How to In Text Citation 3 Authors APA
In academic writing, it is crucial to provide proper in-text citations to acknowledge the sources of information used. APA (American Psychological Association) style is widely used in the social sciences, education, and business fields. When citing three authors in the text, it is important to follow the specific guidelines set forth by APA. This article will guide you on how to in-text cite three authors using APA style.
Understanding the Format
When citing three authors in the text, APA style requires the inclusion of all three authors’ last names followed by the year of publication. If the citation is part of a sentence, the authors’ names should be integrated into the sentence. If the citation is a standalone reference, the authors’ names should be followed by a comma and the year of publication.
Example in a Sentence
For instance, if you are referencing a study by Smith, Johnson, and Brown (2020) in a sentence, you would write it as follows:
Smith, Johnson, and Brown (2020) conducted a study that revealed significant differences in test scores among students with different learning styles.
Example as a Standalone Reference
In a standalone reference, the citation would appear as follows:
Smith, J., Johnson, L., & Brown, M. (2020).
Formatting the In-Text Citation
When formatting the in-text citation, it is important to follow these guidelines:
1. Include the authors’ last names and initials.
2. Follow the authors’ names with a comma and the year of publication.
3. Use a period to end the citation.
Additional Considerations
It is worth noting that if you are referencing a source with three or more authors, you may use “et al.” after the first author’s name. However, this abbreviation is only used when the reference list contains multiple citations from the same source. In the text, you should still include all three authors’ names.
Example with “et al.”
For instance, if you are referencing a study by Smith, Johnson, Brown, and et al. (2020), you would write it as follows:
Smith, Johnson, Brown, and et al. (2020) examined the impact of social media on young adults’ mental health.
In conclusion, when citing three authors in APA style, it is essential to include all three authors’ last names followed by the year of publication. By following the proper formatting guidelines, you can ensure that your in-text citations are accurate and adhere to APA standards.
