An in-text, parenthetical, or in-line citation is a notation within the text of your paper that points back to a complete citation in your Works Cited page. In-text citations provide the reader with a path to the source that you used at a specific point in your paper. The entire cycle should be:

SOURCE...IN-TEXT CITATION...CITATION ON WORKS CITED PAGE...SOURCE

For more help on the format of citation you can consult our guide on APA in-text citations and MLA in-text citations