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How to Cite a Book Chapter in BibTeX (standard)

Learn how to cite chapters and essays in edited books in BibTeX format (standard). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

BibTeX Reference List Format

Here is the standard BibTeX format for citing a book chapter in your reference list:

BibTeX Example for a Book Chapter

A complete BibTeX reference for a book chapter, formatted by the official BibTeX CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

@inbook{Kowalski2021Teaching, address = {Boston}, author = {Kowalski, Ana}, booktitle = {Handbook of {Writing} {Instruction}}, edition = {2}, editor = {Reyes, Sofia and Kim, Joon}, year = {2021}, pages = {203--221}, publisher = {Academic Press}, title = {Teaching citation as a habit of mind}, }

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your book chapter.
  2. Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the BibTeX (standard) template shown above.
  3. Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
  4. Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
  5. Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match BibTeX requirements.

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Cite a Book Chapter in Other Styles

Cite Other Sources in BibTeX

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