Citation Guide

How to Cite a Book in APA 7th Edition

Learn the correct APA 7th Edition format for citing a book. Includes format template, worked example, common mistakes, and FAQ.

General Format

The standard APA 7 format for a book reference is: Author, A. A. (Year). *Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle*. Publisher. For books with multiple authors, list up to 20 authors separated by commas, using an ampersand (&) before the final author. For 21 or more authors, list the first 19, insert an ellipsis (...), then add the last author's name. For edited books: Editor, E. E. (Ed.). (Year). *Title of work*. Publisher.

Worked Example

Single author: Sapolsky, R. M. (2017). *Behave: The biology of humans at our best and worst*. Penguin Books. Two authors: Kishlansky, M., & Geary, P. (2012). *Civilization in the West* (8th ed.). Pearson. Edited book: Gross, R. (Ed.). (2020). *Psychology: The science of mind and behaviour* (8th ed.). Hodder Education.

Common Mistakes

1. **Italicizing the wrong element** -- In APA 7, the book title is italicized, not placed in quotation marks. Only chapter titles within edited books get no special formatting. 2. **Including the publisher location** -- APA 7 removed the requirement for publisher location (e.g., New York, NY). Only include the publisher name. 3. **Forgetting the edition number** -- If the book is not a first edition, include the edition number in parentheses after the title, e.g., (2nd ed.).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I include the publisher location in APA 7?

No. APA 7th edition removed the requirement for publisher location. You only need the publisher name. For example, write just "Penguin Books" instead of "New York, NY: Penguin Books."

How do I cite an e-book in APA 7?

Cite an e-book the same way as a print book. Do not include the database or library name. If the book has a DOI, include it at the end: https://doi.org/xxxxx. Do not include the e-reader format (Kindle, Nook, etc.).

How do I handle multiple editions of the same book?

Include the edition number in parentheses after the title, before the period: Author, A. A. (Year). *Title of work* (3rd ed.). Publisher. The edition number is not italicized.

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