How to Reference APA Multiple Authors
In the world of academic writing, referencing sources is a crucial aspect that ensures credibility and gives credit to the original authors. When it comes to the APA (American Psychological Association) citation style, referencing multiple authors can sometimes be a bit tricky. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide on how to reference APA multiple authors correctly.
Formatting the Reference List
When referencing a source with multiple authors in APA style, the reference list should be formatted as follows:
1. Start with the author’s last name, followed by their first initial. Separate each author’s name with a comma.
2. After the author’s names, include the publication date in parentheses.
3. Next, write the title of the source in sentence case, capitalizing the first word and any proper nouns.
4. If the source is a book, include the publisher’s name after the title. For journal articles, include the volume, issue number, and page numbers.
5. Finally, end the reference with a period.
Here’s an example of how to reference a book with multiple authors:
Smith, J., Johnson, L., & Brown, M. (2020). The impact of climate change on coastal ecosystems. New York: Springer.
And here’s an example of how to reference a journal article with multiple authors:
Miller, A., Thompson, B., & Davis, C. (2019). The effects of social media on mental health. Journal of Psychology, 153(2), 123-145.
Formatting In-text Citations
When citing a source with multiple authors in the text, the format varies slightly depending on the number of authors:
1. For two authors, include both names in the in-text citation.
2. For three to five authors, list all names the first time you cite the source. In subsequent citations, use “et al.” (meaning “and others”) followed by the year of publication.
3. For more than five authors, use “et al.” in all in-text citations.
Here are some examples:
Smith & Johnson (2020) found that…
Miller, Thompson, & Davis (2019) reported that…
Smith, Johnson, Brown, & Davis (2020) concluded that…
Smith, Johnson, et al. (2020) discovered that…
Remembering the Rules
To ensure you reference APA multiple authors correctly, remember the following rules:
1. Always include the author’s last name and first initial.
2. Use parentheses for the publication date.
3. Capitalize the first word and proper nouns in the title.
4. Follow the correct format for books and journal articles.
5. Use “et al.” when citing sources with more than five authors.
By following these guidelines, you’ll be able to reference APA multiple authors accurately and maintain the integrity of your academic work.
