MLA Book Citation: A Comprehensive Guide

In the world of academia and research, it is essential to properly cite the sources you use in your work. The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is one of the most widely used citation styles, and it has specific guidelines for citing books.

This informatical article will provide a comprehensive guide to MLA book citation, covering all the necessary elements and formatting requirements. We will explain how to cite books in both print and electronic formats, as well as how to handle special cases such as citing books with multiple authors or editors.

With this guide, you will be able to accurately and consistently cite books in MLA style, ensuring that your sources are properly acknowledged and your work maintains academic integrity.

MLA Book Citation

MLA book citation is a standardized format for acknowledging sources in academic writing.

• Author's last name, first name.
• Book title in italics.
• Publication city: Publisher, year.
• Page numbers (if applicable).
• Medium of publication (if applicable).
• Edition (if applicable).
• Translator (if applicable).
• Series (if applicable).
• Volume (if applicable).

MLA book citation ensures proper attribution of sources and maintains academic integrity.

Author's last name, first name.

In MLA book citation, the author's last name and first name are presented in the following order: last name first, followed by a comma, and then the first name. This format is used for both single-author and multi-author books.

For example, if the author's name is John Smith, the citation would be: Smith, John.

If the book has two or more authors, the last names and first names of all authors are listed in the same order, separated by commas. The last author's name is followed by a period.

For example, if the book has two authors, John Smith and Jane Doe, the citation would be: Smith, John, and Jane Doe.

If the book has three or more authors, the citation includes the last name and first name of the first author, followed by the phrase "et al." (which means "and others") and a period.

For example, if the book has three authors, John Smith, Jane Doe, and Michael Jones, the citation would be: Smith, John, et al.

Including the author's name at the beginning of the citation allows readers to quickly identify the source of the information.

Book title in italics.

In MLA book citation, the title of the book is presented in italics. This helps to distinguish the title from the rest of the citation and to emphasize its importance.

• Capitalization:
  

  The first word of the title and all nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs are capitalized. Articles (a, an, and the) are not capitalized unless they are the first word of the title.

• Punctuation:
  

  The title is followed by a period inside the italics.

• Quotations:
  

  If the title contains a quotation, the quotation marks are included in the italics.

• Non-English titles:
  

  If the title is in a language other than English, it is not italicized. Instead, the title is underlined.

By italicizing the book title, readers can easily identify the work being cited and distinguish it from other elements of the citation.

Publication city: Publisher, year.

In MLA book citation, the publication city, publisher, and year of publication are presented in the following order: publication city, publisher, year. This information is typically found on the book's title page or copyright page.

The publication city is the city where the publisher's main office is located, not necessarily the city where the book was printed.

The publisher is the company or organization that produced and distributed the book.

The year of publication is the year in which the book was first published. If the book has been through multiple editions, the year of publication is the year of the edition being cited.

Here are some examples of MLA book citations with publication city, publisher, and year:

• The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner, 2004.
• To Kill a Mockingbird. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1960.
• Beloved. New York: Knopf, 1987.

Including the publication city, publisher, and year of publication in the citation provides readers with important information about the source of the information.

This information can be used to locate the book in a library or online and to determine the credibility of the source.

Page numbers (if applicable).

In MLA book citation, page numbers are included when citing a specific section of a book, such as a chapter, article, or poem. Page numbers are not required for citations of the entire book.

To cite a specific page or range of pages, use the following format:

For example, to cite a specific page from the book "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, you would use the following format:

To cite a range of pages, use a hyphen between the first and last page numbers. For example, to cite pages 50-55 from the same book, you would use the following format:

If you are citing multiple page ranges from the same book, separate each range with a semicolon. For example, to cite pages 50-55 and 100-105, you would use the following format:

Including page numbers in a citation allows readers to easily locate the specific information being cited.

Medium of publication (if applicable).

In MLA book citation, the medium of publication is included when the book is not a traditional print book. The medium of publication can be electronic (e.g., ebook, online book), audio (e.g., audiobook), or visual (e.g., film, DVD). If the book is a traditional print book, the medium of publication is not included in the citation.

To cite an electronic book, include the following information after the publication year:

• The abbreviation "e-book" in italics.
• The name of the database or website where the book is located.
• The URL of the book.
• The date you accessed the book.

For example, to cite an electronic book from the Project Gutenberg website, you would use the following format:

To cite an audiobook, include the following information after the publication year:

• The abbreviation "audiobook" in italics.
• The name of the narrator.
• The name of the publisher of the audiobook.

For example, to cite an audiobook from Audible, you would use the following format:

Including the medium of publication in a citation helps readers to identify the type of source being cited and to locate the source online or in a library.

Edition (if applicable).

In MLA book citation, the edition of the book is included if it is not the first edition. The edition is typically found on the copyright page of the book.

• First edition:
  

  If the book is a first edition, the edition is not included in the citation.

• Second edition and beyond:
  

  If the book is a second edition or beyond, the edition number is included after the title of the book, followed by a period.

• Revised edition:
  

  If the book is a revised edition, the word "Revised" is included after the title of the book, followed by a period.

• Expanded edition:
  

  If the book is an expanded edition, the word "Expanded" is included after the title of the book, followed by a period.

Including the edition in a citation helps readers to identify the specific version of the book being cited.

Translator (if applicable).

In MLA book citation, the translator is included if the book was originally written in a language other than English and has been translated into English. The translator's name is included after the title of the book, followed by the abbreviation "trans." and a period.

For example, to cite a book that was originally written in Spanish and has been translated into English, you would use the following format:

If the book has multiple translators, their names are listed in the same order as they appear on the title page of the book, separated by commas.

For example, to cite a book that was originally written in French and has been translated into English by two translators, you would use the following format:

Including the translator in a citation helps readers to identify the person who translated the book into English.

This information is especially important for readers who are interested in the accuracy and quality of the translation.

Series (if applicable).

In MLA book citation, the series is included if the book is part of a numbered or named series. The series is typically found on the spine of the book or on the copyright page.

• Numbered series:
  

  If the book is part of a numbered series, the series title is included after the title of the book, followed by a comma and the series number.

• Named series:
  

  If the book is part of a named series, the series title is included after the title of the book, followed by a comma and the abbreviation "series".

• Subseries:
  

  If the book is part of a subseries, the subseries title is included after the series title, separated by a colon.

• Multiple series:
  

  If the book is part of multiple series, the series titles are listed in the order in which they appear on the book, separated by commas.

Including the series in a citation helps readers to identify the book's place within a larger collection of works.

Volume (if applicable).

In MLA book citation, the volume is included if the book is part of a multi-volume work. The volume number is typically found on the spine of the book or on the copyright page.

To cite a book that is part of a multi-volume work, include the volume number after the title of the book, followed by a period.

For example, to cite the second volume of a three-volume work, you would use the following format:

If the volume has a title, the title is included after the volume number, separated by a colon.

For example, to cite the second volume of a three-volume work with the title "The Rise of the Novel", you would use the following format:

Including the volume in a citation helps readers to identify the specific volume of the work being cited.

This information is especially important for readers who are working with multi-volume works that are published over a long period of time.

FAQ

The following are frequently asked questions about MLA book citation:

Question 1: What is the basic format for an MLA book citation?
Answer 1: The basic format for an MLA book citation is: Author's last name, first name. Book Title. Publication city: Publisher, year.

Question 2: How do I cite a book with two or more authors?
Answer 2: For a book with two or more authors, list the last names and first names of all authors in the same order as they appear on the title page, separated by commas. The last author's name is followed by a period.

Question 3: How do I cite a book that has been translated into English?
Answer 3: For a book that has been translated into English, include the translator's name after the title of the book, followed by the abbreviation "trans." and a period.

Question 4: How do I cite a book that is part of a series?
Answer 4: For a book that is part of a series, include the series title after the title of the book, followed by a comma and the series number. If the series has a subseries, include the subseries title after the series title, separated by a colon.

Question 5: How do I cite a book that is part of a multi-volume work?
Answer 5: For a book that is part of a multi-volume work, include the volume number after the title of the book, followed by a period. If the volume has a title, include the title after the volume number, separated by a colon.

Question 6: How do I cite a book that does not have a publication date?
Answer 6: If a book does not have a publication date, use the abbreviation "n.d." in place of the year of publication.

Question 7: How do I cite a book that I accessed online?
Answer 7: To cite a book that you accessed online, include the following information after the publication year: The abbreviation "e-book" in italics, the name of the database or website where the book is located, the URL of the book, and the date you accessed the book.

These are just a few of the most frequently asked questions about MLA book citation. For more information, please consult the MLA Style Manual or your instructor.

In addition to the information provided in the FAQ, here are a few tips for citing books in MLA style:

Tips

Here are a few practical tips for citing books in MLA style:

Tip 1: Use a citation generator.
There are a number of online citation generators that can help you to create accurate MLA citations for books. Simply enter the necessary information about the book, such as the author's name, title, and publication date, and the generator will create a citation for you.

Tip 2: Be consistent.
Once you have chosen a citation style, be consistent in your use of it. This means using the same format for all of your citations, including the font, font size, and spacing.

Tip 3: Proofread your citations.
Before you submit your paper, be sure to proofread your citations carefully. Make sure that all of the information is accurate and that the citations are formatted correctly.

Tip 4: Consult your instructor or a librarian.
If you have any questions about MLA book citation, consult your instructor or a librarian. They can help you to understand the citation style and to create accurate citations for your sources.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your MLA book citations are accurate and consistent.

With a little practice, you will be able to cite books in MLA style quickly and easily.

Conclusion

MLA book citation is a standardized format for acknowledging sources in academic writing. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can ensure that your citations are accurate, consistent, and complete.

Here are the main points to remember when citing books in MLA style:

• Include the author's last name, first name, title of the book in italics, publication city, publisher, year of publication, and page numbers (if applicable).
• For books with two or more authors, list the last names and first names of all authors in the same order as they appear on the title page.
• For books that have been translated into English, include the translator's name after the title of the book.
• For books that are part of a series, include the series title after the title of the book.
• For books that are part of a multi-volume work, include the volume number after the title of the book.

Closing Message

MLA book citation is an important part of academic writing. By citing your sources correctly, you are giving credit to the authors whose work you have used and you are helping your readers to find the sources that you have consulted.

Remember that the purpose of MLA book citation is to provide your readers with the information they need to locate and evaluate the sources that you have used. By following the guidelines in this article, you can create accurate and informative MLA book citations that will help your readers to understand and appreciate your work.