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