How to Reference a Book with More Than One Author
When citing a book with multiple authors, it is important to follow the proper referencing format to ensure accuracy and consistency. The process may vary depending on the citation style you are using, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago. Here, we will provide a comprehensive guide on how to reference a book with more than one author in each of these styles.
APA Style
In APA style, when referencing a book with more than one author, you should list all the authors’ last names followed by their first initials. If there are more than six authors, list the first six followed by “et al.” (meaning “and others”). Here’s an example:
Smith, J. A., Jones, B. C., & Thompson, D. E. (2020). The Complete Guide to [Book Title]. Publisher.
If the book has more than one edition, include the edition number in parentheses after the title:
Smith, J. A., Jones, B. C., & Thompson, D. E. (3rd ed.). The Complete Guide to [Book Title]. Publisher.
MLA Style
In MLA style, the process is similar to APA, but you should list all the authors’ last names followed by their first initials. If there are more than three authors, list the first author followed by “et al.” Here’s an example:
Smith, John A., Brian C. Jones, and David E. Thompson. The Complete Guide to [Book Title]. Publisher, 2020.
If the book has more than one edition, include the edition number in parentheses after the title:
Smith, John A., Brian C. Jones, and David E. Thompson. The Complete Guide to [Book Title] (3rd ed.). Publisher, 2020.
Chicago Style
In Chicago style, the process is slightly different depending on whether you are using the author-date system or the notes-bibliography system.
For the author-date system, list all the authors’ last names followed by their first initials, and include the publication year in parentheses:
Smith, J. A., B. C. Jones, and D. E. Thompson. The Complete Guide to [Book Title]. Publisher, 2020.
For the notes-bibliography system, list all the authors’ last names followed by their first initials, and include the publication year in parentheses:
1. John A. Smith, Brian C. Jones, and David E. Thompson, The Complete Guide to [Book Title] (Publisher, 2020).
If the book has more than one edition, include the edition number in parentheses after the title:
Smith, J. A., B. C. Jones, and D. E. Thompson. The Complete Guide to [Book Title] (3rd ed.). Publisher, 2020.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that you reference a book with more than one author correctly, regardless of the citation style you are using.
