How to Do APA In-Text Citations with Two Authors
In academic writing, it is crucial to properly cite sources to give credit to the original authors and avoid plagiarism. APA (American Psychological Association) style is widely used in the social sciences, education, and other fields. One common scenario in APA citation is when you need to cite a source with two authors. This article will guide you on how to do APA in-text citations with two authors effectively.
When citing a source with two authors in APA style, you should include both authors’ last names and the year of publication in parentheses. Here’s an example:
According to Smith and Johnson (2020), the findings indicate that…
In this example, “Smith and Johnson” are the authors’ last names, and “2020” is the year of publication. This format is straightforward and easy to follow.
If you are referencing the same source multiple times in your text, you can use a shortened form of the author’s last name followed by the year of publication. For instance:
As previously mentioned, Smith and Johnson (2020) found that…
Smith and Johnson’s research (2020) also supports this conclusion…
When the source has two authors and you need to include the page number in your in-text citation, simply add the page number after the parentheses. Here’s an example:
Smith and Johnson (2020, p. 45) argue that…
In this case, “p. 45” indicates the specific page where the information can be found.
It’s important to note that when you have more than two authors, you should include only the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” (meaning “and others”) and the year of publication. For example:
Research conducted by Brown, Davis, and et al. (2021) reveals that…
This format ensures that your in-text citations are concise and consistent with APA guidelines.
In conclusion, citing a source with two authors in APA style is a straightforward process. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can effectively credit the original authors and maintain academic integrity in your writing. Remember to always check for the most recent APA guidelines, as citation formats may change over time.
