How to Cite Author in Another Author’s Work APA
Citing an author within another author’s work can be a bit tricky, especially when using the APA (American Psychological Association) citation style. The APA format has specific guidelines for citing secondary sources, which can be confusing if you’re not familiar with the process. In this article, we will discuss how to properly cite an author in another author’s work using APA style.
Understanding Secondary Sources
Before diving into the specifics of citing an author in another author’s work, it’s important to understand the concept of secondary sources. A secondary source is a work that discusses or analyzes another work, rather than being the original source of the information. For example, if you are writing a paper about a book, and you want to cite a review of that book, the review would be considered a secondary source.
Formatting the In-text Citation
When citing an author in another author’s work, you will need to format the in-text citation correctly. The basic format for citing a secondary source in APA style is as follows:
Author, A. A. (Year). Article title. In Editor, B. B. (Ed.), Book title (pp. xx-xx). Publisher.
For example, if you were to cite a review of a book written by John Doe, and the review was written by Jane Smith, the in-text citation would look like this:
(Smith, 2020)
Indicating the Original Author
It’s important to note that when citing a secondary source, you must also indicate the original author of the work being discussed. This can be done by adding the original author’s name in parentheses after the secondary source citation. For example:
(Smith, 2020; Doe, 2018)
In this example, “Doe, 2018” indicates the original author of the book being reviewed by Jane Smith.
Formatting the Reference List Entry
Once you have cited the secondary source in your text, you will need to include a reference list entry for it. The reference list entry should follow the standard APA format for citing books, articles, or other types of publications. For example:
Smith, J. (2020). Review of “The Book of Doe” by John Doe. Journal of Book Reviews, 5(2), 10-15.
In this example, “Journal of Book Reviews” is the title of the journal where the review was published, and “5(2)” indicates the volume and issue number.
Conclusion
Citing an author in another author’s work using APA style can be challenging, but by following these guidelines, you can ensure that your citations are accurate and complete. Remember to indicate the original author of the work being discussed and to format your in-text citations and reference list entries correctly. With practice, you’ll become more comfortable with this aspect of APA citation style.
