How to Cite Three Authors in Chicago Style
When writing a paper or preparing a research report, it is important to correctly cite the sources you use. One common scenario is when you need to cite three authors. The Chicago style of citation has specific guidelines for this situation. In this article, we will discuss how to cite three authors in Chicago style.
General Format
In Chicago style, when citing three authors, you typically include all three names in the first reference. Subsequent references to the same work may use a shortened form of the authors’ names or simply the last name followed by “et al.” Here’s an example of how to format the first reference:
Smith, Johnson, and Brown (2020) argue that…
For subsequent references, you can use the following formats:
Smith, Johnson, and Brown (2020) also note that…
Smith et al. (2020) provide evidence to support their claims…
Formatting the Bibliography
In the bibliography, the format for citing three authors remains the same as in the text. Here’s an example:
Smith, John, Mark Johnson, and Sarah Brown. “The Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Cities.” Journal of Environmental Studies, vol. 2, no. 1, 2020, pp. 23-37.
Remember to follow the appropriate punctuation and formatting rules for the bibliography, such as capitalizing the first letter of each author’s name and using a period after the title.
When Authors Have Different Last Names
If the three authors have different last names, it is still necessary to include all three names in the first reference. However, when using the shortened form in subsequent references, you can combine the first names with the last name of the first author:
Smith, Johnson, and Brown (2020) present a comprehensive review of…
Smith et al. (2020) explore the implications of…
Conclusion
Citing three authors in Chicago style requires including all three names in the first reference and using a shortened form or “et al.” in subsequent references. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your paper is properly cited and meets the requirements of the Chicago style manual.
