Book Citation in APA 7th Edition: A Comprehensive Guide
Understanding APA 7th Edition Book Citations
Proper citation is crucial in academic writing, and the American Psychological Association (APA) style is widely used across various disciplines. The 7th edition of the APA manual, released in 2019, introduced several changes to book citation formats. This guide focuses on book citations in the APA 7th edition, providing clear instructions and examples for both print books and ebooks.
Components of a Book Citation in APA 7th Edition
A standard book citation in APA 7th edition typically includes the following elements:
- Author(s)
- Publication year
- Book title
- Publisher
The general format for a book citation in APA 7th edition is:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book. Publisher.
Print Book vs. Ebook Citations
While the basic structure remains similar, there are slight differences between citing print books and ebooks in the APA 7th edition. Here’s a comparison table:
| Element | Print Book | Ebook |
|---|---|---|
| Author | Same | Same |
| Year | Same | Same |
| Title | Italicized | Italicized |
| Publisher | Include | Include ebooks with the publisher |
| DOI/URL | Not applicable | Include if available |
Examples of Book Citations in APA 7th Edition
Print Book with One Author
Smith, J. (2022). The art of citation: A comprehensive guide. Academic Press.
Ebook with DOI
Johnson, M. (2021). Digital research methods. https://doi.org/10.1234/5678
Edited Book
Brown, L., & Green, K. (Eds.). (2023). Advances in cognitive psychology. Springer.
Chapter in an Edited Book
Taylor, R. (2020). Memory and learning. In S. White (Ed.), Cognitive processes (pp. 45-67). Oxford University Press.
Special Cases in Book Citation APA 7th Edition
Books with No Author
When citing a book with no author, move the title to the author position:
The Chicago Manual of Style. (2017). University of Chicago Press.
Multiple Editions
For books with multiple editions, include the edition number after the title:
Miller, T. (2019). Introduction to psychology (3rd ed.). Pearson.
Best Practices for Book Citation in APA 7th Edition
- Always check the most recent APA guidelines for any updates.
- Be consistent in your citation format throughout your document.
- Include all necessary information to help readers locate the source.
- Use hanging indentation for reference list entries.
- Alphabetize entries in the reference list by the first author’s last name.
By following these guidelines for book citation in APA 7th edition, you’ll ensure your academic work is properly referenced and credible. Remember to always consult the official APA manual for the most up-to-date and detailed information on citation practices.
FAQ
Cite it as a print book, omitting the DOI/URL.
No, publisher location is no longer required in APA 7th edition.
Include the translator’s name after the title: Author, A. (Year). Title (T. Translator, Trans.). Publisher.
List the first 19 authors, then use an ellipsis (…) followed by the final author’s name.
Include the series title and number in parentheses after the book title: Author, A. (Year). Book title (Series Title No. X). Publisher.