How to Cite a Book in MLA Style: A Step-by-Step Guide

In MLA format, citing books is straightforward but must be done with precision. The citation generally includes the author’s name, the title of the book, the publisher, and the year of publication. However, depending on the type of book and the edition, there may be slight variations.

1. Basic MLA Book Citation Format

The general format for citing a book in MLA style is:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.

For example:

Smith, John. The Art of Writing. Penguin Press, 2020.

2. How to Cite a Book with Multiple Authors

If the book has more than one author, you can follow this format:

First Author’s Last Name, First Name, and Second Author’s First Name Last Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.

For example:

Johnson, Emily, and David Turner. Global History of the Arts. Oxford University Press, 2019.

For books with more than two authors, list the first author followed by “et al.” (meaning “and others”):

Williams, Sarah, et al. The Science of Biology. McGraw-Hill, 2018.

3. Citing an Edited Book

When citing an edited book, include the editor’s name followed by “editor” (or “editors” for multiple editors) after the book title:

Editor’s Last Name, First Name, ed. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.

For example:

Davis, Michael, ed. Modern Studies in Literature. Harvard University Press, 2017.

4. Citing a Chapter in an Edited Book

If you are citing a chapter in an edited book, format it as follows:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Chapter.” Title of Book, edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year of Publication, Page Range of Chapter.

For example:

Stewart, Rachel. “The Role of Technology in Education.” Educational Innovations, edited by Lena Carlson, Princeton University Press, 2020, pp. 101-120.