How do I cite a secondary source?
Answer
When citing sources, only cite the author(s) whose work you are reading. If those authors cite a source, then that is a secondary source. A secondary source would be cited as follows:
- Jones (2015) explained the importance of properly citing indirect sources (as cited in Smith, 2018).
- Jones (2015) is the indirect source that is found in Smith (2018).
- This format shows that the idea originated with Jones (2015) but that you found the idea in Smith (2018).
- Jones (2015) does not need to appear on your reference page, but you will reference Smith (2018) as that is the source you read and referenced.
If you are referring to an idea from another work but you are paraphrasing or summarizing and not directly quoting the material, then you do not need to use the page number in your in-text citation. For more information on quoting and citing please click here.
