How to Cite a Source with the Same Author
In academic writing, it is common to come across sources that have the same author. Citing such sources correctly is crucial to avoid plagiarism and to give proper credit to the original author. This article will guide you on how to cite a source with the same author, using different citation styles such as APA, MLA, and Chicago.
APA Style
When citing a source with the same author in APA style, you need to include the author’s last name followed by a comma and the year of publication. If you have cited the source before, you can use “ibid.” (which stands for “the same”) to refer back to the previous citation. Here’s an example:
> According to Smith (2018), the impact of climate change on agriculture has been significant (Smith, 2018).
If you need to cite a source with the same author and the same year, include a lowercase letter after the year to differentiate between the sources. For example:
> According to Smith (2018a), the impact of climate change on agriculture has been significant (Smith, 2018b).
MLA Style
In MLA style, when citing a source with the same author, you need to include the author’s last name followed by a comma and the page number. If you have cited the source before, you can use “ibid.” to refer back to the previous citation. Here’s an example:
> According to Smith, the impact of climate change on agriculture has been significant (42).
If you need to cite a source with the same author and the same page number, include a lowercase letter after the page number to differentiate between the sources. For example:
> According to Smith, the impact of climate change on agriculture has been significant (42a).
Chicago Style
In Chicago style, when citing a source with the same author, you need to include the author’s last name followed by a comma and the year of publication. If you have cited the source before, you can use “ibid.” to refer back to the previous citation. Here’s an example:
> According to Smith (2018), the impact of climate change on agriculture has been significant.
If you need to cite a source with the same author and the same year, include a lowercase letter after the year to differentiate between the sources. For example:
> According to Smith (2018a), the impact of climate change on agriculture has been significant.
In conclusion, citing a source with the same author requires attention to detail and adherence to the specific citation style you are using. By following the guidelines for APA, MLA, and Chicago styles, you can ensure that your citations are accurate and professional.
