Direct answer: How to cite multiple authors depends on your required style and the number of authors. In APA, cite both authors for a two-author work and use the first author’s surname plus “et al.” for three or more. MLA generally names both authors when there are two and uses “et al.” for three or more. Chicago rules differ between notes, bibliographies, and author-date citations.

When several people created a source, a citation needs to identify the work clearly without making every in-text reference unwieldy. The challenge is that the rules differ by style—and the author-list rules in a reference entry may not match the rules for an in-text citation. Use this guide to check the number of authors, choose the right format, and connect each citation to the complete source entry.

Quick rules for multiple-author citations

First, confirm which citation system your instructor or publication requires. Then count the authors credited on the source and follow the rule for the specific part of the citation: in-text citation, footnote, reference list, Works Cited list, or bibliography.

This table summarizes common author-count rules, not every exception or source type. In particular, Chicago has two documentation systems, and the instructor’s requested edition or department guide takes priority.

How to cite multiple authors in APA

APA 7 uses author-date citations. The in-text form is shorter for a source with three or more authors than the full reference entry, so do not copy the abbreviated in-text format into the reference list.

APA in-text citations

• Two authors: Include both surnames each time. In a parenthetical citation, use an ampersand; in narrative text, write “and.” Examples: “(Rivera & Chen, 2023)” and “Rivera and Chen (2023) report…”
• Three or more authors: Use the first author’s surname followed by “et al.” and the year from the first citation. Examples: “(Rivera et al., 2023)” and “Rivera et al. (2023) report…”

APA uses “et al.” as an abbreviation for “and others.” The period belongs after “al.”, not after “et.” If two different works would shorten to the same in-text form, include enough additional surnames to make the citations distinct.

APA reference-list entries

For a reference-list entry, APA 7 lists author names according to the total author count: list up to 20 authors. When a work has 21 or more, list the first 19 authors, insert an ellipsis (without an ampersand), then give the final author’s name. Keep the author order shown on the work; do not alphabetize coauthors within one entry.

For example, the in-text citation for a work by Rivera, Chen, and Patel is (Rivera et al., 2023), while its reference entry starts with all three names: Rivera, A. A., Chen, B. B., & Patel, C. C. (2023). The title and publication details follow according to the source type. Treat this as an author-format illustration, not a complete reference for a real publication.

APA guidance on author-date citations is available from the APA Style in-text citation guide. For a related issue, see OakWrites’ guide to references versus a bibliography.

How to cite multiple authors in MLA

MLA uses an author-page approach for many in-text citations. When a source has two authors, name both; for a source with three or more authors, use the first author’s surname followed by “et al.” Include a page number when the source and passage provide one.

• Two authors: “(Rivera and Chen 42)”
• Three or more authors: “(Rivera et al. 42)”

If the author’s name is already clear in the sentence, the parenthetical citation can supply the page number rather than repeating the name: “Rivera and Chen describe the pattern (42).” If there is no stable page number, do not invent one; follow your instructor’s guidance for identifying the relevant location.

MLA Works Cited entries

For two authors, give both names in the entry. Invert the first author’s name for alphabetization and write the second author’s name in normal order, joined by “and.” For three or more authors, begin with the first-listed author followed by “et al.” Then add the other elements required for that source, such as the title, container, publication details, and location.

Example format for a two-author book: Rivera, Ana, and Bo Chen. Title of the Book. Example Press, 2023. Example format for a work with three or more authors: Rivera, Ana, et al. Title of the Book. Example Press, 2023. These are templates using illustrative names and titles, not citations to actual books.

MLA’s official resources explain how author information functions in its documentation system. If your assignment uses MLA, check the MLA Style Center and your required edition, especially when a source credits collaborators in different roles.

How to cite multiple authors in Chicago

Chicago offers two systems: notes and bibliography, commonly used in some humanities writing, and author-date, often used in other fields. Choose the system your assignment specifies; do not mix a parenthetical author-date citation into a notes-and-bibliography paper unless instructed.

Chicago notes and author-date citations

Under Chicago’s 18th edition, a note or author-date citation names up to two authors. For a work with more than two, name the first author followed by “et al.” A note may also include a page number for the passage being cited.

• Two-author note: 1. Ana Rivera and Bo Chen, Title of the Book (Example Press, 2023), 42.
• Three-or-more-author note: 2. Ana Rivera et al., Title of the Book (Example Press, 2023), 42.
• Author-date in-text: (Rivera and Chen 2023, 42) or (Rivera et al. 2023, 42).

These are illustrative templates. A complete citation must reflect the actual source type and its publication details.

Chicago bibliography and reference-list entries

Chicago 18 lists up to six authors in a bibliography or reference-list entry. For works with more than six authors, list the first three followed by “et al.” The author-date system uses a reference list; the notes-and-bibliography system commonly uses a bibliography. Follow the assignment’s system and confirm the correct entry pattern for the source.

The Chicago Manual of Style Quick Guide distinguishes its two systems, and its 18th-edition update notes the current author-count changes. Because older Chicago handouts may reflect previous rules, check that any department guide matches the required edition.

A practical citation workflow

Use this process whenever you cite a source with multiple credited authors:

1. Identify the required style and edition. Check the assignment sheet, syllabus, journal instructions, or department guide. Do not choose based on preference if a style is assigned.
2. Verify the source’s credited creators. Use the article, book’s title page, publisher record, or authoritative source record. Preserve the order in which the authors appear.
3. Count the authors. Distinguish two authors from three or more; the threshold differs by style and citation location.
4. Format the in-text citation or note. Apply the correct author abbreviation, connector, date, and page or location information for your style.
5. Build the full source entry separately. Do not assume “et al.” in the text means “et al.” in the reference entry. Each style has a separate author-list rule.
6. Match every short citation to a full entry. Confirm that the author name or names lead the reader to one clear item in the reference list, Works Cited list, or bibliography.
7. Review punctuation and consistency. Check commas, ampersands, italics, page numbers, and the spelling and order of names against the required style guide.

If an automatically formatted citation looks plausible, still compare it with the source and your assigned style. OakWrites also explains how to verify generated citations and offers examples for citing a translated book.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using one style’s rule in another style. APA, MLA, and Chicago do not use identical author thresholds or punctuation.
• Shortening the full entry like the in-text citation. For example, APA’s “et al.” in-text form does not mean that a three-author APA reference should omit two names.
• Using “et al.” for a two-author work. In the common rules summarized here, two authors are named in the short citation.
• Changing author order. Keep the credited order in the source; only invert the first author’s name when the reference-list format calls for it.
• Forgetting a corresponding source entry. A parenthetical citation or note should lead readers to the complete record required by the chosen system.
• Relying on an outdated quick guide. Edition changes can affect author-list limits. Chicago’s 18th edition, for example, changed how many names appear in certain citations.
• Leaving ambiguity unresolved. When two shortened citations look identical, consult the style guide for the correct way to distinguish them rather than guessing.

Final checklist for citing multiple authors

• Have I confirmed the required citation style and edition?
• Have I checked how many authors the source actually credits?
• Does the in-text citation or note follow that style’s rule?
• Does the full entry follow its own author-list rule?
• Are names in the source’s original order?
• Can a reader match every short citation to one full entry?
• Have I checked the relevant official style guide or assignment instructions?

Citation rules become easier to manage when you separate the brief in-text form from the complete source entry. For more help with academic document preparation, explore OakWrites editing, proofreading, formatting, and citation support. You can review OakWrites pricing or submit a request through the Order Now page if you need assistance with a document. Confirm any style-specific requirements in your instructions before submitting.

Frequently asked questions

How do I cite three authors in APA?

For an APA 7 in-text citation, use the first author’s surname followed by “et al.” and the year, such as (Rivera et al., 2023). In the reference list, list all three authors.

Do I write “et al.” for two authors?

Usually, no. APA, MLA, and Chicago’s common rules name both authors in the short citation when a work has two authors. Follow any source-specific or instructor-specific requirements that apply.

Does MLA use “et al.” for multiple authors?

Yes. MLA uses the first author’s surname followed by “et al.” for a work with three or more authors in parenthetical citations and the Works Cited entry. For two authors, name both.

How many authors does Chicago list in a bibliography?

Chicago 18 lists up to six authors in a bibliography or reference-list entry. For a work with more than six authors, it lists the first three followed by “et al.”

Should I list every author in my reference list?

It depends on the style. APA 7 lists up to 20 authors and uses a specific shortened format for 21 or more; MLA and Chicago have different limits. Check the current rules for your required style and source type.

Sources: APA Style in-text citations; MLA Style Center; Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide; Chicago Manual of Style, what’s new in the 18th edition.