How to Cite Three Authors in APA 7th Edition
In academic writing, citing sources is a crucial aspect that ensures proper acknowledgment of the original authors’ work. The American Psychological Association (APA) provides guidelines for citing sources, including how to reference three authors in the 7th edition. This article will outline the steps to follow when citing three authors in APA 7th Edition format.
When citing three authors in APA 7th Edition, the format typically includes the authors’ last names, followed by their initials, a comma, and then the publication date. If the source includes more than three authors, only the first author’s last name is mentioned, followed by “et al.” (meaning “and others”) and the last name of the second author.
Here’s an example of how to cite three authors in APA 7th Edition:
Smith, J., Johnson, L., & Smith, M. (2020).
In this example, “Smith, J.” is the first author, “Johnson, L.” is the second author, and “Smith, M.” is the third author. The publication date follows in parentheses.
If the source is a book, the format remains the same, but the title of the book is included after the authors’ names:
Smith, J., Johnson, L., & Smith, M. (2020). Book Title (3rd ed.). Publisher.
When citing three authors in a journal article, the format is slightly different. The article title is placed in quotation marks, and the journal title is italicized:
Smith, J., Johnson, L., & Smith, M. (2020). “Article Title.” Journal Name, 25(2), 123-145.
In this example, “Article Title” is the title of the journal article, “Journal Name” is the name of the journal, and “25(2)” represents the volume and issue number of the journal.
Remember that when citing sources in APA 7th Edition, it’s essential to pay attention to punctuation and capitalization. Use commas to separate authors’ names, periods to end sentences, and parentheses for the publication date. Additionally, ensure that you follow the specific formatting guidelines for each type of source, such as books, journal articles, or websites.
In conclusion, citing three authors in APA 7th Edition involves listing the authors’ last names, initials, and publication date. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that you give proper credit to the original authors of the work you reference in your academic writing.
