How to Cite a Book in APA (7th Edition)

Ever stared at your paper, knowing you need to cite a book in APA, but your brain just goes, no? You’re certainly not alone. The APA style has specific rules: you have to use italics here, a period there, and parenthetical citations in just the right spot. Plus, your whole citation looks like a puzzle missing a piece if you overlook one tiny detail.

This is no reason for stress, though! Once you get the formula down, citations become way easier. And if you feel like you can't wrap your head around your assignments, EssayHub's essay writing service is always here to take over and help.

Formatting Rules for Citing a Book in APA

All you need to know to properly cite a book in APA (7th edition) is the formula, and it instantly stops feeling like such a headache. Here’s what every book citation should include:

• Author(s): Last name first, then initials (e.g., Ocampo, L. M.).
• Year of Publication: In parentheses, right after the author’s name.
• Title of the Book: Italicize it and use sentence case (capitalize only the first word and proper nouns).
• Edition Number (if applicable): If it's not the first edition, include this in parenthetical citation after the title.
• Publisher: List the full publisher name and skip abbreviations like "Co." or "Inc."
• DOI or URL (if applicable): For eBooks, include a DOI or a direct link if there is one.

Citing a Book

According to the APA style (7th edition), you need both in-text citations and a reference list entry when citing a printed book. The former briefly acknowledges sources within the text, and then they all are neatly listed at the end of your paper.

Citing an Edited Book (Multiple Contributors)

Some books don't have a specific author but rather compile works from multiple contributors. Such papers list one or more editors who organized and oversaw the content. In such cases, the editor's name takes the author's place in the reference list. If the book has multiple editors, you must list all names followed by "(Eds.)".

In-Text Citations:

Reference List Entry:

Citing a Book with an Author and an Editor

Some books have an author who created the content and a separate editor who refined it. Think of it like this: if the author is the one who builds the house, the editor makes sure everything is structurally sound. When citing, you have to give credit where it's due: the author's surname comes first, and the editor's name is listed after the title in parenthesis. The in-text reference doesn't include the editor's name at all.

In-Text Citations for a Book with an Author and an Editor:

Reference List Entry for a Book with an Author and an Editor:

Citing an E-Book

E-book citing follows the same guidelines as citing a print book. The only difference is that you might have to include a DI or a URL. A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a permanent link to the exact source which doesn't change even if the URLs shift around. DOI must be included if an e-book has one; if not, you should use a direct URL.

In-Text Citations for an E-Book:

Reference List Entry for an E-Book:

Citing an Audiobook

When you cite an audiobook, you need to include the narrator's name (if available) and actually specify that it's an audiobook. Include the URL in the reference if the audiobook was accessed online (through Audible or Spotify). Use a timestamp when quoting directly, since audiobooks obviously don't have page numbers. Example: (Dubois, 2021, 01:23:45).

In-Text Citations for an Audiobook:

Reference List Entry for an Audiobook:

Citing Multivolume Books

Some books are just too big for one cover, so they’re split into multiple volumes that can span years. When citing multivolume works in APA format, the main question is whether you're citing one specific volume or the entire set. If it's just one, you'll have to mention the volume number. If not, you'll include the total number of volumes in the reference.

Citing a Single Volume

Imagine you want to find a specific episode of a TV show. You'll need the number to know where to look, right? The same goes for citing a multivolume book in APA style - if you’re only using one from a set, you need to specify which one it is. The volume number goes after the title in parentheses.

In-Text Citations for a Single Volume:

Reference List Entry for a Single Volume:

Citing a Set

There's no need to point to a specific volume if you're using the entire set; just include the total number of volumes in your reference. This will tell the reader that you researched it all.

In-Text Citations for a Multivolume Book:

Reference List Entry for a Multivolume Book:

Finding Information for an APA Citation of Book

Before you can cite a book in APA style for your paper, you need to find and gather the right details. The good news is that everything you need is hiding in plain sight; you just have to know where to look.

• Title Page: This page usually has the book title, author(s), and subtitle (if there is one). Only cite the official title.
• Copyright Page (usually the next page): This page gives you the publisher’s name, the year of publication, and the edition number (if there is one).
• Cover & Spine: While not always the best place, the book cover and spine sometimes help confirm the title and author if the title page is missing.

Here’s where you can find what you're looking for:

• Author(s) or Editor(s) → Title page
• Book Title & Subtitle → Title page
• Edition number (if applicable) → Copyright page
• Publication Year → Copyright page
• Publisher → Copyright page (at the bottom)

The APA format is the most commonly used citation style, but it's only one of many. If you ever need to switch up, start by checking out our guide on APA vs MLA formats to see how they compare.

Wrapping Things Up

APA citations can feel like an endless maze of punctuation, italics, and parenthetical citations. However, once you break it down, it's really just a simple formula. author, year published, publisher. Got an e-book? Add a DOI or URL, whichever's applicable. Mention the narrator if you're citing an audiobook. Let APA know how many volumes you're working with if it's a multivolume set. The main thing is to give credit where it's due (without the formatting headaches!)

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