How to Cite Multiple Authors in APA Style: Rules and Examples
Citing sources accurately is one of the most important parts of academic writing, but it becomes especially confusing when multiple authors are involved. APA style has specific rules that vary depending on the number of authors, and even small mistakes can affect a paper’s credibility.
This guide walks you through APA’s rules for citing multiple authors with clear explanations and examples. You’ll see exactly how to format in-text citations and reference entries for sources with two authors, three to twenty authors, and twenty-one or more authors.
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Why Properly Citing Multiple Authors Matters
Accurate citation is more than a formatting rule; it’s a cornerstone of academic writing. When dealing with sources that have multiple authors, following APA’s guidelines ensures clarity, credibility, and academic integrity.
Upholds Academic Integrity
Proper citations prevent accidental plagiarism and give rightful credit to all contributors, which is critical in scholarly work.Supports Reader Clarity
Clear citations make it easy for readers to trace ideas back to their original sources, especially when multiple researchers are involved in a study.Meets APA 7th Edition Standards
APA style is widely used in education, psychology, and social sciences. Following its rules for multiple authors demonstrates professionalism and alignment with academic expectations.Strengthens Research Credibility
Accurate references reflect thorough research practices, showing that your work is both reliable and verifiable.
APA 7th Edition Rules for Multiple Authors
APA 7th edition provides clear distinctions depending on the number of authors. Getting these details right ensures that your citations are both professional and credible.
Two Authors
When a source has two authors, you must include both names every time you cite it.
In-text (parenthetical): Use an ampersand (&) → (Lopez & Martin, 2022).
In-text (narrative): Use “and” → Lopez and Martin (2022) argue that...
Reference list: Lopez, J., & Martin, R. (2022). Title of the work. Publisher. https://doi.org/xxxxx
👉 This rule is straightforward, but forgetting to alternate between “&” and “and” depending on the context is a common mistake.
Three or More Authors
For three or more authors, APA simplifies citations with et al. after the first author’s surname.
In-text (parenthetical): (Chen et al., 2021)
In-text (narrative): Chen et al. (2021) found that...
Reference list (with 3–20 authors):
Chen, A., Patel, S., Rodriguez, T., & Morgan, L. (2021). Title of the article. Journal Name, 15(2), 45–59. https://doi.org/xxxxx
💡 Note: In the reference list, you must include up to 20 authors in full before moving to the next rule.
21 or More Authors
APA 7th introduced a specific format for sources with 21+ authors to prevent excessively long reference lists.
Reference rule: List the first 19 authors, insert an ellipsis (...), and then add the final author’s name (without an ampersand before the ellipsis).
Example reference entry:
Johnson, R., Lee, M., Smith, T., Patel, K., … Nguyen, H. (2020). Title of the study. Journal of Academic Research, 28(4), 233–250. https://doi.org/xxxxx
✅ This keeps the citation concise while still crediting the first contributors and the last author.
In-Text Citation Examples
In-text citations in APA 7th edition can be written in parenthetical or narrative style. Using both correctly ensures smooth integration of sources into your writing.
Parenthetical vs Narrative Style
Parenthetical: The citation is placed inside parentheses at the end of the sentence.
Example: (Smith & Jones, 2020).
Narrative: The authors’ names are woven into the sentence, followed by the year.
Example: Smith and Jones (2020) explained that…
Style | Example |
Parenthetical | Climate change affects migration patterns (Smith & Jones, 2020). |
Narrative | Smith and Jones (2020) noted that climate change affects migration. |
✅ Use narrative style when you want to highlight the author, and parenthetical style when the focus is on the idea itself.
First Citation vs Subsequent Citations
When citing a source with three or more authors:
First citation: Always use et al. after the first author’s surname.
Example: (Chen et al., 2021).
Subsequent citations: Still use et al. — APA 7th simplified the rule so you don’t need to list authors again.
Before: (Chen, Patel, Rodriguez, & Morgan, 2021).
After APA 7th: (Chen et al., 2021).
💡 This keeps citations concise while avoiding redundancy.
Reference List Formatting for Multiple Authors
The reference list must follow strict APA formatting to ensure consistency and credibility. Here’s a step-by-step checklist:
Steps for Formatting
Order alphabetically by the first author’s surname.
Example: Brown comes before Clark.
List up to 20 authors in full, using commas, and place an ampersand (&) before the final author.
Example: Lopez, J., Smith, R., Taylor, M., & Zhang, Y. (2020).
For 21 or more authors, list the first 19, insert an ellipsis (...), then add the final author.
Example: Johnson, R., Lee, M., Smith, T., … Nguyen, H. (2020).
Include DOIs or URLs at the end if available.
Example: https://doi.org/10.1234/abc123
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Common Mistakes to Avoid
APA rules can feel straightforward, but small errors can still weaken your paper. The most frequent issues include:
Missing the comma before & in citations
Incorrect use of et al.
Inconsistent citation styles across the paper
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Accurate Citations, Every Time
Citing multiple authors correctly ensures clarity, credibility, and professionalism in academic writing.
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With the right tools and an understanding of APA guidelines, you can keep your work polished and academically sound.