How to Cite 4 Authors APA Style
When writing a research paper or academic article, proper citation is essential to give credit to the original authors of the ideas and information used. One common scenario is when you need to cite a source that has four authors. The American Psychological Association (APA) style provides specific guidelines on how to format this citation. In this article, we will discuss how to cite 4 authors in APA style.
General Format
In APA style, when citing a source with four authors, you should include all four names in the text of your paper. The first time you cite the source, you should list all four authors’ last names followed by their initials. For subsequent citations, you can use “et al.” (meaning “and others”) after the first author’s name.
Example of First Citation
Suppose you are citing a journal article with four authors. The citation would look like this:
Smith, J. A., Johnson, B. C., Doe, E. F., & Brown, G. H. (Year). Article title. Journal Name, volume(issue), page range.
Example of Subsequent Citations
After the first citation, you can use “et al.” in subsequent citations. Here’s an example:
Smith, J. A., Johnson, B. C., Doe, E. F., & Brown, G. H. (Year). Article title. Journal Name, volume(issue), page range.
Smith et al. (Year). Article title. Journal Name, volume(issue), page range.
Formatting the Reference List
When you create the reference list at the end of your paper, you should follow the same format as the in-text citation. The reference list entry should include the authors’ names, the publication year, the title of the article, the name of the journal, the volume and issue number, and the page range. Here’s an example:
Smith, J. A., Johnson, B. C., Doe, E. F., & Brown, G. H. (Year). Article title. Journal Name, volume(issue), page range.
By following these guidelines, you can accurately cite a source with four authors in APA style. Proper citation not only gives credit to the original authors but also helps readers locate the source and verify the information presented in your paper.
