How to Cite 2 Authors on APA Reference Page
Citing sources is an essential part of academic writing, and the APA (American Psychological Association) citation style is widely used in various fields. When you need to cite a source that has two authors, it is important to follow the proper format to ensure accuracy and credibility. In this article, we will guide you through the process of citing two authors on an APA reference page.
The APA citation style for two authors is straightforward. To cite a source with two authors, you need to list both authors’ last names, followed by the publication date in parentheses. Then, include the title of the source, the name of the publisher, and the page numbers, if applicable. Here’s an example:
Smith, J., & Johnson, L. (2020). The impact of climate change on coastal communities. Oceanic Journal, 23(4), 56-68.
In this example, “Smith, J., & Johnson, L.” are the two authors, “2020” is the publication date, “The impact of climate change on coastal communities” is the title of the article, “Oceanic Journal” is the name of the journal, and “23(4)” indicates the volume and issue number. The page numbers “56-68” show the range of pages where the article can be found.
When you mention the source in your text, you can simply write the authors’ last names and the year of publication, separated by a comma. For example:
According to Smith and Johnson (2020), the coastal communities are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change (p. 56).
If you need to include the page numbers in your in-text citation, you can do so by adding them after the year of publication. For example:
Smith and Johnson (2020) found that sea levels have risen significantly over the past century (p. 62).
When you have multiple works by the same two authors, you need to include a lowercase letter after the first author’s last name to differentiate the works. For example:
Smith, J., & Johnson, L. (2020a). Coastal erosion and its environmental consequences. Environmental Studies, 10(2), 78-89.
Smith, J., & Johnson, L. (2020b). Mitigating the impacts of climate change on coastal communities. Oceanic Journal, 23(4), 56-68.
In this example, “2020a” and “2020b” are used to distinguish between the two works.
In conclusion, citing two authors on an APA reference page is a simple process that involves listing both authors’ last names, the publication date, the title of the source, the publisher, and the page numbers. Following the proper format will help you maintain academic integrity and provide your readers with accurate information.
