How to Cite a Book with Multiple Authors In-Text
In academic writing, citing sources is an essential part of the process. One common scenario is citing a book with multiple authors. Properly citing such sources is crucial to avoid plagiarism and give credit to the original authors. This article will guide you on how to cite a book with multiple authors in-text, following the guidelines of the APA, MLA, and Chicago styles.
APA Style
According to the APA (American Psychological Association) style, when citing a book with multiple authors in-text, you should include the last name of the first author followed by “et al.” (meaning “and others”) and the year of publication. For example:
> (Smith, Jones, & Williams, 2020)
If you need to mention more than one author in your text, you can list them all, separated by commas:
> (Smith, Jones, Williams, & Brown, 2020)
If you quote a specific part of the book, you can include the page number after the in-text citation:
> (Smith et al., 2020, p. 15)
MLA Style
In MLA (Modern Language Association) style, the in-text citation format for a book with multiple authors is similar to APA. You should include the last name of the first author followed by “et al.” and the year of publication. For example:
> Smith, Jones, and Williams. 2020.
When mentioning more than one author, list them all, separated by commas:
> Smith, Jones, Williams, and Brown. 2020.
If you quote a specific part of the book, include the page number after the in-text citation:
> (Smith, Jones, and Williams 15)
Chicago Style
Chicago style has two sub-styles: Author-Date and Notes-Bibliography. In the Author-Date system, the citation format for a book with multiple authors is similar to APA and MLA. For example:
> Smith, Jones, and Williams. 2020.
When mentioning more than one author, list them all, separated by commas:
> Smith, Jones, Williams, and Brown. 2020.
In the Notes-Bibliography system, the in-text citation format is slightly different. You should include the author’s last name, followed by a comma, the author’s first name, and the year of publication. For example:
> Smith, John, and Jane Williams. 2020.
When mentioning more than one author, list them all, separated by commas:
> Smith, John, Jane Williams, and Mark Brown. 2020.
In both sub-styles, if you quote a specific part of the book, include the page number after the in-text citation:
> (Smith, John, and Jane Williams 15)
In conclusion, citing a book with multiple authors in-text is a straightforward process, as long as you follow the appropriate style guidelines. Whether you’re using APA, MLA, or Chicago style, the key is to include the last name of the first author, followed by “et al.” or the full list of authors, and the year of publication. Always double-check the specific guidelines of your academic institution or publication to ensure accuracy.
