How Do You Cite a Specific Sentence in an Article?

You can cite a specific sentence in an article using a few different methods, depending on the style guide you are following.

Using Parenthetical Citations

• Include the author's last name, year of publication, and page number.
  • Example: (Smith, 2023, p. 15).
• If the sentence is from a direct quote, use quotation marks.
  • Example: "The study found that the results were statistically significant" (Smith, 2023, p. 15).

Using Footnotes or Endnotes

• Use a superscript number after the sentence to indicate the footnote or endnote.
  • Example: The study found that the results were statistically significant.¹
• Provide the full citation in the footnote or endnote.
  • Example: ¹ Smith, John. "Title of Article." Journal Name, vol. 10, no. 2, 2023, pp. 10-20.

Using a Direct Quote with a Signal Phrase

• Introduce the quote with a signal phrase that includes the author's name and the year of publication.
  • Example: According to Smith (2023), "The study found that the results were statistically significant."
• Include the page number in parentheses after the quote.
  • Example: According to Smith (2023), "The study found that the results were statistically significant" (p. 15).

Tips for Citing Sentences

• Always follow the specific guidelines of the style guide you are using.
• Double-check your citations for accuracy.
• Use a citation manager to help you organize and format your citations.