How to Cite 2 Authors APA 7
In the APA 7th edition citation format, citing two authors is a straightforward process. Whether you are referencing a book, journal article, or any other source with two authors, following the correct format is essential for maintaining academic integrity and ensuring your readers can locate the original source. This article will guide you through the steps to correctly cite two authors in APA 7th edition.
When citing a source with two authors, the basic format includes the authors’ last names, followed by the publication date, the title of the work, the title of the periodical, volume number, issue number, and page numbers. Here’s an example of how to format a citation with two authors:
Smith, J., & Johnson, L. (2020). The impact of climate change on coastal ecosystems. Journal of Environmental Science, 42(3), 45-58.
Let’s break down the components of this citation:
1. Authors: Begin with the last name of the first author, followed by the first name of the first author, a comma, and then the last name of the second author. If the authors have the same last name, include an initial or a middle name to differentiate between them.
2. Publication Date: Place the year of publication in parentheses immediately after the authors’ names.
3. Title of the Work: Write the title of the work in sentence case, capitalizing the first word, any proper nouns, and any words that are normally capitalized in titles.
4. Title of the Periodical: Enclose the title of the periodical in quotation marks.
5. Volume Number: Follow the title of the periodical with the volume number, using the abbreviation “Vol.” before the number.
6. Issue Number: If applicable, include the issue number in parentheses after the volume number, using the abbreviation “No.” before the number.
7. Page Numbers: End the citation with the page numbers where the cited information can be found, separated by a hyphen.
Remember to adapt the format to the type of source you are citing. For example, if you are citing a book, you will not include the issue number or page numbers. Here’s an example of a book citation with two authors:
Smith, J., & Johnson, L. (2020). Coastal ecosystems: An introduction to the science and management of marine environments. New York: Springer.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your citations for sources with two authors are accurate and consistent with APA 7th edition formatting. Always double-check your citations against the official APA Publication Manual or an online APA citation generator to verify that you have included all necessary information.
