In-text citation construction
Author
Year
Brown (2009:17) cautions against making assumptions about living
conditions in informal settlements.
Page number
Always include the
source:
three W’s after information has been used from another
W – Who (surname of author);
W – When (what year it was written in);
W – Which page (What page is in found on)? (! With a website there will be no
page number).
Examples:
One author
Brown (2009:17) cautions against making assumptions about living
conditions in informal settlements.
Two authors
When there is more than one author, then use the word ‘and’ between the
authors
Example, (Brown and Yellow, 2009:17)
Three authors or more
If there are more than three authors, then the first time you state the
authors names, you write out all the authors and then you can use et al.
Example, (Brown, Blue & Yellow, 2009:17) then if you use the same
authors again in the same document you may use, (Brown, et al,
2009:17)
Websites, journals or any other source
Brown (2009) cautions against making assumptions about living
conditions in informal settlements.
Missing information for in-text referencing
•
•
•
Many websites do not have authors, then you would use the organisations name
If there is no date, then n.d
If there is no page, leave it out (no acronym for it)
Part and not part of the sentence
•
•
Part of the sentence: This is when you use the authors names before you
give the information.
o Eg: According to Brown (2009:17) rain falls from the sky
Not part of the sentence: This is when you complete the idea and then
cite the source.
o Eg: Rain falls from the sky (Brown. 2009:17)