How to Cite a Book, Chapter, and Title in APA Format

In American Psychological Association style, books are cited both on a separate page of references and in the body of the text. An APA reference page listing requires different information and formatting depending on whether the entire book is written by one author (or authors) or is an edited anthology of chapters by different authors. For example, the title of a book is in italics, but the title of a chapter in a book is in regular type. However, the in-text citation for a chapter in a book is the same as for an entire book: Both citations require the author's last name, the date of publication and a page number, if one is available.

Reference Listing for Book

When you are citing a book whose whole text is written by an author or group of authors, you do not need to cite a specific chapter in your reference list. In APA style, the reference listing for a book is formatted as follows:

Author's last name, first initial(s). (Year of publication). Title of book: Subtitle if included. Location of publication: Publisher's name.

For example, a basic book citation might look this:

Deloria, V. (1988). Custer died for your sins: An Indian manifesto. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press.

Reference Listing for Book Chapter

However, say the author you are referencing has only written a single chapter in an anthology. In this case, you would reference both the chapter and the book. While APA requires italics for the title of a book, the title of a chapter in a book goes in regular type. Provide the information for the book's editor and the book after the chapter title:

Author's last name, first Initial(s). (Year of publication). Title of chapter. In editor's first Initial(s) last name (Ed.), Title of Book (pp. pages of chapter). Location of publication: Publisher.

For example:

Smith, J.Z. (1998). Religion, religions, religious. In M.C. Taylor (Ed.), Critical terms for religious studies (pp. 269-284). Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press.

In-Text Citation

An in-text citation can appear in parentheses after a paraphrase or a direct quote. It includes the author's last name followed by the year of publication and page number, if applicable. For a chapter in a book, only the chapter's author is included; there is not need to mention the editor or book title.

For example:

Given the ambiguity of language in the field, one might question "the increasing English usage of 'faiths' as a synonym for 'religions'" (Smith, 1998, p. 271).

Alternatively, the author's last name can be included in a signal phrase within the body of the sentence, followed by the date of publication in parentheses.

For example: According to Smith (1998), given the ambiguity of language in the field, one might question "the increasing English usage of 'faiths' as a synonym for 'religions'" (p. 271)

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