When there are two authors who do you cite?
In academic writing and research, it is crucial to give proper credit to the original authors of the work you are referencing. This is not only a matter of ethical integrity but also a requirement of academic honesty. When dealing with sources that have two authors, the citation format can vary depending on the citation style being used. In this article, we will explore the different ways to cite sources with two authors in some of the most commonly used citation styles.
APA Style
According to the American Psychological Association (APA) style, when citing a source with two authors, you should list both authors’ last names followed by the publication date in parentheses. For example:
Smith and Johnson (2020) conducted a study on the effects of climate change on coastal communities.
If you are citing a source in-text, you can simply mention the authors’ last names in parentheses:
(Smith & Johnson, 2020)
In the reference list, you would include both authors’ last names, the publication date, the title of the work, the source, and any other relevant information:
Smith, J., & Johnson, L. (2020). The effects of climate change on coastal communities. Journal of Environmental Studies, 10(2), 123-145.
MLA Style
The Modern Language Association (MLA) style also requires listing both authors’ last names when citing a source with two authors. The format is similar to APA style, with the addition of the page number if you are citing a specific part of the source:
Smith, John, and Jane Johnson. “The Effects of Climate Change on Coastal Communities.” Journal of Environmental Studies, vol. 10, no. 2, 2020, pp. 123-145.
In-text citations would follow the same format as APA style:
(Smith & Johnson 123)
The Works Cited list would include the authors’ last names, the publication date, the title of the work, the source, and any other relevant information:
Smith, John, and Jane Johnson. “The Effects of Climate Change on Coastal Communities.” Journal of Environmental Studies, vol. 10, no. 2, 2020, pp. 123-145.
Chicago Style
Chicago style has two sub-styles: the Notes-Bibliography system and the Author-Date system. In both sub-styles, when citing a source with two authors, you should list both authors’ last names, the publication date, and the title of the work.
For the Notes-Bibliography system:
1. Notes: Smith, John, and Jane Johnson. “The Effects of Climate Change on Coastal Communities.” Journal of Environmental Studies, vol. 10, no. 2, 2020, pp. 123-145.
2. Bibliography: Smith, John, and Jane Johnson. “The Effects of Climate Change on Coastal Communities.” Journal of Environmental Studies, vol. 10, no. 2, 2020, pp. 123-145.
For the Author-Date system:
In-text citation: (Smith and Johnson 123)
Reference list: Smith, John, and Jane Johnson. “The Effects of Climate Change on Coastal Communities.” Journal of Environmental Studies, vol. 10, no. 2, 2020, pp. 123-145.
In conclusion, when there are two authors, the way you cite them depends on the citation style you are using. However, the general rule is to list both authors’ last names, the publication date, and the title of the work. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that you give proper credit to the original authors of the sources you are referencing.
