How to Cite APA 3 Authors
When writing an academic paper or research report, it is crucial to correctly cite the sources you use to avoid plagiarism. One common scenario is when you need to cite a source that has three authors. The American Psychological Association (APA) provides specific guidelines on how to format such citations. In this article, we will discuss how to cite APA 3 authors in your paper.
General Format
To cite a source with three authors in APA format, follow these steps:
1. Begin with the authors’ last names, followed by their first initials.
2. Include the publication date in parentheses.
3. Write the title of the source in sentence case.
4. If the source is an article, include the title of the journal in italics.
5. Mention the volume and issue number, if applicable.
6. Provide the page range of the article.
7. Finally, include the name of the publisher and the location of publication, if necessary.
Example
Here is an example of how to cite a source with three authors in APA format:
Smith, J. A., Johnson, B. C., & Lee, D. P. (2020). The impact of climate change on coastal ecosystems. Environmental Science & Policy, 102, 123-135.
In this example, “Smith, J. A., Johnson, B. C., & Lee, D. P.” are the three authors, “2020” is the publication date, “The impact of climate change on coastal ecosystems” is the title of the article, “Environmental Science & Policy” is the journal title, “102” is the volume number, “123-135” is the page range, and no publisher or publication location is mentioned.
Multiple Works by the Same Author
If you need to cite multiple works by the same three authors, include a shortened title or a number to differentiate the works. For example:
Smith, J. A., Johnson, B. C., & Lee, D. P. (2020). Climate change and coastal ecosystems. In Climate change: Impacts and mitigation (pp. 45-60). New York: Springer.
Smith, J. A., Johnson, B. C., & Lee, D. P. (2021). Coastal ecosystems and climate change: A review. Oceanography, 34(2), 76-90.
In these examples, the shortened title “Climate change and coastal ecosystems” is used to differentiate the two works.
Conclusion
Citing sources with three authors in APA format is essential for maintaining academic integrity and giving proper credit to the original authors. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can ensure that your paper is well-cited and meets the standards of the APA style.
