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How to cite a secondary source (“as cited in”)

APA 7th edition · Updated

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Sometimes you read about a study or a quotation in one book or article, but you haven’t read the original work yourself. For example, a textbook by Bello (2021) summarises Granovetter’s famous 1973 paper on “weak ties”, and you want to use that idea. Citing Granovetter as if you had read him would misrepresent your research; citing only Bello would hide where the idea came from. The answer is a secondary citation.

The rule in every major style is the same: name the original in your text, but put only the source you actually read in your reference list.

(In this guide, Bello (2021) stands for any textbook or article you read; Granovetter (1973) is a real, widely cited paper.)

APA 7

Use as cited in in the parenthetical citation:

Format

(Original Author, Year, as cited in Secondary Author, Year)

  • Parenthetical: Weak social ties can spread information more widely than close ones (Granovetter, 1973, as cited in Bello, 2021).
  • Narrative: Granovetter’s (1973) idea of “weak ties” (as cited in Bello, 2021) explains why…
  • Reference list: only Bello (2021).
  • If you don’t know the year of the original, leave it out: (Granovetter, as cited in Bello, 2021).

Harvard (Cite Them Right)

Harvard uses cited in and gives both years:

Format

(Original Author, Year, cited in Secondary Author, Year)

  • Parenthetical: (Granovetter, 1973, cited in Bello, 2021).
  • Narrative: Granovetter (1973, cited in Bello, 2021) argued that…
  • Reference list: only Bello (2021).

MLA 9

MLA uses qtd. in (quoted in) when you quote someone’s words that you found in another source:

Format

(qtd. in Secondary Author Page)

  • Granovetter describes weak ties as “[the words you are quoting]” (qtd. in Bello 45).
  • Name the original author in your sentence, as above, so the reader knows whose words they are.
  • Works Cited: only Bello.

If you are paraphrasing an idea rather than quoting, MLA suggests making the source clear in your sentence: Granovetter, as discussed by Bello, argues that…

Chicago

Chicago discourages secondary citations, but when you can’t avoid one, the footnote names both works: the original first, then “quoted in” and the source you read. The bibliography lists the source you read.

When you should find the original instead

Secondary citations are fine occasionally, but too many suggest you haven’t read the key works yourself. Look for the original when:

  • it is a seminal paper in your field. Markers expect you to have read those yourself,
  • your argument depends on what it says,
  • it is easy to find, as most journal articles are.

The original is usually listed in the reference list of the work you are reading. Search its title in the CiteSwap finder: it is often there, with a citation ready to copy, and sometimes a free PDF. For example, Granovetter’s paper:

APAThe original, in APA 7

Granovetter, M. S. (1973). The strength of weak ties. American Journal of Sociology, 78(6), 1360–1380. https://doi.org/10.1086/225469

In-text: (Granovetter, 1973)

Common mistakes

  • Listing the original work in the reference list when you only read about it.
  • Copying a reference from someone else’s reference list without saying you took it from them.
  • Overusing secondary citations for works you could easily read.
  • Leaving out the page number of the secondary source when you quote.

Frequently asked questions

Which source goes in the reference list?

Only the source you actually read (the secondary source). In APA, Harvard and MLA you do not list the original work, because you haven’t seen it yourself; you mention it only in your sentence or in-text citation.

Is it bad to use “as cited in”?

Not bad, but it should be occasional. Markers expect you to read the main works in your field yourself. Use a secondary citation when the original is out of print, unavailable or in a language you don’t read, not to save time.

Do I need the year of the original work?

In APA, include it if you know it: (Granovetter, 1973, as cited in Bello, 2021). In Harvard, give both names and both years. In MLA, the original author is named in your sentence and only the secondary source appears in the citation.

How do I find the original source?

Look in the reference list of the work you are reading, then search for the original’s title in the CiteSwap finder or your library catalogue. Many older works are easy to find online, and citing them directly is always better.