The American Psychological Association (APA) style is a widely used formatting guide for academic and professional writing. When citing a book in APA style, there are specific guidelines to follow. According to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.), a book citation should include the author's last name, first initial, publication year, book title, and publisher.
Basic Book Citation Format
The basic format for a book citation in APA style is as follows: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book. Publisher. For example: Smith, J. (2020). The psychology of learning. Wiley.
Book Citation Examples
Here are some examples of book citations in APA style:
- Single author: Smith, J. (2020). The psychology of learning. Wiley.
- Multiple authors: Smith, J., & Johnson, K. (2020). Research methods in psychology. Sage.
- Edited book: Johnson, K. (Ed.). (2020). Handbook of psychology. Guilford Press.
- Translated book: Freud, S. (1923). The ego and the id (J. Strachey, Trans.). International Psycho-Analytic Press.
| Book Type | Citation Format |
|---|---|
| Single author | Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book. Publisher. |
| Multiple authors | Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of book. Publisher. |
| Edited book | Editor, E. E. (Ed.). (Year). Title of book. Publisher. |
| Translated book | Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book (Translator, Trans.). Publisher. |
In addition to the citation format, APA style also requires a reference list at the end of the paper. The reference list should include all sources cited in the paper, formatted according to APA guidelines.
Reference List Format
The reference list format for a book in APA style is similar to the citation format, with some minor differences. The reference list entry should include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year, book title, and publisher.
Here is an example of a reference list entry for a book:
Smith, J. (2020). The psychology of learning. Wiley.
Reference List Examples
Here are some examples of reference list entries for books:
- Single author: Smith, J. (2020). The psychology of learning. Wiley.
- Multiple authors: Smith, J., & Johnson, K. (2020). Research methods in psychology. Sage.
- Edited book: Johnson, K. (Ed.). (2020). Handbook of psychology. Guilford Press.
- Translated book: Freud, S. (1923). The ego and the id (J. Strachey, Trans.). International Psycho-Analytic Press.
What is the basic format for a book citation in APA style?
+The basic format for a book citation in APA style is: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book. Publisher.
How do I cite a book with multiple authors in APA style?
+To cite a book with multiple authors in APA style, use the following format: Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of book. Publisher.
What is the difference between a citation and a reference list entry in APA style?
+A citation is a brief reference to a source in the text, while a reference list entry is a full citation to a source at the end of the paper. Both citations and reference list entries should be formatted according to APA guidelines.
