How do you in-text cite multiple authors in APA? APA citation style, developed by the American Psychological Association, is widely used in the social sciences and other academic fields. Proper citation is essential for giving credit to the original authors and avoiding plagiarism. When citing sources with multiple authors in APA style, it is important to follow specific guidelines to ensure accuracy and consistency.
When citing a source with two authors, simply list both names in the text, separated by an ampersand (&). For example: “According to Smith and Johnson (2020), the results indicate a significant correlation between the variables.” If the authors’ names are mentioned earlier in the text, you can use just the last name and the year of publication, like this: “Smith and Johnson (2020) found that the correlation was significant.”
In the case of three or more authors, you should list only the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” (meaning “and others”) and the year of publication. For example: “Research indicates that the correlation is significant (Smith et al., 2020).” This format is used for all subsequent citations of the same source.
If you need to mention all authors in the text, you can do so by listing their names in full, separated by commas, and ending with “and” before the last name. For example: “Smith, Johnson, and Lee (2020) conducted a study to examine the relationship between the variables.”
When using direct quotes from a source with multiple authors, include the authors’ names in the quote itself. For example: “As Smith, Johnson, and Lee (2020) stated, ‘The results suggest a significant correlation between the variables’ (p. 45).”
In the reference list at the end of your document, you should include all authors’ names, even if you have cited the source in-text with only one or two authors. For example:
Smith, J., Johnson, A., & Lee, B. (2020). The relationship between the variables. Journal of Social Sciences, 12(3), 45-60.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that you are accurately and consistently citing multiple authors in APA style. Proper citation not only gives credit to the original authors but also helps to maintain the integrity of your research and academic work.
