When citing a source with three or more authors, what should you include in your in-text citation?

When citing a source that has three or more authors in an in-text citation in APA format, the standard practice is to include only the first author's last name, followed by "et al." This convention helps streamline citations and makes them more manageable, especially in cases where there are numerous authors, ensuring that citations remain clear and concise.

The use of "et al."—which is short for the Latin term "et alia," meaning "and others"—acknowledges that there are additional authors without needing to list all their names for every citation. This approach is particularly useful in academic writing, where long author lists can disrupt the flow of text and make it more difficult for readers to follow the argument or narrative.

In contrast to the correct choice, listing all authors’ names in every citation can be unwieldy and unnecessary after the first citation in a single work context. The other options fail to meet this guideline as well, as they either suggest including only the last author's name or only the publication year, both of which would not provide adequate attribution of the source used. Proper adherence to these citation practices minimizes confusion and supports clarity in scholarly communication.