How to Cite Books with Multiple Authors
Citing books with multiple authors can sometimes be a bit tricky, especially when it comes to formatting and style. However, with a few simple guidelines, you can ensure that your citations are accurate and consistent. In this article, we will discuss the different citation styles and provide examples of how to cite books with multiple authors in each style.
APA Style
In APA style, when citing a book with multiple authors, you list all the authors’ last names and initials, followed by the year of publication, the title of the book (italicized), the publisher, and the location of publication. If there are more than three authors, list the first author followed by “et al.” (meaning “and others”) after the first author’s name.
Example:
Smith, J., Johnson, L., & Thompson, R. (2019). The History of Modern Science. New York: Springer.
If the book has more than three authors, the citation would look like this:
Smith, J., Johnson, L., Thompson, R., & Brown, M. (2019). The History of Modern Science. New York: Springer.
MLA Style
In MLA style, the citation format for a book with multiple authors is similar to APA style. You list all the authors’ last names and initials, followed by the year of publication, the title of the book (italicized), the publisher, and the location of publication.
Example:
Smith, John, et al. The History of Modern Science. Springer, 2019.
If the book has more than three authors, you can list the first author followed by “et al.” after the first author’s name, as in the APA style example.
Chicago Style
In Chicago style, there are two sub-styles: author-date and notes-bibliography. For the author-date system, the citation format for a book with multiple authors is similar to APA and MLA styles. You list all the authors’ last names and initials, followed by the year of publication, the title of the book (italicized), and the publisher.
Example:
Smith, John, et al. The History of Modern Science. Springer, 2019.
For the notes-bibliography system, the citation format is slightly different. You include a footnote or endnote with the author’s last name, first name, year of publication, and the title of the book. The bibliography entry will include the same information as the note, along with the publisher and location of publication.
Example:
Footnote/Endnote: Smith, John, et al. 2019. The History of Modern Science. Springer, New York.
Bibliography: Smith, John, et al. 2019. The History of Modern Science. New York: Springer.
Conclusion
Citing books with multiple authors can be challenging, but by following the guidelines for APA, MLA, and Chicago styles, you can ensure that your citations are accurate and consistent. Always double-check the specific requirements of your academic institution or publication to ensure you are using the correct format.
