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How to Cite a Book in BibTeX (standard)

Learn how to cite printed and electronic 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 in your reference list:

BibTeX Example for a Book

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

@book{Okafor2019craft, address = {Cambridge}, author = {Okafor, Amara}, edition = {2}, year = {2019}, publisher = {University Press}, title = {The craft of research writing}, }

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 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.

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: bibtex.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  • Do not cite the whole book when your source is a chapter by another author.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 BibTeX?
To cite a book in BibTeX (standard), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the BibTeX format for a book citation?
The BibTeX format for a book is: @book{Okafor2019craft, address = {Cambridge}, author = {Okafor, Amara}, edition = {2}, year = {2019}, publisher = {University Press}, title = {The craft of research writing}, }

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Cite a Book in Other Styles

Cite Other Sources in BibTeX

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