When alphabetizing works by two coauthors, the primary rule is to list entries alphabetically by the last name of the first author. However, a specific rule applies when you have multiple works where the first author's name is the same across different entries.
How to Alphabetize Works by Two Coauthors
Alphabetizing works with two authors follows established guidelines, primarily focusing on the authors' surnames to ensure logical ordering in bibliographies, reference lists, or indexes.
Basic Rule: Alphabetizing by the First Author's Surname
For a single work by two authors, or when different author pairs are involved, you generally alphabetize by the last name of the first author listed.
Example:
- Jones, A., & Smith, B.
- Miller, C., & Davis, D.
- Williams, E., & Brown, F.
In this simple scenario, "Jones" comes before "Miller," which comes before "Williams."
Advanced Rule: When the First Author Is the Same
A more specific rule applies when you have two or more entries that cite coauthors, and these entries all begin with the same first author's last name. In such cases, the alphabetization shifts to the surname of the second author listed.
Key Guideline: If two or more entries citing coauthors begin with the same name, alphabetize them by the surnames of the second authors listed.
Let's illustrate this with an example:
| Entry No. | Authors (Alphabetize by Last Name, First Initial.) | Resulting Order | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smith, J., & Adams, B. | 1 | "Adams" comes before "Green" and "White" when "Smith" is the consistent first author. |
| 2 | Smith, J., & Green, C. | 2 | "Green" comes after "Adams" but before "White." |
| 3 | Smith, J., & White, D. | 3 | "White" comes after "Green." |
| 4 | Anderson, L., & Blake, M. | (Precedes all "Smith" entries) | "Anderson" comes alphabetically before "Smith," so any work by Anderson will appear before those by Smith. |
Example in a Reference List Format:
- Smith, J., & Adams, B. (2020). Study on Topic A.
- Smith, J., & Green, C. (2018). Research on Subject X.
- Smith, J., & White, D. (2021). Analysis of Phenomenon Y.
Notice how all entries beginning with "Smith" as the first author are then ordered by the last names of their respective second authors: Adams, Green, White.
Documenting Multiple Works by the Same Coauthor Pair
When you have two or more works written by the exact same coauthors, and their names consistently appear in the same order across these works, a concise documentation method is used. You only need to provide the names in the first entry. For subsequent entries by the identical author pair, use a three-em dash (or three hyphens followed by a period).
Practical Example:
- Jones, R., & Clark, L. (2010). First Study on Topic.
- ---. (2012). Second Study on Topic.
- ---. (2015). Third Study on Topic.
This method streamlines the list, avoiding repetitive author names while clearly indicating that the subsequent entries are by the same pair of authors. These works would then typically be ordered chronologically by publication year under the main author entry.
For more comprehensive guidelines on various citation styles, consult widely recognized style guides like this one.
