The APA 7th edition citation rules vary depending on how many authors a source has. This can be confusing for students who aren’t sure when to list all authors, when to use “et al.,” or how to punctuate correctly. So, how do you make sure your APA in text citation multiple authors is accurate and properly formatted? In this guide, I’ll break down how to cite more than one author in APA, with practical examples for APA reference in text multiple authors and introduce WPS Word for easier formatting.
How to Cite Multiple Authors in APA In-Text Citations
Citing one author in APA is easy and straightforward, but once more names start getting involved, things can quickly become confusing. I still remember writing my first research paper, constantly second-guessing whether I should list every author, use “et al.”, or include an ampersand(&). APA 7th edition provides clear rules for citing multiple authors, but they’re pretty easy to mix up if you’re unsure where to begin. In this section, I’ll thoroughly walk you through how to handle in text citation APA multiple authors so you can keep your references clean, accurate, and your paper stays polished.
Authors |
First Citation |
Subsequent Citations |
|---|---|---|
1 |
(Johnson, 2022) |
(Johnson, 2022) |
2 |
(Johnson & Martinez, 2022) |
(Johnson & Martinez, 2022) |
3-5 |
(Johnson, Martinez, & Clark, 2022) |
(Johnson et al., 2022) |
6+ |
(Johnson et al., 2022) |
(Johnson et al., 2022) |
How to Format In-Text Citations with Multiple Authors in WPS Word
When I’m deep into writing, maintaining consistent formatting across my paper is crucial. I can’t afford to waste time manually fixing small details or struggling with slow, unhelpful software, which is why tools like WPS Word help me streamline the process and save valuable time.
WPS Word is part of WPS Office’s All-In-One Productivity Suite, and it’s my go-to tool for all my writing and formatting needs. It’s free, lightweight, and super versatile which means I can switch between devices without losing any progress. Everything syncs automatically, so I’m never stuck searching for my files through endless folders. Moreover, WPS’s AI tools provide me additional smart assistance to further enhance and polish my papers. I’ll walk you through a few things you can do to make your formatting experience much smoother in WPS Word.
How to Set and Save an APA In-Text Citation Style Template in WPS Word
When I’m using APA format for my papers, a lot of time can be wasted manually formatting everything. This is why I started using the “Style and Format” option in WPS Word to create a custom APA in text citation for multiple authors. Once I’ve gotten the citation just right, I can save it as a style and reapply it to other papers with one click whenever I need it. It’s simple, fast, and keeps everything uniform and consistent across the document.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Step 1: Follow the APA in-text citation rules to manually format a citation which you can then save as a style template.
Step 2: On the sidebar, click the Styles and Formatting icon to open the style menu.
Step 3: Select your in-text citation, then press “New Style” in the Styles and Formatting Menu.
Step 4: When the New Style window opens, type in a name for your citation style (like “Citation Format”) so it’s easy to recognize later, then press “OK” to save it.
Your in-text citation will now be saved as a style template in WPS Word, making it easy to re-use whenever you're working on APA-style papers. Instead of manually formatting each new citation, you can simply apply your saved style with one click. This not only saves time but also keeps my references looking clean, consistent, and professional throughout my document.
How to Format “et al.”, Ampersands (&), and Commas Correctly in WPS Word
When working with APA in-text citations, minor elements like commas, ampersands, and et al. can be confusing to keep track of. I used to waste time double-checking every citation for missing commas or incorrect spacing. But with WPS Word’s Find and Replace function, I can now batch correct those tiny errors in seconds. In this section, I’ll show you how to format these tricky elements properly and use WPS Word to keep everything consistent across your document.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Step 1: Have your paper open on WPS Word, and press “Ctrl” + “H” to open the Find and Replace Window.
Step 2: Type out any possible mistakes you could’ve made in “Find what:” and write the fixed version in “Replace with:”, then press “Replace All”.
Your corrections for “et al.,” ampersands, and commas will now be easy to manage with WPS Word’s Find and Replace feature. This lets me quickly fix formatting inconsistencies and errors which I may have overlooked in just a few clicks. Not only does this save me time, but it also ensures that my APA citations stay perfectly consistent, clean, and professional every time I write.
FAQs about APA In-Text Citation (Multiple Authors)
Q1: Do I use “et al.” the first time I cite 3–5 authors?
No, you should list all the authors' names the first time you cite the source. Use “et al.” only in subsequent citations.
Q2: Should “et al.” be italicized?
No, even though “et al.” is Latin, APA style specifies that it should be written in regular, non-italicized font.
Q3: How do I cite a source with 20+ authors?
In the text citation, list only the first author’s name followed by “et al.” In the reference list, include the first 19 authors, then an ellipsis, and finally the last author’s name.
Q4: Can I automate in-text citation formatting in WPS Word?
WPS Word doesn’t have a built-in citation generator like Microsoft Word, but you can manually format citations and use tools like custom styles and the format painter to maintain consistent formatting across your document.
