How to use Different Contributors in APA

• Hannah Berry (Ph.D.)
• Published on 11/10/2023
• Updated on12/05/2023

In APA format, citations include various contributors, including authors, editors, translators, reviewers, directors, performers, and more. This article will provide an in-depth look at the different contributors that can be used for generating APA citations.

If you are citing a source that was cited in another work (a secondary source), cite the original work. Include both the original work and the work where you found the information in your references. For government reports, include the full name of the agency as the author. For example: U.S. Department of Education. (Year). Title of the Report.

AUTHORS

Authors are the most common contributors to a work in APA citations, and they can come in various forms.

SINGLE AUTHOR

This format is used when a work has a single author. The author’s last name is followed by their initials.

Example	Trevor, J.
Structure	Surname, Initial(s).

TWO AUTHORS

​​When there are two authors, list their last names and initials, separated by an ampersand (&).

Example	Trevor, J., & Peter, A.
Structure	Surname, Initial(s)., & Surname, Initial(s).

THREE OR MORE AUTHORS (UP TO 20)

For works with three or more authors, list the author’s last name and initials, up to 20 authors. For a work with 21 or more authors, list the first 19 names, followed by an ellipsis (…) and then the last author name. 

Example	Trevor, J., Peter, A., & Alberto, P.
Structure	Surname, Initial(s)., Surname, Initial(s)., & Surname, Initial(s).

EDITORS

When citing a book or other work that has been edited rather than authored, you should acknowledge the editor(s).

SINGLE EDITOR

Include the editor’s surname and initials, followed by (Ed.) or (Eds.) for a single or multiple editors in parentheses, respectively.

Example	Angus, M. (Ed.).
Structure	Surname, Initial(s). (Ed.).

MULTIPLE EDITORS

If a work has multiple editors, include their names in the same format as for a single editor.

Example	Angus, M., & Anderson, Y. (Eds.).
Structure	Surname, Initial(s)., & Surname, Initial(s). (Eds.).

TRANSLATOR

If you are citing a translated work, include the translator’s information.

Example	Paul, L. (2005). The Great Sea (T. Brown, Trans.).
Structure	Surname, Initial(s). (Date). Book Title (Initial(s), Surname, Trans.).

Begin the citation with the name of the original author of the work, including their surname and initials. Indicate the name of the translator in parentheses after the title. Abbreviate translator to ‘Trans’.

GROUP OR ORGANIZATION AUTHORS

When you are citing a source authored by a group or organization, include the full name or acronym of the group or organization in the citation.

Example	American Psychological Association. (2010).
Structure	Group/Organization.

NO AUTHOR

Sometimes, sources don’t have a specific author mentioned. In such cases, you should use the title of the work in the citation. 

Example	The Impact of Climate Change. (2018).
Structure	Title of Source.

Begin the citation with the title, in italics, followed by the publication year in parentheses. If the source is a book or article, include the full publication information after the title.

ANONYMOUS WORKS

When dealing with works that do not disclose an identifiable author, you should use the term ‘Anonymous’ as the author.

Example	Anonymous. (2018).
Structure	Anonymous.

This indicates to your readers that the work’s authorship is not known or disclosed. It provides a straightforward and standardized way to acknowledge works for which authorship is not provided or available. 

CHAPTERS OR SECTIONS WITHIN A BOOK

When referencing a specific chapter or section within an edited book, it’s crucial to include the author of that particular chapter or section in your citation. 

Example	Brown, A. (2017). The Role of Technology. In P. Johnson (Ed.), Advances in Research (pp. 45-62).
Structure	Surname, Initial(s). (Year). Chapter Title. In (Initial(s), Surname Ed.)

Begin the citation with the surname and initials of the author of the specific chapter or section. In this example, the author is Brown, A. Use the word ‘In’ to indicate that the chapter or section is part of a larger work (the edited book). Include the initials and surname of the editor of the book. Use (Ed.) for a single editor and (Eds.) for multiple editors.

DIRECTORS AND PRODUCERS

Citing films or documentaries in APA style, it’s crucial to include the director’s name as a significant contributor. 

Example	Spielberg, S. (Director). (1993). Schindler’s List.
Structure	Surname, Initial(s.(Director)/Producer).

Start the citation by mentioning the surname and initials of the director, who plays a central role in the creation of the film. Follow the name with the specific role ‘Director/Producer’ in parentheses. This clarifies the director or producer’s role in the film.

PERFORMERS

When citing music, plays, or other live or recorded performances, it’s essential to give credit to the primary performers who played a significant role in the creation of the work.

Example	Shakespeare, W. (Playwright). (n.d.). Romeo and Juliet. Performed by K. Knightley and L. DiCaprio.
Structure	Surname, Initial(s). (Role). (Year). Title of the Play. Performed by Performer Initial(s). Surname.

Begin the citation by stating the name of the playwright, if applicable. The title of the play indicates that the play was performed by specific individuals. 

ONLINE CONTRIBUTORS

Include usernames or names of online contributors for online sources. Begin the citation with the author’s details. If the contributor uses a username or online handle, it should still be included in brackets e.g., [@username].

Example	Rowan, J. [@username].
Structure	Surname, Initial(s). [@roja].

Include the username exactly as it appears, including any symbols or characters.

Explore a range of features offered by TypeCite’s citation generator, including MLA citation for books, webpages and journals, as well as APA citation for book.