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APA – Citing Sources

Authors with the same surname

If the reference list includes two or more first authors with the same surname, include the first author's initials to separate them in all in-text citations, even if the year of publication differs. This helps avoid confusion and helps the reader locate the correct entry in the reference list. 

  • This opinion is held by J. Smith and Thompson (2006) and is also supported by C. Smith (2005).

 

For more information: APA style: Citing Authors With the Same Surname