APA Format Citation for a Book

APA format citation for a book is a crucial aspect of academic writing that is often required in various disciplines such as psychology, sociology, and education. Citing books accurately and consistently is essential to give credit to the authors, support the arguments made in the paper, and enable readers to locate the sources easily.

In this article, we will explore the guidelines for citing books in APA style, including the different types of book citations and the information that should be included in each one.

 Basic book citation format in APA style

To cite a book in APA style, you need to follow a specific format:

Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of Book. Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name. DOI or URL (if applicable).

For example:

Smith, J. (2021). The Art of Writing. New York, NY: Random House.

In this example, Smith is the author’s last name and J is the first initial. The year of publication is 2021, and the title of the book is The Art of Writing. The publisher’s location is New York, NY, and the publisher’s name is Random House. There is no DOI or URL provided in this example.

Variations in book citation format

While the basic book citation format in APA style remains the same, there are some variations depending on the specific situation. For example:

• Edited book

If the book you’re citing is edited, you need to include the names of the editors after the book title, preceded by the word “In” and in parentheses:

Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of Book (A. Editor’s Last Name & B. Editor’s Last Name, Eds.). Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name. DOI or URL (if applicable).

For example:

Johnson, R. (2019). The Science of Psychology (A. Smith & B. Lee, Eds.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.

In this example, Johnson is the author’s last name and R is the first initial. The book is titled The Science of Psychology, and it’s edited by Smith and Lee. The publisher’s location is Los Angeles, CA, and the publisher’s name is Sage. There is no DOI or URL provided in this example.

• Chapter in an edited book

If you’re citing a specific chapter or section of an edited book, you need to include the names of the chapter author and the editors, as well as the chapter title and the book title:

Chapter Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Chapter Title. In A. Editor’s Last Name & B. Editor’s Last Name (Eds.), Title of Book (pp. xx-xx). Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name. DOI or URL (if applicable).

For example:

Smith, A. (2020). The Writing Process. In J. Johnson & K. Lee (Eds.), The Psychology of Writing (pp. 45-67). New York, NY: Routledge.

In this example, Smith is the chapter author’s last name and A is the first initial. The chapter title is The Writing Process, and it’s part of the book The Psychology of Writing, which is edited by Johnson and Lee. The page numbers for the chapter are 45-67. The publisher’s location is New York, NY, and the publisher’s name is Routledge. There is no DOI or URL provided in this example.

Multiple authors

If the book has multiple authors, you need to include all of their names in the same order they appear on the book cover or title page, separated by commas:

Author’s Last Name, First Initial., Author’s Last Name, First Initial., & Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of Book. Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name. DOI or URL (if applicable).

For example:

Anderson, J., Lee, K., & Smith, R. (2022). The Art of Science. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

In this example, Anderson, Lee, and Smith are the authors listed in the same order they appear on the book cover or title page. The year of publication is 2022, and the title of the book is The Art of Science. The publisher’s location is Chicago, IL, and the publisher’s name is the University of Chicago Press. There is no DOI or URL provided in this example.

• Multiple editions

If the book has multiple editions, you need to include the edition number after the title of the book:

Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of Book (Xth ed.). Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name. DOI or URL (if applicable).

For example:

Brown, P. (2018). Introduction to Sociology (5th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.

In this example, Brown is the author’s last name and P is the first initial. The year of publication is 2018, and the title of the book is Introduction to Sociology. This is the 5th edition of the book. The publisher’s location is New York, NY, and the publisher’s name is Pearson. There is no DOI or URL provided in this example.

• Translated book

If the book you’re citing is translated from another language, you need to include the translator’s name after the title of the book:

Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of Book (M. Translator’s Last Name, Trans.). Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name. DOI or URL (if applicable).

For example:

Garcia Marquez, G. (2014). One Hundred Years of Solitude (G. Rabassa, Trans.). New York, NY: Harper Perennial.

In this example, Garcia Marquez is the author’s last name and G is the first initial. The year of publication is 2014, and the title of the book is One Hundred Years of Solitude. The book is translated by Rabassa. The publisher’s location is New York, NY, and the publisher’s name is Harper Perennial. There is no DOI or URL provided in this example.

Tips for citing books in APA style

To ensure that your book citations in APA style are accurate and complete, here are some tips to keep in mind:

•  In APA style, book titles and publisher names are capitalized, while author names follow the usual capitalization rules. Make sure to use proper punctuation, such as periods after the author’s initials and commas to separate authors’ names.
• When citing a book, be sure to include the page numbers for the specific chapter or section you are referencing. Use “pp.” before the page numbers to indicate that you are referring to a range of pages.
• Make sure to verify the accuracy of the publication details, such as the publisher’s name and location, as well as the year of publication. These details can usually be found on the book’s title page or copyright page.
• If the book has a DOI (digital object identifier) or URL (uniform resource locator), include it in the citation. This can help readers locate the book online.
•  Make sure to use the same citation style consistently throughout your paper or project. This includes formatting, capitalization, and punctuation.

Final remarks 

Citing books in APA style requires attention to detail and accuracy. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can ensure that your book citations are complete and correct.

Remember to double-check the publication details and use proper formatting for author names, book titles, and page numbers. With these tips, you can confidently cite books in APA style and give credit to the authors whose work you are referencing.