How to Quote Two Authors in APA
Quoting two authors in APA style can sometimes be confusing, especially for those who are new to academic writing. APA (American Psychological Association) style is widely used in the social sciences, education, and other fields. When you need to quote two authors in your research paper, it’s important to follow the correct formatting guidelines to ensure accuracy and professionalism. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to quote two authors in APA style.
First, it’s essential to understand that when you quote two authors, you should include both names in the text. This is different from citing two sources with different authors, where you would simply list the authors’ names in parentheses. When quoting two authors, you need to mention both in the text, followed by the publication date in parentheses.
Here’s an example of how to quote two authors in APA style:
According to Smith and Johnson (2020), “The findings indicate that… (p. 45).”
In this example, “Smith and Johnson” are the two authors, and “2020” is the publication year. The page number (p. 45) is included to direct the reader to the specific part of the source you are referencing.
If you are quoting a source with two authors that is part of a larger work, you should still include both names in the text. For instance:
As noted by Smith and Johnson (2020, as cited in Brown, 2021), “The study revealed that… (p. 100).”
In this case, “Brown” is the author of the larger work, and “2021” is the publication year of that work.
When you have more than two authors, you should use the format “Author, Author, & Author” (e.g., Smith, Johnson, & Brown, 2020). However, when quoting, you only need to include the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” (meaning “and others”) and the publication year. For example:
Smith et al. (2020) found that… (p. 30).
It’s important to note that when you quote two or more authors in a single sentence, you should separate the quotes with a semicolon. For instance:
Smith and Johnson (2020) found that the results were significant; Brown and Davis (2021) also reported similar findings (p. 50).
In conclusion, quoting two authors in APA style requires you to include both names in the text, followed by the publication date in parentheses. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your citations are accurate and adhere to the APA formatting standards. Always refer to the latest edition of the APA Publication Manual for the most up-to-date information on citation rules.
