This page covers how to cite different types of authors in both the notes-bibliography and author-date systems, including single authors, multiple authors, organizational authors, and unknown authors. Examples for each type are provided to ensure clarity.
Single Author
When citing a single author, include the author’s full name in the bibliography entry and in the footnote or in-text citation.
Notes-Bibliography System
- Bibliography Entry: Smith, John. The Impact of Climate Change on Marine Life. New York: Marine Publishing, 2020.
- First Footnote: 1. John Smith, The Impact of Climate Change on Marine Life (New York: Marine Publishing, 2020), 45.
- Subsequent Footnotes: 2. Smith, Impact of Climate Change, 47.
Author-Date System
- In-Text Citation: (Smith 2020, 45)
- Reference List Entry: Smith, John. 2020. The Impact of Climate Change on Marine Life. New York: Marine Publishing.
Multiple Authors
When citing multiple authors, the format varies depending on the number of authors. For two authors, include both names. For three or more authors, list all names in the bibliography but use “et al.” in the in-text citation.
Notes-Bibliography System
Two Authors
- Bibliography Entry: Brown, Lisa, and Mark Smith. Sustainable Marine Practices. Boston: Environmental Press, 2017.
- First Footnote: 1. Lisa Brown and Mark Smith, Sustainable Marine Practices (Boston: Environmental Press, 2017), 23.
- Subsequent Footnotes: 2. Brown and Smith, Sustainable Marine Practices, 25.
Three or More Authors
- Bibliography Entry: Williams, Richard, Sandra Lee, and Thomas Green. “Marine Conservation Strategies.” Environmental Studies Quarterly 22, no. 3 (2016): 200-220.
- First Footnote: 1. Richard Williams, Sandra Lee, and Thomas Green, “Marine Conservation Strategies,” Environmental Studies Quarterly 22, no. 3 (2016): 205.
- Subsequent Footnotes: 2. Williams, Lee, and Green, “Marine Conservation Strategies,” 207.
Author-Date System
Two Authors
- In-Text Citation: (Brown and Smith 2017, 23)
- Reference List Entry: Brown, Lisa, and Mark Smith. 2017. Sustainable Marine Practices. Boston: Environmental Press.
Three or More Authors
- In-Text Citation: (Williams et al. 2016, 205)
- Reference List Entry: Williams, Richard, Sandra Lee, and Thomas Green. 2016. “Marine Conservation Strategies.” Environmental Studies Quarterly 22 (3): 200-220.
Organizational Author
When the author is an organization or corporation, list the name of the organization as the author.
Notes-Bibliography System
- Bibliography Entry: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Climate Change and Marine Life. Washington, DC: NOAA, 2018.
- First Footnote: 1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Climate Change and Marine Life (Washington, DC: NOAA, 2018), 10.
- Subsequent Footnotes: 2. NOAA, Climate Change and Marine Life, 12.
Author-Date System
- In-Text Citation: (NOAA 2018, 10)
- Reference List Entry: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 2018. Climate Change and Marine Life. Washington, DC: NOAA.
Unknown Author
When the author is unknown, begin the citation with the title of the work.
Notes-Bibliography System
- Bibliography Entry: The Effects of Rising Sea Levels. New York: Environmental Publishing, 2020.
- First Footnote: 1. The Effects of Rising Sea Levels (New York: Environmental Publishing, 2020), 5.
- Subsequent Footnotes: 2. Effects of Rising Sea Levels, 7.
Author-Date System
- In-Text Citation: (The Effects of Rising Sea Levels 2020, 5)
- Reference List Entry: The Effects of Rising Sea Levels. 2020. New York: Environmental Publishing.
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