A previous post explained how to separate distinct publication elements within a bibliographic reference. This post discusses how to separate the names of authors and editors at the beginning of bibliographic citations.

1. In Footnotes

In footnotes, the first name of the author or editor comes before the last name. The name should be separated from the title of the work by a comma. For editors, a comma should separate the editor’s name from the identifier “ed.”

Charles H. Talbert, Reading John …

Jeffrey H. Tigay, ed., Empirical Models …

If two authors or editors are listed, do not separate the names by a comma; note the use of “eds.” in the second example.

James M. Robinson and Helmut Koester, Trajectories …

John Kaltner and Steven L. McKenzie, eds., Beyond Babel …

If three authors or editors are listed, separate each with a comma.

Mark J. Boda, Michael H. Floyd, and Colin M. Toffelmire, eds., The Book of the Twelve …

If four or more authors or editors are listed, list only the first author or editor followed by “et al.” Note that a comma does not follow the first author’s or editor’s name.

John F. Oates et al., eds., Checklist …

2. In Bibliographies

As noted in a previous post, in bibliographies the last name of the first author or editor should always come before that individual’s first name. A period should separate the author’s name from the title of the work. A comma should separate the editor’s name from the identifier “ed.”

Talbert, Charles H. Reading John …

Jeffrey H. Tigay, ed. Empirical Models …

If more than one author or editor is listed, only the name of the first author or editor should be inverted. Subsequent names in the entry should follow first name + last name order. A comma should separate each author or editor.

Robinson, James M., and Helmut Koester. Trajectories …

Kaltner, John, and Steven L. McKenzie, eds. Beyond Babel …

Boda, Mark J., Michael H. Floyd, and Colin M. Toffelmire, eds. The Book of the Twelve …

Oates, John F., William H. Willis, Roger S. Bagnall, and Klaas A. Worp, eds. Checklist …

Note: In the SBLHS 2 §6.2.19, a comma has been inadvertently omitted between the editors’ names. The entry should follow the principle outlined here.

Incorrect: Harrison, James R. and L. L. Welborn, eds. The First Urban …

Correct: Harrison, James R., and L. L. Welborn, eds. The First Urban …