How to Cite APA with Multiple Authors: A Complete Guide

Understanding the Basics

When you write a research paper in APA 7th edition, correctly formatting citations for works with two or more authors is crucial for academic integrity and SEO‑friendly content. The rules differ slightly depending on whether you have two authors, three to twenty authors, or more than twenty authors. This article breaks down each scenario with clear examples.

In‑Text Citations

Two authors: List both surnames every time you cite the source. Use an ampersand (&) in parenthetical citations and “and” in narrative citations.

Example (parenthetical): (Smith & Jones, 2022)
Example (narrative): Smith and Jones (2022) found that…

Three to twenty authors: Include only the first author’s surname followed by “et al.” from the first citation onward.

Example: (Brown et al., 2021)

More than twenty authors: Cite the first author followed by “et al.” just as you would for three to twenty authors.

Reference List Formatting

All author names appear in the reference list, but the presentation changes with the number of contributors.

Two authors: List both authors in the order they appear on the source, using an ampersand before the final name.

Example: Smith, J. A., & Jones, L. M. (2022). Title of the article. Journal Name, 15(3), 45‑60. https://doi.org/xx.xxx/yyyy

Three to twenty authors: Separate each author with a comma; place an ampersand before the last author.

Example: Brown, T. R., Green, S. P., & White, K. L. (2021). Exploring APA citations. Research Quarterly, 12(2), 101‑115. https://doi.org/xx.xxx/yyyy

More than twenty authors: List the first 19 authors, insert an ellipsis (…​), and then add the final author’s name without an ampersand.

Example: Lee, H., Patel, R., Gomez, M., … Zhang, Y. (2020). Comprehensive guide to academic writing. Academic Press.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Incorrect use of “et al.” – Remember to use it only for three or more authors in both in‑text citations and reference entries.

Missing ampersand. – In reference lists, always replace “and” with “&” before the last author.

Wrong order of authors. – Preserve the original order as it appears on the publication; do not alphabetize them yourself.

Quick Checklist

• Identify the number of authors.
• Apply the correct in‑text citation rule (two vs. three‑plus).
• Format the reference list according to the author count.
• Check for ampersands, commas, and ellipses where required.

By following these guidelines, you’ll ensure that your APA citations are both academically accurate and optimized for search engines, enhancing the credibility and discoverability of your work.

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