Question

If there are two authors with the same last name in Works Cited, you should include ______ in the parenthetical references.

a. Their Initials (of the first name)
b. Their degree
c. Their Complete Names
d. None of the Above

Answer 1

In a works-cited list, when two authors share the same last name, their initials should be included in parenthetical references. This ensures clarity for the reader.

Step-by-step explanation:

When creating parenthetical references in a works-cited list and encountering two authors with the same last name, the correct procedure is to include the authors' initials to differentiate them. For example, referencing works by two different authors named Greene would look like this: (J. T. Greene, 2019, p. 21; M. Greene, 2020, p. 30). By using the authors' initials, a clearer understanding is communicated without confusion for the reader. It's important to note that the initials should include both the first and, if available, the middle initial of the authors. This maintains the integrity and clarity of the academic citation.

When there are two works by the exact same author, alphabetize by title and use three hyphens in place of the author's name for the second entry:

• Greene, John T. Becoming a Leader. Leadership Press, 2019.
• ---. Leading with Integrity. Ethical Publisher, 2021.