When citing a book in APA style, it is essential to follow the guidelines provided by the American Psychological Association. The APA style is widely used in social sciences, education, and business fields. A proper citation for a book includes the author's last name, first initial, publication year, book title, and publication information.
Basic Book Citation Format
The basic format for citing a book in APA style is as follows: Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of the book: Subtitle if any. Publisher’s Name.
Example of a Book Citation
An example of a book citation in APA style would be: Smith, J. (2020). The art of writing: A guide for beginners. New York, NY: Penguin Random House.
| Element | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Author's Name | Smith, J. |
| Year of Publication | 2020 |
| Title of the Book | The art of writing: A guide for beginners |
| Publisher's Name | Penguin Random House |
Citing a Book with Multiple Authors
When a book has multiple authors, the APA style requires listing all authors up to a certain number. For two authors, both are listed, separated by an ampersand (&). For three to twenty authors, all are listed, separated by commas, with an ampersand before the last author. For more than twenty authors, list the first nineteen, followed by an ellipsis, and then the last author.
Example of a Book with Multiple Authors
An example of citing a book with two authors would be: Smith, J., & Johnson, K. (2020). The art of collaboration: A guide for researchers. New York, NY: Springer.
Citing an Edited Book
For an edited book, the citation includes the editors’ names, the publication year, the book title, and the publication information. The editors’ names are followed by (Eds.) to indicate their role.
Example of an Edited Book Citation
An example of citing an edited book would be: Smith, J. (Ed.). (2020). The future of education: Trends and challenges. New York, NY: Routledge.
Citing a Book Chapter
The format for citing a chapter in an edited book is: Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of the chapter. In Editor’s First Initial Last Name (Ed.), Title of the book: Subtitle if any (pp. Page Numbers). Publisher’s Name.
Example of a Book Chapter Citation
An example would be: Johnson, K. (2020). The impact of technology on learning. In J. Smith (Ed.), Educational technology: A new era (pp. 15-30). New York, NY: Wiley.
| Element | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Author's Name | Johnson, K. |
| Chapter Title | The impact of technology on learning |
| Editor's Name | J. Smith |
| Book Title | Educational technology: A new era |
| Page Numbers | pp. 15-30 |
What is the APA style for citing a book with one author?
+The APA style for citing a book with one author is: Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of the book: Subtitle if any. Publisher’s Name.
How do I cite a book with multiple authors in APA style?
+For two authors, use both names separated by an ampersand (&). For three to twenty authors, list all separated by commas, with an ampersand before the last author. For more than twenty authors, list the first nineteen, an ellipsis, and then the last author.
What information is needed to cite an edited book in APA style?
+To cite an edited book, you need the editors’ names followed by (Eds.), the publication year, the book title, and the publication information.
