How to Cite if There is 2 Authors
In academic writing, it is common to cite sources that have two authors. Properly citing these sources is crucial for avoiding plagiarism and giving credit to the original authors. This article will guide you through the process of citing a source with two authors, whether it is in APA, MLA, Chicago, or another citation style.
APA Citation Style
In APA style, when citing a source with two authors, you simply list both authors’ last names followed by the publication date in parentheses. For example:
> (Smith & Johnson, 2020)
If you are citing a direct quote, you include the page number after the publication date. For example:
> (Smith & Johnson, 2020, p. 10)
For in-text citations, if you mention the authors’ names in your sentence, you only need to include the publication date. For example:
> According to Smith and Johnson (2020), the results were significant.
If you are referencing the source in your reference list, include the full author names, publication date, title of the work, the title of the journal or book, and the publisher or URL. For example:
> Smith, J., & Johnson, L. (2020). The impact of climate change on coastal communities. Journal of Environmental Studies, 10(2), 45-58.
MLA Citation Style
In MLA style, when citing a source with two authors, you list both authors’ last names, followed by a comma, the first name, and then the publication date in parentheses. For example:
> Smith, John, and Lisa Johnson. “The Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Communities.” Journal of Environmental Studies, vol. 10, no. 2, 2020, pp. 45-58.
When citing a direct quote, include the page number after the publication date. For example:
> (Smith & Johnson 10)
In the Works Cited list, include the full author names, publication date, title of the work, the title of the journal or book, and the publisher or URL. For example:
> Smith, John, and Lisa Johnson. “The Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Communities.” Journal of Environmental Studies, vol. 10, no. 2, 2020, pp. 45-58.
Chicago Citation Style
In Chicago style, when citing a source with two authors, you list both authors’ last names, followed by a comma, the first name, and then the publication date in parentheses. For example:
> Smith, John, and Lisa Johnson. The Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Communities. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2020.
For in-text citations, include the authors’ last names and the publication date in parentheses. For example:
> (Smith and Johnson 2020)
In the Works Cited list, include the full author names, publication date, title of the work, the title of the journal or book, and the publisher or URL. For example:
> Smith, John, and Lisa Johnson. The Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Communities. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2020.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that you properly cite sources with two authors in any academic citation style. Always remember to double-check the specific requirements of your institution or publisher, as citation styles may vary slightly.
