How can I cite two works by the same author in the same year?

Answer

If your reference list contains entries with the same author and the same date, APA Style will have you place a lowercase letter next to the publication year (e.g. 2022a, 2022b). Those lowercase letters next to the year help make distinctions when reference list entries contain the exact same author(s) and the exact same year.

Because the date goes in both the reference list and in-text citation, the letters will be next to the date in both places.  Below is an example for both citations.

Reference list:

Image showing 2 APA references. Authors listed, then date which includes the "a" or "b" to show different sources. The rest of the reference is a typical source with no other changes.

 

In-text citation:

Image showing 2 APA in-text citations. Authors listed, then date with "a" or "b" to show different sources.

If your reference list has two entries by the same author but different years, you don't need to do anything- the different publication years provide the distinction for the separate references.

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  • Last Updated Sep 30, 2022
  • Views 268
  • Answered By Kristina Ryan

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