How to Cite Multiple Authors in APA, MLA & Chicago Format (2026 Guide)

Citing sources with multiple authors can be confusing. Do you list all the names? When do you use "et al."? Does it change between the first citation and subsequent ones?

If you've ever stared at a source with 6 authors wondering how to handle it, you're not alone. Different citation styles have different rules—and those rules have changed in recent years.

This guide covers everything you need to know about citing multiple authors in APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, and Chicago style. We'll give you clear rules, examples, and a quick-reference table so you never get it wrong.

Table of Contents

• Why Multiple Author Citations Get Complicated
• APA Format: Multiple Authors Rules
• MLA Format: Multiple Authors Rules
• Chicago Style: Multiple Authors Rules
• Quick Reference Table
• Common Mistakes to Avoid
• FAQ

Why Multiple Author Citations Get Complicated

Academic papers often have multiple authors, especially in scientific fields where collaborative research is the norm. A psychology study might have 2-3 authors, while a medical journal article could list 10 or more.

Citation styles have developed specific rules for handling these situations to balance two competing needs:

1. Giving proper credit to all contributors
2. Keeping citations readable without cluttering your text

The key things that vary between styles are:

• When to start using "et al." (Latin for "and others")
• How to format the first citation vs. subsequent citations
• How to list authors in your reference list/bibliography

Let's break down each style.

APA Format: Multiple Authors Rules

APA 7th edition (the current standard) simplified the rules for multiple authors. Here's exactly how it works:

In-Text Citations

Two authors: Always list both names, connected with "&" in parenthetical citations or "and" in narrative citations.

Parenthetical: (Smith & Johnson, 2026)

Narrative: Smith and Johnson (2026) found that...

Three or more authors: Use the first author's name followed by "et al." from the very first citation.

First citation: (Williams et al., 2026)

Subsequent citations: (Williams et al., 2026)

This is a change from APA 6th edition, which required listing all authors up to five in the first citation. APA 7th made this simpler.

Reference List

In your reference list, include up to 20 authors. List all names, separated by commas, with an ampersand (&) before the final author.

For 1-20 authors:

Williams, J., Brown, A., Davis, M., & Taylor, R. (2026). Title of the article. Journal Name, 15(3), 45-67. https://doi.org/xxxxx

For 21+ authors: List the first 19 authors, then use an ellipsis (...), then the final author.

Author1, A., Author2, B., Author3, C., Author4, D., Author5, E., Author6, F., Author7, G., Author8, H., Author9, I., Author10, J., Author11, K., Author12, L., Author13, M., Author14, N., Author15, O., Author16, P., Author17, Q., Author18, R., Author19, S., ... LastAuthor, Z. (2026). Title. Journal, 1(1), 1-10.

MLA Format: Multiple Authors Rules

MLA 9th edition has slightly different rules than APA.

In-Text Citations

Two authors: List both names connected with "and."

(Smith and Johnson 45)

Smith and Johnson argue that "..." (45).

Three or more authors: Use the first author followed by "et al."

(Williams et al. 78)

Williams et al. explain that...

Works Cited

Two authors: List both names in the order they appear on the source. The first author's name is inverted (Last, First), but the second author appears in normal order (First Last).

Smith, John, and Mary Johnson. Title of the Book. Publisher, 2026.

Three or more authors: List only the first author followed by "et al."

Williams, James, et al. "Article Title." Journal Name, vol. 15, no. 3, 2026, pp. 45-67.

This differs from APA, where you list all authors up to 20 in the reference list.

Chicago Style: Multiple Authors Rules

Chicago style has two systems: Notes-Bibliography (used in humanities) and Author-Date (used in sciences). The rules differ slightly.

Notes-Bibliography Style

In footnotes/endnotes:

For the first note, list all authors (up to 3):

1. John Smith, Mary Johnson, and Robert Williams, Title of Book (Publisher, 2026), 45.

For 4+ authors, use the first author plus "et al.":

2. James Williams et al., Title of Book (Publisher, 2026), 78.

Shortened notes (subsequent references):

3. Smith, Johnson, and Williams, Title, 50.

4. Williams et al., Title, 82.

In the bibliography: List all authors regardless of number.

Smith, John, Mary Johnson, and Robert Williams. Title of Book. Publisher, 2026.

Author-Date Style

In-text citations:

Two-three authors:

(Smith, Johnson, and Williams 2026, 45)

Four or more authors:

(Williams et al. 2026, 78)

Reference list: Same as Notes-Bibliography—list all authors.

Quick Reference Table

| Scenario | APA 7th | MLA 9th | Chicago | |----------|---------|---------|---------|| | 2 authors (in-text) | (Smith & Johnson, 2026) | (Smith and Johnson 45) | (Smith and Johnson 2026, 45) | | 3+ authors (in-text) | (Smith et al., 2026) | (Smith et al. 45) | 3 authors: list all; 4+: et al. | | Reference list | List up to 20 authors | First author + et al. | List all authors | | "Et al." punctuation | No period after "et" | No period after "et" | No period after "et" |

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using "et. al." (Wrong Punctuation)

"Et" is a complete Latin word meaning "and." Only "al." is abbreviated (from "alii/alia" meaning "others"). So it's:

✅ et al.

❌ et. al.

❌ etal.

2. Forgetting the Period After "al."

Since "al." is an abbreviation, it always needs a period:

✅ Smith et al. found...

❌ Smith et al found...

3. Using "et al." for Two Authors

You should always name both authors when there are only two:

✅ Smith and Johnson (2026) argue...

❌ Smith et al. (2026) argue...

4. Inconsistent Ampersand vs. "And"

In APA:

• Use "&" in parenthetical citations: (Smith & Johnson, 2026)
• Use "and" in narrative citations: Smith and Johnson (2026)

Don't mix these up.

5. Not Checking the Latest Edition

Citation rules change. APA 7th (released 2019) significantly simplified multiple author citations from APA 6th. Make sure you're following the current edition your professor requires.

FAQ

Do I need to list all authors somewhere?

APA: Yes, in your reference list (up to 20 authors). MLA: No, you can use "et al." in Works Cited for 3+ authors. Chicago: Yes, list all in bibliography/reference list.

What if two sources shorten to the same "et al." citation?

If you have "Smith et al. (2026)" referring to two different papers, include enough author names to distinguish them:

(Smith, Johnson, et al., 2026) — first paper

(Smith, Williams, et al., 2026) — second paper

Is "et al." italicized?

No. Although it's a Latin phrase, "et al." is so commonly used in English that it's not italicized in any major citation style.

What about organizations as authors?

For organizations (corporate authors) with long names, you can abbreviate after the first citation:

First: (World Health Organization [WHO], 2026)

Subsequent: (WHO, 2026)

How do I cite a source with no author listed?

Use the title (or a shortened version) in place of the author name. See our guide on citing sources without authors for details.

Conclusion

Citing multiple authors correctly comes down to knowing a few key rules:

• APA 7th: Two authors = both names; three or more = first author + et al. from the start
• MLA 9th: Similar to APA for in-text; use et al. in Works Cited for 3+ authors
• Chicago: More lenient—list up to 3 authors before switching to et al.

The most common mistakes are punctuation errors ("et. al." instead of "et al.") and using "et al." when you only have two authors.

When in doubt, consult your style guide or use a citation tool. Getting citations right shows attention to detail—something every professor notices.

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