How to Cite APA References with Multiple Authors
Citing references in APA format can sometimes be challenging, especially when dealing with sources that have multiple authors. The American Psychological Association (APA) provides specific guidelines on how to format these citations correctly. In this article, we will discuss the steps to follow when citing APA references with multiple authors.
1. Begin with the Author’s Last Name, Followed by the First Initial
When citing a reference with multiple authors, start with the last name of the first author, followed by their first initial. Separate the authors’ names with commas. For example:
Smith, J. A., & Johnson, L. B.
2. Include the Year of Publication
After listing the authors’ names, include the year of publication in parentheses. For example:
Smith, J. A., & Johnson, L. B. (2020)
3. Provide the Title of the Work
Next, write the title of the work in sentence case, capitalizing only the first word and any proper nouns. Place the title in quotation marks if it is a chapter or an article within a book. For example:
Smith, J. A., & Johnson, L. B. (2020). The impact of social media on communication.
4. Specify the Source
If the source is a book, include the title of the book in italics. If it is an article or a chapter within a book, include the title of the book in quotation marks. For example:
Smith, J. A., & Johnson, L. B. (2020). The impact of social media on communication. In R. G. Smith (Ed.), Communication in the digital age (pp. 45-60). New York: Pearson.
5. Include Page Numbers (If Applicable)
If you are citing a specific part of a source, such as a paragraph or a quote, include the page numbers in parentheses after the title of the work. For example:
Smith, J. A., & Johnson, L. B. (2020). The impact of social media on communication. In R. G. Smith (Ed.), Communication in the digital age (pp. 45-60). New York: Pearson. (p. 55)
6. Citing References with More Than Two Authors
When a reference has three or more authors, list only the first author’s name followed by “et al.” (meaning “and others”) after the first author’s name. For example:
Smith, J. A., Johnson, L. B., & et al. (2020). The impact of social media on communication. In R. G. Smith (Ed.), Communication in the digital age (pp. 45-60). New York: Pearson.
7. In-text Citations
When citing a source in the text, use the author’s last name and the year of publication. For example:
According to Smith and Johnson (2020), social media has significantly impacted communication.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your APA references with multiple authors are formatted correctly and consistently. Remember to always check the latest APA Publication Manual for any updates or changes to the citation format.
