Three or more authors


You may need to consult more than one section to accurately represent the source used (eg. number of authors and source descriptions)


Format for in-text citation

In-text citation example

…as argued (Sharp et al., 2002)

OR

Sharp et al. (2002) argued…

OR

Sharp et al. (2002, p. 45) have found…


Format for reference list

Elements, punctuation and capitalisation -

Up to twenty authors

Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year of publication). Title of book (Edition). Publisher.

OR

21 or more authors

Author, A.A., Author, B.B., Author, C.C., Author, D.D., Author, E.E., Author, F.F., Author, G.G., Author, H.H., Author, I.I., Author, J.J., Author, K.K., Author, L.L., Author, M.M., Author, N.N., Author, O.O., Author, P.P., Author, Q.Q., Author, R.R., Author, S.S., ...Author, T.T. (Year of publication). Title of book (Edition). Publisher.

Reference list example - up to twenty authors

Sharp, J. A., Peters, J., & Howard, K. (2002). The management of a student research project. Gower.

Make sure you read the style notes below.


Style notes

  • Use an ampersand in parenthetical in-text citations between the last two authors' names (but spell out and when the authors' names are included in the narrative).
  • Book titles are italicised.
  • Capitalisation - Capitalise only the first word of the title and of the subtitle, if any, and any proper nouns.
  • Details about edition, volume number or chapter page range are placed in parentheses directly after the title, with the period after the parentheses, e.g., (2nd ed.). or (Rev. ed.). or (Vol. 26).
  • In the text, for a work with three or more authors, include the name of only the first author plus "et al." in every in-text citation, including the first citation, unless doing so would create ambiguity.
  • In the text, distinguish references that would otherwise be identical by adding information such as a first name (in brackets) or an additional author.
  • In the text, if pages are being directly referenced in the text, include the page number/s in the in-text citation after the year.
  • In the reference list, provide surnames and initials for up to and including 20 authors. When there are two to 20 authors, use an ampersand before the final author's name.
  • In the reference list, when there are 21 or more authors, include the first 19 authors' names, insert an ellipsis, (no ampersand), and add the final author's name.

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