How to Do APA In-Text Citation with Two Authors
In academic writing, proper citation is essential to give credit to the original authors of the information used. The American Psychological Association (APA) citation style is widely used in the social sciences, education, and business fields. One common scenario in APA citation is citing sources with two authors. This article will guide you on how to do APA in-text citation with two authors effectively.
Firstly, when citing a source with two authors in APA style, you should list both authors’ last names in the text, separated by an ampersand (&). The authors’ names should be followed by a comma and the year of publication. For example:
According to Smith and Johnson (2020), the impact of social media on teenagers’ mental health has been a topic of concern.
In this example, “Smith and Johnson” are the two authors of the source, and “2020” indicates the year of publication.
If you are directly quoting the source, you need to include the page number after the citation. For instance:
Smith and Johnson (2020) argue that social media use can lead to increased anxiety and depression among teenagers (p. 45).
Here, “p. 45” indicates the specific page number where the quote can be found.
When referencing a source with two authors in the reference list, you should list both authors’ last names and initials, followed by the publication year. For example:
Smith, J., & Johnson, L. (2020). The impact of social media on teenagers’ mental health. Journal of Psychology, 10(2), 45-60.
Remember to use a hanging indent for the reference list, with the second and subsequent lines indented one half-inch from the margin.
In some cases, you may need to cite a source with two authors that has been referenced in another source. When this happens, you should use the phrase “as cited in” followed by the author of the source you actually used. For example:
According to a study by Smith and Johnson (as cited in Brown, 2021), social media use has been linked to increased anxiety levels among teenagers.
In this case, “Brown” is the author of the source you actually used, and “Smith and Johnson” are the authors of the original study.
In conclusion, when citing a source with two authors in APA style, ensure that you list both authors’ last names and initials, followed by the publication year. Use proper punctuation and formatting to create accurate in-text citations and reference list entries. Following these guidelines will help you credit the original authors of the information you use in your academic writing.
