Mastering APA Style can feel overwhelming when you encounter a journal article with multiple authors. This guide walks you through the exact steps so you can cite sources accurately and confidently.
Use the quick reference table below to match your source type to the correct in-text and reference list format at a glance.
| Authors | In-Text Citation | Reference List Last Name | Order |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 authors | (Smith & Lee, 2023) | Smith, J., & Lee, A. | As they appear in the article |
| 3 to 5 authors | (Smith et al., 2023) | Smith, J., Lee, A., Patel, R., & Gomez, K. | As they appear in the article |
| 6 or more authors | (Smith et al., 2023) | Smith, J., et al. | First author only, then et al. |
| Group author | (CDC, 2023) | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Title... | Abbreviate only if standard |
APA In-Text Citation Rules for Multiple Authors
Use & Between Author Names
In parentheses, join two author last names with an ampersand. For narrative citations, integrate names into the sentence with & between the final two authors.
Et Al. for Three or More Authors
For sources with three or more authors, include only the first author’s last name followed by et al. and the year in parentheses. In narrative contexts, use the first author’s name followed by et al. The full author list still appears in the reference entry.
Pagination and Retrieval Details
When quoting directly, add the page number after the year using the abbreviation p. or pp. for multiple pages. This ensures readers can locate the exact passage in long articles or edited volumes.
Formatting the Reference List Entry Correctly
Alphabetical Order and Hanging Indent
Arrange multiple source entries alphabetically by the first author’s last name. Use a hanging indent for each reference so that the first line aligns left and subsequent lines are indented.
Punctuation and Capitalization Details
Capitalize only the first word of the article title and any proper nouns. Use commas between authors and an ampersand before the final author. Place the article title in sentence case, followed by the journal title in title case and italics.
Author Order and Retrieval Information
Preserving the Original Author Sequence
Always list authors in the exact order they appear in the article, even if the order seems unusual. Do not rearrange names alphabetically or by perceived contribution when citing an article with multiple authors.
Checking for Updates and Retractions
Before finalizing your citation, verify that the article has not been updated, corrected, or retracted. If changes occur, cite the current version and note significant revisions to maintain transparency for your readers.
Key Takeaways for Accurate APA Citations
- Use an ampersand between two authors in both narrative and parenthetical citations.
- Use et al. for in-text citations when there are three or more authors.
- List all authors in the reference entry in the original article order.
- Format the reference list with a hanging indent and sentence case for articles.
- Verify that URLs and DOIs are current and directly link to the stable source.
FAQ
Reader questions
How do I cite an online article with six authors in APA?
(Johnson et al., 2022) in text, with the full reference listing Johnson, M., Chen, L, Roberts, T, Diaz, P, Kumar, R, and Wilson, S.
What if two authors have the same last name and initials?
Include the authors’ first initials or full first names in the in-text citation, for example (A. Smith & B. Smith, 2021), and clarify the full reference list entries.
Can I shorten a long author list in the reference list entry?
No, list every author in the reference entry, but in in-text citations use et al. after the first author once the threshold (typically three authors) is met.
How should I cite a published thesis with multiple authors?
Format the thesis similarly, listing authors in order, italicizing the title, and noting the institution and retrieval details if it is accessed online.