When you're conducting research, you'll likely come across information that you want to use in your own writing. It's important to give credit to the original author of that information by citing it properly. The American Psychological Association (APA) style is a common citation style used in academic writing. This guide will show you how to cite a chapter in a book using APA style.
APA style has specific rules for formatting citations. These rules include the order of information in the citation, the punctuation that is used, and the capitalization of words. It's important to follow these rules carefully to make sure that your citations are accurate and consistent.
Now that you know the basics of APA style, you can start citing chapters in books. The following steps will show you how to do it:
how to cite a chapter in a book apa
Follow these key points to cite a chapter in a book using APA style:
- Author's last name
- Author's initials
- Year of publication
- Chapter title
- Editor's name (if applicable)
- Book title
- Publisher
- Page numbers
- DOI or URL (if available)
These elements should be formatted and arranged according to APA style guidelines.
Author's last name
The author's last name is the first element in an APA citation for a chapter in a book. It is followed by the author's initials.
- Start with the last name.
Write the author's last name first, followed by a comma.
- Use all capital letters.
The author's last name should be in all capital letters.
- No punctuation after the last name.
Do not put a period or any other punctuation mark after the last name.
- Follow with a comma.
After the author's last name, put a comma.
For example, if the author's name is John Smith, you would write:
SMITH, J.
Author's initials
After the author's last name, write their initials. Use one initial for each name, with no periods or spaces between them.
For example, if the author's name is John Smith, you would write:
SMITH, J.
If the author has more than one middle name, use only the first initial.
For example, if the author's name is John David Smith, you would still write:
SMITH, J.
If the author's name is unknown, use the title of the chapter or book in place of the author's name.
For example, if the chapter is titled "The History of APA Style," you would write:
THE HISTORY OF APA STYLE.
That's all you need to know about citing the author's initials in an APA citation for a chapter in a book.
Year of publication
The year of publication is the year in which the book was published. It is placed in parentheses immediately after the author's initials.
- Use four digits.
The year of publication should be written using four digits, even if the book was published before the year 2000.
- No punctuation before the year.
Do not put a comma or any other punctuation mark before the year of publication.
- Punctuate with a period.
Put a period after the year of publication.
- No space after the period.
Do not put a space between the period and the next element in the citation.
For example, if the book was published in 2023, you would write:
SMITH, J. (2023).
Chapter title
The chapter title is the title of the chapter that you are citing. It is placed in quotation marks and is followed by a period.
- Capitalize the first word.
The first word of the chapter title should be capitalized, as well as any proper nouns.
- Italicize the chapter title.
The chapter title should be italicized.
- Punctuate with a period.
Put a period after the chapter title.
- No space after the period.
Do not put a space between the period and the next element in the citation.
For example, if the chapter title is "The History of APA Style," you would write:
The History of APA Style.
Editor's name (if applicable)
If the book has an editor, their name should be included in the citation after the chapter title. The editor's name is followed by the abbreviation "Ed." or "Eds." in parentheses.
- Use the editor's last name and initials.
Write the editor's last name first, followed by their initials.
- Use all capital letters.
The editor's last name should be in all capital letters.
- No punctuation after the last name.
Do not put a period or any other punctuation mark after the last name.
- Follow with a comma.
After the editor's last name, put a comma.
- Write "Ed." or "Eds."
After the comma, write "Ed." if there is one editor or "Eds." if there are two or more editors.
- Put parentheses around the editor's name.
Enclose the editor's name in parentheses.
For example, if the book is edited by John Smith, you would write:
The History of APA Style. (J. SMITH, Ed.).
Book title
The book title is the title of the book in which the chapter is published. It is italicized and followed by a period.
- Capitalize the first word.
The first word of the book title should be capitalized, as well as any proper nouns.
- Italicize the book title.
The book title should be italicized.
- Punctuate with a period.
Put a period after the book title.
- No space after the period.
Do not put a space between the period and the next element in the citation.
For example, if the book title is The APA Publication Manual, you would write:
The APA Publication Manual.
Publisher
The publisher is the company or organization that published the book. It is placed after the book title and is followed by a comma.
If the publisher is a well-known company, such as Oxford University Press or Cambridge University Press, you can use the company's acronym. For example, you would write "OUP" for Oxford University Press and "CUP" for Cambridge University Press.
If the publisher is not well-known, you should write out the full name of the company.
For example, if the book is published by the American Psychological Association, you would write:
The APA Publication Manual. American Psychological Association,
That's all you need to know about citing the publisher in an APA citation for a chapter in a book.
Page numbers
The page numbers of the chapter are placed after the publisher and are preceded by the abbreviation "pp." If the chapter has a specific page range, include both the starting and ending page numbers. If the chapter does not have a specific page range, use "n.p." to indicate that there are no page numbers.
For example, if the chapter starts on page 10 and ends on page 20, you would write:
The APA Publication Manual. American Psychological Association, pp. 10-20.
If the chapter does not have a specific page range, you would write:
The APA Publication Manual. American Psychological Association, n.p.
If the chapter is paginated differently from the rest of the book, you can use the abbreviation "pp." followed by the chapter's page numbers. For example, if the chapter starts on page 101 and ends on page 120, and the rest of the book is paginated using Roman numerals, you would write:
The APA Publication Manual. American Psychological Association, pp. 101-120.
That's all you need to know about citing the page numbers in an APA citation for a chapter in a book.
DOI or URL (if available)
The DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the chapter can be included after the page numbers. The DOI is a unique identifier that is assigned to electronic documents, including chapters in books. The URL is the web address of the chapter.
- DOI:
If the chapter has a DOI, include it after the page numbers, preceded by "https://doi.org/".
- URL:
If the chapter does not have a DOI, but it is available online, include the URL after the page numbers, preceded by "Retrieved from".
- No period:
Do not put a period after the DOI or URL.
For example, if the chapter has a DOI of 10.1037/00000-000, you would write:
The APA Publication Manual. American Psychological Association, pp. 10-20. https://doi.org/10.1037/00000-000
If the chapter does not have a DOI, but it is available online at the URL https://www.apa.org/pubs/books/4312045, you would write:
The APA Publication Manual. American Psychological Association, pp. 10-20. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/pubs/books/4312045
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about citing a chapter in a book using APA style:
Question 1: What information do I need to include in the citation?
Answer 1: You need to include the author's last name and initials, the year of publication, the chapter title, the book title, the publisher, the page numbers, and the DOI or URL (if available).
Question 2: How do I format the citation?
Answer 2: The citation should be formatted according to APA style guidelines. This includes using double spacing, hanging indents, and a specific font and font size.
Question 3: Where do I place the citation in my paper?
Answer 3: The citation should be placed at the end of the paragraph in which you are referring to the chapter. It should be enclosed in parentheses.
Question 4: What if the chapter has multiple authors?
Answer 4: If the chapter has two authors, list both authors' last names and initials. If the chapter has three or more authors, list the first author's last name and initials, followed by "et al.".
Question 5: What if the chapter is in an edited book?
Answer 5: If the chapter is in an edited book, include the editor's name and the abbreviation "Ed." or "Eds." after the book title.
Question 6: What if the chapter is available online?
Answer 6: If the chapter is available online, include the DOI or URL after the page numbers.
Question 7: How do I cite a chapter in a book that does not have page numbers?
Answer 7: If the chapter does not have page numbers, use "n.p." to indicate that there are no page numbers.
Closing paragraph: These are just a few of the most frequently asked questions about citing a chapter in a book using APA style. If you have any other questions, please consult the APA Publication Manual or your instructor.
Now that you know the basics of citing a chapter in a book using APA style, here are a few tips to help you get started:
Tips
Here are a few practical tips for citing a chapter in a book using APA style:
Tip 1: Use a citation generator.
There are many citation generators available online that can help you create accurate citations in APA style. Simply enter the necessary information about the chapter, and the generator will create the citation for you.
Tip 2: Be consistent.
Make sure that you are consistent in your use of APA style throughout your paper. This includes using the same font, font size, and spacing for all of your citations.
Tip 3: Proofread your citations.
Before you submit your paper, be sure to proofread your citations carefully. Make sure that you have included all of the necessary information and that the citation is formatted correctly.
Tip 4: Consult the APA Publication Manual.
If you have any questions about citing a chapter in a book using APA style, consult the APA Publication Manual. This is the official guide to APA style, and it contains all of the information you need to create accurate and consistent citations.
Closing paragraph:
By following these tips, you can ensure that your citations are accurate and consistent, and that your paper meets all of the requirements of APA style.
Now that you know how to cite a chapter in a book using APA style, you are ready to start writing your paper. Good luck!
Conclusion
Citing a chapter in a book using APA style can seem daunting at first, but it is actually quite simple once you know the basics. Just remember to include the author's last name and initials, the year of publication, the chapter title, the book title, the publisher, the page numbers, and the DOI or URL (if available).
Be sure to format the citation correctly according to APA style guidelines, and place it at the end of the paragraph in which you are referring to the chapter. If you have any questions, consult the APA Publication Manual or your instructor.
Closing message:
By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your citations are accurate and consistent, and that your paper meets all of the requirements of APA style. Good luck with your research and writing!