When it comes to citing sources with multiple authors, it’s important to know the proper format for works cited entries. In academic writing, properly crediting the sources you use is crucial for building credibility and avoiding plagiarism. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on creating works cited entries for sources with multiple authors.
APA Style
First, let’s take a look at the American Psychological Association (APA) style for works cited entries with multiple authors. In APA style, the format for a works cited entry of a source with multiple authors is different depending on the number of authors.
- Two Authors: When citing a source with two authors, list both authors’ last names in the order they appear on the source. Use an ampersand (&) before the last author’s name.
- Three to Twenty Authors: For sources with three to twenty authors, list all the authors’ last names the first time you cite the source. For all subsequent citations, use the first author’s last name followed by “et al.”
- Twenty-One or More Authors: When a source has twenty-one or more authors, list the first nineteen authors’ last names, then use an ellipsis (…) and the last author’s name.
Here’s an example of a works cited entry for a source with two authors:
| Example Works Cited Entry |
|---|
| Doe, J., & Smith, A. (Year). Title of the source. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), page range. |
MLA Style
Next, let’s explore the Modern Language Association (MLA) style for works cited entries with multiple authors. In MLA style, the format for a works cited entry of a source with multiple authors is also different based on the number of authors.
- Two Authors: When citing a source with two authors, list both authors’ names in the order they appear on the source. Use an “and” between the authors’ names.
- Three or More Authors: For sources with three or more authors, list the first author’s name followed by “et al.”
Here’s an example of a works cited entry for a source with two authors in MLA style:
| Example Works Cited Entry |
|---|
| Doe, John, and Smith, Alice. Title of the Source. Publisher, Year. |
Chicago Style
Finally, let’s consider the Chicago Manual of Style for works cited entries with multiple authors. Chicago style has different formats for two types of documentation systems: the notes and bibliography system and the author-date system.
For the notes and bibliography system:
- Two Authors: When citing a source with two authors, list both authors’ names in the order they appear on the source.
- Three or More Authors: For sources with three or more authors, list the first author’s name followed by “et al.”
For the author-date system, if you’re using parenthetical author-date citations, list all the authors’ last names in the first citation and use the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” in subsequent citations.
Here’s an example of a works cited entry for a source with two authors in Chicago style (notes and bibliography system):
| Example Works Cited Entry |
|---|
| Doe, John, and Alice Smith. Title of the Source. Place: Publisher, Year. |
FAQs
Q: What if a source has more than twenty authors?
A: In APA style, list the first nineteen authors’ last names, then use an ellipsis (…) and the last author’s name. In MLA and Chicago styles, you would typically use “et al.” after the first author’s name for sources with twenty-one or more authors.
Q: How do I format in-text citations for sources with multiple authors?
A: In APA style, use the “&” symbol when citing within parentheses and the word “and” when citing in the text. In MLA style, use the word “and” when citing in the text. In Chicago style, use the “&” symbol in both notes and bibliography and author-date systems.
Q: Can I use “et al.” for all sources with multiple authors in MLA style?
A: Yes, in MLA style, you can use “et al.” for all sources with three or more authors.
Remember, it’s important to accurately cite all the sources you use in your research to give credit to the original authors and to avoid plagiarism. Using the correct format for works cited entries of sources with multiple authors will ensure that your writing is professional and well-documented.
