is clear, concise, and adheres to APA guidelines. By following these guidelines, you can effectively reference sources without an author in your academic writing.
