How to Cite a Book Chapter in MLA (9th edition)
Learn how to cite chapters and essays in edited books in MLA format (9th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
MLA Works Cited Format
Here is the standard MLA format for citing a book chapter in your Works Cited page:
Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Chapter." Title of Book, edited by Editor First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year, pp. xx–xx.
MLA Example for a Book Chapter
A complete MLA reference for a book chapter, formatted by the official MLA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Kowalski, Ana. “Teaching Citation as a Habit of Mind.” Handbook of Writing Instruction, edited by Sofia Reyes and Joon Kim, 2nd ed., Academic Press, 2021, pp. 203–21.
Matching in-text citation: (Kowalski)
MLA In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Chapter Author 25)
Narrative
Chapter Author notes that...
Key MLA Formatting Rules
- Put the chapter title in quotation marks and italicize the book (container) title.
- Credit the editor after the book title with "edited by" and the editor name in normal order.
- Give the chapter page range at the end as pp. xx–xx.
- Include the publisher and year of the edited book.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your book chapter.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the MLA (9th edition) template shown above.
- Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
- Add to your Works Cited: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match MLA requirements.
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