The American Psychological Association (APA) style is a widely used citation format in academic writing, particularly in the social sciences. When citing a source with multiple authors, it is essential to follow the APA guidelines to ensure proper credit is given to the authors and to maintain consistency in the formatting of the reference list.
Basic Principles of APA Citation
In APA style, the citation format varies depending on the number of authors and the type of source being cited. For sources with multiple authors, the general rule is to list all authors’ last names and initials in the reference list, separated by commas, and use an ampersand (&) before the last author’s name.
Citing Sources with Multiple Authors
When citing a source with two authors, the format is straightforward: both authors’ last names and initials are listed, separated by an ampersand. For example, if John Doe and Jane Smith are the authors of a paper, the citation would be (Doe, J., & Smith, J.). However, for sources with three or more authors, the APA style recommends listing all authors’ names in the reference list but only the first author’s name, followed by “et al.” (meaning “and others”), in the in-text citation, unless the work is cited for the first time in the text, in which case all authors’ names should be listed.
| Number of Authors | Reference List Format | In-Text Citation Format |
|---|---|---|
| Two Authors | Lastname, F.M., & Lastname, F.M. | (Lastname, F.M., & Lastname, F.M.) |
| Three to Five Authors | Lastname, F.M., Lastname, F.M., Lastname, F.M., Lastname, F.M., & Lastname, F.M. | (Lastname, F.M., Lastname, F.M., Lastname, F.M., Lastname, F.M., & Lastname, F.M.) for first citation, then (Lastname, F.M., et al.) |
| Six or More Authors | Lastname, F.M., Lastname, F.M., Lastname, F.M., Lastname, F.M., Lastname, F.M., & Lastname, F.M. | (Lastname, F.M., et al.) |
Examples of APA Citations with Multiple Authors
Here are some examples of how to cite sources with multiple authors in APA style:
- Source with two authors: Doe, J., & Smith, J. (2020). The Impact of Climate Change. Journal of Environmental Science, 10(2), 1-10.
- Source with three authors (first citation in text): (Johnson, K., Williams, P., & Brown, L., 2019)
- Source with three authors (subsequent citations in text): (Johnson et al., 2019)
- Source with six or more authors: (Davis et al., 2020)
Technical Specifications for APA Citations
The APA style guidelines provide detailed specifications for formatting citations, including font style, size, and line spacing. It is recommended to use a legible font, typically 12-point Times New Roman, with double line spacing throughout the paper, including the reference list.
In conclusion, APA citation with multiple authors requires attention to the number of authors and the type of source being cited. By following the APA guidelines and using the correct format for in-text citations and the reference list, authors can ensure that their work is properly cited and that they give due credit to the original authors of the ideas and research they are referencing.
How do I cite a source with two authors in APA style?
+To cite a source with two authors in APA style, list both authors’ last names and initials, separated by an ampersand, in both the reference list and the in-text citation. For example: (Doe, J., & Smith, J.).
What is the difference in APA citation format between a source with three authors and one with six or more authors?
+In APA style, for sources with three or more authors, all authors are listed in the reference list, but in the in-text citation, only the first author is listed followed by “et al.” for sources with four or more authors. For the first citation of a source with three to five authors, all authors’ names are listed in the in-text citation.
How often should I use “et al.” in APA citations?
+“Et al.” should be used in APA citations for sources with three or more authors, after the first author’s name, in all in-text citations except for the first citation of a work with three to five authors, where all authors’ names are listed. For sources with six or more authors, “et al.” is used in all in-text citations.
