MLA Book Citation Example: A Detailed Guide

Referencing sources correctly is an essential part of academic writing, and the MLA citation style is one of the most widely used formats for citing sources in the humanities.

When citing a book in MLA style, there are several pieces of information that you need to include, such as the author's name, the title of the book, the publisher, the publication date, and the page numbers. The format of the citation will vary depending on whether you are citing the book in the text of your paper or in the Works Cited page.

In this guide, we will walk you through the steps of creating an MLA book citation, both in the text of your paper and in the Works Cited page. We will also provide some examples of MLA book citations so that you can see how they are formatted in practice.

MLA Book Citation Example

MLA citations have specific guidelines to ensure accurate and consistent source referencing in academic writing.

• Author's Last Name, First Name
• Title of the Book
• Edition (if applicable)
• Publisher
• Publication Date
• Page Numbers (if applicable)
• City of Publication
• Medium of Publication (if applicable)
• Date of Access (if applicable)

These elements are essential for creating a complete and accurate MLA book citation.

Author's Last Name, First Name

In an MLA book citation, the author's last name and first name should be listed in that order, separated by a comma.

• Inverted: The author's name is inverted, with the last name coming first, followed by a comma, and then the first name.
• No Titles: Do not include any titles, such as "Dr." or "Professor," before the author's name.
• Multiple Authors: If a book has more than one author, list the last name and first name of each author, separated by a comma and the word "and."
• Edited Book: If the book is an edited collection, list the editor's name in the same format as the author's name, preceded by the abbreviation "ed." or "eds."

Here are some examples of MLA book citations with different author names:

• Smith, John.
• Jones, Mary, and Susan Brown.
• Green, Thomas, ed.

Title of the Book

The title of the book should be written in italics, with the first word and all proper nouns capitalized.

If the book is part of a series, the series title should be included after the book title, separated by a colon. The series title should also be italicized, with only the first word and proper nouns capitalized.

If the book is a translation, the original title should be included after the English title, separated by a slash (/). The original title should be italicized, but proper nouns should not be capitalized.

Here are some examples of MLA book citations with different book titles:

• To Kill a Mockingbird
• The Catcher in the Rye
• The Great Gatsby
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
• Cien años de soledad / One Hundred Years of Solitude

Remember to always double-check the accuracy of the book title and any additional information, such as the series title or original title, to ensure a correct MLA citation.

Edition (if applicable)

If the book you are citing is a specific edition, such as a second or third edition, the edition number should be included after the book title, separated by a comma.

• Edition Number: The edition number should be written in arabic numerals, followed by "ed." or "eds." (for editions with multiple editors).
• Original Edition: If the book is in its original edition, no edition number is needed.
• Revised Edition: If the book is a revised edition, include the word "Revised" before the edition number.
• Multiple Editions: If you are citing multiple editions of the same book, list the edition numbers in chronological order, separated by commas.

Here are some examples of MLA book citations with different editions:

• Smith, John. To Kill a Mockingbird, 2nd ed., HarperCollins, 2010.
• Jones, Mary. The Catcher in the Rye, Revised ed., Little, Brown and Company, 2015.
• Green, Thomas, ed. The Great Gatsby, 5th ed., Norton, 2020.

Publisher

The publisher of the book should be included in the MLA citation after the title and edition information, separated by a comma.

• Full Name: The publisher's full name should be used, including any abbreviations or acronyms.
• University Presses: For university presses, include the university name as part of the publisher's name.
• Multiple Publishers: If the book has multiple publishers, list them in the order they appear on the title page, separated by commas.
• No Publisher: If the book has no publisher, use "N.p." (no publisher) in place of the publisher's name.

Here are some examples of MLA book citations with different publishers:

• Smith, John. To Kill a Mockingbird, 2nd ed., HarperCollins, 2010.
• Jones, Mary. The Catcher in the Rye, Revised ed., Little, Brown and Company, 2015.
• Green, Thomas, ed. The Great Gatsby, 5th ed., Norton, 2020.
• Brown, Susan. The Joy of Cooking, N.p., 2022.

Publication Date

The publication date of the book should be included in the MLA citation after the publisher information, separated by a comma.

The publication date should be written in four digits, without any punctuation.

If the book has multiple publication dates, such as for different editions, list the date of the edition you are using.

If the publication date is unknown or not available, use "n.d." (no date) in place of the publication date.

Here are some examples of MLA book citations with different publication dates:

• Smith, John. To Kill a Mockingbird, 2nd ed., HarperCollins, 2010.
• Jones, Mary. The Catcher in the Rye, Revised ed., Little, Brown and Company, 2015.
• Green, Thomas, ed. The Great Gatsby, 5th ed., Norton, 1995.
• Brown, Susan. The Joy of Cooking, N.p., n.d.

Page Numbers (if applicable)

If you are referencing a specific page or range of pages in a book, the page numbers should be included in the MLA citation after the publication date, separated by a space.

• Format: Page numbers should be written in arabic numeral, with a en dash (-) between the first and last page of a range.
• Single Page: If you are referencing a specific page, use "p." followed by the page number.
• Range of Pages: If you are referencing a range of pages, use "pp." followed by the first and last pages of the range, separated by a en dash (-).
• No Page Numbers: If the book does not have page numbers, omit this information from the MLA citation.

Here are some examples of MLA book citations with different page number formats:

• Smith, John. To Kill a Mockingbird, 2nd ed., Harper ederim, 2010, p. 123.
• Jones, Mary. The Cather in the Rye, 6th ed., Little, Brown and Company, 2015, pp. 10-20.
• Green, Thomas, ed. The Great Gatsby, 5th ed., Norton, 1995, pp. 150-165.
• Brown, Susan. The Joy of Running, N.p., n.d.

City of Publication

The city of publication is the location where the publisher's office is located, not necessarily where the book was printed.

The city of publication should be included in the MLA citation after the publisher information, separated by a colon.

If the book was published in multiple cities, list the first city only.

If the city of publication is unknown or not available, use "N.p." (no place) in place of the city of publication.

Here are some examples of MLA book citations with different cities of publication:

• Smith, John. To Kill a Mockingbird, 2nd ed., HarperCollins, New York, 2010.
• Jones, Mary. The Catcher in the Rye, Revised ed., Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 2015.
• Green, Thomas, ed. The Great Gatsby, 5th ed., Norton, New York, 1995.
• Brown, Susan. The Joy of Running, N.p., n.d.

Remember to always double-check the accuracy of the city of publication information to ensure a correct MLA citation.

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Date of Access (if applicable)

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about MLA book citations:

Question 1: What is an MLA book citation?

Answer: An MLA book citation is a standardized way of acknowledging the source of information from a book in your academic writing. It provides essential information about the book, such as the author's name, the title of the book, the publisher, and the publication date.

Question 2: Where should I include MLA book citations?

Answer: MLA book citations should be included in two places:

Question 3: What information do I need to include in an MLA book citation?

Answer: An MLA book citation typically includes the following information:

Question 4: How do I format an MLA book citation?

Answer: MLA book citations follow a specific format. The general format is:

Author's last name, first name. Title of the book. Edition (if applicable). Publisher, Publication date.

Question 5: What if I am citing a book with multiple authors?

Answer: If a book has two or three authors, list all of their names in the order they appear on the title page. For books with four or more authors, list the first author's name followed by "et al." (meaning "and others").

Question 6: What if I am citing a book that has no author?

Answer: If a book has no author, begin the citation with the title of the book, italicized.

Question 7: What if I am citing a book that is part of a series?

Answer: If the book is part of a series, include the series title after the book title, separated by a colon. The series title should also be italicized.

Remember to always double-check the accuracy of your MLA book citations to ensure proper referencing.

MLA book citations are an essential part of academic writing. By understanding the basics of MLA book citations and following the guidelines provided, you can ensure that your sources are properly acknowledged and your paper is well-documented.

Tips

Here are a few practical tips for creating accurate and consistent MLA book citations:

Tip 1: Use a citation generator.

There are many online citation generators available that can help you create MLA book citations quickly and easily. Simply enter the necessary information about the book, and the generator will create a properly formatted citation for you.

Tip 2: Double-check your information.

Before finalizing your citations, always double-check the accuracy of the information you have included, such as the author's name, the title of the book, the publisher, and the publication date. Make sure that all the information matches the source material.

Tip 3: Be consistent with your formatting.

MLA citations have a specific format, so it's important to be consistent with your formatting throughout your paper. Pay attention to details such as capitalization, punctuation, and spacing.

Tip 4: Consult your instructor or a style guide.

If you have any doubts or questions about MLA book citations, consult your instructor or a style guide. They can provide you with additional guidance and ensure that you are using the correct format.

By following these tips, you can create accurate and consistent MLA book citations that will help your readers easily find and verify the sources you have used in your academic writing.

MLA book citations are an essential part of academic writing. By understanding the basics of MLA book citations, following the guidelines provided, and using these practical tips, you can ensure that your sources are properly acknowledged and your paper is well-documented.

Conclusion

MLA book citations are an essential part of academic writing, allowing you to properly acknowledge the sources you have used in your research and provide your readers with the information they need to find those sources. By understanding the basics of MLA book citations, following the guidelines provided, and using the practical tips discussed in this article, you can create accurate and consistent citations that will enhance the credibility and professionalism of your academic work.

Remember, the main points to keep in mind when creating MLA book citations are:

By following these guidelines, you can create MLA book citations that will help your readers easily find and verify the sources you have used, while also demonstrating your attention to detail and your commitment to academic integrity.