Chicago in-Text Citations: Don't Let Two Authors Become Your Waterloo
Ah, citations. Those lovely little parenthetical beasts that haunt the dreams of every student. But fear not, brave writer! Today we conquer the Chicago in-text citation for sources with two authors, a foe no fiercer than a house cat with a sock fetish.
The Two Author Tango: A Simple Waltz
For sources with two glorious authors, citing them in-text with Chicago is a breeze, smoother than a jazz flute solo. Here's the secret sauce:
- Last Names, Not First Names: Just use the last names of both authors, separated by a glorious "and" (not an ampersand, that's for fancy parties).
- The Year of Our Reference: Pop the publication year right after the last name, snuggled inside parentheses.
Example: This fascinating theory is supported by Smith and Jones (2023).
See? Easy as quoting lyrics from your favorite karaoke song (though hopefully more accurate).
But Wait, There's More! (Because There Almost Always Is)
Now, let's spice things up a bit. What if you want to include a page number to pinpoint a specific genius nugget of information? Easy peasy, lemon squeezy:
Example: The study by Smith and Jones (2023, 14) found a strong correlation between cat sock obsession and increased productivity among writers. (Note: The comma separates the year and page number.)
Pro Tip: If you're referencing multiple sources with two authors in the same sentence, separate them with a semicolon. No need to play musical chairs with citations.
Beyond the Two: When the Authorial Party Gets Bigger
For sources with three or more authors, things get a tad more complex. But don't fret! We'll just use the first author's last name followed by "et al." ("et al." is Latin for "and others," those fancy Romans).
Example: A recent study (Garcia et al. 2024) suggests that llamas may be the key to achieving world peace.
Remember: This "et al." magic trick only works for in-text citations. In your reference list, you'll need to list out all the authors, even if there's a whole village of them.
So You've Mastered the Two-Author Tango! Now What?
Now, go forth and conquer your citations with confidence! Remember, a little knowledge goes a long way, and properly cited sources can elevate your writing from "homework drudgery" to "scholarly masterpiece" (or at least get you a good grade).
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