Common Forms of Parenthetical Citation

Author mentioned in sentence: (12).

Author not mentioned in sentence: (Smith 12).

Three authors: (Smith, Jones, and Baker 122).

Four or more authors: (Baxter et al. 345).

Citing an entire work: just mention it by name in your sentence.

Citing a non-print source (i.e., a source with no page numbers): (Smith).

Citing an author with the same last name as another author in your bibliography: (B. Smith 12).

Citing a multi-volume work: (Smith 3: 122).

Citing a literary work that exists in many editions: cite the page number in the edition you are using, and then cite the major section (such as a chapter) so that the reader can find the passage in another edition: (123; ch. 4).