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APA Style (7th Edition) Citation Guide: Books & Ebooks
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Table of Contents
Book in print with one author, book in print more than one author, chapters, short stories, essays, or articles from a book (anthology or collection), article in an online reference book (e.g. encyclopedias, dictionaries).
Note: All citations should be double spaced and have a hanging indent in a Reference List.
A "hanging indent" means that each subsequent line after the first line of your citation should be indented by 0.5 inches.
This Microsoft support page contains instructions about how to format a hanging indent in a paper.
Authors/Editors
An author won't necessarily be a person's name. It may be an organization or company, for example Health Canada. These are called group or corporate authors.
If a book has no author or editor, begin the citation with the book title, followed by the year of publication in round brackets.
If an author is also the publisher, omit the publisher from the reference. This happens most often with corporate or group authors.
When a book has one to 20 authors or editors, all authors' names are cited in the Reference List entry. When a book has 21 or more authors or editors, list the first 19 authors followed by three spaced ellipse points (. . .) , and then the last author's name. Rules are different for in-text citations; please see the examples provided.
Cite author names in the order in which they appear on the source, not in alphabetical order (the first author is usually the person who contributed the most work to the publication).
Capitalize the first letter of the first word of the title. If there is a colon (:) in the title, also capitalize the first letter of the first word after the colon.
Capitalize the first letter of proper names in titles, such as names of places or people.
Italicize titles of journals, magazines, newspapers, and books. Do not italicize the titles of articles or book chapters.
Capitalize only the first letter of the first word of the article title. If there is a colon in the article title, also capitalize the first letter of the first word after the colon.
Place of Publication
Do not include the publisher location in the reference. Only for works associated with a specific location, like conference presentations, include the location. For cities in the US and Canada list the city name and the province or state code. For other countries, list the city name and the country. Examples: Toronto, ON ; Tokyo, Japan
Electronic Books
Don't include the format, platform, or device (e.g. Kindle) in the reference. Include the publisher name. For audiobooks, include the narrator and audiobook notation.
Ebooks from Websites (not from library databases)
If an ebook from a website was originally published in print, give the author, year, title, edition (if given) and the url. If it was never published in print, treat it like a multi-page website.
Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication). Title of book: Subtitle if given (edition if given and is not first edition). Publisher Name.
Mulholland, K. (2003). Class, gender and the family business . Palgrave McMillan.
In-Text Paraphrase:
(Author's Last Name, Year)
Example: (Mulholland, 2003)
In-Text Quote:
(Author's Last Name, Year, p. Page Number)
Example: (Mulholland, 2003, p. 70)
Last Name of First Author, First Initial. Second Initial if Given, & Last Name of Second Author, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication). Title of book: Subtitle if given (edition if given and is not first edition). Publisher Name.
Note: Authors' names are separated by commas. Put a comma and an ampersand (&) before the name of the last author cited.
Note : For works with three or more authors, the first in-text citation is shortened to include the first author's surname followed by "et al."
Reference List Example:
Kaakinen, J., Coehlo, D., Steele, R., Tabacco, L., & Hanson, H. (2015). Family health care nursing: Theory, practice, and research (5th ed.). F.A. Davis Company.
In-text Citation
Two Authors/Editors
(Kaakinen & Coehlo, 2015)
Direct quote: (Kaakinen & Coehlo, 2015, p. 57)
Three or more Authors/Editors
(Kaakinen et al., 2015)
Direct quote: (Kaakinen et al., 2015, p. 57)
Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication). Title of book: Subtitle if given (edition if given and is not first edition). Publisher Name. URL
Example from Website:
Rhode, D. L. (2002). Divorce, American style . University of California Press. http://www.escholarship.org/editions/view?docId=kt9z09q84w;brand=ucpress
Example: (Rhode, 2002)
Example: (Rhode, 2002, p. 101)
If no author or creator is provided, start the citation with the title/name of the item you are citing instead. Follow the title/name of the item with the date of publication, and the continue with other citation details.
Remember: an author/creator may be an organization or corporation, for example Health Canada. If you don't have a person's name as the author, but do have the name of an organization or corporation, put that organization/corporation's name as the author.
If and only if an item is signed as being created by Anonymous, use "Anonymous" where you'd normally put the author's name.
When you have no author, use a shortened version of the title where you'd normally put the author's name.
If you're citing something which is part of a bigger work, like an article from a magazine, newspaper, journal, encyclopedia, or chapter/short story from a book, put the shortened title in quotation marks in your in-text citation:
Example, paraphrase: ("A few words," 2014)
If you're citing an entire work, like a book, website, video, etc., italicize the shortened title in your in-text citation:
Example, paraphrase: ( A few words , 2014)
Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication). Title of chapter, article, essay or short story. In Editor's First Initial. Second Initial if Given. Editor's Last Name (Ed.), Title of book: Subtitle if given (edition if given and is not first edition, pp. first page number-last page number). Publisher Name.
Note: If you have more than one editor list their name(s) after the first editor listed in the book, giving their initials and last name. Put an ampersand (&) before the last editor's name.
When you have one editor the short form (Ed.) is used after the editor's name. If you have more than one editor use (Eds.) instead.
O'Neil, J. M., & Egan, J. (1992). Men's and women's gender role journeys: A metaphor for healing, transition, and transformation. In B. R. Wainrib (Ed.), Gender issues across the life cycle (pp. 107-123). Springer.
Note: If there is no editor given you may leave out that part of the citation.
(Author's Last Name, Year)
Example (2 authors): (O'Neil & Egan, 1992)
(Author's Last Name, Year, p. Page Number)
Example (2 authors): (O'Neil & Egan, 1992, p. 998)
Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication). Title of article. In Editor's First Initial. Second Initial if Given. Editor's Last Name (Ed.), Title of book: Subtitle if given (edition if given and is not first edition). Publisher Name. URL or DOI
Caviness, L. B. (2008). Brain-relevant education. In N. J. Salkind (Ed.), Encyclopedia of educational psychology . Sage Publications. https://login.uportland.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/sageedpsyc/brain_relevant_education/0?institutionId=5407
Example (1 author): (Caviness, 2008)
Example (1 author): (Caviness, 2008, Focus on the brain section, para. 2)
Note: When there are no visible page numbers or paragraph numbers, you may cite the section heading and the number of the paragraph in that section to identify where your quote came from.
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Q. How do I refer to a book by title in-text in APA format?
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Answered By: Gabe Gossett Last Updated: Dec 18, 2019 Views: 496295
The basic format for an in-text citation is: Title of the Book (Author Last Name, year).
One author: Where the Wild Things Are (Sendak, 1963) is a depiction of a child coping with his anger towards his mom.
Two authors (cite both names every time): Brabant and Mooney (1986) have used the comic strip to examine evidence of sex role stereotyping. OR The comic strip has been used to examine evidence of sex role stereotyping (Brabant & Mooney, 1986).
Three or more authors (cite the first author plus et al.): Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy (Clare et al., 2016) depicts a young man's experience at the Shadowhunter Academy, a place where being a former vampire is looked down upon.OR Clare et al. (2016) have crafted a unique story about a young man's journey to find himself.
No author: Cite the first few words of the reference entry (usually the title) and the year. Use double quotation marks around the title of an article or chapter, and italicize the title of a periodical, book, brochure, or report. Examples: From the book Study Guide (2000) ... or ("Reading," 1999).
Note: Titles of periodicals, books, brochures, or reports should be in italics and use normal title capitalization rules.
If you are citing multiple sources by multiple authors in-text, you can list all of them by the author's last name and year of publication within the same set of parentheses, separated by semicolons.
Example: (Adams, 1999; Jones & James, 2000; Miller, 1999)
For more information on how to cite books in-text and as a reference entry, see the APA Publication Manual (7th edition) Section 10.2 on pages 321-325 .
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Comments (7)
- This was very useful for me! I was having a really hard time finding information on how to mention an article title AND the author in text in APA so this was very helpful!!! by Ryan Waddell on Jun 27, 2019
- If I just mention that I used a book to teach a topic do I have to include it in the reference list? by Franw on Oct 17, 2019
- @Franw, if it is a source that informs your paper in any way, or if your reader would have reason to look it up, then you should include a full reference list entry for the book. by Gabe [Research & Writing Studio] on Oct 18, 2019
- Maybe I'm misunderstanding the question, but I think the OP is asking how to refer to a book title, not how to cite one. I believe APA uses quotation marks around book titles and MLA uses italics. by AB on Dec 12, 2019
- @AB: The first sentence has been tweaked to clarify title of book usage, reflecting the examples given. For APA style you should use italics for book titles. It would be quotation marks. by Gabe [Research & Writing Studio] on Dec 12, 2019
- Hi, can any one help me with in-text-citation of this, how can i cite it in the text Panel, I. L. (2002). Digital transformation: A framework for ICT literacy. Educational Testing Service, 1-53. by Milad on Aug 20, 2021
- @Milad: In that case it would be (Panel, 2002). If you are quoting, or otherwise choosing to include page numbers, put a comma after the year, then p. and the page number(s). by Gabe Gossett on Aug 20, 2021

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Purdue Online Writing Lab College of Liberal Arts

General Format

Welcome to the Purdue OWL
This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.
Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.
Note: This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019. The equivalent resource for the older APA 6 style can be found here .
Please use the example at the bottom of this page to cite the Purdue OWL in APA.
You can also watch our APA vidcast series on the Purdue OWL YouTube Channel .

General APA Guidelines
Your essay should be typed and double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5" x 11"), with 1" margins on all sides. Include a page header (also known as the “ running head ”) at the top of every page. For a professional paper, this includes your paper title and the page number. For a student paper, this only includes the page number. To create a page header/running head , insert page numbers flush right. Then type "TITLE OF YOUR PAPER" in the header flush left using all capital letters. The running head is a shortened version of your paper's title and cannot exceed 50 characters including spacing and punctuation.
The 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual requires that the chosen font be accessible (i.e., legible) to all readers and that it be used consistently throughout the paper. It acknowledges that many font choices are legitimate, and it advises writers to check with their publishers, instructors, or institutions for guidance in cases of uncertainty.
While the APA Manual does not specify a single font or set of fonts for professional writing, it does recommend a few fonts that are widely available. These include sans serif fonts such as 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, and 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode as well as serif fonts such as 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Georgia, 10-point Computer Modern.
Major Paper Sections
Your essay should include four major sections: the Title Page , Abstract , Main Body , and References .
Note: APA 7 provides slightly different directions for formatting the title pages of professional papers (e.g., those intended for scholarly publication) and student papers (e.g., those turned in for credit in a high school or college course).
The title page should contain the title of the paper, the author's name , and the institutional affiliation . A professional paper should also include the author note . A student paper should also include the course number and name , instructor name , and assignment due date .
Type your title in upper and lowercase letters centered in the upper half of the page. The title should be centered and written in boldface. APA recommends that your title be focused and succinct and that it should not contain abbreviations or words that serve no purpose. Your title may take up one or two lines. All text on the title page, and throughout your paper, should be double-spaced.
Beneath the title, type the author's name : first name, middle initial(s), and last name. Do not use titles (Dr.) or degrees (PhD).
Beneath the author's name, type the institutional affiliation , which should indicate the location where the author(s) conducted the research.
A professional paper should include the author note beneath the institutional affiliation, in the bottom half of the title page. This should be divided up into several paragraphs, with any paragraphs that are not relevant omitted. The first paragraph should include the author’s name, the symbol for the ORCID iD, and the URL for the ORCID iD. Any authors who do not have an ORCID iD should be omitted. The second paragraph should show any change in affiliation or any deaths of the authors. The third paragraph should include any disclosures or acknowledgements, such as study registration, open practices and data sharing, disclosure of related reports and conflicts of interest, and acknowledgement of financial support and other assistance. The fourth paragraph should include contact information for the corresponding author.
A student paper should not include an author note.
Note again that page headers/page numbers (described above for professional and student papers) also appear at the top of the title page. In other words, a professional paper's title page will include the title of the paper flush left in all capitals and the page number flush right, while a student paper will only contain the page number flush right.
Student APA title page

Title page for a student paper in APA 7 style.
Professional paper APA title page

Title page for a professional paper in APA 7 style.
Begin a new page. Your abstract page should already include the page header (described above). On the first line of the abstract page, center and bold the word “Abstract” (no italics, underlining, or quotation marks).
Beginning with the next line, write a concise summary of the key points of your research. (Do not indent.) Your abstract should contain at least your research topic, research questions, participants, methods, results, data analysis, and conclusions. You may also include possible implications of your research and future work you see connected with your findings. Your abstract should be a single paragraph, double-spaced. Your abstract should typically be no more than 250 words.
You may also want to list keywords from your paper in your abstract. To do this, indent as you would if you were starting a new paragraph, type Keywords: (italicized), and then list your keywords. Listing your keywords will help researchers find your work in databases.
Abstracts are common in scholarly journal articles and are not typically required for student papers unless advised by an instructor. If you are unsure whether or not your work requires an abstract, consult your instructor for further guidance.
APA Abstract Page

Abstract page for a student paper in APA 7 style.
Please see our Sample APA Paper resource to see an example of an APA paper. You may also visit our Additional Resources page for more examples of APA papers.
How to Cite the Purdue OWL in APA
Individual resources.
The page template for the new OWL site does not include contributors' names or the page's last edited date. However, select pages still include this information.
In the absence of contributor/edit date information, treat the page as a source with a group author and use the abbreviation "n.d." for "no date":
Purdue Online Writing Lab. (n.d.). Title of resource. Purdue Online Writing Lab. http://Web address for OWL resource
Purdue Online Writing Lab. (n.d.). General Writing FAQs. Purdue Online Writing Lab. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/general_writing_faqs.html
The generic APA citation for OWL pages, which includes author/edit date information, is this:
Contributors' names. (Last edited date). Title of resource . Site Name. http://Web address for OWL resource
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- APA Style - 7th edition
- Specific Rules for Authors & Titles
APA Style - 7th edition: Specific Rules for Authors & Titles
- Basic Information
Rules for Writing Author and Editor Information
Rules for writing titles.
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There are certain things to keep in mind when writing the author's name according to APA style. Authors may be individual people, multiple people, groups (institutions or organizations), or a combination of people and groups.
- You must include all the authors up to 20 for individual items. For example, if you are using an article that has 19 authors you must list them all out on your reference page.
- Use initials for the first and middle names of authors. Use one space between initials.
- All names are inverted (last name, first initial).
- Do not hyphenate a name unless it is hyphenated on the item.
- Separate the author's names with a comma and use the ampersand symbol "&" before the last author listed.
- Spell out the name of any organization that is listed as an author.
- If there is no author listed, the item title moves in front of the publication date and is used.
An item that you use may have an editor instead of an author or in the case of audiovisual materials a writer or director.
- For editors follow the same rules above and put the abbreviation (Ed.) or (Eds.) behind the name(s).
- For audiovisual materials follow the same rules as above and put the specialized role (Writer) (Director) behind the name.
Zhang, Y. H. (one author)
Arnec, A., & Lavbic, D. (two authors)
Kent State University (organization as author)
Barr, M. J. (Ed.). (1 editor)
Powell, R. R., & Westbrook, L. (Eds.). (2 editors)
here are certain things to keep in mind when writing a title according to APA style.
- Book titles are italicized and written using sentence case (only the first word of a title, subtitle, or proper noun are capitalized).
- Book chapter titles are written using sentence case and are not italicized.
- Journal titles are italicized and written using title case (all the important words are capitalized).
- Article titles are written using sentence case and are not italicized.
- Webpages and websites are italicized and written using sentence case.
Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (book title, American Psychological Association is a proper noun so it is capitalized)
Student perspective of plagiarism (book chapter title)
Internet plagiarism in higher education: Tendencies, trigging factors and reasons among teacher candidates (article title, Tendencies is the first word of a sub-title so it is capitalized)
Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education (journal title)
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Use of Italics
This page addresses when to use italics, when to avoid italics, how to use italics for emphasis, and when to use reverse italics. Additional cases and examples are provided in the Publication Manual ; users’ most common questions are addressed here.
When to use italics
In APA Style papers, use italics for the following cases:
When not to use italics
Do not use italics for the following cases in APA Style papers:
Italics for emphasis
In general, avoid using italics for emphasis. Instead, rewrite your sentence to provide emphasis. For example, place important words or phrases at the beginning or end of a sentence instead of in the middle, or break long sentences into several shorter sentences.
However, do use italics if emphasis might otherwise be lost or the material might be misread, as in the following example.
Whereas creative self-efficacy typically focuses on confidence beliefs prior to engaging in creative endeavors, perceived creative credit focuses on the beliefs developed after engaging in creative tasks (Ng & Yam, 2019, p. 1146).
If you add emphasis to a direct quotation, place the words “[emphasis added]” in square brackets after the words you have italicized.
Research on creativity indicates that “promoting creativity without attending to the subsequent psychological and behavioral changes decreases rather than increases [emphasis added] organizational performance over the long run” (Ng & Yam, 2019, p. 1157).
Reverse italics
When words that would normally be italicized appear within text that is already italicized, those words should be set in standard (nonitalic) type, referred to as reverse italicization . For example, if an italic symbol appears in a table title (which is also italicized), use standard type for the symbol.
Demographic Characteristics of Study Participants ( N = 250)

This guidance has been revised and expanded from the 6th edition.
From the APA Style blog

Navigating the not-so-hidden treasures of the APA Style website
This post links directly to APA Style topics of interest that users may not even know exist on the website.
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Do You Italicize Book Titles In APA? A Must Read
As a researcher or writer, you would realize that different rules apply to each referencing style sooner or later. Whether or not you should italicize or use quotation marks would depend on the writing format you’re to use. The general rule is to italicize longer works and use quotation marks for shorter works.
The question is, do you italicize book titles in APA?
The APA tries to minimize its use of italics. However, when it comes to the titles of books, italics are suitable for writing them. Webpages, periodicals, reports, films, and others also use italics in APA.
Table of Contents
Why Do You Italicize Book Titles In APA?
There are several reasons for the use of italics. The most common reason is that italics serve the purpose of emphasizing a set of texts. When you use italics, you are merely drawing attention to the italicized text.
In formal and academic writing, the use of italics is usually not appropriate. It is only suitable for reference purposes. Also, how it is used in referencing differs according to the referencing style.
When Do You Italicize In APA?
The APA Publication Manual, 7th Edition maps out the rule for the APA referencing style. Section 6.22 and 6.23 of it covers the use of italics and reverse italics. It prescribes when one can use italics and when not to use it.
Italics are appropriate when writing a keyword or phrase for the first time in the work, often followed by the definition of the word. For example, Consumer Protection is defined as ensuring the safety of the buyers of goods and services from unfair practices perpetrated by producers of these goods and services in the marketplace.
As mentioned earlier, italics is also appropriate for writing book titles, webpages, periodicals, reports, and stand-alone works. It is also useful in writing symbols used in mathematics and statistics and the ratings on a scale.
Using a word from a foreign language for the first time in a written work, the use of italics will draw attention. The essence of this is that readers might not be familiar with the word. So, italicizing it draws attention to the text and makes the reader notice the new term.
When Should You Not Italicize In APA?
It is important to note that although italics are appropriate for book titles, it is inappropriate to use them when a book is in series. You cannot italicize a book title in series. A classic example of a book series will be the Harry Potter series.
It is also inappropriate to italicize the punctuation marks after an italicized word or phrase. The earlier rule about italicizing a foreign word does not apply when the foreign word appears in a dictionary. The bottom line is to use italics sparingly in APA style.
Do You Italicize All Titles In APA?
No! The APA Publication Manual is exact on the kind of titles that should appear in italics. It has given examples of titles that can be in italics.
Can An Underline Serve The Same Purpose As Italics?
The use of underlines was the practice in the ages before the use of computers became popular. This is because the works had to be written by hand or with the aid of a typewriter. Thus, it wasn’t easy to emphasize specific texts.
Nowadays, one can still use underlines to draw attention to a set of texts, especially when it is handwritten. However, the use of computers has changed this. With a computer, the use of italics serves the same purpose as the underline.
However, some word processors can write in italics. When using a word processor like this, the right thing would be to underline the text since you cannot use slanted letters (italics).
What Is Reverse Italics?
Cases of reverse italics occur when words ordinarily expected to be in italics are amid other italicized texts. In such situations, those words are made to appear in a standard form, unlike the rest of the text that would appear in italics.
How Does APA Work?
APA is one of the common referencing styles. It is on record that the American Psychological Association uses this referencing style. Its use is also common in the social sciences fields like anthropology, education, psychology, sociology, etc.
When using the APA referencing style, bear in mind that different rules apply to in-text citation and the reference page. For example, in-text citation only cites the name of the author and date of publication. The reference page, on the other hand, will list out all relevant details about the publication.
The relationship between the in-text citation and the reference page is that the in-text citation links the reader back to the reference page, where the reader will find the details needed for further research.
The reference page is where you cite all the materials you used in writing your work. It needs to reflect all pieces of information mentioned in your write-up. The rule is that any source cited must reflect in the reference page, and any source listed in the reference page must reflect in the body of the work.
The rules that apply to the reference page vary according to the type of work you are referencing. Books, articles, or electronic sources are referenced differently. However, there some basic rule that applies to reference pages generally.
References should start on a new page, and the page should bear the appropriate title. It is the title that clearly distinguishes the page from the reference page. All entries in the reference should appear alphabetically. References usually have double line spacing. They also come in left alignment.
Other Rules Of APA Referencing Style
There are four classes of rules relating to the APA referencing style. The first rule relates to the author, the second rule relates to publication date, and the third rule relates to the title. The fourth rule relates to the publisher, and the fifth rule relates to the location.
When using the APA referencing style, the author’s surname comes first, followed by the initials in a separated form. An example would be Smith, J. J. Where there are multiple authors, use a comma to separate them. E.g., Smith, J. J., Russel, M. R., & Green, T. M.
For the rule relating to date of publication, the year of publication is to be written in a round bracket. However, there are instances where the date of publishing the work is unknown. When such instances arise, the best practice is to use ‘n.d’ instead of the date. An example would be Smith, J.J. (n.d).
The rule relating to title differs. The pattern used for a book is not the same used for an article. Thus, it is essential to bear in mind the kind of work you are referencing.
The rule relating to the publisher focuses on the people that published the work you are citing. If publishing of the book is in the United States, the reference must include the city and the state code in an abbreviated form. If published outside the United States, it must reflect the city and country.
The rule relating to location only applies where the source cited is an online source. Where that is the case, the reference must include the URL where you retrieved the work online.
Citing A Book Using APA Style
One of the most typical forms of reference is when citing a book. The above rules for the author’s name and date of publication apply to a book. The title of the book must be in italics. The first letter of the words must be in Capital letters, except for words like a, or, of, to, etc. Where the book has several editions, you must indicate the particular Edition cited.
The other rules relating to Publisher and Location also apply when citing a book. The standard format for referencing a book is Author’s Name, Year, Title, Place, Publisher. A classic example of a book citation using the APA style is:
Smith, J. J., Russel, M. R., & Green, T. M. (2014). The Elements of Consumer Protection Explained (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Oxford Publishers.
When the book to be referenced is an E-book, there is a slight difference. The difference is that instead of a publisher, it will be the URL of the book’s online source. An example of a reference E-book is:
Smith, J. J., Russel, M. R., & Green, T. M. (2014). The Elements of Consumer Protection Explained (3rd ed.). New York, NY. Retrieved from https://www.commercehub.com/consumerprotection
It should be relatively challenging learning how to use the APA referencing style for the first time. That is, especially when you have been using other referencing styles like MLA , OSCOLA, Chicago Style, etc. However, once you understand the basics, it becomes easier, and after much practice, it will flow as you write.
In answering the question, do you italicize book titles in APA, we can better appreciate the APA style’s uniqueness and how it differs from other referencing styles. In writing your paper, it is also ideal to consult with your authority head to know how they want you to position your references.
About the Author
CJ grew up admiring books. His family owned a small bookstore throughout his early childhood, and he would spend weekends flipping through book after book, always sure to read the ones that looked the most interesting. Not much has changed since then, except now some of those interesting books he picks off the shelf were designed by his company!
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APA Formatting and Citation (7th Ed.) | Generator, Template, Examples
Published on November 6, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on August 23, 2022.
The 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual provides guidelines for clear communication , citing sources , and formatting documents. This article focuses on paper formatting.
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Throughout your paper, you need to apply the following APA format guidelines:
- Set page margins to 1 inch on all sides.
- Double-space all text, including headings.
- Indent the first line of every paragraph 0.5 inches.
- Use an accessible font (e.g., Times New Roman 12pt., Arial 11pt., or Georgia 11pt.).
- Include a page number on every page.

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Our APA formatting experts can help you to format your paper according to APA guidelines. They can help you with:
- Margins, line spacing, and indentation
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Table of contents
How to set up apa format (with template), apa alphabetization guidelines, apa format template [free download], page header, headings and subheadings, reference page, tables and figures, frequently asked questions about apa format.
References are ordered alphabetically by the first author’s last name. If the author is unknown, order the reference entry by the first meaningful word of the title (ignoring articles: “the”, “a”, or “an”).
Why set up APA format from scratch if you can download Scribbr’s template for free?
Student papers and professional papers have slightly different guidelines regarding the title page, abstract, and running head. Our template is available in Word and Google Docs format for both versions.
- Student paper: Word | Google Docs
- Professional paper: Word | Google Docs
In an APA Style paper, every page has a page header. For student papers, the page header usually consists of just a page number in the page’s top-right corner. For professional papers intended for publication, it also includes a running head .
A running head is simply the paper’s title in all capital letters. It is left-aligned and can be up to 50 characters in length. Longer titles are abbreviated .

APA headings have five possible levels. Heading level 1 is used for main sections such as “ Methods ” or “ Results ”. Heading levels 2 to 5 are used for subheadings. Each heading level is formatted differently.
Want to know how many heading levels you should use, when to use which heading level, and how to set up heading styles in Word or Google Docs? Then check out our in-depth article on APA headings .

The title page is the first page of an APA Style paper. There are different guidelines for student and professional papers.
Both versions include the paper title and author’s name and affiliation. The student version includes the course number and name, instructor name, and due date of the assignment. The professional version includes an author note and running head .
For more information on writing a striking title, crediting multiple authors (with different affiliations), and writing the author note, check out our in-depth article on the APA title page .

The abstract is a 150–250 word summary of your paper. An abstract is usually required in professional papers, but it’s rare to include one in student papers (except for longer texts like theses and dissertations).
The abstract is placed on a separate page after the title page . At the top of the page, write the section label “Abstract” (bold and centered). The contents of the abstract appear directly under the label. Unlike regular paragraphs, the first line is not indented. Abstracts are usually written as a single paragraph without headings or blank lines.
Directly below the abstract, you may list three to five relevant keywords . On a new line, write the label “Keywords:” (italicized and indented), followed by the keywords in lowercase letters, separated by commas.

APA Style does not provide guidelines for formatting the table of contents . It’s also not a required paper element in either professional or student papers. If your instructor wants you to include a table of contents, it’s best to follow the general guidelines.
Place the table of contents on a separate page between the abstract and introduction. Write the section label “Contents” at the top (bold and centered), press “Enter” once, and list the important headings with corresponding page numbers.
The APA reference page is placed after the main body of your paper but before any appendices . Here you list all sources that you’ve cited in your paper (through APA in-text citations ). APA provides guidelines for formatting the references as well as the page itself.
Creating APA Style references
Play around with the Scribbr Citation Example Generator below to learn about the APA reference format of the most common source types or generate APA citations for free with Scribbr’s APA Citation Generator .
Formatting the reference page
Write the section label “References” at the top of a new page (bold and centered). Place the reference entries directly under the label in alphabetical order.
Finally, apply a hanging indent , meaning the first line of each reference is left-aligned, and all subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches.

Tables and figures are presented in a similar format. They’re preceded by a number and title and followed by explanatory notes (if necessary).
Use bold styling for the word “Table” or “Figure” and the number, and place the title on a separate line directly below it (in italics and title case). Try to keep tables clean; don’t use any vertical lines, use as few horizontal lines as possible, and keep row and column labels concise.
Keep the design of figures as simple as possible. Include labels and a legend if needed, and only use color when necessary (not to make it look more appealing).
Check out our in-depth article about table and figure notes to learn when to use notes and how to format them.

The easiest way to set up APA format in Word is to download Scribbr’s free APA format template for student papers or professional papers.
Alternatively, you can watch Scribbr’s 5-minute step-by-step tutorial or check out our APA format guide with examples.
APA Style papers should be written in a font that is legible and widely accessible. For example:
- Times New Roman (12pt.)
- Arial (11pt.)
- Calibri (11pt.)
- Georgia (11pt.)
The same font and font size is used throughout the document, including the running head , page numbers, headings , and the reference page . Text in footnotes and figure images may be smaller and use single line spacing.
You need an APA in-text citation and reference entry . Each source type has its own format; for example, a webpage citation is different from a book citation .
Use Scribbr’s free APA Citation Generator to generate flawless citations in seconds or take a look at our APA citation examples .
Yes, page numbers are included on all pages, including the title page , table of contents , and reference page . Page numbers should be right-aligned in the page header.
To insert page numbers in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, click ‘Insert’ and then ‘Page number’.
APA format is widely used by professionals, researchers, and students in the social and behavioral sciences, including fields like education, psychology, and business.
Be sure to check the guidelines of your university or the journal you want to be published in to double-check which style you should be using.
Cite this Scribbr article
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Streefkerk, R. (2022, August 23). APA Formatting and Citation (7th Ed.) | Generator, Template, Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/format/
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« How to Capitalize Author Names in APA Style | Main | Title Case and Sentence Case Capitalization in APA Style »
March 01, 2012
How to capitalize and format reference titles in apa style.
APA Style has special formatting rules for the titles of the sources you use in your paper, such as the titles of books, articles, book chapters, reports, and webpages. The different formats that might be applied are capitalization (see Publication Manual , section 4.15), italics (see section 4.21), and quotation marks (see section 4.07), and they are used in different combinations for different kinds of sources in different contexts.
The formatting of the titles of sources you use in your paper depends on two factors: (a) the independence of the source (stands alone vs. part of a greater whole) and (b) the location of the title (in the text of the paper vs. in the reference list entry). The table below provides formatting directions and examples:
More on Italics Versus Nonitalics
As you can see in the table above, the titles of works that stand alone (such as a book or a report) are italicized in both the text and the reference list. In contrast, the titles of works that are part of a greater whole (such as an article, which is part of a journal, or a book chapter, which is part of a book) are not italicized in either place, and only in the text are they put inside quotation marks. If you are having difficulty determining whether something stands alone (such as a webpage that may or may not be part of a greater website), choose not to italicize.
More on Capitalization: Title Case Versus Sentence Case
APA Style uses two kinds of capitalization to format reference titles, which are also mentioned in the table above: title case and sentence case. APA’s title case refers to a capitalization style in which most words are capitalized, and sentence case refers to a capitalization style in which most words are lowercased. In both cases, proper nouns and certain other types of words are always capitalized . Here are more detailed directions for implementing title case and sentence case .
Text Examples
As shown in the table above, title case is used for the titles of references when they appear in the text of an APA Style paper. Here are some examples of titles written in title case (of an article and a book, respectively), as they might appear in a sentence in the text of a paper:
Reference List Entry Examples
In contrast, sentence case is used for titles of references when they appear in reference list entries. See how the book and article titles look when capitalized in sentence case in these example reference list entries:
We hope this helps you understand how to capitalize and format reference titles in APA Style.
More Posts on Capitalization
- Do I Capitalize This Word?
- How to Capitalize Author Names in APA Style
- Title Case and Sentence Case Capitalization in APA Style
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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / APA Format / Formatting an APA title page
Formatting an APA title page
The title page is a requirement for all APA papers. The primary role of the title page is to present just that: the title. But that’s only the beginning of what is actually required for a properly formatted APA title page. This is the first chance a writer has to truly engage with the reader.
For students, the title page also lets people know which class, professor, and institution the text was written for. For professional authors, the title page is an opportunity to share any affiliations or conflicts of interest that might be present.
APA Style recognizes two different ways to format a title page. One is for student papers and the other is for professional papers. This guide will examine the difference and provide real-life examples of both.
The information provided below comes from the 7 th edition of the APA’s Publication Manual . You can read more about title page elements in Sections 2.1 – 2.8.
Here’s a run-through of everything this page includes:
The difference between a professional title page and a student title page in APA
Elements of an apa style title page, apa formatting title page example, conclusion: formatting a title page in apa 7.
Both student and professional title pages require a title, author, and an affiliation. Both types of title page also require the same basic formatting, including 1-inch indentations on all sides and a page number in the top right corner.
The primary difference is that professional title pages also require an author note and a running head. However, some professors do ask that you provide some of these elements in student papers. It’s a good idea to know how to format them just in case.
Student title page APA
An APA title page for any paper being submitted for a class, degree, or thesis is all about the basics. Here are the elements that should be included in a student title page :
- Title of your paper
- Byline (author or authors)
- Affiliation (department and university)
- Course name and course number
- Instructor name
Page number
Your professor or institution might have their own formatting requirements. When writing a paper for a class, the first rule is to always pay attention to the instructions.
Professional title page APA
A professional title page skips the class info and due date, but it includes:
- Affiliation (division and/or organization)
- Author note
- Running head
The author note and running head are generally only required for professional papers. However, some professors might ask that you include one or both of them. Be sure to check the assignment instructions before submitting.
The title of your paper is really important. This is where the author needs to simultaneously inform and engage the reader without being overly wordy.
An effective title will:
- Engage the reader
- Concisely explain the main topic of research
- Concisely explain any relevant variables or theoretical issues
The paper title should be placed three or four lines down from the top margin of the page. It should be presented in bold, title case, and centered on the page.
Author/Byline
The correct way to display the author’s name is first name, middle initial, and last name. The most important thing is to prevent the possibility of mistaken identity. After all, there are a lot of papers published every year, and it’s possible that someone else has the same name as you do.
For all author bylines in APA, all licenses and degrees are omitted (e.g., Dr., Professor, PhD, RN, etc.).
If your paper has multiple authors, then they should all be listed in the same way, in order of their contributions. All authors should be on the same line, unless more lines are required.
Here’s an example of a properly formatted byline for a paper with two authors:
Cassandra M. Berkman and Wilhelm K. Jackson
Affiliation
The affiliation element is where you identify the place where the work was conducted or who it was conducted for. This is almost always a university or institution. In some cases, there are multiple affiliations for one author, or multiple authors with different affiliations.
Academic affiliations
Academic affiliations include schools, universities, and teaching hospitals. The affiliation line should include the specific department followed by the name of the institution. There is no need to include a location for academic affiliations.
Here is an example of what a basic academic affiliation line should look like:
Department of Psychology, Colorado State University
Non-academic affiliations
Non-academic affiliations are anything that isn’t a school or university, which could be a hospital, laboratory, or just about any type of organization. The affiliation line for a non-academic organization should include the department or division, followed by the name and location of the organization. All elements should be separated by commas.
Here’s how it looks when put to use:
Vidant Health, Greenville, NC, United States
Course number and name (Student only)
Use the course number and course name as they appear on official university materials. Examples:
- ENG 204: Modern English Literature
- PSYC 2301: Research Methodology
Instructor name (Student papers only)
It’s important that you display your instructor’s name in their preferred way. With academics who have multiple degrees and positions, this isn’t something that you should guess at.
It is generally safe to use the course syllabus to see how they prefer to be listed. For example, some use the word “Professor” as their prefix, and many will have PhD, RN, or other type of professional designation.
Due date (Student papers only)
The due date should be presented in the day, month, and year format that is standard to your country.
The page number goes at the top right-hand side of the paper. This is one of the only elements that appears on every single page.
You can add running page numbers to your paper by double-clicking the header portion of the document or clicking the “Insert” tab. It will automatically insert page numbers into the rest of the document.
Author note (Professional papers only)
The author note is usually only required for professional papers. This is where additional data, disclaimers, conflicts of interest, and statements about funding are placed. In some cases, the author statement can be several pages long.
The author note is generally split into four paragraphs, including:
- ORCID iD (a scientific/academic author ID)
- Changes of Affiliation
- Disclosures and Acknowledgments
- Contact Information
Section 2.7 of the Publication Manual has even more information on how to structure these elements for a professional paper.
Running Head (Professional papers only)
While some student papers might require a running head, this is something that is typically only for papers being submitted for publication. This is an abbreviated version of your title that appears at the top of every page to help readers identify it. The running title is particularly useful especially in print versions of journals and publications.
The running head does not have to use the same words as they appear in your title. Instead, try to re-work your paper’s main idea into a shortened form.
For example, if your paper’s title is:
“A Mystery of Style: Exploring the Formatting Mechanics of the Running Head According to APA Style 7th Edition”
Then your abbreviated title can be something like:
“RUNNING HEAD IN APA 7”
“FORMATTING THE RUNNING HEAD”
The idea is to convey only the most important aspects of your title. The running head should be entered in the page header, flush left against the margin, and presented in all-capital letters.
The APA suggests a maximum length of 50 characters (including spaces and punctuation) for a running head. If your title is already 50 characters and under, then you can use the whole thing as the running head.
Next, let’s have a look at an example of what a real APA title page looks like when it’s all put together.
Student title page formatting example

Professional title page formatting example

All papers written according to APA Style should have a properly formatted title page. Making sure that the title page elements are accurate and informative will help people access your work. It is also the first opportunity that you have as the author to establish credibility and engage the reader.
For more information on the basic elements of an APA paper, check out Chapter 2 of the Publication Manual or our guide on APA format .
Published October 28, 2020.
APA Formatting Guide
APA Formatting
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Citation Examples
- Book Chapter
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- View all APA Examples
An APA title page provides the details of the paper, such as the title of the paper, author name, and author affiliation. APA title pages have two formats—one for professional papers and one for student papers.
The elements to be added on the title page of a professional paper (in order of appearance) are:
- Page number and running head: These elements appear in the header section. The page number appears at the top-right corner, whereas the running head appears at the top-left corner. If the title is too long, the running head is shortened to less than 50 characters.
- Title of the paper: It provides information about the paper. It is aligned center and set in bold.
- Names of the authors: It gives the names of the contributors to the paper and is aligned center.
- Affiliations of the authors: It gives the department and university details of the authors.
- Author note: It gives extra information about the authors.
In a student paper, the following details are included on the title page:
- Page number: This appears in the top-right corner of the header section.
- Title of the paper: It gives the reader an idea of the information in the paper. It appears in title case and bold. It is center-aligned.
- Names of the authors: The names of the contributors are added here. This field is also called the by-line.
- Affiliations of the authors: It includes the names of the authors’ departments and universities.
- Name of the course: The name of the course for which the paper is written is included in this field.
- Name of the instructor: Unlike the professional paper, the instructor’s name is included in a student paper.
- Due date of the assignment: The due date of the assignment is added here. The format is “Month Day, Year” (e.g., August 22, 2017).
The title page information for APA is different for a professional paper and a student paper. As a student, you need to include the following details in the same order on the title page of your student paper.
- Page number: This appears in the header section. Set the page number in the top-right corner of the header.
- Title of the paper: Set it in title case and bold. Align it to the center.
- Names of the authors: Provide the names of the contributors. This field is also called the by-line.
- Affiliations of the authors: Include your department and university name.
- Name of the course: Provide the name of the course and course number for which the paper is written.
- Name of the instructor: Add the instructor’s name. There is no rigid rule on how to set the instructor’s name. You can set it according to the instructor’s preference.
- Due date of the assignment: Add the due date of the assignment. The format should be “Month Day, Year” (e.g., August 23, 2021).
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How to Cite a Book in APA Format
Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author and educational consultant focused on helping students learn about psychology.
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Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell.
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Translated Book
Multivolume work, ebook or audiobook.
APA format is the official style of the American Psychological Association and is used in both academic and professional writing.
Before you create a reference page for your papers, essays, articles, or reports, it is important to learn how to format your references in proper APA style . This style dictates certain rules and guidelines for different types of references, including books.
Not all book citations are the same in APA style. The format may vary depending on a number of factors including the type of book and number of authors.
APA Book Citation: Basic Structure
The basic structure of a book reference should list the author's last name, the first initial of their first name, the first initial of their middle name (if applicable), publication year, book title, edition (if it isn't the first), and publisher. This is the same format for both books and ebooks. If the source has a DOI link, that should also be included at the end of the reference.
The following example shows one citation with a DOI hyperlink and the second without. Note the punctuation and style. The year of publication is in parentheses. The book title is italicized and in sentence case, and the edition information is in parentheses.
Book Citations in APA
Jackson, L. M. (2019). The psychology of prejudice: From attitudes to social action (2nd ed.). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000168-000
Rogers, C. R. (1961). On becoming a person. Houghton Mifflin.
This basic format can be used for many types of books that have a single author or multiple authors. However, you may need to use one of the following formats for books that are edited, have no author, are translated, or require some specialized formatting.
Edited Book With One or More Authors
Edited books with one or more authors will include the names of the editors in the citation. It should follow the basic structure of a book reference but also include the first name initial, last name, and "Ed." for one editor or "Eds." for multiple editors in parentheses after the book title. Use an ampersand to separate multiple authors and multiple editors.
Citing Authors and Editors
Adler, A. (1956). The individual psychology of Alfred Adler: A systematic presentation of selections from his writings. (H. L. Ansbacher, & R. R. Ansbacher, Eds.). Basic Books.
Marson, G., Keenan-Miller, D., & Costin, C. (2020). The binge eating prevention workbook. (M. Solis, Ed.). New Harbinger Publications.
Edited Book With No Author
Edited books with no author should list the editors first. List the last name and first initial of the editor, followed by "Ed." or "Eds." in parentheses. The remainder of the reference should follow the basic structure and include the publication year, book title in italics, and publisher.
If the book is anything other than the first edition, it should also be noted in parentheses after the title of the book, with no italics. Remember, you don't need to include the publisher's location.
Citing Editors
Atkinson, J. W., & Rayner, J. O. (Eds.). (1974). Motivation and achievement. V. H. Winston.
Article Featured in an Edited Book
Sometimes edited books feature a collection of articles written by different authors. To cite an article in such a collection, you should list the last name and first initial of the individual author(s), followed by the publication date and chapter title.
Next, the editors should be listed, followed by the title of the book and the page numbers of the chapter. The publisher's name goes last.
Citing an Article in a Book
Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (2005). History of forensic psychology. In I. B. Weiner, & A. K. Hess (Eds.), The Handbook of Forensic Psychology (pp.1-27). Wiley.
Many famous psychology texts were originally written in another language and then translated into English. Books translated from another language should include the last name and first initial of the author, followed by the year of publication and book title.
The first initials and last name of the translator and the notation "Trans." should then be included in parentheses. Next, provide the publisher and the original year of publication.
Citing a Translator
Freud, S. (1914). The psychopathology of everyday life (A. A. Brill, Trans.). T. Fisher Unwin. (Original work published 1901).
If you're referencing a republished book, the in-text citation should include both the original and republished date. For example, if you were to reference the publication above in text, you would write "(Freud 1901/1914)."
The APA style guide also explains how to cite a multivolume work. You list the last name and first initial of the author(s) or editor(s), followed by the year of publication in parentheses. Then, you put the name of the publication in italics in sentence case.
You list the specific volumes in parentheses, using a hyphen between digits. You then list the name of the publisher.
Citing a Multivolume Work
Harris, K. R., Graham, S., & Urdan T. (Eds.). (2012). APA educational psychology handbook (Vols. 1–3). American Psychological Association.
If the ebook or audiobook is also in print and the content is the same, you can cite it the same way you would a print book. However, with audiobooks, you might wish to call out specific information such as the narrator's name.
If you are crediting the narrator of an audiobook, the format is the last name and the initial of the author's first name, then the year of publication in parentheses. After listing the name of the book in italics, you put the first initial and the last name of the narrator, followed by "Narr." in parentheses.
Then you add "Audiobook" in brackets, followed by the publisher's name and URL. The seventh edition of the "Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association" gives the following example:
Citing an Audiobook
Rowling, J. K. (2015). Harry Potter and the sorcerer’s stone (J. Dale, Narr.) [Audiobook]. Pottermore Publishing. http://bit.ly/2TcHchx (Original work published 1997)
More Tips to Follow
It may seem like there's a lot of information to keep in mind as you cite books in APA style. But remember, the more you practice, the easier it gets!
As you use citations throughout your paper, you'll want to make sure you keep track of them separately so you can add them to your reference page at the end.
Traditionally the term “citation” is used to refer to an in-text source while “reference” is the correct term for a source listed on the reference page of an APA format paper.
The following are some helpful tips to keep in mind as you write an APA-style reference paper:
- Double-space : Remember that your reference page needs to be double-spaced.
- Indent : The first line of each reference should be flush left with the margin of the page. Each subsequent line of your reference should be indented.
- Use the DOI : If a digital object identifier (DOI) is available, include it at the end of the reference.
- Include the URL : If a book has been accessed via an online database , follow the basic APA format and include the full URL at the end.
- Follow additional guidelines : Be sure you are following the other guidelines for your reference page.
A Word From Verywell
APA citations are an integral part of writing in APA style. It's best to consult the latest edition of the "Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association" to stay up to date on all guidelines and helpful tips.
American Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association . 7th ed. American Psychological Association; 2020.
American Psychological Association. Paper format .
American Psychological Association. Book/ebook references . Updated December 2020.
By Kendra Cherry Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author and educational consultant focused on helping students learn about psychology.
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How to Cite a Book in APA
Use the following template to cite a book using the APA citation format. We also provide style guides for the MLA and Chicago styles. To have your bibliography or works cited list automatically made for you, check out our free APA citation generator .
Once you’re finished with your citations, we can also help you with creating an APA title page .
Citing a book in APA (print)
Author, A. (Year of Publication). Title of work . Publisher Name.
Finney, J. (1970). Time and again . Simon and Schuster.
Notes: When citing a book in APA, keep in mind:
- The title of the book should be written in sentence case. This means you should capitalize the first letter of the first word of the title and any subtitles, as well as the first letter of any proper nouns.
- The full title of the book, including any subtitles, should be stated and italicized .
- You do not need to include the publisher location.
Citing an e-book in APA (digital or online)
E-book is short for “electronic book.” It is a digital version of a book that can be read on a computer, e-reader (Kindle, Nook, etc.), or other electronic device.
Author, A. (Year of Publication). Title of work (ed. if applicable). Publisher Name. URL
Coccia, E. (2021). The life of plants: The metaphysics of mixture (digital ed.). Hans Reitzel Forlag. https://planternesliv.digi.hansreitzel.dk/
- If you need to distinguish the e-book version from the print version, this can be included in the “edition” slot of the citation. Otherwise, the citation format is the same for both print books and e-books.
- If the e-book has a DOI or a stable URL, include it in the reference.
- Do not include a period after the URL.
Citing a book from a database in APA
Author, A. (Year of Publication). Title of work . Publisher Name. URL or DOI
Sayre, R., Devercelli, A. E., Neuman, M. J., & Wodon, Q. (2015). Investment in early childhood development: Review of the world bank’s recent experience . World Bank Group. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-0403-8
Notes: When citing an online book or e-book in APA, keep in mind:
- A DOI (digital object identifier) is an assigned number that helps link content to its location on the Internet. It is therefore important, if one is provided, to use it when creating a citation.
- If an e-book is from an academic database but does not have a DOI or stable URL, end the citation after the publisher name (the citation format will then be the same as for a print book). Do not include the name of the database.
Citing a single volume of a multivolume book in APA
Author, A. (Year of Publication). Title of work (Vol. #). Publisher Name.
Kemble, J. M. (2020). The Saxons in England: A history of the English commonwealth till the period of the Norman conquest (Vol. 2). Gutenberg.
Citing a several volumes of a multivolume book in APA
Author, A. (Year of Publication). Title of work . (Vols. #-#). Publisher Name.
Kemble, J. M. (2020). The Saxons in England: A history of the English commonwealth till the period of the Norman conquest (Vols. 1-2). Gutenberg.
Citing an audiobook in APA
Author, A. (Year of Publication). Title of work (F. M. Narrator, Narr.) [Audiobook]. Publisher. URL or DOI (Original work published year if applicable)
Ruiz, D. M. (2005). The four agreements (P. Coyote, Narr.) [Audiobook]. Amber Allen Publishing. https://www.amazon.com/The-Four-Agreements-don-Miguel-Ruiz-audio/dp/B0007OB40E (Original work published 1997)
For more information on how to cite in APA, check out Cornell .
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When the book you quote has volume numbers or is a book from a series, then you need to mention them as part of your reference list entry. Use the format below to understand where and how.
Last Name, Initials. (Year). Title (Ed No., Vol no.). Publisher.
Creek, A.J. (1986). Handbook of mental disorders (5 th ed., Vol 3). Psychology Publishing Press.
In APA style, italicize sources that stand alone. Such works include books, reports, and websites. However, don’t italicize works that are part of the main source. Examples of such sources are journal articles and book chapters.
If an author name isn’t available, you may include a book, report, or website title in the in-text citation. In such cases, again only italicize sources that stand alone.
In APA style, italicize sources. Do not underline them.

APA 7th Edition Style Guide: Publishers
- About In-text Citations
- In-Text Examples
- What to Include
- Volume/Issue
- Bracketed Descriptions
- URLs and DOIs
- Book with Editor(s)
- Book with No Author
- Book with Organization as Author
- Book with Personal Author(s)
- Chapters and Parts of Books
- Classical Works
- Course Materials
- Journal Article
- Magazine Article
- Multi-Volume Works
- Newspaper Article
- Patents & Laws
- Personal Communication
- Physicians' Desk Reference
- Social Media
- Unpublished Manuscripts/Informal Publications (i.e. course packets and dissertations)
- Formatting Your Paper
- Formatting Your References
- Annotated Bibliography
- Headings in APA
- APA Quick Guide
- NEW!* Submit your Paper for APA Review
A publisher is the "person, firm, or corporate body responsible for making a work available to the public" (NISO). Publisher information is usually found on the title page or verso of the title page of a book. Record the name as it appears in the publication.
Omit words that designate a business purpose from the publisher name such as Co. , LLC , and Inc. from publisher names. Retain the words Books and Press .
If more than one publisher is given, use the first one or the one that represents the home office, if given.
Begin publisher information after the title. End publisher information with a period.
Sittler, R. L. & Cook, D. (2009). The library instruction cookbook. American Library Association.
If the publisher is the same as the author, then omit the publisher name.
American Psychological Association. (2009). Crediting sources: Citing references in text. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed., p. 177).
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The in-text citation for a book includes the author's last name, the year, and (if relevant) a page number. In the reference list, start with the author's last name and initials, followed by the year. The book title is written in sentence case (only capitalize the first word and any proper nouns ).
Basic Format for Books Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. Publisher Name. DOI (if available) Stoneman, R. (2008). Alexander the Great: A life in legend. Yale University Press. Edited Book, No Author Editor, E. E. (Ed.). (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle.
Title of chapter, article, essay or short story. In Editor's First Initial. Second Initial if Given. Editor's Last Name (Ed.), Title of book: Subtitle if given (edition if given and is not first edition, pp. first page number-last page number). Publisher Name.
No author: Cite the first few words of the reference entry (usually the title) and the year. Use double quotation marks around the title of an article or chapter, and italicize the title of a periodical, book, brochure, or report. Examples: From the book Study Guide (2000) ... or ("Reading," 1999).
APA recommends that your title be focused and succinct and that it should not contain abbreviations or words that serve no purpose. Your title may take up one or two lines. All text on the title page, and throughout your paper, should be double-spaced. Beneath the title, type the author's name: first name, middle initial (s), and last name.
here are certain things to keep in mind when writing a title according to APA style. Book titles are italicized and written using sentence case (only the first word of a title, subtitle, or proper noun are capitalized). Book chapter titles are written using sentence case and are not italicized.
Provide the author, year of publication, title, and publisher of the book. Use the same format for both print books and ebooks. Use the copyright date shown on the book's copyright page as the year of publication in the reference, even if the copyright date is different than the release date.
In APA Style papers, use italics for the following cases: When not to use italics Do not use italics for the following cases in APA Style papers: Italics for emphasis In general, avoid using italics for emphasis. Instead, rewrite your sentence to provide emphasis.
The standard format for referencing a book is Author's Name, Year, Title, Place, Publisher. A classic example of a book citation using the APA style is: Smith, J. J., Russel, M. R., & Green, T. M. (2014). The Elements of Consumer Protection Explained (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Oxford Publishers.
Throughout your paper, you need to apply the following APA format guidelines: Set page margins to 1 inch on all sides. Double-space all text, including headings. Indent the first line of every paragraph 0.5 inches. Use an accessible font (e.g., Times New Roman 12pt., Arial 11pt., or Georgia 11pt.). Include a page number on every page.
The formatting of the titles of sources you use in your paper depends on two factors: (a) the independence of the source (stands alone vs. part of a greater whole) and (b) the location of the title (in the text of the paper vs. in the reference list entry). The table below provides formatting directions and examples:
APA Style recognizes two different ways to format a title page. One is for student papers and the other is for professional papers. This guide will examine the difference and provide real-life examples of both. The information provided below comes from the 7thedition of the APA's Publication Manual.
APA Book Citation: Basic Structure . The basic structure of a book reference should list the author's last name, the first initial of their first name, the first initial of their middle name (if applicable), publication year, book title, edition (if it isn't the first), and publisher. This is the same format for both books and ebooks. If the source has a DOI link, that should also be included ...
Example: Finney, J. (1970). Time and again. Simon and Schuster. Notes: When citing a book in APA, keep in mind: The title of the book should be written in sentence case. This means you should capitalize the first letter of the first word of the title and any subtitles, as well as the first letter of any proper nouns.
Books. Omit words that designate a business purpose from the publisher name such as Co., LLC, and Inc. from publisher names. Retain the words Books and Press. If more than one publisher is given, use the first one or the one that represents the home office, if given. Begin publisher information after the title. End publisher information with a ...