In academic writing, proper citation is crucial for avoiding plagiarism and giving credit to original sources. The Modern Language Association (MLA) format provides clear guidelines for citing works by multiple authors. Here, we present three diverse examples to illustrate how to correctly format citations in MLA style when referencing works with more than one author.
When citing a book authored by two individuals, the MLA format requires the names of both authors to be included in the citation. This is common in scholarly works where collaborative research is prevalent.
Smith, John, and Jane Doe. Understanding Modern Physics. Academic Press, 2020.
In this citation, the first author’s name is listed in the last name, first name format, followed by the second author’s name in the first name, last name format. The title of the book is italicized, followed by the publisher and the year of publication.
Notes: If both authors are cited in-text, you would use both initials in parentheses, for example (Smith and Doe 45).
Citing a work with three or more authors follows a slightly different format. In this case, only the first author’s name is listed, followed by “et al.” to indicate that there are additional authors. This is especially useful for lengthy works or research papers.
Johnson, Emily, et al. The Future of Renewable Energy. Green World Publications, 2021.
Here, the citation begins with the first author’s name in the standard MLA format, followed by “et al.” which signifies that there are multiple contributors. The title is italicized, and the publication details follow accordingly.
Notes: In-text citations will appear as (Johnson et al. 32), reflecting the primary author’s name with “et al.” to denote the rest.
When citing a work authored by individuals with different last names, MLA format emphasizes the order of authors as they appear on the title page of the source. This is common in scholarly journals or collaborative reports.
Turner, Sarah, and Michael Collins. Global Climate Change: Impacts and Solutions. Climate Press, 2019.
This example highlights the proper format where both authors are listed in the order as they appear in the original work. The title is italicized, and publication details are included at the end.
Notes: For in-text citations, you would refer to both authors as (Turner and Collins 60).
By following these examples of MLA format for multiple authors, you can ensure that your research papers are properly cited, enhancing their credibility and academic integrity.