For a review, cite the reviewer’s surname in the text, then add year or page per style; the “review of” detail lives in the reference list, not the in-text.
Reviews show up in journals, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and databases. In text, you cite the author of the review, not the creator of the work being reviewed. The full entry then labels it as a review and names the book, film, or product. Below you’ll find the core patterns, edge cases, and crisp examples that fit straight into your draft.
Citing A Review In Text: Style Basics
Four widely used styles set the ground rules: APA 7th, MLA 9th, Chicago 17th, and IEEE. Each one signals a source inside the prose in a different way. APA and Chicago author-date use author and year; MLA uses author and page; IEEE uses bracketed numbers matched to the reference list. Start with the table, then jump to the section you need.
| Style | Core In-Text Pattern | Example Snippet |
|---|---|---|
| APA 7th | (Reviewer, Year) or Reviewer (Year); add page for a quote | (Lopez, 2023) • Lopez (2023) notes … • (Lopez, 2023, p. 14) |
| MLA 9th | (Reviewer Page) or Reviewer states … ; page only when available | (Lopez 14) • Lopez argues … |
| Chicago 17th (Author-Date) | (Reviewer Year, Page) | (Lopez 2023, 14) |
| Chicago 17th (Notes) | Superscript number linked to a note | Lopez contends …1 |
| IEEE | Bracketed number tied to the reference list | As shown in [4] … |
APA 7th: In-Text Rules For Reviews
APA treats a review like a periodical article in the text. Use the reviewer’s surname and the year. Add a page or another locator only for a direct quotation. If you name the reviewer inside the sentence, put the year in parentheses right after the surname; if not, add both at the end.
Examples: Narrative — “Lopez (2023) finds the argument thin.” Parenthetical — “The claim is shaky (Lopez, 2023).” Quotation — “thin” (Lopez, 2023, p. 14). For three or more reviewers, shorten to the first surname plus et al. in the in-text line.
The “review of …” wording and the author of the work reviewed belong in the reference entry, not in the in-text. A clear institutional layout with samples sits here: APA 7th review reference format.
Edge Cases In APA
- No page numbers: For an online review, give a paragraph number or a section heading for quotes: (Lopez, 2023, para. 5) or (Lopez, 2023, “Methods” section).
- Same author, same year: Add letters in the reference list and match them in text: (Lopez, 2023a), (Lopez, 2023b).
- Group or site as reviewer: Cite the group name: (FilmDesk, 2024). Abbreviate a long name after the first use.
- Anonymous byline: Use the site’s stated byline. If none, the reference entry starts with the title; in text, use a shortened title.
MLA 9th: In-Text For Reviews
MLA pairs the reviewer’s surname with a page number when pages exist. For web-only reviews without pagination, the surname alone works. Your prose can mention that the source is a review; the works-cited entry carries the full label and the item reviewed. See the MLA Style Center’s guidance on citing a review.
Examples: Parenthetical — “The pacing drags (Lopez 14).” Narrative — “Lopez argues that the pacing drags.” Web review without pages — “Lopez makes the same point.”
Special Situations In MLA
- Unsigned review: Use a shortened title in the parenthetical: (“Restrained Adaptation”).
- Multiple works by one reviewer: Add a short title to steer readers: (Lopez, “Restrained” 14).
- Multiple authors: Use both surnames for two authors; for three or more, use the first surname and et al.
Chicago 17th: In-Text Options For Reviews
Chicago offers two systems. In author-date, the in-text mirrors APA: reviewer surname, year, and a page for a quotation. In notes-bibliography, place a superscript number at the point of mention; the note carries the full or short form. The full entry records that the item is a review and names the work reviewed.
Examples — Author-date: “Recent responses skew positive (Lopez 2023, 14).” Notes-bibliography: “Critics split on tone.”1
Short Notes And Full Notes
The first note for a source is usually full; later notes use a shortened form. The superscript in the line stays a plain number. Keep the text uncluttered and let the note hold the extras such as “review of …” wording and page spans.
IEEE: In-Text For Reviews
IEEE uses bracketed numbers that match the reference list. Drop the number at the point of mention: “The claim lacks backing [4].” If you name the reviewer, keep the bracket: “Lopez argues … [4].” Assign numbers in the order of first mention. If you cite several reviews together, place the numbers in one set of brackets and separate them with commas.
| Style | In-Text Elements | “Review Of …” Placement |
|---|---|---|
| APA | Reviewer surname; year; page for quotes | Reference entry |
| MLA | Reviewer surname; page when available | Works-cited entry |
| Chicago Author-Date | Reviewer surname; year; page | Reference list entry |
| Chicago Notes | Superscript number in text | Note and bibliography |
| IEEE | Bracketed number | Reference list entry |
Real-World Samples Across Sources
Journal Review
APA: “This reading is careful (Lopez, 2023).” MLA: “This reading is careful (Lopez 22).” Chicago Author-Date: “This reading is careful (Lopez 2023, 22).” Chicago Notes: “This reading is careful.”1 IEEE: “This reading is careful [4].”
Newspaper Or Magazine Review
APA: “The staging feels spare (Lopez, 2024).” MLA: “The staging feels spare (Lopez A4).” If the paper uses section letters, keep them. Chicago Author-Date: “The staging feels spare (Lopez 2024).” Notes: Add the superscript and let the note hold the section and date. IEEE: Keep the bracketed number: “[7]”.
Online Platform Review
APA: Paraphrase with year; for a direct quote add a timestamp if the review is audio or video: (Lopez, 2023, 02:10). MLA: Use the surname only when no stable pages exist. Chicago Author-Date: Pair surname and year; if you quote, add a locator such as a timestamp when pages are absent. Notes: The note can hold a URL and the reviewed item’s details. IEEE: Keep the bracketed number and ensure the reference entry mirrors the exact platform type.
Common Pitfalls And Fixes
- Citing the wrong author: In the text, name the reviewer, not the creator of the book, film, or product.
- Missing locators for quotes: Add a page, paragraph, timestamp, or section label based on the source.
- Mixing styles: Pair the in-text signal and the full entry from the same style guide.
- Overstuffed lines: Keep “review of …” in the reference entry or the note; the in-text stays light.
- Ambiguous repeats: When one reviewer has several pieces, add short titles in MLA or letters in APA years.
- Loose titles in text: Trim long titles in parenthetical spots; give the full form in the reference.
- Shifting numbers in IEEE: Reuse the same bracketed number each time you cite the same review.
Quick Templates You Can Copy
APA 7th
Paraphrase: (Reviewer, Year) → (Lopez, 2023)
Narrative: Reviewer (Year) → Lopez (2023)
Quotation: (Reviewer, Year, p. X) → (Lopez, 2023, p. 14)
Three+ reviewers: (Lopez et al., 2023)
MLA 9th
Paraphrase with pages: (Lopez 14)
Narrative with pages: Lopez writes …
Online, no pages: Lopez argues … or name a section in the prose.
Multiple works by same reviewer: (Lopez, “Restrained” 14)
Chicago 17th Author-Date
Paraphrase: (Lopez 2023)
Quotation: (Lopez 2023, 14)
Multiple works, same year: (Lopez 2023a, 14), (Lopez 2023b)
Chicago 17th Notes-Bibliography
In text: add a superscript at the end of the sentence: … tone.1
In the note: Full the first time; short for repeats. The note records that the item is a review.
IEEE
Single review: [4]
Reviewer named in prose: Lopez … [4]
Multiple reviews at once: [2], [4], [7]
Mini Walkthroughs
APA Walkthrough
Cite the review in the text with author and year. Save the “review of …” label and the creator of the work reviewed for the reference entry. When quoting, add a page. If your source is a video or audio review, add a timestamp in place of a page: (Lopez, 2023, 02:10). For a long group name, write it in full the first time; supply a short form after that.
MLA Walkthrough
Give the reviewer’s surname and a page when stable pages exist. For a web review without pages, the surname alone is fine. If two reviews by the same person appear in your list, add a short title right after the name in your parenthetical line. Keep the in-text lean and let the works-cited entry record the review label and the item reviewed.
Chicago Walkthrough
Pick one system and stay with it. In author-date, use the compact parenthetical with year and page for quotes. In notes-bibliography, add the superscript and let the note hold the extra detail. Your text remains easy to scan, and the reader still gets a clear path back to the full entry.
IEEE Walkthrough
Assign the next bracketed number the first time you cite a review. Reuse that number for later mentions of the same item. When you bring up a reviewer by name inside the sentence, the bracket still carries the link to the reference list. If you cite several reviews together, keep them inside one set of brackets, separated by commas.
Pre-Submission Checklist
- Does each in-text signal match the style you are using?
- Did you name the reviewer in text rather than the creator of the work reviewed?
- Are page numbers, paragraphs, timestamps, or sections added for quotes?
- Are repeated sources handled cleanly (short titles in MLA, lettered years in APA)?
- In Chicago notes, did you use a full note first, then short notes?
- In IEEE, do the bracketed numbers stay fixed for each source?
- Do your full entries label the item as a review and name the work reviewed?
Need the underlying rule text? See the MLA Style Center guidance on reviews and an academic APA guide for reviews: MLA review citation and APA review reference examples.