Signal Phrases in APA: A Comprehensive Guide

The American Psychological Association (APA) recommends the use of past-tense verbs in signal phrases, which are essential in citing sources in academic writing. When it comes to formatting citations, there are specific guidelines to follow depending on the number of authors involved.

According to the APA style guide, if a source has more than six authors, only the first author's last name and 'et al.' should be included in the citation (Smith et al., 2008). For sources with three to five authors, all names can be listed in the first citation. If there are two authors, both last names should be separated by an ampersand (&) followed by a comma. For single-author sources, only the author's last name is required.

To avoid repetition and maintain reader interest, it is essential to vary signal phrases throughout your writing (Purdue Online Writing Lab). Remember that if you begin a sentence or signal phrase with the author's name, there is no need to include it in the parentheses. However, if the author's name is not included in the signal phrase, their last name should be included in the parentheses.

The theory behind carbon pricing, as proposed by Patel (2011), assumes that the market will price it fairly. In British Columbia, the carbon tax provides a signal across the economy to reduce emissions while encouraging sustainable economic activity and investment in low-carbon innovation (Province of British Columbia, n.d.).

Here's an example paragraph with in-text citations:

The value of nothing: How to reshape market society and redefine democracy (Klein, 2014) highlights the importance of carbon pricing. However, conflicting scientific opinions and uncertainties about climate change make it challenging to establish a clear economic argument for strict GHG reductions (Pindyck, 2013). In British Columbia, our carbon tax aims to reduce emissions while promoting sustainable economic activity and investment in low-carbon innovation (Province of British Columbia, n.d.).

By following these guidelines and using varied signal phrases, you can effectively cite sources and maintain the integrity of your academic writing.

Signal phrases in apa