Free tool
CSE in-text citation generator
Build CSE in-text citations in name–year format, like (Fauci and Lane 2020; Haasnoot et al 2021), or numbered citations like ¹⁻³,⁵ — including one citation for several sources at once.
Enter authors separated by semicolons (surname plus initials, or an organization name).
About this CSE in-text citation generator
Every source in a CSE paper is cited twice: once in the reference list and once in the sentence where you use it. This free CSE in-text citation generator handles the second part. Enter the authors and year for name–year, or the reference numbers for citation–sequence and citation–name, and copy a citation that follows the 9th edition (or the 8th, if your course still uses it). Sources you add in the CSE citation generator appear here too, so you can tick them and get a combined citation without retyping anything.
How to write a CSE in-text citation
Name–year in-text citations
- One author:
(Liang 2020). Two authors:(Fauci and Lane 2020). Three or more:(Haasnoot et al 2021). - No comma between the name and the year, and “and” rather than an ampersand.
- Several sources: separate with semicolons and order them by year:
(Fauci and Lane 2020; Haasnoot et al 2021). - Same author, several years:
(Gemmrich and Garrett 2008, 2011). Same author and year:(Lee et al 2020a, 2020b). - Naming the authors in your sentence? Put only the year in parentheses:
Fauci and Lane (2020) reported…
CSE in-text citations with multiple authors and et al
In the text, a source with three or more authors is shortened to the first author’s surname and “et al”: (Haasnoot et al 2021). This is separate from the reference list, where the 9th edition lists up to five authors before using et al. The 9th edition also writes “et al” without a period; the 8th edition used “et al.”. The generator applies whichever edition you choose.
Citation–sequence and citation–name
- Use the reference’s number as a superscript or in parentheses, right after the information it supports.
- In citation–sequence, numbers follow the order in which sources are first cited. In citation–name, each number is the source’s position in the alphabetical reference list.
- Separate non-consecutive numbers with commas and join three or more consecutive numbers with an en dash:
¹⁻³,⁵or(1–3,5). The generator sorts and compresses the numbers for you.
Need the full references too? Use the CSE citation generator, or read the CSE in-text citation guide for more examples.
FAQ
CSE in-text citation questions
How do you write an in-text citation in CSE format?
It depends on the system. In name–year, give the author surname and year in parentheses, with no comma between them: (Liang 2020). In citation–sequence and citation–name, give the number of the source in the reference list as a superscript or in parentheses, right after the information it supports.
How do you cite two authors in a CSE in-text citation?
Give both surnames joined by “and”, followed by the year: (Fauci and Lane 2020). CSE uses the word “and”, not an ampersand. If you name the authors in your sentence, put only the year in parentheses: Fauci and Lane (2020) reported…
When do you use et al in a CSE in-text citation?
Use et al when a source has three or more authors: give the first author’s surname, then et al and the year, e.g. (Haasnoot et al 2021). The 9th edition writes et al without a period; the 8th edition used “et al.”. This rule is separate from the reference list, which names up to five authors before et al.
How do you cite multiple sources in one CSE in-text citation?
In name–year, put them in one set of parentheses, separated by semicolons and ordered by year: (Fauci and Lane 2020; Haasnoot et al 2021). In the numbered systems, separate numbers with commas and join three or more consecutive numbers with an en dash: ¹⁻³,⁵. Add each source to the generator and it builds the combined citation for you.
How do you cite two papers by the same author from the same year?
Add a lowercase letter after the year, both in the text and in the reference list: (Lee et al 2020a, 2020b). For the same author in different years, list the years in order: (Gemmrich and Garrett 2008, 2011).
Should CSE numbered citations be superscript or in parentheses?
CSE allows either a superscript number or a number in parentheses, so follow your instructor or journal and use the same form throughout the paper. The generator outputs superscript, parentheses, or square brackets.
Is this CSE in-text citation generator free?
Yes. It is free with no sign-up. Sources you add in the CSE citation generator appear on this page, so you can build in-text citations for them without retyping.