When citing a source with multiple authors in APA format, it is important to follow the proper guidelines to ensure accuracy and consistency. APA citation style, which is widely used in the social sciences, education, and other fields, has specific rules for referencing sources with more than one author. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to correctly cite sources with multiple authors in APA format.
In APA style, when a source has more than one author, the authors’ names are listed in alphabetical order, separated by commas. The first author’s last name is followed by a comma and then the first initial of the first name. Subsequent authors are listed with only their first initial and last name, separated by commas. For example, a reference with three authors would be formatted as follows: Smith, J. A., Jones, B. C., & Thompson, D. E.
The next element in the reference list entry is the publication date, which follows the authors’ names and is enclosed in parentheses. If the source has no date, you can use “n.d.” (for “no date”) instead. For example: Smith, J. A., Jones, B. C., & Thompson, D. E. (2019).
After the publication date, you will include the title of the source. The title should be italicized and followed by a period. If the source is a book, the title is followed by the publisher’s name and a period. If the source is an article or chapter in a book, the title is followed by the title of the book, the editor’s name (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. For example:
Smith, J. A., Jones, B. C., & Thompson, D. E. (2019). Title of the source. In Title of the book (Ed.), Publisher.
In the case of an online source with multiple authors, the format is similar, but you must include the URL at the end of the reference. For example:
Smith, J. A., Jones, B. C., & Thompson, D. E. (2019). Title of the source. Retrieved from http://www.example.com/source
When citing a source with multiple authors in APA format, it is crucial to maintain consistency in the formatting. Additionally, when using in-text citations, you must include the author’s last name and the year of publication, or the page number if applicable. For example:
(Smith, Jones, & Thompson, 2019) or (Smith et al., 2019)
In conclusion, when citing a source with multiple authors in APA format, it is essential to follow the guidelines for listing authors, publication dates, titles, and URLs (if applicable). By adhering to these rules, you can ensure that your citations are accurate and consistent with the APA style.
