Sample Format for Citing Books

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Please note that the first section is the citation while the second section explains the citation.

These sample citations are a guide for documenting your sources.  The format for the citations will vary according to the original sources used in your research, but, in general, follow these elements in the order given: 

name of author, editor, compiler or translator

 title of the work (italicized)

 edition

 number of the volume

city of publication, name of the publisher, year of publication

Medium (Print)

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Book with 1 author

(Gerber 17).

Gerber, Phil.  Robert Frost.  New York:  Chelsea, 1999. Print.

  Author’s last name, first name.  Name of the Book.  City of Publication:  Publisher, Year. Medium.

 

Book with 2 authors

(Cullen and McNally 250).

Cullen, Gerald, and Kathleen McNally.  Exploring Literature.  

       Philadelphia:  Temple UP, 1999. Print.

First author’s last name, first name, and second author’s first and last          name.  Name of the Book.  City of Publication:  Publisher, Year.

        Medium.

 

Book with 4 or more authors  -  Use et al

(Schmo et al. 20)

Schmo, Joseph, et al.  Exploring Design.  2nd ed.  Boston:  Chelsea,  

         1987. Print.

First author’s last name, first name, et al.  Name of the Book.  Edition.

        City of Publication:  Publisher, Year. Medium.

 

 

Book with editor

(Bloom 52).

Bloom, Harold, ed.  F. Scott Fitzgerald.  Englewood Cliffs:  Salem,

         1988. Print.

Editor’s last name, first name, editor.  Name of the Book.  City of

      Publication:  Publisher, Year. Medium.

 

 

Book with 2 editors

(Napierkowski and Ruby  212).

Napierkowski, Marie Rose, and Mary K. Ruby, eds.  Poetry for

        Students.  Vol. 3.  Detroit:  Gale, 1998.  Print.

First editor’s last name, first name, and second editor’s first and last

       name, editors.  Name of the Book.  Volume.  City of Publication:

       Publisher, Year. Medium.

 

Book with an editor and an author

(Prichard 18).

Prichard, Rick.  Lives of Modern Poets.  Ed. Harold Bloom.  New

       York:  Albans, 2002. Print.

Author’s last name, first name.  Name of the Book.  Editor’s first and

          last name.  City of Publication:  Publisher, Year. Medium.

 

Different editions of the same book

(Magill 27).

Magill, Frank N., ed.  Contemporary Poets.  2nd ed.  New York: 

         St. James, 1994. Print.

Editor’s last name, first name, editor.  Name of the Book.  Edition.

       City of Publication:  Publisher, Year.  Medium.

Book with multi-volumes using only 1 volume

(Smith 98).

Smith, Valerie, ed.  African American Writers.  2nd ed.

         Vol. 2.   New York:  Charles Scribner’s, 2001. Print.

Editor’s last name, first name, editor.  Name of the Book.  Edition.

       Volume.  City of Publication:  Publisher, Year. Medium.

 Book with multi-volumes using 2 or more volumes

(Beachem 5: 7).

Beacham, Frank, ed.  Popular World Fiction.  12 vols.  New York:

         Beacham, 1987. Print.

Editor’s last name, first name, editor.  Name of the Book.  Number

       of  Volumes.  City of Publication:  Publisher, Year. Medium.

 

 

Work in an Anthology

 

(Eckley 37).

Eckley, Grace.  “Ray Bradbury.”  Contemporary Science Fiction

       Vol. 1.  Ed.  Frank N. Magill.  Pasadena:  Salem, 1997.  124-30.

       Print.

Author’s last name, first name.  “Title of the Article or Poem.”  Name

         of the Book.  Volume.  Editor.  First and last name. 

          City of Publication:  Publisher, Year.  Pages. Medium.

 

Book with no author or editor

(Notable Writers 12).

Notable Writers.  Rev. 3rd ed.   Vol. 1.  Pasadena:  Salem, 1998. Print.

Name of the Book.  Edition.  Volume.   City of Publication:

        Publisher, Year. Medium.

 

Unsigned article in a reference book

(familiar & less familiar)

 

(“Updike, John” 41).

“Updike, John.”  Compton’s Encyclopedia.  1997 ed. Print.

“Dracula.” Novels for Students. Ed. David Galens. Vol. 18 Detroit:   Gale, 2003. 22-50. Print.

“Title of the Article.”  Name of the Book.  Edition.  Year. Medium.

“Title of the Article.” Name of the Book. Editor. Edition. Volume. City of Publication: Publisher, Year. Pages. Medium.

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