How to APA Citation with Multiple Authors
In academic writing, proper citation is crucial for giving credit to the original authors of the ideas and information used. The APA (American Psychological Association) citation style is widely used in the social sciences and humanities. When citing a source with multiple authors, it’s important to follow the correct format to ensure accuracy and professionalism. This article will guide you through the process of how to APA citation with multiple authors.
Formatting the Citation
When citing a source with two authors, the format is straightforward. You start with the authors’ last names, followed by their first initials, a comma, and then the year of publication. Next, you include the title of the source, the title of the container, and the publisher. Finally, add the page numbers if applicable. Here’s an example:
Smith, J. A., & Johnson, L. B. (2020). The impact of social media on youth. Journal of Communication, 70(2), 123-145.
Citing Sources with Three to Five Authors
For sources with three to five authors, the format is similar, but you must include all authors in the citation. After the last author’s name, use an ampersand (&) before the last author’s initials. Here’s an example:
Smith, J. A., Johnson, L. B., Lee, C. D., & Thompson, R. G. (2020). The role of technology in education. Journal of Education, 80(1), 56-72.
Citing Sources with More Than Five Authors
When a source has more than five authors, you only need to list the first author followed by “et al.” (meaning “and others”) after the first author’s name. Here’s an example:
Smith, J. A., et al. (2020). The effects of climate change on global agriculture. Environmental Science, 15(3), 345-360.
Formatting In-text Citations
In-text citations for sources with multiple authors follow the same format. If you mention the author’s name in your sentence, you only need to include the year of publication in parentheses. For example:
Smith and Johnson (2020) found that social media has a significant impact on youth.
If you don’t mention the author’s name in your sentence, include both the author’s last name and the year of publication in parentheses:
According to Smith, Johnson, Lee, and Thompson (2020), technology plays a crucial role in education.
Conclusion
Proper APA citation with multiple authors is essential for academic integrity and to give credit where it is due. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can ensure that your citations are accurate and adhere to the APA style. Remember to always check the latest edition of the APA manual for any updates or changes to the citation format.
