How to Cite a Book with Two Authors in APA
When writing a research paper or academic document, proper citation is essential to give credit to the original authors of the works you reference. The APA (American Psychological Association) citation style is commonly used in the social sciences, education, and business fields. One common scenario is citing a book with two authors. In this article, we will guide you through the process of how to cite a book with two authors in APA format.
First and foremost, it is important to understand the basic structure of an APA citation for a book with two authors. The general format is as follows:
Author(s). (Year of publication). Title of the book. Publisher.
For a book with two authors, the citation would look like this:
Smith, J., & Johnson, L. (2020). The Psychology of Happiness. Wiley.
Here are the key components of the citation:
1. Author(s): Begin with the last name, followed by the first initial of the first name, and then the last name of the first author. Separate the names of the authors with a comma. For the second author, include both the last name and the first name.
2. Year of publication: Place the year of publication in parentheses immediately following the authors’ names.
3. Title of the book: Write the title of the book in sentence case, capitalizing only the first word, the last word, and any major words within the title.
4. Publisher: At the end of the citation, include the name of the publisher.
In addition to the basic format, there are a few other considerations when citing a book with two authors in APA:
1. Edition: If the book has a specific edition, include it after the title. For example: Smith, J., & Johnson, L. (2020). The Psychology of Happiness (5th ed.). Wiley.
2. Translation: If the book is a translation, include the translator’s name after the title, separated by a comma. For example: Smith, J., & Johnson, L. (2020). The Psychology of Happiness (translated by Smith, T.). Wiley.
3. Editions with more than two authors: If a book has more than two authors, include the first author’s last name, followed by “et al.” (meaning “and others”) and the last name of the second author. For example: Smith, J., Johnson, L., & Brown, M. (2020). The Psychology of Happiness (et al.). Wiley.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that you properly cite a book with two authors in APA format. Remember, accurate citation not only provides credit to the original authors but also helps readers locate the source material.
