How to Cite a Book in MLA Format
Citing books in MLA 9th edition format follows a standardized template. This guide covers print books, ebooks, edited books, chapters, and special cases with detailed examples.
Basic Format for Book Citations in MLA
Works Cited entry:
Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
In-text citation:
- Parenthetical: (Author Page)
- Narrative: Author states that... (Page)
Core Elements of MLA Book Citations
1. Author
List the author's last name, first name. For multiple authors, reverse only the first author's name.
2. Title of Book
Italicize the full title and subtitle (if any). Use title case (capitalize major words).
3. Publisher
Include the publisher name. Omit business words like "Company," "Inc.," or "Ltd."
4. Publication Year
Use the copyright year from the book's copyright page.
Examples
Book with One Author
Works Cited:
Morrison, Toni. Beloved. Knopf, 1987.
In-text citation:
(Morrison 23)
Book with Two Authors
Works Cited:
Levitt, Steven D., and Stephen J. Dubner. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything. William Morrow, 2005.
In-text citation:
(Levitt and Dubner 45)
Book with Three or More Authors
Works Cited:
Johnson, Anne, et al. Climate Change and Global Health. Oxford UP, 2023.
In-text citation:
(Johnson et al. 112)
Edited Book
Works Cited:
Smith, John, editor. Contemporary American Poetry. Penguin, 2022.
In-text citation:
(Smith 78)
Chapter in an Edited Book
Works Cited:
Williams, Sarah. "The Role of Technology in Education." Educational Trends in the 21st Century, edited by Mark Anderson, Routledge, 2021, pp. 45-67.
In-text citation:
(Williams 52)
E-book (Kindle, PDF, EPUB)
Works Cited:
Brown, Dan. The Da Vinci Code. Kindle ed., Doubleday, 2003.
In-text citation:
(Brown ch. 12)
Note: Use chapter numbers or section headings for ebooks without page numbers.
Book with Edition Number
Works Cited:
Campbell, Neil A., et al. Biology. 11th ed., Pearson, 2017.
In-text citation:
(Campbell et al. 234)
Translated Book
Works Cited:
García Márquez, Gabriel. One Hundred Years of Solitude. Translated by Gregory Rabassa, Harper & Row, 1970.
In-text citation:
(García Márquez 89)
Common Questions
What if there's no author?
Begin the citation with the book title. Alphabetize by the first major word (ignore "A," "An," "The").
How do I cite a book with multiple editions?
Include the edition number after the title: Biology. 11th ed.,
What about books accessed online?
For books accessed through databases or websites, add the URL or DOI at the end of the citation.
Do I need to include the city of publication?
MLA 9th edition no longer requires the city of publication. Only include the publisher name and year.
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