MLA Book Citations
Complete guide to citing books, textbooks, and edited collections in MLA format
Basic Book Citation Format
Book citations in MLA format follow a specific structure that includes author, title, publisher, and publication date. The exact format varies depending on the type of book and available information.
Basic Book Citation TemplateEssential
Author. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
Example: Smith, John. Modern Academic Writing. University Press, 2024.
Single Author Books
Print Books
For a standard book with one author, include the author's name (last, first), the book title in italics, publisher, and publication year.
Format:
Author. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
Example:
Johnson, Maria. Digital Learning Strategies. Academic Press, 2024.
E-books and Digital Formats
For e-books, include the same information as print books. Add the format or platform if it's not clear from the publisher information.
Example:
Chen, David. The Future of Education. E-book, Educational Publishers, 2024.
Kindle Edition:
Wilson, Sarah. Teaching in the Digital Age. Kindle ed., Amazon, 2024.
Multiple Author Books
Two Authors
For books with two authors, list the first author with last name first, then "and" followed by the second author in normal order.
Smith, John, and Mary Johnson. Collaborative Learning Methods. University Press, 2024.
Three or More Authors
For books with three or more authors, list only the first author followed by "et al."
Williams, Robert, et al. Advanced Teaching Techniques. Academic Publishers, 2024.
Corporate Authors
When an organization is the author, use the organization's name in place of a personal author.
American Educational Association. Standards for Digital Learning. AEA Publications, 2024.
Edited Books and Collections
Books with Editors
For edited collections or books where you're citing the entire work, list the editor(s) followed by "editor" or "editors."
Rodriguez, Ana, editor. Contemporary Education Research. Academic Press, 2024.
Brown, Lisa, and Mark Davis, editors. Innovation in Teaching. University Publishers, 2024.
Chapter in an Edited Book
When citing a specific chapter or essay from an edited collection, list the chapter author and title first, then the book information with editor details.
Format:
Chapter Author. "Chapter Title." Book Title, edited by Editor Name, Publisher, Year, pages.
Example:
Thompson, Carol. "Digital Assessment Strategies." Modern Teaching Methods, edited by James Wilson, Educational Press, 2024, pp. 45-67.
Special Book Types
Translated Books
For translated works, include the translator's name after the title, preceded by "translated by."
Dubois, Pierre. Educational Philosophy, translated by Sarah Miller, International Press, 2024.
Multiple Editions
For books with multiple editions, include the edition number after the title.
Anderson, Karen. Research Methods in Education. 5th ed., Academic Publishers, 2024.
Multivolume Works
For multivolume sets, specify which volume you used after the title.
Foster, Michael. History of American Education. Vol. 2, Historical Press, 2024.
In-Text Citations for Books
Basic In-Text Citations
Include the author's last name and page number for direct quotes and specific references.
According to recent research, "digital literacy is essential for modern education" (Johnson 45).
Johnson argues that digital literacy skills are crucial for student success (45).
Multiple Authors in Text
Use the same author format in in-text citations as in the Works Cited entry.
The study shows significant improvement (Smith and Johnson 78).
Research indicates positive outcomes (Williams et al. 123).
Chapter Citations
When citing a specific chapter, use the chapter author's name in the in-text citation.
Thompson emphasizes the importance of digital assessment (56).
Common Book Citation Examples
Complete Examples
Standard Book:
Peterson, Laura. Innovative Teaching Strategies. Educational Publishers, 2024.
Two Authors:
Garcia, Carlos, and Lisa Wong. Multicultural Education. Diversity Press, 2024.
Edited Collection:
Martinez, Elena, editor. Future of Higher Education. Academic Press, 2024.
Chapter in Edited Book:
Kim, Jennifer. "Online Learning Platforms." Digital Education Today, edited by Robert Chen, Tech Publishers, 2024, pp. 34-52.
E-book:
Taylor, Amanda. Student Engagement Techniques. E-book, Modern Education Press, 2024.
Common Book Citation Mistakes
Avoid These Errors
❌ Wrong:
Smith, John. "Modern Teaching." University Press, 2024.
✅ Correct:
Smith, John. Modern Teaching. University Press, 2024.
Book titles should be italicized, not in quotation marks
❌ Wrong:
Johnson, M. Educational Theory. Academic Press, 2024.
✅ Correct:
Johnson, Maria. Educational Theory. Academic Press, 2024.
Use full first names, not just initials
❌ Wrong:
Brown, Lisa and Davis, Mark. Research Methods. Publishers, 2024.
✅ Correct:
Brown, Lisa, and Mark Davis. Research Methods. Academic Publishers, 2024.
Second author should be in normal order (first, last)
❌ Wrong:
Wilson, Sarah. Teaching Strategies. (2024). Educational Press.
✅ Correct:
Wilson, Sarah. Teaching Strategies. Educational Press, 2024.
Year should come after publisher, not in parentheses