How do I cite a source within a source?

Answer

In-Text Citation:

When citing a source within a source, mention the original author in your text, followed by "as cited in" and the author(s) of the secondary source.

Example: If you read about Smith's findings in an article by Johnson, your in-text citation would look like this:

  • Parenthetical: (Smith, 2010, as cited in Johnson, 2023)
  • Narrative: Smith (2010, as cited in Johnson, 2023) found that...

Reference List:

Only include the secondary source (Johnson, in this case) in your reference list because you didn’t read Smith's original work.

Reference Example: If Johnson's article was:

Johnson, P. (2023). Exploring modern psychological theories. Journal of Psychology Studies, 45(2), 123–134. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/jps.2023.456

Your reference entry would be:

Johnson, P. (2023). Exploring modern psychological theories. Journal of Psychology Studies, 45(2), 123–134. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/jps.2023.456

It is preferred to cite the original source directly whenever possible. Secondary citations should only be used when the original work is inaccessible.

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  • Last Updated Jan 17, 2025
  • Views 8
  • Answered By Mil Ryan

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