Book Citation in APA 7th Edition: A Comprehensive Guide
Academic Writing & Citation
Book Citation in APA 7th Edition
APA 7th edition book citation follows a specific format that differs meaningfully from the 6th edition. This guide covers every citation format you will encounter — single and multiple authors, edited volumes, eBooks, book chapters, corporate authors, translated works, and no-author texts — with real examples, step-by-step instructions, common mistakes to avoid, and a complete FAQ. Whether you are a college student, a graduate researcher, or a working professional, this guide gives you everything you need to cite books accurately and confidently.
Definition & Overview
What Is APA 7th Edition and Why Does Book Citation Matter?
APA 7th edition book citation is the current standard for referencing books in academic writing across psychology, education, nursing, social science, and many other disciplines. If you are writing a research paper and you cite a book incorrectly, you risk losing marks, flagging academic integrity concerns, or misleading readers who want to verify your sources. The stakes are real.
The American Psychological Association (APA) published the 7th edition of its Publication Manual in October 2019, and most U.S. and UK universities officially adopted it in 2020. The APA Style website is the definitive source for all official guidelines. This edition introduced several meaningful changes from the 6th edition, particularly around how books are cited. Understanding those changes matters because many students still rely on outdated formatting from older guides. If your citation includes the publisher’s city, for example, you are following the 6th edition, not the 7th.
Book citations in APA 7 follow the same four-part structure as all APA references: Author. Date. Title. Source. For books, the “source” is the publisher, plus a DOI or URL if applicable. Everything else flows from that logic. Learning the structure once lets you adapt it to any book type you encounter. Students working on research papers and literature reviews tend to cite books more heavily than any other source type, making this a skill worth mastering early.
2019
Year the APA 7th edition Publication Manual was officially released by the American Psychological Association
114+
Reference examples included in APA 7 — covering books, articles, websites, social media, audiovisual materials, and more
4
Core elements of every APA 7 reference: Author, Date, Title, and Source — applied consistently across all source types
What Is the APA Publication Manual?
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association is published by the American Psychological Association, headquartered in Washington, D.C. It is the official style guide for APA formatting. The 7th edition runs to 428 pages and covers everything from paper formatting and heading structure to bias-free language and — most relevant here — how to construct reference entries for every type of source imaginable. The manual itself is cited as:
APA Reference
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
Notice what this citation does: it omits the publisher city, uses sentence case for the title, italicizes the title, and formats the DOI as a full URL. These are all features of APA 7. If you understand this one citation, you understand the logic behind all book citations in this style.
The core logic: Every APA 7th edition book citation answers four questions in order — Who wrote it? When? What is it called? Where can I find it? Answer those four questions correctly, and your citation is nearly always right.
Who Uses APA 7th Edition?
APA 7 is the required citation style at most universities in the United States and the United Kingdom for courses in psychology, education, nursing, social work, criminology, public health, and many social sciences. Institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, the University of Michigan, and University College London require APA format in relevant departments. Major publishers including Sage Publications, Wiley, and Taylor & Francis also publish APA-style journals. For students who need support structuring their papers correctly, essay writing services can be a valuable resource alongside mastering the format yourself.
APA 6 vs APA 7
Key Changes in APA 7th Edition That Affect Book Citations
If you learned APA citation using a textbook or guide from before 2020, your book citation format is outdated. The APA 7th edition changed several things that directly affect how you cite books. The changes are not cosmetic. They affect what information you include, how many authors you list, and how you format certain elements. Here is what changed and why it matters.
No More Publisher Location
In APA 6th edition, every book citation required the publisher’s city and, if outside the U.S., the country. So a 6th edition reference might read: “New York, NY: Pearson.” In APA 7th edition, publisher location is completely eliminated. You write only the publisher’s name. This simplifies the citation and reflects the reality that most books are now published digitally and accessed globally, making a physical location largely irrelevant. This is one of the most commonly overlooked changes, and it is the one most likely to cost students marks if they miss it.
✓ APA 7th Edition (Correct)
Brown, A. (2021). Learning theory in practice. Pearson.
✗ APA 6th Edition (Outdated)
Brown, A. (2021). Learning theory in practice. New York, NY: Pearson.
Up to 20 Authors in the Reference List
APA 6 required you to list the first six authors, then use an ellipsis and the last author for any work with seven or more authors. APA 7 expands this to 20 authors. List all authors up to 20. If there are 21 or more, list the first 19, insert an ellipsis (…), then add the final author’s name. This change means students can no longer cut the author list short for books with many contributors, which affects how edited volumes and multi-author textbooks are cited in your reference list. The University of Lincoln library guide on APA 7 changes outlines this clearly.
Three or More Authors: et al. From the First Citation
In APA 6, in-text citations for three to five authors listed all names on first mention and used “et al.” from the second mention. APA 7 simplifies this: any work with three or more authors uses “et al.” from the very first in-text citation. So (Jones, Smith, & Williams, 2020) in APA 6 becomes (Jones et al., 2020) in APA 7, even on its first appearance. This saves words and reduces citation clutter in your paper.
DOIs Formatted as Hyperlinks
APA 6 formatted DOIs as alphanumeric strings preceded by “doi:” — e.g., doi:10.1037/0000165-000. APA 7 requires DOIs to be formatted as full hyperlinks: https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000. Both DOIs and URLs must now appear as live hyperlinks. The label “DOI:” is no longer used. This applies to books with DOIs, including many academic press publications and open-access volumes.
eBooks Cited the Same as Print Books
APA 6 required you to specify the ebook format (e.g., [Kindle version]) in the citation. APA 7 drops this requirement entirely. An ebook is cited the same way as a print book. If the ebook has an open-access URL, add it at the end. If you accessed it through a library database without a DOI, no URL is needed. The format or device is irrelevant in APA 7.
| Element | APA 6th Edition | APA 7th Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher location | Required (city, state/country) | Not included |
| Authors in reference list | Up to 6, then et al. | Up to 20, then et al. |
| In-text: 3+ authors | All names first time, then et al. | et al. from first citation |
| DOI format | doi:10.xxxx/xxxxx | https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx |
| eBook format label | Required ([Kindle version]) | Not included |
| “Retrieved from” before URLs | Required | Not required unless retrieval date is needed |
| Running head | Required for all papers | Required for professional papers only |
Core Citation Format
The Basic APA 7th Edition Book Citation Format
The foundation of APA 7th edition book citation is a straightforward template. Once you understand how this template works and why each element appears, applying it to specific book types becomes mechanical. The basic format for a single-author print book is:
APA 7 Basic Format
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book: Subtitle if applicable (Edition if not first ed.). Publisher.
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book: Subtitle if applicable (Edition if not first ed.). Publisher.
Let us walk through each element precisely.
The Author Element
Author names are written with the last name first, followed by a comma and the author’s initials. Use initials only, never full first names. A period follows each initial. A space separates consecutive initials. For a single author: Smith, J. A. For two authors: Smith, J. A., & Jones, B. C. For three or more authors, list them all in the reference list (up to 20), separating names with commas and placing an ampersand (&) before the last. In-text, use the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” for three or more authors.
Author Name Examples
- One author:
Morrison, T. - Two authors:
Brown, A. L., & Williams, K. J. - Three authors (reference list):
Chen, X., Patel, R. S., & Garcia, M. E. - Three authors (in-text):
(Chen et al., 2023)
The Date Element
The year of publication appears in parentheses immediately after the author(s), followed by a period. Use the copyright year printed in the book. (2022). For reprinted or republished works, the original publication date appears at the end of the citation in parentheses: (Original work published 1950). If no date is available, use (n.d.) for “no date.”
The Title Element
Book titles in APA 7 are italicized and written in sentence case. Sentence case means you capitalize only: the first word of the title, the first word after a colon in a subtitle, and proper nouns (names of people, places, organizations). Do not capitalize every major word as you would in MLA or Chicago style. This is one of the most common errors in student APA citations.
Sentence Case Examples
- Correct: The psychology of learning: A comprehensive guide
- Incorrect: The Psychology of Learning: A Comprehensive Guide
- Correct: Social work in America: Theories and practice
- Correct: Florence Nightingale and modern nursing (proper noun capitalized)
Edition Information
If the book is not the first edition, include the edition in parentheses after the title and before the period, using the abbreviation “ed.” for edition: (3rd ed.). Do not italicize the edition information. For a volume number, use (Vol. 2). If both apply, list edition first: (4th ed., Vol. 3).
The Publisher Element
Write the publisher’s name as it appears on the copyright page of the book, but abbreviate common words (e.g., “Co.” for “Company,” drop “Inc.,” “Ltd.,” “Publishers,” etc.). Do not include the publisher’s location. End the publisher element with a period unless a DOI or URL follows. Some examples: Pearson. Oxford University Press. Sage.
DOI and URL
Include a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) at the end of the reference if one is available. Format it as a full hyperlink: https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx. For open-access ebooks with a URL but no DOI, include the URL. For books accessed through a subscription library database without a DOI, no URL is needed — end the citation at the publisher. Do not add “Retrieved from” before a URL unless you also include a retrieval date, which is only necessary for frequently-updated content.
Quick Formatting Checklist Before You Submit
Is the title in sentence case and italicized? Is the author listed with last name first and initials only? Is the publisher listed without city? If the book is not the first edition, is that noted? Is the DOI formatted as a hyperlink starting with https://doi.org/? Is the entire reference list double-spaced with a hanging indent? Running through these six checks catches the vast majority of common APA book citation errors.
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Every APA 7th Edition Book Citation Format With Examples
APA 7 provides a separate template for nearly every variation in book publishing. Here is every major APA 7th edition book citation format you will encounter in college and university work, with real-world examples for each.
1. Single Author Book
The most common citation type. The format is: Last Name, Initial(s). (Year). Italicized title in sentence case. Publisher.
Reference Format
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book: Subtitle. Publisher.
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book: Subtitle. Publisher.
Real Example
Angelou, M. (1969). I know why the caged bird sings (1st ed.). Random House.
Angelou, M. (1969). I know why the caged bird sings (1st ed.). Random House.
In-Text Citation
Parenthetical: (Angelou, 1969)
Narrative: Angelou (1969) described…
Parenthetical: (Angelou, 1969)
Narrative: Angelou (1969) described…
2. Two Authors
List both authors. Separate them with a comma and an ampersand (&). Both authors appear in every in-text citation as well.
Real Example
Schmidt, N. A., & Brown, J. M. (2017). Evidence-based practice for nurses: Appraisal and application of research (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Schmidt, N. A., & Brown, J. M. (2017). Evidence-based practice for nurses: Appraisal and application of research (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
In-Text Citation
Parenthetical: (Schmidt & Brown, 2017)
Narrative: Schmidt and Brown (2017) argued…
Parenthetical: (Schmidt & Brown, 2017)
Narrative: Schmidt and Brown (2017) argued…
3. Three to Twenty Authors
List all authors in the reference list. In the in-text citation, use only the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” This applies from the very first mention — a key change from APA 6.
Real Example
Pedersen, P. B., Lonner, W. J., Draguns, J. G., Trimble, J. E., & Scharrón-del Río, M. R. (Eds.). (2016). Counseling across cultures (7th ed.). Sage.
Pedersen, P. B., Lonner, W. J., Draguns, J. G., Trimble, J. E., & Scharrón-del Río, M. R. (Eds.). (2016). Counseling across cultures (7th ed.). Sage.
In-Text Citation
Parenthetical: (Pedersen et al., 2016)
Narrative: Pedersen et al. (2016) found…
Parenthetical: (Pedersen et al., 2016)
Narrative: Pedersen et al. (2016) found…
4. Twenty-One or More Authors
List the first 19 authors, insert an ellipsis (…), then add the last author’s name. No ampersand before the last author when an ellipsis is used.
Reference Format
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., Author, C. C., … Last Author, Z. Z. (Year). Title of book. Publisher.
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., Author, C. C., … Last Author, Z. Z. (Year). Title of book. Publisher.
5. Edited Book
When a book is assembled and edited rather than written by one person, list the editor(s) in the author position with “(Ed.)” or “(Eds.)” in parentheses after the name(s).
Reference Format
Editor, A. A. (Ed.). (Year). Title of book. Publisher.
Editor, A. A. (Ed.). (Year). Title of book. Publisher.
Real Example
Goodin, R. E., & Klingemann, H. (Eds.). (1996). A new handbook of political science. Oxford University Press.
Goodin, R. E., & Klingemann, H. (Eds.). (1996). A new handbook of political science. Oxford University Press.
In-Text Citation
Parenthetical: (Goodin & Klingemann, 1996)
Narrative: Goodin and Klingemann (1996) compiled…
Parenthetical: (Goodin & Klingemann, 1996)
Narrative: Goodin and Klingemann (1996) compiled…
6. Chapter in an Edited Book
This is one of the most frequently misformatted citation types. The chapter author goes in the author position. The title of the chapter is written in sentence case without italics or quotation marks. “In” introduces the editor(s). The book title is italicized. Page numbers for the chapter are included in parentheses. For further guidance on structuring academic writing around complex sources, see this guide on conducting research for academic essays.
Reference Format
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of chapter. In A. A. Editor & B. B. Editor (Eds.), Title of book (pp. xx–xx). Publisher.
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of chapter. In A. A. Editor & B. B. Editor (Eds.), Title of book (pp. xx–xx). Publisher.
Real Example
Christians, C. G. (2011). Ethics and politics in qualitative research. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The Sage handbook of qualitative research (4th ed., pp. 61–80). Sage.
Christians, C. G. (2011). Ethics and politics in qualitative research. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The Sage handbook of qualitative research (4th ed., pp. 61–80). Sage.
In-Text Citation
Parenthetical: (Christians, 2011, pp. 61–80)
Narrative: Christians (2011) argued…
Parenthetical: (Christians, 2011, pp. 61–80)
Narrative: Christians (2011) argued…
7. eBook
Cite an eBook exactly the same as a print book. Do not include the format (Kindle, PDF, ePUB). If the ebook is open-access and has a URL, include it at the end. If accessed through a library database with a DOI, include the DOI. If accessed through a database without a DOI, no URL is needed. Students using digital textbooks through university library portals most commonly encounter this scenario. You can generate accurate citations using the citation generator for quick reference.
eBook With DOI
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
Open-Access eBook With URL
Kleiser, G. (2008). Fifteen thousand useful phrases. Funk & Wagnalls; Project Gutenberg. http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/18362 (Original work published 1917)
Kleiser, G. (2008). Fifteen thousand useful phrases. Funk & Wagnalls; Project Gutenberg. http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/18362 (Original work published 1917)
8. Book With No Author
When a book has no named author or editor, move the title to the author position. Alphabetize the reference by the first significant word of the title (excluding “A,” “An,” “The”). For in-text citations, use a shortened version of the title in italics.
Reference Format
Title of book. (Year). Publisher.
Title of book. (Year). Publisher.
In-Text Citation
Parenthetical: (Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary, 2005)
Narrative: According to Merriam-Webster’s (2005)…
Parenthetical: (Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary, 2005)
Narrative: According to Merriam-Webster’s (2005)…
9. Corporate or Organization Author
When an organization, government agency, or institution is listed as the author, write the full organization name in the author position. Use the full name in all in-text citations as well, unless an abbreviation is widely known and established. This format is common for textbooks published by agencies like the American Nurses Association (ANA) or government bodies. Academic writing in fields like public health and nursing often relies on organizational publications, and understanding this format supports stronger nursing assignment reference lists.
Real Example
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
In-Text Citation
First use: (American Psychological Association [APA], 2020)
Subsequent: (APA, 2020)
First use: (American Psychological Association [APA], 2020)
Subsequent: (APA, 2020)
10. Translated Book
When citing a translated book, include the translator’s name in parentheses after the title, introduced by “Trans.” The original publication date appears at the end of the citation in parentheses.
Reference Format
Author, A. A. (Year of translation). Title of book (A. A. Translator, Trans.). Publisher. (Original work published Year)
Author, A. A. (Year of translation). Title of book (A. A. Translator, Trans.). Publisher. (Original work published Year)
Real Example
Freud, S. (1955). The interpretation of dreams (J. Strachey, Trans.). Hogarth Press. (Original work published 1900)
Freud, S. (1955). The interpretation of dreams (J. Strachey, Trans.). Hogarth Press. (Original work published 1900)
In-Text Citation
(Freud, 1900/1955)
(Freud, 1900/1955)
11. Edition Other Than the First
If you are citing a book that is not the first edition, include the edition number in parentheses after the title. Use ordinal abbreviations: 2nd ed., 3rd ed., 4th ed., and so on. Do not italicize the edition information. Do not include edition information for first editions.
Real Example
Schildt, H. (2011). Java: The complete reference (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Schildt, H. (2011). Java: The complete reference (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
12. Republished or Classic Work
For classic works being cited in a modern edition, cite the edition you used and note the original publication date at the end.
Real Example
Darwin, C. (2003). On the origin of species. Broadview Press. (Original work published 1859)
Darwin, C. (2003). On the origin of species. Broadview Press. (Original work published 1859)
In-Text Citation
(Darwin, 1859/2003)
(Darwin, 1859/2003)
In-Text Citations
APA 7th Edition In-Text Citation for Books
In-text citations appear inside the body of your paper every time you quote, paraphrase, or summarize from a source. In APA 7, they follow the author-date format: the author’s last name and the year of publication. The in-text citation connects each piece of evidence in your paper back to the full reference at the end. Every in-text citation must have a matching reference list entry, and every reference list entry must match at least one in-text citation.
Parenthetical vs. Narrative Citations
APA 7 distinguishes between two forms of in-text citation. A parenthetical citation places the author and year inside parentheses at the end of the relevant sentence. A narrative citation integrates the author’s name into the sentence itself, with only the year in parentheses. Both are correct — use whichever flows more naturally in your writing. Narrative citations tend to appear more in academic writing because they attribute ideas to specific researchers by name, which signals scholarly engagement. For guidance on making your academic writing flow better, see this resource on essay transitions.
Parenthetical Citation
Effective academic writing requires consistent citation practice (Smith, 2022).
Effective academic writing requires consistent citation practice (Smith, 2022).
Narrative Citation
Smith (2022) argued that effective academic writing requires consistent citation practice.
Smith (2022) argued that effective academic writing requires consistent citation practice.
Page Numbers in In-Text Citations
APA 7 requires page numbers for direct quotations. They are recommended but not required for paraphrases — though many instructors require them for paraphrases too. Always check your assignment guidelines. Page numbers follow the year, separated by a comma and introduced by “p.” for a single page or “pp.” for a page range.
Direct Quote With Page Number
“Structured referencing supports academic credibility” (Jones, 2021, p. 47).
Page Range
(Williams, 2019, pp. 112–115)
“Structured referencing supports academic credibility” (Jones, 2021, p. 47).
Page Range
(Williams, 2019, pp. 112–115)
Same Author, Multiple Years
If you cite two books by the same author from different years, each citation distinguishes them by year: (Morrison, 1970) and (Morrison, 1987). If you cite two books by the same author from the same year, add lowercase letters after the year, assigned alphabetically by title: (Morrison, 2021a) and (Morrison, 2021b). The “a” and “b” designations must match the reference list entries.
Works With No Author
When a work has no author, use a shortened version of the title in the in-text citation. Italicize titles of books. Use sentence case. Avoid using “Anonymous” unless the work is explicitly credited to “Anonymous” as the author.
No-Author In-Text
(Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary, 2005)
(Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary, 2005)
Secondary Citations (Citing a Source You Found Cited in Another Source)
Always try to locate and read the original source. If that is genuinely impossible, cite the secondary source (the one you actually read) with the phrase “as cited in.” Only the secondary source appears in your reference list. APA discourages frequent use of secondary citations, as they indicate you have not read the original work. This principle is reinforced throughout the APA Style website’s guidelines on citing sources.
Secondary Citation
Laurence (2001) found no significant correlation (as cited in Brooke, 2003).
Laurence (2001) found no significant correlation (as cited in Brooke, 2003).
Step-by-Step Process
How to Cite a Book in APA 7th Edition: Step by Step
Writing a book citation in APA 7th edition is not difficult once you know the sequence. Most errors happen because students jump to the final format without gathering the right information first. Here is the reliable, step-by-step process.
1
Identify the Author(s) or Editor(s)
Check the title page and copyright page of the book. Note whether the book is authored or edited. Authors write the content; editors compile or organize chapters written by others. The distinction changes how you format the citation and how you label the person in the reference (e.g., Ed. or Eds. for editors).
2
Find the Copyright Year
Look at the copyright page (the page behind the title page). Use the most recent copyright year printed. This is the year that goes in parentheses after the author(s). Do not confuse the copyright year with a printing year or a year mentioned elsewhere in the book.
3
Transcribe the Full Title and Subtitle
Write the full title as it appears on the title page, including any subtitle. In your citation, apply sentence case: capitalize only the first word, the first word after a colon, and proper nouns. Italicize the entire title including the subtitle. Do not put quotation marks around it.
4
Note the Edition if Applicable
Check whether the book states it is a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or later edition. If so, include this in parentheses after the title: (3rd ed.). First editions are not labeled. Do not add edition information for textbooks unless the edition is explicitly stated in the book.
5
Find the Publisher
The publisher’s name is on the title page and copyright page. In APA 7, include only the publisher’s name — no city, no country, no state. Shorten names where appropriate (drop “Publishers,” “Inc.,” “Co.,” “Ltd.” from the end). Do not shorten the name to the point of ambiguity (Oxford University Press stays as Oxford University Press).
6
Check for a DOI or URL
Search for a DOI by checking the book’s copyright page, the publisher’s website, or searching the title on doi.org. If a DOI exists, include it as a hyperlink. If the book is open-access with a stable URL, include the URL. If neither exists, end the citation at the publisher name.
7
Assemble the Full Reference Entry
Put the elements together in order: Author(s). (Year). Title: Subtitle (edition if applicable). Publisher. DOI or URL if applicable. Apply a hanging indent — the first line of each reference entry is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented by 0.5 inches. Double-space the entire reference list. Ensuring your proofreading process includes a citation check at the end reduces errors significantly.
8
Add the In-Text Citation
Every time you quote, paraphrase, or refer to the book in your paper, add the corresponding in-text citation. For a direct quote, include the page number. Check that every in-text citation has a matching reference entry and vice versa. Mismatches between in-text citations and the reference list are a common error in academic papers and one that instructors check for specifically.
⚠️ The most common book citation mistake: Forgetting to remove the publisher’s city from the citation. Students who learned APA 6 often retain “(New York, NY: Publisher)” out of habit. In APA 7, this is an error. Only the publisher name appears. Check every book reference before you submit.
Special Cases & Edge Formats
Special Cases in APA 7th Edition Book Citations
Most students handle standard single-author and two-author books well once they learn the basics. It is the edge cases that trip people up. Here are the formats for scenarios that require extra care.
Multi-Volume Works
When citing a specific volume of a multi-volume work, include the volume number in parentheses after the title.
Multi-Volume Reference
Koch, S. (Ed.). (1959). Psychology: A study of a science (Vol. 1). McGraw-Hill.
Koch, S. (Ed.). (1959). Psychology: A study of a science (Vol. 1). McGraw-Hill.
Book With a DOI
Many academic press books now have assigned DOIs, particularly those available in digital formats through library databases like JSTOR, ProQuest Ebook Central, or EBSCOhost.
Book With DOI
Samanez-Larkin, G. R. (Ed.). (2019). The aging brain: Functional adaptation across adulthood. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000143-000
Samanez-Larkin, G. R. (Ed.). (2019). The aging brain: Functional adaptation across adulthood. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000143-000
Book Chapter With DOI
Individual chapters can now be assigned DOIs in APA 7. If a chapter has its own DOI, include it at the end of the chapter citation.
Chapter With DOI
Goldberg, J. I., & Rosa, W. E. (2023). Pain. In M. M. Harding, J. Kwong, D. Hagler, & C. Reinisch (Eds.), Lewis’ medical-surgical nursing: Assessment and management of clinical problems (12th ed., pp. 119–145). Elsevier.
Goldberg, J. I., & Rosa, W. E. (2023). Pain. In M. M. Harding, J. Kwong, D. Hagler, & C. Reinisch (Eds.), Lewis’ medical-surgical nursing: Assessment and management of clinical problems (12th ed., pp. 119–145). Elsevier.
Reference Works: Encyclopedias and Dictionaries
These follow the chapter-in-edited-book format if you are citing a specific entry. If citing the work as a whole, follow the edited book format. This is most relevant for citations of specialist reference works like the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) or subject-specific encyclopedias. For students working in psychology or behavioral science, understanding the relationship between DSM-5 and citation format is particularly valuable.
Textbooks Used in Courses
Cite textbooks the same way as any other book. Note that many course textbooks are multiple editions — always verify which edition you are using and include that in the citation. Using an older edition while citing the page numbers of a newer one is a common research error.
Textbook Example
Myers, D. G., & DeWall, C. N. (2021). Psychology (13th ed.). Worth.
Myers, D. G., & DeWall, C. N. (2021). Psychology (13th ed.). Worth.
Books Written in Another Language
If you read a book in its original non-English language, cite it in the original language. Add a translation of the title in square brackets after the original title, without italics.
Non-English Book
Piaget, J. (1964). Six études de psychologie [Six studies in psychology]. Gonthier.
Piaget, J. (1964). Six études de psychologie [Six studies in psychology]. Gonthier.
Preprint Books
For a book manuscript that has been shared as a preprint but not yet published, cite it similarly to a book but include the preprint server and URL.
Preprint Format
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work. Preprint Server. URL
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work. Preprint Server. URL
Religious Texts and Classic Works
Religious texts like the Bible, the Quran, or the Torah are treated differently. They do not require a reference list entry when citing a standard edition widely accessible to readers. In-text, cite the specific book, chapter, and verse, followed by the name of the edition/translation.
Religious Text In-Text
(King James Bible, 1769/2017, 1 Cor. 13:4)
(King James Bible, 1769/2017, 1 Cor. 13:4)
For comprehensive guidance on writing and research across disciplines, academic research techniques remain the foundation for building strong reference lists regardless of the style you are using.
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APA 7th Edition Reference List Rules for Books
Knowing how to write a correct citation is only half the task. The other half is formatting the reference list correctly. Even accurately written citations lose marks when the reference list itself is poorly formatted. Here are the formatting rules that apply specifically to book citations on the APA reference list.
Hanging Indent
Every reference entry uses a hanging indent: the first line is flush with the left margin, and all subsequent lines of the same entry are indented 0.5 inches. In Microsoft Word, you can set this by selecting the text, going to Paragraph, and choosing “Hanging” under “Special.” Do not manually press Tab or space at the start of each line — use Word’s paragraph formatting tools. Students writing research papers who also need help with document formatting can find support at research paper writing service.
Double Spacing
The entire reference list is double-spaced. There is no extra space between individual entries. Every line — including within a single multi-line citation — is double-spaced. Do not add extra blank lines between references. Many students accidentally use single-spacing within entries and double-spacing between them. That is incorrect in APA 7.
Alphabetical Order
References are alphabetized by the first author’s last name. If there is no author, alphabetize by the first significant word of the title (skipping “A,” “An,” “The”). If the same author appears multiple times, list their works in chronological order, oldest first. If the same author has multiple works from the same year, alphabetize them by title and add letter suffixes to the year (2022a, 2022b, etc.).
The “References” Heading
The reference list begins on a new page. The heading “References” appears at the top, centered, in bold. It is not underlined, not italicized, and not followed by a colon. In APA 7, this heading follows the same heading conventions as Level 1 headings in the body of the paper.
One Space After Periods
APA 7 explicitly states that one space (not two) follows a period at the end of a sentence in the body of the paper. This applies in the reference list as well. This was a formal change from APA 6, which allowed two spaces. Many word processors default to one space already, but if you are typing manually, be consistent.
Using Word Processors to Format Your Reference List
In Microsoft Word, use the “References” section formatting to apply hanging indents automatically. Google Docs supports hanging indents through Format → Align & Indent → Indentation options. Setting up the hanging indent template before you add citations saves significant time on long reference lists. This is especially useful for longer research papers and dissertations. For students who need broader guidance on writing style, understanding active and passive voice alongside citation formatting creates stronger academic papers overall.
What About Annotated Bibliographies?
An annotated bibliography is a special reference list format in which each citation is followed by a brief paragraph evaluating or summarizing the source. In APA 7, the citation itself follows standard formatting. The annotation begins immediately after the citation, indented to align with the hanging indent. Annotations are typically 100 to 200 words. This format is common in graduate-level courses and research methods classes. Students frequently seek support with annotated bibliographies through annotated bibliography writing guides.
Errors to Avoid
Common APA 7th Edition Book Citation Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Students lose marks on APA citation primarily through consistent, preventable errors. The following mistakes appear repeatedly in submitted assignments across U.S. and UK universities. Understanding each one helps you avoid the same pitfalls.
1
Including Publisher Location
Writing “New York, NY:” before the publisher name. APA 7 eliminates publisher location entirely. Delete it.
2
Title Case Instead of Sentence Case
Capitalizing every major word in a book title. APA 7 uses sentence case. Only first word, first word after a colon, and proper nouns are capitalized.
3
Missing Italics on Book Titles
Forgetting to italicize the book title in the reference list. Book titles must be italicized. Article and chapter titles are not.
4
DOI as Alphanumeric String
Writing “doi:10.xxxx/xxxx” instead of “https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxx.” APA 7 requires the full hyperlink format.
5
Labeling the eBook Format
Writing “[Kindle version]” or “[ePUB]” after the title. APA 7 does not require or want this information.
6
Listing All Authors In-Text
Writing out all three or more authors in the in-text citation. APA 7 uses “et al.” from the first citation for three or more authors.
7
Misformatting Chapter Citations
Not distinguishing between the chapter title (not italicized, no quotes) and the book title (italicized) in an edited volume citation.
8
Skipping Hanging Indent
Using a standard paragraph indent (all lines indented) or no indent at all. APA 7 uses hanging indents on all reference entries.
Mistake Spotlight: Chapter vs. Book Title Formatting
This deserves special attention because it is both common and confusing. When you cite a chapter in an edited book, you have two titles in one citation: the chapter title and the book title. The chapter title is written in sentence case without italics or quotation marks. The book title is italicized. Both are in sentence case. Getting this right shows you understand the citation logic.
✓ Correctly Formatted Chapter Citation
Christians, C. G. (2011). Ethics and politics in qualitative research. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The Sage handbook of qualitative research (4th ed., pp. 61–80). Sage.
✗ Common Errors in Chapter Citations
Christians, C. G. (2011). “Ethics and Politics in Qualitative Research.” In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research. New York, NY: Sage.
Using the citation generator is a good starting point, but always verify the output manually against APA 7 guidelines. Automated tools sometimes apply outdated formatting or miss nuances like sentence case and hanging indents. The final responsibility for citation accuracy always rests with the writer. Students who also need support avoiding plagiarism through paraphrasing benefit from understanding how citation and paraphrasing work together in academic writing.
Organizations & Key Entities
Key Organizations and Resources Behind APA 7th Edition Citation
Understanding which organizations shape APA 7th edition book citation standards helps you identify authoritative sources for citation guidance. These are the entities whose guidance you can trust absolutely — and whose guidelines your instructors and professors are themselves following.
American Psychological Association (APA) — Washington, D.C.
The American Psychological Association, founded in 1892 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. It publishes the Publication Manual, the official and definitive guide to APA style. The 7th edition (2020) is the current standard. The APA also maintains apastyle.apa.org, a free online resource with reference examples, blog posts addressing common questions, and an official style checker. Every citation question that cannot be answered by this guide should be verified there.
Purdue OWL — Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL), maintained by Purdue University, is one of the most widely used free writing and citation resources in the world. Its APA 7 section covers the main citation types with annotated examples, and it is regularly updated to reflect the current edition. Professors in U.S. universities often refer students directly to Purdue OWL as a secondary resource alongside the APA manual itself. Its coverage of common APA 7 formatting changes is particularly clear and reliable.
Scribbr — Academic Writing and Citation Resource
Scribbr is an academic writing platform that provides detailed, example-rich citation guides for APA 7, MLA, Chicago, and other major citation styles. Its APA 7 reference guides are widely cited by university library guides. Scribbr also publishes a free citation generator and a plagiarism checker used by students globally. Their summary of the 17 most notable APA 7 changes remains one of the clearest explanations of what changed from the 6th edition.
University Library Guides
Universities including Columbia University, Harvard University, the University of Nevada Reno, and Simmons University maintain publicly accessible library citation guides specifically for APA 7. These guides are peer-reviewed by professional librarians and updated to match the current edition. When in doubt about a specific edge case, searching “[University Name] APA 7 citation guide” will often surface a library-maintained resource that addresses your specific scenario with real examples. Building strong research habits, which includes mastering citation, supports every aspect of academic success — from scholarship essays to doctoral dissertations.
Quick Reference Table
APA 7th Edition Book Citation: Quick Reference Table
Use this table as a quick-check reference when building your reference list. Find your book type in the left column, then follow the format and example provided.
| Book Type | Format Template | In-Text Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Single author | Author, A. A. (Year). Title. Publisher. | (Author, Year) or Author (Year) |
| Two authors | Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title. Publisher. | (Author & Author, Year) |
| 3–20 authors | Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title. Publisher. | (First Author et al., Year) |
| Edited book | Editor, A. A. (Ed.). (Year). Title. Publisher. | (Editor, Year) |
| Chapter in edited book | Author, A. A. (Year). Chapter title. In A. Editor (Ed.), Book title (pp. xx–xx). Publisher. | (Author, Year, p. xx) |
| eBook with DOI | Author, A. A. (Year). Title. Publisher. https://doi.org/xxxx | (Author, Year) |
| No author | Title of book. (Year). Publisher. | (Title, Year) |
| Corporate author | Organization Name. (Year). Title. Publisher. | (Organization [Abbrev.], Year) |
| Translated book | Author, A. A. (Year). Title (Translator, Trans.). Publisher. (Original work published Year) | (Author, Original Year/Translation Year) |
| Edition other than first | Author, A. A. (Year). Title (Xth ed.). Publisher. | (Author, Year) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About APA 7th Edition Book Citation
What is the correct APA 7th edition format for citing a book?
The correct format is: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book: Subtitle if any (edition if not first). Publisher. For example: Smith, J. A. (2022). The psychology of memory: A modern perspective (2nd ed.). Wiley. In APA 7, no publisher city is included. The title is italicized and written in sentence case. The year is in parentheses immediately after the author’s name. If a DOI is available, it appears at the end as a hyperlink.
Do you need to include the publisher’s city in APA 7?
No. Publisher location — city, state, and country — was eliminated in APA 7th edition. This is one of the most significant changes from APA 6, which required the city and country of publication for all books. In APA 7, you include only the publisher’s name. Writing “New York, NY: Pearson” is an APA 6 format and will be marked incorrect in APA 7 assignments.
How do you cite a chapter in an edited book in APA 7?
For a chapter in an edited book, use the chapter author in the author position. Write the chapter title in sentence case without italics or quotation marks. Then write “In” followed by the editor(s) (initials before last name), followed by (Ed.) or (Eds.) in parentheses. Then write the italicized book title in sentence case, the edition and page range in parentheses, and the publisher. Example: Christians, C. G. (2011). Ethics and politics in qualitative research. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The Sage handbook of qualitative research (4th ed., pp. 61–80). Sage.
How do you cite an eBook in APA 7th edition?
Cite an eBook exactly the same as a print book. Do not include the format (Kindle, PDF, ePUB) — this was required in APA 6 but was dropped in APA 7. If the ebook has an open-access URL, add it at the end of the citation. If it has a DOI, add the DOI as a hyperlink. If you accessed it through a library subscription database without a DOI or stable URL, end the citation at the publisher name. No “Retrieved from” is needed unless you also have a retrieval date.
When do you use “et al.” in APA 7 in-text citations for books?
In APA 7, use “et al.” in the in-text citation for any work with three or more authors, from the very first citation in your paper. You do not list all authors on first mention as APA 6 required. So (Smith, Jones, & Williams, 2020) in APA 6 becomes (Smith et al., 2020) in APA 7 — even on its first appearance. For two authors, always list both names in every in-text citation.
How do you format the DOI in an APA 7 book citation?
In APA 7, DOIs must be formatted as full hyperlinks starting with https://doi.org/ followed by the alphanumeric DOI string. Example: https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000. The label “DOI:” that appeared in APA 6 is no longer used. The DOI appears at the end of the reference entry and should be a live clickable hyperlink if you are submitting a digital document. If no DOI is available, include a URL for open-access sources. For books accessed through library subscription databases without a DOI, no URL is required.
How do you cite a book with no author in APA 7?
When a book has no author, move the title to the author position. Italicize it and write it in sentence case. In the in-text citation, use a shortened version of the title in italics. Alphabetize the reference by the first significant word of the title — skip “A,” “An,” and “The.” Example reference: Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary (11th ed.). (2005). Merriam-Webster. Example in-text: (Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary, 2005).
What is sentence case and how does it apply to book titles in APA 7?
Sentence case means capitalizing only the first word of the title, the first word after a colon (if there is a subtitle), and proper nouns — names of people, places, organizations, and so on. In APA 7, all book titles and chapter titles in the reference list are written in sentence case. This differs from title case (used in MLA and Chicago), which capitalizes all major words. For example, a book titled “The Psychology of Human Motivation” becomes in APA 7: The psychology of human motivation. Misapplying title case to book titles in APA is one of the most common formatting errors.
Can you use a citation generator for APA 7th edition book citations?
Yes, citation generators can be a helpful starting point, but they should never be your only step. Tools like the Ivy League citation generator, Zotero, and the APA 7 tools at major library databases can produce correctly formatted references. However, they sometimes make errors — particularly with sentence case, the handling of DOIs, and unusual citation types like translated works or chapters in edited books. Always verify the output of any citation generator against your understanding of APA 7 rules before submitting. The APA Style website at apastyle.apa.org is the authoritative final check.
What font and spacing should I use for the APA 7 reference list?
APA 7 expands acceptable fonts beyond Times New Roman 12pt. Acceptable options include 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, 11-point Georgia, 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode, 12-point Times New Roman, or 10-point Computer Modern. The reference list must be double-spaced throughout — every line of every entry, with no extra space between entries. Apply a hanging indent of 0.5 inches to all entries. The heading “References” appears centered and bold at the top of the page. No running head is required for student papers in APA 7 unless your instructor specifies otherwise.