Mentur
What it checksHow it worksReviews
Log inCreate account
Upload document
Browse topicsMentur Guide

Citation issues in Mentur and how to fix them

Correct authors, years, et al., multiple citations, direct quotations, and correspondence with references.

Updated August 9, 2026

By Equipo Mentur

On this page

How to review citations

An in-text citation identifies the source of an idea through author and date. Open the highlighted citation and check its details, punctuation, and related reference before changing it.

Review parenthetical citations, narrative citations, and direct quotations separately. The number of authors determines when et al. applies. A direct quotation also needs a locator and, once it reaches the stated length, should be presented as a block quotation.

Start with the in-text citation guide and use the direct quotations guide when applicable.

Issues Mentur may show

Find the same title shown in your report. Each explanation helps you understand the result, apply the correction, and consult the related APA rule.

Warning

Multiple citations need semicolons

What we found

The works inside this citation need clearer separation. An in-text citation briefly identifies a source within a paragraph, usually by author and year. It shows which idea, fact, or passage came from another work and leads to the full reference; adding the work at the end of the paper does not replace a citation beside the material that uses it.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Multiple citations need semicolons” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Separate each work with a semicolon. Example: (García, 2020; Pérez, 2021).
  3. 3Read the full sentence after the change. Confirm the citation still supports the intended passage and that its author and date match the reference-list entry.

It should look like this:

(García, 2020; Pérez, 2021)

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Chapter 8: in-text citations identify the cited work with author, date, and locator details when required.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Warning

No in-text citations detected

What we found

No recognizable in-text citations such as “Garcia (2020)” or “(Garcia, 2020)” appear in the body of the document. In-text citations identify the source beside the idea, fact, quotation, or image that uses it; a reference list at the end cannot show which passage came from which work. If the paper relies on outside sources, each use needs the appropriate citation even when every full reference has already been written.

How to fix it

  1. 1Review the entire main text and confirm whether you used ideas, facts, quotations, or images from other sources. This observation may not have an individual excerpt to open.
  2. 2Add each citation in the paragraph where the source is used and confirm that it has a matching entry in “References.” If the paper does not use external sources, check the assignment requirements before adding them.
  3. 3Read the full sentence after the change. Confirm the citation still supports the intended passage and that its author and date match the reference-list entry.

It should look like this:

Narrative citation: García (2020) explains [idea taken from the source]. Parenthetical citation: [Idea taken from the source] (García, 2020).

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Section 8.4: each work cited in the text must appear in the reference list, and each reference must be cited in the text, apart from APA exceptions.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Warning

Block quotation missing a detectable citation

What we found

This block quotation does not clearly show its source. An in-text citation briefly identifies a source within a paragraph, usually by author and year. It shows which idea, fact, or passage came from another work and leads to the full reference; adding the work at the end of the paper does not replace a citation beside the material that uses it.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Block quotation missing a detectable citation” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Make sure the block quotation includes an author, year, and locator. If a narrative citation precedes the block, keep the locator at the end. Example: (García, 2020, p. 15).
  3. 3Read the full sentence after the change. Confirm the citation still supports the intended passage and that its author and date match the reference-list entry.

It should look like this:

(García, 2020, p. 15)

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Chapter 8: in-text citations identify the cited work with author, date, and locator details when required.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Warning

One author is missing from the citation

What we found

This citation mentions only one of the two authors. An in-text citation briefly identifies a source within a paragraph, usually by author and year. It shows which idea, fact, or passage came from another work and leads to the full reference; adding the work at the end of the paper does not replace a citation beside the material that uses it.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “One author is missing from the citation” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Include both surnames. Use an ampersand in a parenthetical citation and the appropriate conjunction in a narrative citation. Example: (García & Pérez, 2020) or García and Pérez (2020).
  3. 3Read the full sentence after the change. Confirm the citation still supports the intended passage and that its author and date match the reference-list entry.

It should look like this:

Parenthetical: (García & Pérez, 2020) Narrative: García and Pérez (2020)

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Section 8.17: works with two authors include both surnames in every citation.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Warning

Et al. does not identify the reference

What we found

This citation could be confused with another work from the same year. An in-text citation briefly identifies a source within a paragraph, usually by author and year. It shows which idea, fact, or passage came from another work and leads to the full reference; adding the work at the end of the paper does not replace a citation beside the material that uses it.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Et al. does not identify the reference” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Include enough surnames to distinguish the references, then abbreviate the remaining names with et al. If only one name would be omitted, write every surname. Example: (García, Pérez, et al., 2020).
  3. 3Read the full sentence after the change. Confirm the citation still supports the intended passage and that its author and date match the reference-list entry.

It should look like this:

(García, Pérez, et al., 2020)

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Section 8.18: add enough surnames to distinguish works when et al. would create ambiguity.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Warning

Et al. is italicized

What we found

In this citation, “et al.” is italicized. An in-text citation briefly identifies a source within a paragraph, usually by author and year. It shows which idea, fact, or passage came from another work and leads to the full reference; adding the work at the end of the paper does not replace a citation beside the material that uses it.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Et al. is italicized” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Remove italics from et al. and keep the period after al. Example: García et al. (2020).
  3. 3Read the full sentence after the change. Confirm the citation still supports the intended passage and that its author and date match the reference-list entry.

It should look like this:

García et al. (2020)

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Section 8.17: set et al. in regular type and place a period after al.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Warning

Et al. is missing from the citation

What we found

This citation with several authors needs an abbreviated form. An in-text citation briefly identifies a source within a paragraph, usually by author and year. It shows which idea, fact, or passage came from another work and leads to the full reference; adding the work at the end of the paper does not replace a citation beside the material that uses it.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Et al. is missing from the citation” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Starting with the first citation, write the first author’s surname followed by et al., unless additional surnames are needed to avoid ambiguity. Example: (García et al., 2020).
  3. 3Read the full sentence after the change. Confirm the citation still supports the intended passage and that its author and date match the reference-list entry.

It should look like this:

(García et al., 2020)

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Section 8.17: cite works with three or more authors using the first surname followed by et al. from the first citation.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Warning

Incorrect et al. format

What we found

In this citation, “et al.” uses incorrect punctuation. An in-text citation briefly identifies a source within a paragraph, usually by author and year. It shows which idea, fact, or passage came from another work and leads to the full reference; adding the work at the end of the paper does not replace a citation beside the material that uses it.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Incorrect et al. format” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Place a period after al. but not after et. Example: García et al. (2020) or (García et al., 2020).
  3. 3Read the full sentence after the change. Confirm the citation still supports the intended passage and that its author and date match the reference-list entry.

It should look like this:

Narrative: García et al. (2020) Parenthetical: (García et al., 2020)

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Chapter 8: in-text citations identify the cited work with author, date, and locator details when required.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Warning

Et al. does not apply

What we found

This work has too few authors to use “et al.”. An in-text citation briefly identifies a source within a paragraph, usually by author and year. It shows which idea, fact, or passage came from another work and leads to the full reference; adding the work at the end of the paper does not replace a citation beside the material that uses it.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Et al. does not apply” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Write the single author’s surname, or include both surnames when the work has two authors. Example: (García, 2020) or (García & Pérez, 2020).
  3. 3Read the full sentence after the change. Confirm the citation still supports the intended passage and that its author and date match the reference-list entry.

It should look like this:

One author: (García, 2020) Two authors: (García & Pérez, 2020)

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Section 8.17: works with one or two authors show every surname in each citation.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Warning

Et al. replaces only one surname

What we found

In this citation, “et al.” replaces only one author. An in-text citation briefly identifies a source within a paragraph, usually by author and year. It shows which idea, fact, or passage came from another work and leads to the full reference; adding the work at the end of the paper does not replace a citation beside the material that uses it.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Et al. replaces only one surname” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Write every author surname in this citation. Example: (García, Pérez, & López, 2020).
  3. 3Read the full sentence after the change. Confirm the citation still supports the intended passage and that its author and date match the reference-list entry.

It should look like this:

(García, Pérez, & López, 2020)

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Section 8.18: et al. is plural and cannot stand for only one person.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Critical

Multiple citation includes a source without a date

What we found

One of the works in this citation does not include a year. An in-text citation briefly identifies a source within a paragraph, usually by author and year. It shows which idea, fact, or passage came from another work and leads to the full reference; adding the work at the end of the paper does not replace a citation beside the material that uses it.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Multiple citation includes a source without a date” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Add the year to every incomplete source and keep semicolons between works. Example: (García, 2020; Pérez, 2021).
  3. 3Read the full sentence after the change. Confirm the citation still supports the intended passage and that its author and date match the reference-list entry.

It should look like this:

(García, 2020; Pérez, 2021)

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Chapter 8: in-text citations identify the cited work with author, date, and locator details when required.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Critical

Incomplete parenthetical citation

What we found

This parenthetical citation is missing information. An in-text citation briefly identifies a source within a paragraph, usually by author and year. It shows which idea, fact, or passage came from another work and leads to the full reference; adding the work at the end of the paper does not replace a citation beside the material that uses it.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Incomplete parenthetical citation” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Check the punctuation and use a complete author–date pattern. Write “n.d.” with a period after each letter when no date is available. Example: (García, 2020) or (EURORDIS, n.d.).
  3. 3Read the full sentence after the change. Confirm the citation still supports the intended passage and that its author and date match the reference-list entry.

It should look like this:

With a date: (García, 2020) Without a date: (EURORDIS, n.d.)

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Chapter 8: in-text citations identify the cited work with author, date, and locator details when required.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Warning

Citation matches more than one reference

What we found

This citation could match more than one reference. An in-text citation briefly identifies a source within a paragraph, usually by author and year. It shows which idea, fact, or passage came from another work and leads to the full reference; adding the work at the end of the paper does not replace a citation beside the material that uses it.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Citation matches more than one reference” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Distinguish works by the same author from the same year with suffixes in both the citation and reference list. Example: (García, 2020a) and (García, 2020b).
  3. 3Read the full sentence after the change. Confirm the citation still supports the intended passage and that its author and date match the reference-list entry.

It should look like this:

(García, 2020a) (García, 2020b)

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Sections 8.4 and 8.19: author and date must correspond, and same-author, same-year works must be distinguished with suffixes.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Critical

Citation has no matching reference

What we found

There is a citation in the text, but no full reference with the same author and year appears in the reference list. The citation tells readers which statement came from a source, while the reference supplies the title and publication details needed to identify and locate it. A citation alone is therefore incomplete for a recoverable work; personal communications and a few other nonrecoverable sources are exceptions that appear only in the text.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Citation has no matching reference” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Add the complete reference or correct the author name and year so they match the citation exactly.
  3. 3Read the full sentence after the change. Confirm the citation still supports the intended passage and that its author and date match the reference-list entry.

It should look like this:

In the text: (García, 2020) In References: García, A. A. (2020). [Title and source for the type of work].

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Section 8.4: every work cited in the text must appear in the reference list.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Critical

Direct quotation missing a locator

What we found

This quotation does not say where to find the original passage. An in-text citation briefly identifies a source within a paragraph, usually by author and year. It shows which idea, fact, or passage came from another work and leads to the full reference; adding the work at the end of the paper does not replace a citation beside the material that uses it.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Direct quotation missing a locator” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Add a page, paragraph, section, timestamp, or another suitable locator. Example: (Author, 2020, p. 15).
  3. 3Read the full sentence after the change. Confirm the citation still supports the intended passage and that its author and date match the reference-list entry.

It should look like this:

With a page: (Author, 2020, p. 15) Without pages: (Author, 2020, para. 3)

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Sections 8.25-8.28: direct quotations include author, year, and a page or equivalent locator.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Critical

Long direct quotation should be a block quotation

What we found

This long quotation should appear as a separate block. An in-text citation briefly identifies a source within a paragraph, usually by author and year. It shows which idea, fact, or passage came from another work and leads to the full reference; adding the work at the end of the paper does not replace a citation beside the material that uses it.

How to fix it

  1. 1In the report, open the observation titled “Long direct quotation should be a block quotation” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
  2. 2Review the citation and make sure it includes the required author, date, punctuation, and locator information when needed.
  3. 3Read the full sentence after the change. Confirm the citation still supports the intended passage and that its author and date match the reference-list entry.

It should look like this:

García (2020) explained: [Direct quotation of 40 words or more, without quotation marks.] (p. 15)

APA criterion

APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Chapter 8: in-text citations identify the cited work with author, date, and locator details when required.

Read the rule in the APA guide

Find APA issues before you submit

Upload your Word paper and get a report with the points you need to review.

Check my paper