References: Single and Multiple Authors in APA Format

The American Psychological Association (APA) style guide provides specific guidelines for referencing sources in research papers and academic writing. Depending on the number of authors associated with a source, the format for referencing it varies. Here's a summary of APA formatting for references with different numbers of authors:

Single Author

Format: Author's Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of Work. Publisher.

Example: Smith, J. (2023). The Psychology of Learning. Oxford University Press.

Two Authors

Format: Author 1's Last Name, First Initial. & Author 2's Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of Work. Publisher.

Example: Brown, A. & Miller, J. (2021). Cognitive Development in Children. Routledge.

Three to 20 Authors

Format: Author 1's Last Name, First Initial., Author 2's Last Name, First Initial., & Author 3's Last Name, First Initial. et al. (Year of Publication). Title of Work. Publisher.

Example: Jones, M., Smith, J., & Brown, A. et al. (2022). The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health. Cambridge University Press.

More Than 20 Authors

Format: Author 1's Last Name, First Initial., Author 2's Last Name, First Initial., Author 3's Last Name, First Initial., ... & Last Author's Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of Work. Publisher.

Example: Green, A., Brown, B., Clark, C., ... & White, Z. (2020). Handbook of Cognitive Neuroscience. Oxford University Press.

In-Text Citations

Format: - For two authors: (Author 1's Last Name & Author 2's Last Name, Year of Publication) - For three to 20 authors: (Author 1's Last Name et al., Year of Publication) - For more than 20 authors: (Author 1's Last Name et al., Year of Publication)

Examples: - (Smith, 2023) - (Brown & Miller, 2021) - (Jones et al., 2022) - (Green et al., 2020)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a website with no author in APA format?

Format: Title of Work. (Year of Publication). Website Name. URL

Example: The Psychology of Learning. (2023). Oxford University Press. www.oup.com

How do I cite a publication with no author in APA format?

Format: Title of Work. (Year of Publication). Publisher.

Example: Handbook of Cognitive Neuroscience. (2020). Oxford University Press.

How do I cite an author with two last names?

Format: Use both last names connected with a hyphen.

Example: García-Márquez, G. (2023). Love in the Time of Cholera. HarperCollins.

How do I cite a source with multiple authors in APA format?

Format: Follow the guidelines outlined above based on the number of authors.

Examples: - (Smith, 2023) - (Brown & Miller, 2021) - (Jones et al., 2022) - (Green et al., 2020)

How do I cite an article in a journal in APA format?

Format: Author's Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of Article. Journal Name, Volume Number(Issue Number), Page Numbers.

Example: Smith, J. (2023). The Psychology of Learning. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 123(1), 1-10.

How do I cite a book in APA format?

Format: Author's Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of Book. Publisher, Location.

Example: Brown, A. & Miller, J. (2021). Cognitive Development in Children. Routledge, New York.

How do I cite a chapter in a book in APA format?

Format: Author's Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of Chapter. In Editor's Name(s) (Ed.), Title of Book (Page Numbers). Publisher, Location.

Example: Jones, M. (2022). The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health. In Smith, J. & Brown, A. (Eds.), The Psychology of Technology (pp. 100-120). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Conclusion

Citing references correctly is essential for academic writing. APA style provides specific guidelines for referencing sources with different numbers of authors. By following the APA format, you can ensure the accuracy and consistency of your references and avoid plagiarism.