Your in-text citation should mention both authors: the original source's author(s) and the secondary source's author(s). See, for example, Habermehl (1985), as mentioned in Kersten (1987). You should include the secondary source's information in your reference list (the source you read).
To reference a source that is mentioned in another secondary source, begin your sentence by citing the initial source. The sentence as referenced and the name of the second source author are then used in parentheses. For example, "The article by Smith et al. (2013) on greenhouse gases and climate change contains information relevant to this discussion."
Citing sources can be difficult for those who are not familiar with academic writing. This guide will help you identify sources, analyze their credibility, and use them effectively when writing business letters or emails. It is not intended to be an all-inclusive list, but rather a starting point for you to develop your own skills.
Do's:
• Always refer back to the original source to verify any information found in secondary sources. If the secondary source changes or adds information, check with the primary source to make sure everything is accurate.
• Include page numbers when referencing books or articles so others can locate the source easily. You can provide more than one source if they discuss similar information. Make sure to include the date published if it is available.
• Keep copies of important documents such as agreements or newsletters. These items may be useful in future discussions or case studies.
What is the difference between an indirect citation and a secondary source?
Several Authors
If you want to refer to more than one source that has the same point of view, place them in brackets with the author's name, followed by the date of publication, and separated by a semi-colon at the relevant position in the phrase. In each list, the sources should be referenced alphabetically. A short example is as follows: "Two different studies have shown that X can cause Y; based on this evidence I believe that X can cause Z."
For further information about citing multiple sources, see our citing multiple sources page.
Citing something that has already been cited:
In the reference list, cite the secondary source, and in the text, name the original work and cite the secondary source. For instance, if Allport's work is mentioned in Nicholson and you haven't read Allport's work, include the Nicholson reference in the reference list. Allport's work would then be your secondary source.
To reference a secondary source, include both the original and secondary sources in the text and just the secondary source in the works-cited list item. The abbreviation qtd. In ("quoted in") must be used before the indirect source you mention in your parenthetical reference, according to MLA. (qtd in Kagan, supra note 7, at 139).
In this case, "Kagan" is the primary source and the article is the secondary source. Therefore, only the article should be included in the works-cited list item.
When referencing multiple sources for one idea or concept, use an in-text citation with a parenthetical reference. In this case, the primary source is Kagan et al. (2017) and the secondary source is Leeson (2018). Therefore, the in-text citation reads "Leeson (2018), who argues that 'the British public has changed its mind about EU membership' (p. 5)." The parenthetical reference would then look like this: "Leeson (2018), who argues that 'the British public has changed its mind about EU membership', page 5."
It is important to distinguish between primary and secondary sources when citing information in your work. A primary source is where the information comes from - it could be someone's diary, interview, or statement.