Using the same reference in the same paragraph…

Questions that arise time and time again are:

• How do I reference the same source in a single paragraph?
• Do I place the in-text reference at the end of each sentence? [WRONG!]
• Do I simply put an in-text reference at the end of the paragraph? Would it be inside or outside the closing sentence? [WRONG!]

If you use the same reference in the same paragraph, you will:
(a) give the full in-text reference for the first time that you reference a source, and then
(b) for every subsequent reference from the same work, you will not be required to provide the year if it is evident that you are referring to the previous reference.

SINGLE AUTHOR EXAMPLE:

James (2004) suggested that…. James went on to say that…. The conclusion that James finally reached is….

• The first reference to the article by James will include the year of publication and relevant page numbers if it is quoted directly. Subsequent reference to the same article in the same paragraph does not need to include the year, but only if it is evident that it cannot be confused with any other reference in the same paragraph.
• It should be evident to the audience that the subsequent sentences are still referring to the original James (2004) work, and it is not necessary to place 2004 in parenthesis after James’s name in those sentences.
• NOTE: If you reference the James (2004) work in subsequent paragraphs, you will have to write the “James (2004)” in-text reference as you did in the previous paragraph.
  

MULTIPLE AUTHORS EXAMPLE (3-5 AUTHORS):

Stuart, Finch, Crosby, Glass, and Rosenberg (1998) found that…. Stuart et al. elaborated on the point and suggested…. They finally concluded that….

• The first reference will include all of the authors’ surnames. For subsequent references in the same paragraph, use “et al.” after Stuart’s name to abbreviate the in-text reference. Like before, it is not necessary to place the year in parenthesis after their surnames.
• If you are using the same multi-author reference in subsequent paragraphs, simple write “Stuart et al. (1998)” for the in-text reference – you do not need to write all of the authors’ surnames again.
  

For more details and examples, refer to sections 3.94 – 3.103 (pp. 207-214) of the APA Manual.