When citing sources with multiple authors in APA style, it is essential to follow specific guidelines to ensure accuracy and consistency. The American Psychological Association (APA) provides detailed instructions for in-text citations, which are used to credit the original authors of an idea, concept, or research finding.
In-Text Citation Guidelines for Multiple Authors
According to the APA Publication Manual (7th ed.), when a source has two authors, both authors’ last names should be included in the in-text citation, separated by an ampersand (&). For example: Smith & Johnson (2020) found that… If the authors’ names are included in the sentence, the ampersand is not used: Smith and Johnson (2020) discovered that…
Citing Sources with Three or More Authors
When a source has three or more authors, the in-text citation should include the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” (which is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase “et alii,” meaning “and others”). For example: Williams et al. (2019) conducted a study that… If the authors’ names are included in the sentence, the phrase “et al.” is still used: Williams and his colleagues (2019) found that…
| Number of Authors | In-Text Citation Example |
|---|---|
| Two authors | Smith & Johnson (2020) |
| Three or more authors | Williams et al. (2019) |
| Unknown author | (Anonymous, 2020) |
Additional Guidelines for In-Text Citations
In addition to the guidelines for multiple authors, APA style also provides instructions for citing sources with unknown authors, group authors, and sources with no publication date. For example, if a source has an unknown author, the in-text citation should include the title of the source in title case, enclosed in quotation marks: (“The Effects of Climate Change,” 2020). If a source has a group author, the name of the group should be used in the in-text citation: the American Psychological Association (2020) recommends…
Citing Sources with No Publication Date
If a source has no publication date, the in-text citation should include the abbreviation “n.d.” (which stands for “no date”): (Smith, n.d.) found that… If the source is a website or online publication, the in-text citation should include the title of the page or article, enclosed in quotation marks: (“The Benefits of Meditation,” n.d.) suggests that…
- Citing sources with multiple authors requires careful attention to detail to ensure accuracy and consistency.
- In-text citations should include the authors' last names, publication date, and any relevant page numbers or DOI (digital object identifier).
- The APA Publication Manual (7th ed.) provides comprehensive guidelines for in-text citations, including examples and illustrations.
What is the correct in-text citation format for a source with two authors in APA style?
+The correct in-text citation format for a source with two authors in APA style is to include both authors’ last names, separated by an ampersand (&): Smith & Johnson (2020).
How do I cite a source with three or more authors in APA style?
+To cite a source with three or more authors in APA style, include the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” (which is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase “et alii,” meaning “and others”): Williams et al. (2019).
