How to Do APA with Multiple Authors: A Comprehensive Guide
In academic writing, it is common to have multiple authors contributing to a single research paper. When formatting your document in APA (American Psychological Association) style, it is essential to correctly cite and reference the works of all authors. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to do APA with multiple authors, ensuring that your paper adheres to the guidelines set forth by the APA.
Formatting the Author List
When formatting the author list in APA style, you should follow these guidelines:
1. List all authors in the order they appear on the title page.
2. Include the last name and initials of each author, separated by a comma.
3. If there are three or more authors, only the first author’s name should be followed by “et al.” (meaning “and others”).
4. Use a comma to separate the author names, and a period to end the list.
For example:
– Smith, J. A., Jones, B. C., & Thompson, D. L.
– Smith, J. A., et al.
Citing Works with Multiple Authors in the Text
When citing works with multiple authors in the text, follow these rules:
1. For in-text citations with two authors, include both authors’ last names and the year of publication.
2. For in-text citations with three or more authors, include only the first author’s last name, followed by “et al.” and the year of publication.
3. If you quote directly from the source, include the page number after the citation.
For example:
– Smith and Jones (2020) found that…
– Thompson et al. (2019) conducted a study on…
Formatting the Reference List
In the reference list, you should list the works of all authors in alphabetical order by the first author’s last name. Here are some guidelines for formatting references with multiple authors:
1. Start with the author’s last name, followed by the first name and initials.
2. Include the publication date in parentheses, followed by a period.
3. Provide the title of the work, capitalized and italicized.
4. List the source of the publication, such as a journal, book, or website, in italics.
5. Include volume and issue numbers for journal articles, followed by a colon and the page range.
For example:
– Smith, J. A., Jones, B. C., & Thompson, D. L. (2020). The impact of multiple authors on APA formatting. Journal of Academic Writing, 10(2), 123-145.
– Thompson, D. L., et al. (2019). A comprehensive guide to APA style. New York: Academic Publishers.
Conclusion
Formatting APA style with multiple authors can be challenging, but following these guidelines will help ensure that your paper is correctly cited and referenced. By adhering to the rules for author lists, in-text citations, and the reference list, you can create a well-organized and professional document that meets the standards of the APA.
