How to Cite Three Authors APA 7
In academic writing, it is essential to provide proper citations to acknowledge the work of others. The APA (American Psychological Association) citation style is widely used in the social sciences and other disciplines. When citing three authors in APA 7th edition, there are specific guidelines to follow to ensure accuracy and consistency. This article will guide you through the process of citing three authors in APA 7th edition format.
When citing three authors in APA 7th edition, you have two options: the author-date format and the reference list entry.
1. Author-Date Format
In the text, when citing three authors, you can use the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” (meaning “and others”) and the year of publication. For example:
– (Smith, Johnson, & Williams, 2020)
This format is used when you have already mentioned the authors in the text or when you are only citing the source in parentheses.
2. Reference List Entry
In the reference list, you should include all three authors’ names in the order they appear in the text. Here is the format for a reference list entry with three authors:
– Smith, J., Johnson, L., & Williams, A. (2020). Title of the work. Journal Name, volume(issue), page numbers.
Make sure to include the authors’ last names followed by their initials, the publication year, the title of the work, the name of the journal, the volume and issue numbers (if available), and the page numbers.
Remember to pay attention to the following guidelines when citing three authors in APA 7th edition:
– Use commas to separate the authors’ names.
– Capitalize the first letter of each author’s last name.
– Include the publication year in parentheses after the authors’ names.
– Use “et al.” when there are three or more authors.
– Use a period after the publication year.
– Follow the appropriate formatting for the source type (e.g., journal article, book, website).
By following these guidelines, you can effectively cite three authors in APA 7th edition format and maintain academic integrity in your writing.
