How do I cite a book chapter in MLA?

To cite a book chapter in MLA (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What does the in-text citation look like for a book chapter in MLA?

In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Chapter Author 25)

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.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

CSL style record: mla.csl

Metadata to collect

chapter author
chapter title
book editor
book title
edition
publisher and year
chapter page range
DOI

Common metadata traps

Cite the chapter author, not the book editor, as the author of the entry.
Give the full page range of the chapter, not only the pages you quoted.

Editorial sources

MLA Style Center — works cited →

Read the detailed source guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a book chapter in MLA?: To cite a book chapter in MLA (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the MLA format for a book chapter citation?: The MLA format for a book chapter is: Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Chapter." Title of Book, edited by Editor First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year, pp. xx–xx.
What does the in-text citation look like for a book chapter in MLA?: In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Chapter Author 25)