How to mla cite a book

Overview

The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is widely used in the humanities, particularly in English and other language studies. Citing sources correctly is crucial for academic integrity, allowing readers to locate the original information and giving credit to the original authors. The MLA Handbook provides comprehensive guidelines for citing various types of sources, including books.

Basic MLA Citation for a Book

The most common scenario is citing a book with a single author. The fundamental structure of the citation includes the following core elements:

• Author: List the author's last name, followed by a comma, and then their first name. A period follows the first name.
• Title: Italicize the full title of the book, including any subtitle. A period follows the title.
• Publisher: State the name of the publisher. Omit business words like 'Inc.', 'Co.', or 'Ltd.'. A comma follows the publisher's name.
• Publication Year: Provide the year the book was published. A period follows the year.

Putting it all together, the basic format is:

Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.

Example:

Smith, John. The History of Everything. Academic Press, 2020.

Variations and Specific Cases

Books with Multiple Authors

If a book has two authors, list the first author's name in the standard Last Name, First Name format. For the second author, use the format First Name Last Name. Use 'and' to connect the two names.

Format:

Last Name, First Name, and First Name Last Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.

Example:

Adams, Henry, and Jane Doe. Understanding Literature. University Press, 2018.

For books with three or more authors, list only the first author's name in the Last Name, First Name format, followed by 'et al.' which is Latin for 'and others'.

Format:

Last Name, First Name, et al. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.

Example:

Miller, Sarah, et al. Creative Writing Techniques. Publishing House, 2019.

Edited Books

If you are citing a book that has an editor rather than an author (or in addition to authors), the editor's name is listed first, followed by the abbreviation 'ed.' (for editor) or 'eds.' (for editors).

Format (Editor only):

Last Name, First Name, ed. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.

Example:

Garcia, Maria, ed. Readings in Modern Poetry. Scholarly Books, 2021.

If the book has both authors and editors, the authors are cited first, followed by the editors.

Format:

Last Name, First Name, and First Name Last Name. Title of Book. Edited by First Name Last Name and First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year of Publication.

Example:

Chen, Wei, and David Lee. Essays on Global Politics. Edited by Emily White and Robert Green, International Publishers, 2017.

Books with a Title but No Author

If a book lacks an author, begin the citation with the title of the book (italicized). Then, follow with the publisher and publication year.

Format:

Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.

Example:

The Chicago Manual of Style. University of Chicago Press, 2017.

Citing Specific Parts of a Book

When you refer to a specific chapter, essay, or other part within a larger work (like an anthology or collection), you need to cite both the specific part and the larger work.

Format for an essay/chapter in an anthology:

Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Essay/Chapter." Title of Book, edited by Editor First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year of Publication, pp. Page Numbers.

Example:

Davis, Emily. "The Power of Narrative." Storytelling in the Digital Age, edited by Robert Johnson, Media Books, 2019, pp. 45-67.

Additional Information

MLA citations often include additional details if relevant, such as the edition number (e.g., 2nd ed., rev. ed.), volume number, or DOI (Digital Object Identifier) for online access. Always consult the latest edition of the MLA Handbook for the most up-to-date and specific guidelines.