Q. Citing a Source Quoted or Cited in Another Source in APA 7

1. Should I ever copy a reference from another author’s reference list?

No. APA 7 stresses that you should only include in your References list the sources you have personally read.
If you see a citation in Miller’s article—such as (Jones, 2023)—you should not copy Miller’s reference entry for Jones unless you have actually read Jones yourself.

2. What are my options if I encounter a citation to a source I have not read?

You have two correct options

Option A: Find and read the original source yourself.

Search Google Scholar, library databases, or another academic tool.
If you locate Jones (2023) and read it, you cite it directly:

• In-text: (Jones, 2023).
• Reference list: Include a full APA 7 reference entry for Jones.

In this case, you do not need to mention Miller, because you now have firsthand knowledge of Jones.

Option B: Cite the idea as coming from the source you actually read.

If Miller discusses an idea from Jones, but you cannot or do not choose to access Jones, then the idea you’re using comes from Miller and should be cited as Miller’s wording or paraphrase.

You would simply cite Miller:

• In-text: (Miller, 2025).

Jones would NOT appear in your reference list, because Jones is not your source—Jones is Miller’s source.

3. When is it acceptable to cite a secondary source?

APA permits secondary citations only when the original source is not available (e.g., out of print, not in print, not translated, or otherwise inaccessible).

Good scholarly practice:

If possible, find, read, and cite the original research, not an article or textbook that cites it.

4. How do I cite a source that is quoted within another source (a secondary source) in APA 7?

Use the format:
(Primary author, year, as cited in Secondary author, year).

APA 7 Example

Suppose Miller (2025) quotes Jones (2023) and you cannot obtain Jones directly.

In-text citation:

• Parenthetical: (Jones, 2023, as cited in Miller, 2025).
• Narrative: Jones (2023, as cited in Miller, 2025) argued that…
• If the year of the primary source is unknown, omit it from the in-text citation:

Allport’s diary (as cited in Nicholson, 2003)

Reference list:

• Include ONLY Miller, because you read Miller.

5. Should I put the secondary source (Miller) or the original source (Jones) in the reference list?

Only the source you actually read belongs in the reference list.
So, in a secondary citation scenario:

Reference list: Miller
Not included: Jones

6. Why does APA discourage secondary citations?

Because:

• They are less reliable (you do not know whether Miller interpreted Jones accurately).
• Scholarship values direct engagement with original research.
• They can lead to citation chaining, where errors propagate through multiple sources.

7. What’s the best practice for students and scholars?

1. Track down the primary source whenever possible.
2. Read it yourself.
3. Cite it directly.
4. Use secondary citations only when absolutely necessary.