FAQ: How do I cite a source with multiple authors in APA Style (in-text)?
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Last Updated: Jun 22, 2023
Views: 24426
General Format | For Example | |
---|---|---|
Parenthetical | (Author, Publication Date) | (Smith, 2017) |
Narrative | Author (Publication Date) | Smith (2017) |
General Format | For Example | |
---|---|---|
Parenthetical | (Author & Author, Publication Date) | (Johnson & Granger, 2018) |
Narrative | Author and Author (Publication Date) | Johnson and Granger (2018) |
General Format | For Example | |
---|---|---|
Parenthetical | (Author et al., Publication Date) | (Maybell et al., 2013) |
Narrative | Author et al. (Publication Date) | Maybell et al. (2013) |
General Format | For Example | |
---|---|---|
Parenthetical | (Author, Publication Date; Author & Author, Publication Date) | (Foster, 2020; Chandler & Pearce, 2012) |
Narrative | Author (Publication Date) and Author and Author (Publication Date) | Foster (2020) and Chandler and Pearce (2012) |
General Format | For Example | |
---|---|---|
Parenthetical | (Author, Publication Date; Author & Author, Publication Date; Author, Publication Date) | (Foster, 2020; Chandler & Pearce, 2012; Patel, 2013) |
Narrative | Author (Publication Date), Author and Author (Publication Date), and Author (Publication Date) | Foster (2020), Chandler and Pearce (2012), and Patel (2013) |
General Format | For Example | |
---|---|---|
Parenthetical | (Group Author, Publication Date) | (Southern New Hampshire University, 2019) |
Narrative | Group Author (Publication Date) | Southern New Hampshire University (2019) |
If an author was the lead author for multiple publications that were published in the same year, the in-text citations would be identical. To address this, the APA indicates that you should include as many names as needed to distinguish the sources before using "et al.". For example, these are the authors of three studies you found in your research:
- Smith, A. A., Lieth, B. B, Cleary, C. C., & Stevens, D. D. (2019)
- Smith, A. A., Lieth, B. B, Johnson, C. C., & Tembly, D. D. (2019)
- Smith, A. A., Gilbert, B. B, White, C. C., & Schmidt, D. D. (2019)
Normally each of these would be shortened to Smith et al. (2019). Instead you want to include several names until the reader can distinguish each of the sources:
Authors | In-Text Citation |
---|---|
Smith, A. A., Lieth, B. B, Cleary, C. C., & Stevens, D. D. (2019) | Smith, Lieth, Cleary, et al. (2019) |
Smith, A. A., Lieth, B. B, Johnson, C. C., & Tembly, D. D. (2019) | Smith, Lieth, Johnson, et al. (2019) |
Smith, A. A., Gilbert, B. B, White, C. C., & Schmidt, D. D. (2019) | Smith, Gilbert, et al. (2019) |
When an author or author(s) published multiple sources in the same year, include a lowercase letter immediately following the date. Begin this lettering with "a" and continue in alphabetical order.
General Format | For Example | |
---|---|---|
Parenthetical |
(Author, Publication Datea) (Author, Publication Dateb) (Author & Author, Publication Datea) (Author & Author, Publication Dateb) |
(Winston, 2017a) (Winston, 2017b) (Kelly & West, 2018a) (Kelly & West, 2018b) |
Narrative |
Author (Publication Datea) Author (Publication Dateb) Author and Author (Publication Datea) Author and Author (Publication Dateb) |
Winston (2017a) Winston (2017b) Kelly and West (2018a) Kelly and West (2018b) |
If the first authors of multiple in-text references have the same last name, but not the same initials, include the first authors' initials in all in-text citations, even if the publication year is different. For example, the following are authors of sources you found for your paper:
- Singh, J. M. (2013)
- Singh, R. W. (2013)
- Maybell, K. L., & Choudry, L. N (2015)
- Maybell, E. N. (2020)
Authors | In-Text Citation | |
---|---|---|
Parenthetical Example One |
Singh, J. M. (2013) Singh, R. W. (2013) |
(J. M. Singh, 2013; R. W. Singh, 2013) |
Parenthetical Example Two |
(Maybell, K. L. & Choudry, L. N., 2015) Maybell, E. N. (2020) |
(K. L. Maybell & Choudry, 2013; E. N. Maybell, 2020) |
Authors | In-Text Citation | |
---|---|---|
Narrative Example One |
Singh, J. M. (2013) Singh, R. W. (2013) |
J. M. Singh (2013) and R. W. Singh (2013) |
Narrative Example Two |
Maybell, K. L. and Choudry, L. N. (2015) Maybell, E. N. (2020) |
K. L. Maybell and Choudry (2013) and E. N. Maybell (2020) |
More Information
- APA Style (Shapiro Library)
- APA Blog This link opens in a new window (APA)
Further Help
This information is intended to be a guideline, not expert advice. Please be sure to speak to your professor about the appropriate way to cite sources in your class assignments and projects.
Campus Students
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References
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
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