Guidelines for Citing Multiple Authors in APA Style- In-Text Citations Explained
How to Cite Several Authors APA in Text
Citing multiple authors in APA format can sometimes be confusing, especially when dealing with a large number of contributors. However, following the proper guidelines will ensure that your in-text citations are accurate and consistent. In this article, we will discuss the different scenarios in which you might need to cite several authors APA in text and provide examples to illustrate the process.
When Citing Two Authors
When citing two authors in APA format, simply list both authors’ last names followed by the publication date in parentheses. Separate the authors’ names with an ampersand (&). For example:
– (Smith & Johnson, 2020)
If you need to include a direct quote or paraphrase from the source, include the page number after the date in parentheses. For example:
– (Smith & Johnson, 2020, p. 10)
When Citing Three or More Authors
When citing three or more authors, follow the same format as with two authors, but use an ellipsis (…) to indicate that there are additional authors. For example:
– (Smith, Johnson, & Doe, 2020)
If you need to include a direct quote or paraphrase, follow the same format as with two authors, but include the page number after the date in parentheses. For example:
– (Smith, Johnson, & Doe, 2020, p. 15)
When Citing a Source with Multiple Versions
If a source has been published in multiple versions, you must include the most current version in your citation. If the original version is not accessible, include the information for the most recent version in your in-text citation. For example:
– (Smith, Johnson, & Doe, 2020)
In the reference list, include the information for all versions of the source, starting with the most recent. For example:
– Smith, J., Johnson, J., & Doe, J. (2020). Title of the article. Journal Name, 30(1), 10-20.
– Smith, J., Johnson, J., & Doe, J. (2019). Title of the article. Journal Name, 29(1), 5-15.
When Citing a Source with a Group Author
When citing a source with a group author, include the group name in place of the individual author names. For example:
– (The Research Team, 2020)
If you need to include a direct quote or paraphrase, follow the same format as with individual authors. For example:
– (The Research Team, 2020, p. 25)
When Citing a Source with Multiple Group Authors
When citing a source with multiple group authors, follow the same format as with individual authors, but include the names of all groups in the order they appear in the source. For example:
– (Group A & Group B, 2020)
In this case, you can also include the names of individual authors within each group, if available. For example:
– (Group A, Smith, J., & Johnson, J., & Group B, Doe, J., & Brown, K., 2020)
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your in-text citations for sources with multiple authors are accurate and consistent with APA format. Always double-check your citations with the latest edition of the APA Publication Manual or an online citation generator to ensure accuracy.
