How to Cite 2 Authors in APA Reference
Citing two authors in APA style is a common requirement when conducting academic research or writing papers. APA (American Psychological Association) is a widely-accepted citation format used in the social sciences, education, business, and other fields. Properly citing two authors in APA style is crucial for giving credit to the original sources and avoiding plagiarism. In this article, we will discuss the steps to correctly cite two authors in APA reference format.
Firstly, when citing two authors in APA style, you should list both authors’ last names followed by their first initials. Separate the authors’ names with commas. For example, if you are citing a source by Smith and Johnson, the author names would be written as “Smith, J., & Johnson, L.”.
Secondly, if the source has a date, include it after the author names, separated by a comma. If the source does not have a date, you can omit the date. For example, “Smith, J., & Johnson, L. (2019).”
Next, include the title of the source in quotation marks. The title should be written in sentence case, with only the first word and any proper nouns capitalized. For example, “The Impact of Social Media on Communication.”
After the title, provide the publication information, which includes the name of the journal, book, or website, the volume number, issue number (if applicable), and the page range. For example, “The Impact of Social Media on Communication,” Journal of Communication Studies, 45(3), 456-475.
If the source is an online article, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) after the page range. The DOI is a unique identifier for the source and can be found on the source’s webpage. For example, “The Impact of Social Media on Communication,” Journal of Communication Studies, 45(3), 456-475. DOI: 10.1111/jocs.12345.
Lastly, if the source is a book or an edited book, include the editor’s name after the title, followed by “Ed.” or “Eds.” For example, “The Impact of Social Media on Communication,” edited by Smith, J., & Johnson, L. (2019).
In summary, to cite two authors in APA style, follow these steps:
1. List both authors’ last names and first initials, separated by commas.
2. Include the date (if available) after the author names, separated by a comma.
3. Write the title of the source in quotation marks, using sentence case.
4. Provide the publication information, including the name of the journal, book, or website, volume number, issue number (if applicable), and page range.
5. Include the DOI (if applicable) for online articles.
6. For books or edited books, include the editor’s name after the title.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your APA citations are accurate and professional.
