How to Parenthetically Cite Two Authors
In academic writing, it is common to reference the work of multiple authors to support your arguments or provide evidence. Parenthetical citations are a crucial part of academic writing, as they allow readers to easily locate the sources you have cited. When citing two authors in a parenthetical reference, it is important to follow a specific format to ensure clarity and accuracy. In this article, we will discuss how to parenthetically cite two authors and provide examples to illustrate the process.
When citing two authors in a parenthetical reference, you should list both authors’ last names, separated by an ampersand (&) before the year of publication. For example:
(Johnson & Smith, 2020)
This format is straightforward and easy to follow. It is important to note that the order of the authors’ names should match the order in which they appear in the original source.
If you are citing a source with two authors and then mention the source again later in your text, you can use the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” (meaning “and others”) to avoid repetition. For example:
(Johnson & Smith, 2020) argue that…
Later in the text:
Johnson et al. (2020) also note…
This format is useful when you have cited multiple sources with two authors each and want to avoid repeating the full citation for each source.
In some cases, you may need to include a page number in your parenthetical citation. If both authors have the same last name, you should include an additional identifier, such as a first initial or middle initial, to differentiate between the authors. For example:
(Johnson, A., & Smith, B., 2020)
When including a page number, simply add it after the year of publication, separated by a comma. For example:
(Johnson & Smith, 2020, p. 25)
By following these guidelines, you can effectively parenthetically cite two authors in your academic writing. Remember to always check your institution’s or publisher’s specific citation style guidelines to ensure you are using the correct format.
