Books usually have at least 4 of the core elements - the author, title of source, publisher, and publication date. Books may also require a title of container, contributor(s), version, number, or location.
Much of the information you need will be on the title page of the book, such as the author/editor/translator, the title, and the publisher name. You can often find the publication date on the back of the title page, which is called the verso. Sometimes the publisher information is found here as well instead of the title page.
This example is a straightforward citation of a book with one author. Notice how this citation only requires four pieces of information – the author, publication date, title of the book, and the publisher name. Books may also require a title of container, contributor(s), version, number, or location.
You can often find the publication date on the back of the title page, which is called the verso.
Authors or editors’ names at the beginning of a citation are inverted. For 2 authors, list the first author with last name first. Then the second author is listed first name last name. This formatting helps with the alphabetization of the Works Cited list.
Authors or editors’ names at the beginning of a citation are inverted. If there are 3 or more authors, put the first author's name as last name, first name. Then follow the name with the abbreviation et al. Et al. means "and also" in Latin.
If there is no author, you can move the title to the beginning of the citation in place of the author. The book title remains in the second position.
Editions are abbreviated as ed., and numbered editions are represented with numerals.
5th ed.,
Volumes are also abbreviated. They are formatted as vol.
vol. 19,
Contributors in the Author Element space are formatted with their contribution after their name separated by a comma. Place the contributor in the author's space when you are focusing on their aspect of the contribution. For example, you could be commenting on an actor's performance, a translator's interpretive decisions, or an director's cut.
The author(s): The authors
Title of the source: Title of the Article formatted in quotations and all major words capitalized
Title of the container: Title of the Journal formatted in italics and all major words capitalized
Number: Volume and Issue Number formatted vol. xx, no. xx,
Publication date: Year or Season of Publication formatted day month year.
Location: Page number range formatted pp. xxx-xxx.
Title of container 2: Database Name formatted in italics and all major words capitalized
Location 2: DOI or Stable URL formatted without blue, underlining, or hyperlinking
Check out this video for an in depth look on how to cite a journal article step by step:
Author, First. "Title of Article in Quotations." Title of the Publication in Italics, volume, issue, publication date, article's stable URL.
Authors or editors’ names at the beginning of a citation are inverted. For 2 authors, list the first author with last name first. Then the second author is listed first name last name. This formatting helps with the alphabetization of the Works Cited list.
Authors or editors’ names at the beginning of a citation are inverted. If there are 3 or more authors, put the first author's name as last name, first name. Then follow the name with the abbreviation et al. Et al. means "and also" in Latin.
*Note: Permalinks in databases are not found in the browser bar. Look for the link or share icons or the words "permalink" or "stable url."
"Name of Webpage." Name of Website in Italics. Publisher Name, Date, url.