How to Cite a Book in APA

• Tomas Elliott (Ph.D.)
• Published on 12/21/2023
• Updated on01/13/2024

APA book citations follow a specific structure to ensure uniformity and clarity. The essential elements include the author’s surname and initials, the year of publication, the book title (in italics), edition information (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. 

Here’s a breakdown of the key components:

• Author Information: Author surname, followed by the author’s initials.
• Year of Publication: Enclosed in round brackets, include the year of publication.
• Book Title: The title of the book should be in italics.
• Edition Information (if applicable): If the book is not a first edition, include edition information in round brackets after the title.
• Publisher Information: Include the name of the publisher. If there are multiple publishers, separate them with a semicolon.
• DOI Inclusion (if applicable): If the book has a Digital Object Identifier (DOI), include it in the reference after the publisher name.

Discover our free APA citation generator for creating precise citations in APA format. Whether you’re referencing an APA webpage or citing a journal in APA style, we streamline the process, guaranteeing correct formatting and adherence to APA in-text citation and reference list guidelines.

SINGLE AUTHOR

Citation	Guy, J. (2001). The view across the river: Harriette Colenso and the Zulu struggle against imperialism. University Press of Virginia.
Structure	Author Surname, Initial(s). (Year). Title. Publisher.

TWO AUTHORS

Citation	Johnson, M. K., & Patel, S. (2023). Exploring Realms. Physikos Books.
Structure	Author 1 Surname, Author 1 Initial(s)., & Author 2 Surname, Author 2 Initial(s). (Year). Title. Publisher.

Consistency is Key: Maintain a uniform citation style across your document. Ensure that author names, publication years, and titles are consistently formatted in each reference. Include Edition Information: Add edition and volume information in round brackets, but only if it is not the first edition. For instance, if it’s the second edition, add (2nd ed.). If indicating volume, such as Vol. 4, insert this information after the title and before the full stop. Omitting Publisher Location: Exclude the publisher’s location in APA citations. Focus solely on providing the publisher’s name to streamline your references. DOI Inclusion (Digital Object Identifier): If the book features a DOI, include it after the publisher’s name. The DOI serves as a stable link, facilitating easy access for readers. Ensure accuracy when entering the DOI.

Explore our MLA citation Generator to create MLA book citations, MLA webpage citations, and cite MLA journals in accordance with the MLA format. Make the citation process seamless by utilizing our comprehensive tools, including the Harvard reference generator and the citation machine.

THREE OR MORE AUTHORS (UP TO 20)

Citation	Miller, J., Turner, S. R., Harris, D., Lewis, M. A., & Adams, R. (2023). Advancements in Artificial Intelligence. Tech Trends.
Structure	Author 1 Surname, Author 1 Initial(s)., Subsequent Authors’ Surname, Subsequent Authors’ Initial(s)., & Final Author Surname, Final Author Initial(s). (Year). Title. Publisher.

Works that involve three or more authors, it is essential to list the last name and initials of each author, up to a maximum of 20 authors. However, in cases where a work has 21 or more authors, list the first 19 names, followed by an ellipsis (…) to signify the omission, and finally, include the last author’s name.

GROUP OR ORGANIZATION 

Citation	American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
Structure	Group/Organization. (Year). Title. https://doi.org/xxxxx

ANONYMOUS AUTHOR

Citation	Anonymous. (2023). A Warning. Hachette Book Group.
Structure	Anonymous. (Year). Title. Publisher.

BOOK WITH NO AUTHOR

Citation	Medicine in old age (2nd ed.). (1985). British Medical Association.
Structure	Title (Edition). (Year). Publisher.

When no specific authors are identified, the focus shifts directly to the book’s title. Start directly with the italicized title of the book, followed by the edition or volume number, publication year, and then the rest of the citation structure remains the same as when citing a book with an author.