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How to Cite a Book in AGLC (4th edition)

Learn how to cite printed and electronic books in AGLC format (4th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

AGLC Bibliography Format

Here is the standard AGLC format for citing a book in your bibliography:

AGLC Example for a Book

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

Okafor, Amara, The Craft of Research Writing (University Press, 2ⁿᵈ ed, 2019)

Matching in-text citation: Amara Okafor, The Craft of Research Writing (University Press, 2ⁿᵈ ed, 2019).

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your book.
  2. Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the AGLC (4th edition) 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 bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
  5. Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match AGLC 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: aglc.csl

Metadata to collect

  • author or editor
  • book title
  • edition
  • publisher
  • publication year
  • ISBN

Common metadata traps

  • Match the ISBN and year to the edition you actually used.
  • Do not cite the whole book when your source is a chapter by another author.
Read the detailed source guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a book in AGLC?
To cite a book in AGLC (4th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the AGLC format for a book citation?
The AGLC format for a book is: Okafor, Amara, The Craft of Research Writing (University Press, 2ⁿᵈ ed, 2019)
What does the in-text citation look like for a book in AGLC?
In AGLC, the in-text citation for the example above is Amara Okafor, The Craft of Research Writing (University Press, 2ⁿᵈ ed, 2019).

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Cite a Book in Other Styles

Cite Other Sources in AGLC

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