By using these simple steps, citing two articles from the same author in the same year can be done with ease. It’s important to be precise and clear in your citations, and these steps make it possible to avoid any confusion.
1. Use the initials of the authors’ first names to differentiate between the two sources when citing them in-text. For example, if the authors’ names are John Smith and Jane Smith, and you are citing two articles published in 2020 in which both authors contributed, you would write (J. Smith, 2020) and (J. Smith & J. Smith, 2020).
2. Include the full reference for each article in your reference list, as you normally would. In this case, the only difference is that you need to differentiate between the two sources in some way. You could therefore include the initials of the authors’ first names at the beginning of each reference, for example (J. Smith, 2020) and (J. Smith & J. Smith, 2020).
3. If the two articles you are citing have the exact same title, add a lowercase letter to the end of the year in each in-text citation to differentiate between them. For example, if you are citing two articles by John Smith with the same title, both published in 2020, you would write (Smith, 2020a) and (Smith, 2020b).
4. If you are citing multiple sources that were published in the same year and have the same first author, but with different subsequent authors, include the subsequent authors’ initials in your in-text citations to differentiate between the sources. For example, if you are citing two articles both published in 2020 by John Smith, but one article was also written by Jane Brown, you would write (J. Smith & J. Brown, 2020) and (J. Smith, 2020).
5. If you are still unsure of how to cite two articles with the same author and year, consult the APA manual or reach out to a reference librarian for guidance. It’s always best to make sure your citations are accurate and formatted correctly to avoid any potential confusion or plagiarism issues.
Understanding the problem: same author, same year
When writing an academic paper, it’s crucial to give credit to the sources you’ve used in your research. One of the most commonly used citation styles is APA, which requires you to include both in-text citations and a reference list at the end of your paper. However, you may encounter a situation where you need to cite two articles by the same author that were published in the same year. This can create confusion for readers and make it difficult to determine which source you’re referring to.
The importance of accurate citation
Citation is an essential aspect of academic writing because it gives credit to the original source and avoids plagiarism. Accurate citation also helps readers to locate the sources you’ve used and verify the information you’ve presented in your paper. If you fail to cite your sources correctly, you risk being accused of plagiarism, which can lead to serious consequences, including losing your academic reputation and even legal action. Therefore, it’s crucial to give credit to your sources and use accurate citation at all times.
Finding the necessary information for citation
To cite two articles by the same author that were published in the same year, you’ll need to gather the necessary information from each source. This includes the author’s name, the year of publication, the title of the article, the title of the journal, the volume number, and the page numbers. Note that if the articles were published in different journals, you’ll also need to include the name of the journal as part of your citation.
Using a parenthetical citation for in-text citations
In-text citation is an essential component of APA citation style. When referencing a source in your text, you need to include the author’s last name and the year of publication in parentheses. In the case of two articles by the same author and published in the same year, you’ll need to include a letter to differentiate them. For example:
As stated by Doe (2021a), this approach is effective.
The reader needs to be able to easily distinguish which source you’re referring to, so be sure to use the appropriate letter for each source.
Creating a reference list entry with multiple works from the same author
Your reference list will include all the sources you’ve cited in your paper, including those by the same author in the same year. When creating a reference list entry with multiple works by the same author, you’ll need to list them in alphabetical order by the title of the article. If the author has more than one article in the same year, you’ll need to differentiate them using a letter. Here’s an example:
Doe, J. (2021a). Title of first article. Title of Journal, volume number, page numbers.
Doe, J. (2021b). Title of second article. Title of Journal, volume number, page numbers.
Differentiating between works with the same author and year with a letter suffix
As mentioned, differentiating between two works by the same author and year requires the use of a letter suffix. You’ll need to include this letter in both the in-text citation and the reference list entry. It’s essential to use the same letter throughout your paper to avoid confusion.
Note: Be sure to double-check your citations to ensure consistency and accuracy.
Avoiding plagiarism through proper citation
Proper citation is crucial to avoid plagiarism, which is presenting someone else’s work as your own. Citation helps to establish credibility and give credit to the original source. If you use someone else’s ideas, words, or images without proper citation, you’re stealing their intellectual property and violating ethical and legal standards. Therefore, it’s important to cite all your sources properly and avoid plagiarism at all costs.
Frequently asked questions about APA citation for multiple works with the same author and year
Q: What if the two articles have the same title?
A: If two articles by the same author published in the same year have the same title, you can differentiate them by including a group author in the citation. For example:
National Institute of Health. (2021a). Title of article.
Q: What if I’m citing multiple sources with the same author that were published in different years?
A: When citing multiple sources by the same author that were published in different years, use the year of publication in parentheses after the author’s last name in the in-text citation and the reference list entry.
Q: What if I’m citing a source that was cited in another article?
A: In this case, you’ll need to use a secondary citation. This involves citing the original source that the author cited in their work, followed by the phrase “as cited in” and then the author and year of the secondary source.
In conclusion, citing two articles by the same author that were published in the same year requires attention to detail and accuracy. By following the APA citation rules, you can avoid confusion for your readers, establish credibility, and give credit to the sources you’ve used in your research.
