The multiple-author rules changed between APA 6th and 7th edition. The most important change: in-text citations now use et al. From the very first mention for any work with three or more authors. Understanding these rules prevents one of the most common citation formatting errors.
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| Number of Authors | In-Text Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 author | (Author, Year) | (Smith, 2023) |
| 2 authors | (Author & Author, Year) | (Smith & Jones, 2023) |
| 3 authors | (First Author et al., Year) | (Smith et al., 2023) |
| 4 authors | (First Author et al., Year) | (Smith et al., 2023) |
| 5+ authors | (First Author et al., Year) | (Smith et al., 2023) |
Two Authors
Both authors are always listed in every in-text citation. Use an ampersand (&) between the names inside parentheses, and "and" (spelled out) when the names appear as part of a sentence.
Three or More Authors
Reference List: The 20-Author Rule
In the reference list (not in-text), list all authors up to 20 names. For 21 or more, list the first 19, add an ellipsis (...), and then list the last author's name.
Disambiguation: Same et al. Shortening
When two different works would shorten to the same et al. Form, add enough additional author names to distinguish them.
Smith, A., Brown, D., & Davis, E. (2021). Second paper.
Both would be cited as: (Smith et al., 2021) — ambiguous!
(Smith, Brown, et al., 2021) — second paper
Same Author, Same Year (Multiple Works)
If the same author(s) published multiple works in the same year, add lowercase letters after the year in both the reference list and in-text citations.
Dweck, C. S. (2008b). Mindset and moral agency ...
In-text: (Dweck, 2008a) and (Dweck, 2008b)
Group or Organizational Authors
When the author is an organization, write out the full name every time. In first in-text use, you can introduce an abbreviation:
The Ampersand vs. "And" Rule
| Context | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Inside parentheses (citation) | & (ampersand) | (Smith & Jones, 2023) |
| Running text (narrative citation) | and (spelled out) | Smith and Jones (2023) found that... |
| Reference list | & (ampersand) | Smith, A., & Jones, B. (2023). |
Never Count Authors Manually Again
The extension reads author metadata from journal pages and generates the correctly formatted APA reference — whether there are 2 authors or 22.
Get APA Citation Generator — FreeRelated Guides
- How to Cite a Journal Article in APA
- APA 7th Edition Changes from 6th Edition
- APA Reference Page Format Guide
- 10 Common Citation Mistakes to Avoid
- How to Cite a Book in APA Format
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you cite three or more authors in APA 7th edition?
Use et al. From the very first citation: (Smith et al., 2023). This applies whether there are 3 or 30 authors. In the reference list, list all authors up to 20 names.
How many authors do you list in APA before using et al.?
In in-text citations: use et al. For 3+ authors (always, from the first mention). In the reference list: list all authors up to 20; for 21+, list first 19 then ellipsis then last author.
What do you do when two citations shorten to the same et al. Form?
Add enough author names to make the citations distinct: (Smith, Jones, et al., 2021) vs. (Smith, Brown, et al., 2021). Keep adding names until the two citations are unambiguous.
Does et al. Take a period in APA?
Only "al." has a period — it abbreviates the Latin "alii." The word "et" is complete and takes no period. Write: et al. — never et. Al. Or et al (without period).
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