How to Cite a Secondary Source in APA Format

Understanding Secondary Sources in Academic Citation

A secondary source is a work that discusses, analyzes, or cites another work. When you read about an idea or study in someone else’s book or article rather than consulting the original source, you’re using a secondary source.

Proper citation of secondary sources gives credit to the author you actually read while also acknowledging the original work. In APA format, this requires specific notation to distinguish the source you consulted from the original source discussed.

When to Use Secondary Sources

You should cite secondary sources when you quote or reference ideas from them directly. However, whenever possible, consult primary sources rather than relying on others’ interpretations.

Sometimes primary sources are unavailable, expensive, or out of print. In these cases, secondary sources become necessary. Always acknowledge in your citation that you’re citing a secondary source.

Use secondary sources for interpretations, critiques, and analyses of primary works. If a scholar provides valuable analysis of an original text, cite that analysis.

Basic APA Format for Secondary Sources

In APA format, cite the secondary source you actually read in your reference list. In your in-text citation, indicate that this was cited in another work.

Reference List Format: Author, A. A. (Year). Title. Publisher.

In-Text Citation Format: (Original Author Year as cited in Secondary Author Year)

Example: In your reference list, you would cite Johnson’s book that discusses Smith’s theory. In your in-text citation, you would write: (Smith 1995, as cited in Johnson 2020)

Examples of Secondary Source Citations

Example 1: Theory discussed in a book

Reference: Johnson, M. (2020). Modern psychological theories. Academic Press.

In-text: (Smith 1995, as cited in Johnson 2020)

Example 2: Research findings in a journal article

Reference: Chen, L. (2021). Emerging trends in neuroscience. Science Today, 45(3), 234-251.

In-text: (Martinez 2010, as cited in Chen 2021)

Example 3: Historical event described in a scholarly work

Reference: Williams, K. (2019). The American Civil War: A comprehensive history. Historical Press.

In-text: (Lincoln 1863, as cited in Williams 2019)

Creating Your Reference List for Secondary Sources

Only cite the secondary source (the work you actually read) in your reference list. Don’t create separate entries for primary sources you only know about through secondary sources.

List the secondary source in your reference list using standard APA format. The author is the person who wrote the secondary source, not the original author of the idea.

Include all publication information for the secondary source you consulted, such as publication date, publisher, and DOI or URL if applicable.

Distinguishing “As Cited In” from Direct Quotation

When you use “as cited in,” you’re indicating you read about someone else’s work in a secondary source. This differs from directly quoting the secondary source.

If you’re quoting the secondary author’s words directly, cite them normally without “as cited in.” Only use “as cited in” when you’re referring to ideas or findings discussed in the secondary source.

Never quote the original source through a secondary source unless you’ve clearly indicated this limitation.

Preferred Citation Practices with Primary vs. Secondary

Academic writing generally prefers citations to primary sources. Whenever possible, consult and cite original works rather than secondary discussions of them.

If you can access the original source, do so and cite it directly. Reserve secondary sources for situations where primary sources are truly unavailable or when the secondary source provides critical analysis you’re discussing.

Document any attempts to locate primary sources that proved inaccessible, showing due diligence in your research.

Multiple Secondary Sources Discussing the Same Primary Work

When multiple secondary sources discuss the same primary work, you may cite either secondary source, or both if they provide different insights.

Format each secondary source’s citation separately according to APA guidelines. Use “as cited in” for each separately if you’re discussing the primary work through multiple secondary sources.

This shows readers that you’ve consulted multiple interpretations of the primary work.

Secondary Sources in Online Databases

When accessing secondary sources through online databases, still cite the secondary source you read. Include the DOI or URL of the secondary source in your APA citation.

Format: Author, A. A. (Year). Title. Publisher. https://doi.org/xxxxx

The location where you found the secondary source doesn’t change how you cite it—you still cite the actual author and publication information.

Books and Articles That Cite Original Research

Journal articles and books often present research originally published elsewhere. If you’re reading about a study in a newspaper article or magazine, that article is your secondary source.

Cite the newspaper or magazine article, not the original research, if that’s where you encountered the information.

Format: Author, A. A. (Year). Article title. Magazine Name, Volume(Issue), page range.

Managing Secondary Sources in Your Bibliography with GenText

GenText helps you manage secondary source citations by ensuring “as cited in” notation is properly formatted in your in-text citations and reference list entries.

When you input information about secondary sources, GenText generates correctly formatted citations with the appropriate “as cited in” language for in-text citations.

GenText maintains consistency across your citations, ensuring secondary sources are formatted the same way throughout your bibliography.

Common Mistakes with Secondary Sources

A common error is citing the original source in your reference list when you’ve only read about it in a secondary source. Only cite works you’ve actually consulted.

Another mistake is forgetting to include “as cited in” in your in-text citation. This notation is essential for clarity—it tells readers you’re referencing ideas from a secondary source.

Avoid over-relying on secondary sources. Make a good-faith effort to find and cite primary sources whenever feasible.

Ethical Considerations with Secondary Sources

Using secondary sources responsibly means acknowledging them in your citations. Don’t present secondhand accounts of research as if you’d consulted the original work.

Be honest about your sources. If you only know about a primary source through a secondary source, clearly indicate this in your citation.

Consider the credibility of the secondary source. Ensure the source you’re citing is reliable and represents the original work accurately.

Conclusion

Properly citing secondary sources in APA format demonstrates scholarly integrity and helps readers understand your research process. By using “as cited in” notation and citing the secondary source in your reference list, you create citations that honestly represent your research while acknowledging original authors. Utilize tools like GenText to ensure your secondary source citations are correctly formatted and consistent throughout your work.