The purpose of parenthetical documentation is to include in your text the source of a particular idea or quotation.  The parenthetical (in parenthesis) information directs the reader to a specific item in the “Works Cited” list.  It should include just enough information to identify the work.  The following examples correspond to the sample “Works Cited” list on the previous page.

• If the work cited entry has an author, use the author’s last name followed by the specific page number of the quote or idea (Allen 376).  If there are two or more authors, include both names (Murphy and Haigh 201).
• If there is no page number given, as is often the case with electronic sources, it is omitted (Shapiro).
• If the author has two or more different works in the works cited list, include a brief form of the title to point to the correct work (Bruce “City Fire”).
• If the work does not have an author, use a brief form of the title and the page number(s) if available (“Middle Ages”).

If you use the name of the author or the title in the text of your paper, it is not necessary to repeat that information in the parenthetical documentation.  You only need to include any the remaining information needed, such as title or page number.

Example:         
            Corene Bruce reported the continuing mayoral controversy (“Computer Erasure”).
According to sources close to…..

Back to Top