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Quick Reference: APA Multiple Authors
Common citation formats for different numbers of authors in APA 7th edition.
APA Multiple Authors Rules Overview
| Number of Authors | In-Text Citation | Reference List |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Author | (Smith, 2024) | Smith, J. (2024). Title... |
| 2 Authors | (Smith & Johnson, 2024) | Smith, J., & Johnson, A. (2024). Title... |
| 3 or More Authors | (Smith et al., 2024) | Smith, J., Johnson, A., & Williams, M. (2024). Title... |
| 21+ Authors | (Smith et al., 2024) | Smith, J., ... (19 others), & Last, A. (2024). Title... |
Citation Examples by Author Count
Citation Analysis
2024
In-Text Citation
(Smith, 2024)
Reference Entry
Smith, J. (2024). Citation analysis. Journal of APA Studies, 15(3), 45-67.
Research Methods
2023
In-Text Citation
(Smith & Johnson, 2023)
Reference Entry
Smith, J., & Johnson, A. (2023). Research methods. Academic Press.
Academic Writing Guide
2024
In-Text Citation
(Smith et al., 2024)
Reference Entry
Smith, J., Johnson, A., & Williams, M. (2024). Academic writing guide. Education Publishers.
When to Use "et al." in APA Citations
In APA 7th edition, use "et al." for in-text citations with three or more authors. In the reference list, list up to 20 authors. For 21 or more authors, list the first 19, add an ellipsis, then the final author. See the full et al. rule guide.
APA Citation 2 Authors: Ampersand vs "And"
For two authors, use an ampersand in parenthetical citations: "(Smith & Johnson, 2024)". In narrative citations, use "and": "Smith and Johnson (2024)". Compare both citation forms side by side.
How to Cite 6 or More Authors in APA
In APA 7, reference entries list all authors up to 20. In in-text citations, works with three or more authors use "et al." after the first author's name. Jump to the full reference list guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about APA citation format and our generator
Explore the APA Citation Guide Hub
Start with the rule you need now, then move laterally through the connected APA pages for authors, no-author sources, group authors, and reference-list formatting.
How to Use Et Al. in APA 7th Edition
Rules, edge cases, and disambiguation examples for citing 3 or more authors.
How to Cite Sources Without an Author
Learn the title-as-author rule for websites, reports, articles, and no-date sources.
Parenthetical vs Narrative Citations
See the difference between ampersands, narrative prose, and direct-quote placement.
How to Cite Organizations as Authors
First-citation abbreviations, repeat citations, and reference-list rules for organizations.
How to Format the APA Reference List
Reference-list rules for 2 to 20 authors, 21+ authors, alphabetizing, and punctuation.
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APA 7th Edition
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