Apa In Text Citation Multiple Authors Guide

When citing sources with multiple authors in-text, the format can vary depending on the number of authors and the citation style being used. Here’s a general guide for in-text citations with multiple authors, focusing on APA (American Psychological Association) style, which is commonly used in social sciences.

Basic Rules for APA In-Text Citations

1. One Author: (Lastname, Year)

   • Example: (Smith, 2020)

2. Two Authors: (Lastname1 & Lastname2, Year)

   • Example: (Smith & Johnson, 2020)

3. Three or More Authors:

   • First citation: (Lastname1, Lastname2, & Lastname3, Year)
   • Subsequent citations: (Lastname1 et al., Year)
   • Examples:
     • First citation: (Smith, Johnson, & Williams, 2020)
     • Subsequent citations: (Smith et al., 2020)

4. Six or More Authors:

   • Always use the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” (Lastname1 et al., Year)
   • Example: (Smith et al., 2020)

5. No Author: (“Title of the article,” Year) or (Title of the Book, Year) if it’s a book.

   • Example: (“The Impact of Climate Change,” 2020) or (Global Warming, 2020)

6. No Date: Use “n.d.” to indicate no publication date.

   • Example: (Smith, n.d.)

7. Multiple Sources in One Citation:

   • Separate the citations with semicolons.
   • Example: (Smith, 2020; Johnson, 2019; Williams, 2018)

8. Multiple Works by the Same Author in the Same Year:

   • Use “a,” “b,” “c,” etc., after the year.
   • Example: (Smith, 2020a) and (Smith, 2020b)

Specific Examples for Multiple Authors

• Two Authors: Smith and Johnson (2020) found that… or (Smith & Johnson, 2020)
• Three to Five Authors (First Citation): Smith, Johnson, and Williams (2020) found… or (Smith, Johnson, & Williams, 2020)
• Three to Five Authors (Subsequent Citations): Smith et al. (2020) found… or (Smith et al., 2020)
• Six or More Authors: Smith et al. (2020) found… or (Smith et al., 2020)

Formatting In-Text Citations with Quotes

When you include a direct quote in your text, the in-text citation should include the author’s last name, the year of publication, and the page number(s) where the quote can be found.

• Quote from One Author: (Lastname, Year, p. PageNumber)
  • Example: (Smith, 2020, p. 24)
• Quote from Multiple Authors: (Lastname1 & Lastname2, Year, p. PageNumber) for the first citation of three to five authors, then (Lastname1 et al., Year, p. PageNumber) for subsequent citations.
  • Example (first citation): (Smith, Johnson, & Williams, 2020, p. 12)
  • Example (subsequent citation): (Smith et al., 2020, p. 12)

Conclusion

APA style in-text citations are designed to be clear and concise, providing the reader with enough information to locate the full reference in the reference list. By following these guidelines, writers can ensure that their citations are formatted correctly, enhancing the credibility and professionalism of their work.