What is Corporate Author in APA?
In the realm of academic writing, particularly when following the APA (American Psychological Association) style, understanding the concept of a corporate author is crucial. A corporate author refers to an organization, institution, or group that is responsible for the creation of a work. This could include businesses, government agencies, non-profit organizations, or any other formal entity. The inclusion of a corporate author in APA formatting is essential for providing proper attribution and acknowledging the source of the information or research presented in a document. In this article, we will delve into the details of what constitutes a corporate author in APA style and how to format it correctly.
The first thing to note about corporate authors is that they are distinct from individual authors. While individual authors are named individuals who contribute to the creation of a work, corporate authors represent an organization as a whole. This distinction is important because the way in which a corporate author is cited in APA style differs from that of an individual author.
When citing a work with a corporate author in APA style, it is essential to include the organization’s name as the author. This is typically done by placing the organization’s name in italics, followed by any additional information that may be relevant, such as the location of the organization or the specific department responsible for the work. For example:
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global prevalence of obesity has nearly tripled since 1975 (WHO, 2020).
In this example, “World Health Organization” is the corporate author, and the year of publication (2020) is included to provide context for the citation.
Another important aspect of citing corporate authors in APA style is the proper formatting of in-text citations. When referencing a work with a corporate author, the in-text citation should include the organization’s name and the year of publication. For example:
As noted by the United Nations (2019), climate change poses significant threats to global food security.
In this case, “United Nations” is the corporate author, and the year (2019) is used to identify the source of the information.
It is also worth mentioning that when citing a corporate author, it is not necessary to include the title of the work in the in-text citation. This is because the organization’s name serves as a sufficient identifier for the source.
In conclusion, understanding what constitutes a corporate author in APA style is essential for accurate citation and attribution of sources. By following the guidelines for formatting corporate authors, writers can ensure that their work adheres to the standards of the APA style and provides proper credit to the organizations responsible for the creation of the cited works.
