How to Cite APA Three Authors
Citing sources in APA format can be a bit confusing, especially when it comes to referencing works with three authors. In this article, we will guide you through the process of citing APA three authors in both in-text citations and the reference list.
1. In-text Citations
When citing a source with three authors in APA format, you should include all three names in the in-text citation. The format for in-text citations is as follows:
– (Author1, Author2, & Author3, Year)
For example, if you are citing a study by Smith, Johnson, and Williams (2020), your in-text citation would be:
– (Smith, Johnson, & Williams, 2020)
2. Reference List
In the reference list, you will need to list all three authors’ names, followed by the publication date, the title of the work, the title of the journal or book, the volume and issue number (if applicable), and the page numbers. The format for the reference list entry is as follows:
– Author1, A., Author2, B., & Author3, C. (Year). Title of the work. Title of the Journal or Book, Volume(Issue), Page range.
For example, the reference list entry for the study by Smith, Johnson, and Williams (2020) would be:
– Smith, A., Johnson, B., & Williams, C. (2020). The impact of climate change on coastal ecosystems. Journal of Environmental Science, 10(2), 45-60.
3. Exceptions
In some cases, you may need to omit one or more authors from the in-text citation and reference list. This typically occurs when one or more authors are the same as those in a previously cited source. In such cases, you should include only the unique author(s) in the in-text citation and reference list.
For example, if you have already cited a work by Smith, Johnson, and Williams (2020), and you need to cite another work by Johnson and Williams (2021), your in-text citation would be:
– (Johnson & Williams, 2021)
And the reference list entry would be:
– Johnson, B., & Williams, C. (2021). The role of policy in mitigating climate change. Journal of Public Policy, 15(1), 23-35.
4. Works with More Than Three Authors
If a work has more than three authors, you can include the first author followed by “et al.” (meaning “and others”) in the in-text citation. The reference list entry will remain the same as for works with three authors.
For example, if you are citing a study by Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, and Davis (2020), your in-text citation would be:
– (Smith et al., 2020)
And the reference list entry would be:
– Smith, A., Johnson, B., Williams, C., Brown, D., & Davis, E. (2020). The effects of social media on youth mental health. Journal of Psychology, 20(3), 78-95.
By following these guidelines, you will be able to properly cite APA three authors in your academic work. Remember to always double-check the specific formatting requirements of your institution or publication to ensure accuracy.
