how to cite books

To cite books, the format depends on the citation style you are using. Here are the basic guidelines for the three most common styles: MLA, APA, and Chicago.

MLA Style (Modern Language Association)

• Works Cited entry format:
  Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Edition (if any), Publisher, Year of publication.

• In-text citation:
  (Author’s Last Name page number)

• Example:
  Donaldson, Bruce. Dutch: A Comprehensive Grammar. 3rd ed., Routledge, 2017.
  (Donaldson 73)

• For a chapter in an edited book, include the chapter author, chapter title in quotes, book title in italics, editor, publisher, year, and page range

APA Style (American Psychological Association)

• Reference list format:
  Author’s Last Name, Initials. (Year). Title of book: Subtitle (Edition if not first). Publisher. DOI or URL if available.

• In-text citation:
  (Author’s Last Name, Year, p. Page Number)

• Example:
  Donaldson, B. (2017). Dutch: A comprehensive grammar (3rd ed.). Routledge.
  (Donaldson, 2017, p. 73)

• For a chapter in an edited book, cite the chapter author, year, chapter title, editor(s), book title, page range, and publisher

Chicago Style (Notes and Bibliography)

• Bibliography entry format:
  Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Book: Subtitle. Edition. Place of publication: Publisher, Year.

• Footnote format:

  1. Author’s First Name Last Name, Title of Book: Subtitle , Edition (Place of publication: Publisher, Year), page number.

• Example:
  Donaldson, Bruce. Dutch: A Comprehensive Grammar. 3rd ed. Abingdon-on- Thames: Routledge, 2017.
  Footnote: 1. Bruce Donaldson, Dutch: A Comprehensive Grammar , 3rd ed. (Abingdon-on-Thames: Routledge, 2017), 35.

• For a chapter, include chapter author, chapter title in quotes, book title in italics, editor, page range, publisher, and year

Summary Table

Style| Works Cited / Reference Entry Example| In-Text Citation Example
---|---|---
MLA| Donaldson, Bruce. Dutch: A Comprehensive Grammar. 3rd ed., Routledge, 2017.| (Donaldson 73)
APA| Donaldson, B. (2017). Dutch: A comprehensive grammar (3rd ed.). Routledge.| (Donaldson, 2017, p. 73)
Chicago| Donaldson, Bruce. Dutch: A Comprehensive Grammar. 3rd ed. Abingdon- on-Thames: Routledge, 2017.| 1. Bruce Donaldson, Dutch: A Comprehensive Grammar , 3rd ed. (Abingdon-on-Thames: Routledge, 2017), 35.

These formats cover print books, e-books, and edited collections with chapters. Always include author, title, publisher, and year as core elements, adjusting for style-specific rules