Citing a book in MLA format includes specific information to properly reference the source. This generally includes the author’s name, the book’s title, the publication date, the publisher, and the medium of publication. The basic format for an MLA book citation is outlined thoroughly in this article, however, it may vary depending on several factors. It’s essential to follow this format accurately to acknowledge the original source correctly and to avoid plagiarism.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
- 1 MLA Book Citation – In a Nutshell
- 2 Definition: MLA book citation
- 3 Information for an MLA book citation
- 4 MLA book citation – 8th vs. 9th edition
- 5 MLA book citation – Books with multiple authors
- 6 MLA book citation – Books with no author
- 7 MLA book citation – Specific book editions
- 8 MLA book citation – Referencing volumes
- 9 MLA book citation – Referencing translated books
- 10 MLA book-citation – Referencing e-books
- 11 MLA book citation – Citing online books
- 12 MLA book citation – Anthologies or collections
- 13 FAQs
MLA Book Citation – In a Nutshell
- An MLA book citation has two parts: The in-text citation and the Works Cited entry.
- The in-text citation should contain the author’s surname and the page number.
- The Works Cited entry is placed at the end of the paper or dissertation.
- The title of the book is italicized in the format.
- If quoting an e-book, you must adjust the format accordingly.
- Editions and volumes must be referenced and the format adapted.
Definition: MLA book citation
The MLA style guide was established by the Modern Language Association of America. MLA book citation style is one of the most widely used formats of citation in the fields of humanities and academia. An MLA book citation consists of the in-text citation and the corresponding entry in the MLA Works Cited section, placed at the end of the paper. The basic format for an MLA book citation is as follows:
“Author’s Last name, First name. Title of the Book. Publisher, Publication date.”
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Information for an MLA book citation
To cite a book in MLA style, you need to know the author(s) name(s), the book title, the publication year, the publisher’s name, and the edition, if applicable. You can find this information on the book’s front cover and/or on the copyright page.
MLA book citation – 8th vs. 9th edition
The MLA’s 9th edition was published in 2021. The most recent version expanded its scope and offers guidelines on how to cite a wider range of sources. This includes:
- Information on how to quote films.
- Information on how to quote articles from databases.
- Inclusive language guidelines
- Guidance on MLA footnotes and endnotes.
- Guidance on annotated bibliographies.
- New guidelines on citing URLs.
If there are only two authors, use this MLA book citation format:
Surname, Name, and Surname, Name. Book Title. Publisher, year.
Example
In-text citation: (Rodrigues and Moore 56)
Works Cited entry: Rodrigues, Mario, and Moore Claire. The Psychology of Bilingual Speakers. Riley, 2015.
If there are more than two authors, use this MLA book citation format:
Surname, Name, et al. Book Title. Publisher, year.
Example
In-text citation: (Perry et al. 90)
Works Cited entry: Perry, Jonathan, et al. The Evolution of Media Studies. Cambridge UP, 1999.
If the author isn’t specified, your citation should be formatted as follows:
Book name. Publisher or Editor, year.
Example
In-text citation: A study of Shakesperian syntax (231)
Works Cited entry: A study of Shakesperian syntax. Rogers, 2007.
MLA book citation – Specific book editions
If the book referenced includes an edition, use this format:
Author surname, First name. Book Title. Edition ed., Publisher, Year.
Example
In-text citation: (Martin 55)
Works Cited entry: Martin, Anthony. A Brief History of the Roman Empire. 3rd ed., Riley, 2013.
MLA book citation – Original publication date
If you’re citing a classic book and the original publication date is relevant to your work, follow this MLA book citation format:
Author Surname, First name. Book Title. Original publication year. Edition ed., Publisher, Edition publication year.
Example
In-text citation: (Austen 83)
Works Cited entry: Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. 1813. Revised ed., Signet Classics, 2008.
MLA book citation – Referencing volumes
Some books are written as more than a single volume. In this case, your MLA book citation should look like this:
Citing from a single volume: Author surname, First name. Book Title. Edition ed., vol. Volume number, Publisher, Year.
Example
In-text citation: (Clark 109)
Works Cited entry: Clark, Roger. Critical Media Studies. 1st ed., vol. 2. Oxford UP, 1999.
Citing from multiple volumes: Author surname, First name. Book Title. Edition ed., Publisher, Year. Number of volumes vols.
Example
In-text citation: (Donovan 1:67)
Works Cited entry: Donovan, John. British Colonies in the 19th century. 2nd ed., Oxford UP, 2000. 2 vols.
MLA book citation – Referencing translated books
Translated books must include the translator’s names, in this format:
Author surname, First name. Book Title. Translated by Translator name, Publisher, Year.
Example
In-text citation: (Garcia Marquez 165)
Works Cited entry: Garcia Marquez, Gabriel. One Hundred Years of Solitude. Translated by Gregory Rabassa, Jonathan Cape, 1970.
MLA book-citation – Referencing e-books
Use this format when you reference an e-book that you downloaded to an e-reader:
Author last name, First name. Book Title. E-book ed., Publisher, Year.
Example
In-text citation: (Geertz 71)
Works Cited entry: Geertz, Clifford. The Interpretation of Cultures. E-book ed., Basic Book Classics, 2003.
MLA book citation – Citing online books
Whenever you reference a book you accessed online, use the following MLA book citation format:
Author surname, First name. Book Title. Publisher, Year. Website or Database Name E-Book, DOI/URL.
Example
In-text citation: (Perry 45)
Works Cited entry: Perry, Anna. Ethnomusicology of Western Africa. Cambridge UP, 2003. ACLS Humanities E-Book, doi: 10.0000/500000000.
MLA book citation – Anthologies or collections
When you cite from books that feature a collection of essays, the applicable format is:
Surname, First name. “Title of Essay.” Title of Collection, edited by Editor/s Name/s, Publisher, Year, Page/s.
Example
In-text citation: (Goodwill 240)
Works Cited entry: Goodwill, Jacob. “Modern discourse analysis.” Discourse and Society: An Anthology, edited by Johan Solnit, Harvard UP, 2010, 235-255
FAQs
The standard MLA book citation guidelines are:
Author/s Surname and Initial/s. Title. Book Publisher, Publication year.
Example:
In-text citation: (Andrews 20)
Works Cited entry: Andrews, M. The Role of the Humanities in Society. Wiley, 2005.
Yes. The standard (parenthetical) in-text book citation follows the format:
Sentence + (Author’s surname Page number).
Narrative or prose in-text citations must be referenced as follows: Author’s surname (Page number)
Yes. For these books, use this MLA book citation style:
Author Surname, Name. Book Title. Place of publication, year of publication.
Example:
Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. London, 1890.
Yes, following this format:
Author Surname, Name. Dissertation Title. Year. Awarding institution, Degree.
Example:
Branson, Lisa. Perceptions of Ethnic Identity in European Immigrants. 2014. University of California, PhD dissertation.
