How to Cite a Book Written by Multiple Authors
Citing a book written by multiple authors can sometimes be a bit confusing, especially if you’re new to academic writing or referencing. However, with the right guidelines, it’s quite straightforward. In this article, we will discuss the different citation styles and how to format a citation for a book with multiple authors.
APA Style
According to the APA (American Psychological Association) style, when citing a book with multiple authors, you should list all the authors’ last names and initials in the order they appear on the title page. If there are more than six authors, list the first six authors followed by “et al.” (meaning “and others”). Here’s an example:
Smith, J., Johnson, L., Brown, M., Davis, N., Evans, P., & Foster, Q. (2020). The History of Modern Science. New York: XYZ Publishing.
If the book has a subtitle, include it after the title, separated by a colon. If the book is an edition other than the first, include the edition number before the publisher.
MLA Style
In MLA (Modern Language Association) style, the citation format for a book with multiple authors is similar to APA. You should list all the authors’ last names followed by their first initials. If there are more than three authors, list the first author followed by “et al.” Here’s an example:
Smith, John, et al. The History of Modern Science. 2nd ed. New York: XYZ Publishing, 2020.
In MLA style, the subtitle comes after the title, separated by a colon, and the edition number is included before the publisher.
Chicago Style
Chicago style has two sub-styles: the Notes-Bibliography system and the Author-Date system. In both systems, when citing a book with multiple authors, you should list all the authors’ last names followed by their first initials. If there are more than three authors, list the first author followed by “et al.” Here’s an example for the Notes-Bibliography system:
Smith, John, et al. “The History of Modern Science.” In The History of Modern Science, 2nd ed., edited by John Smith, 1-200. New York: XYZ Publishing, 2020.
For the Author-Date system, the citation format is as follows:
Smith, John. 2020. “The History of Modern Science.” In The History of Modern Science, 2nd ed., edited by John Smith, 1-200. New York: XYZ Publishing.
In both sub-styles, the subtitle comes after the title, separated by a colon, and the edition number is included before the publisher.
Conclusion
Citing a book written by multiple authors can be a daunting task, but by following the guidelines of the specific citation style you’re using, you can ensure that your references are accurate and consistent. Remember to always check the latest edition of the citation style manual for any updates or changes to the guidelines.
