How to Cite a Book in MLA Format

How to Cite a Book in MLA Format

Introduction

MLA (Modern Language Association) style is a widely used citation system in the humanities, especially in literature, language, and cultural studies. It standardizes how sources are documented so readers can locate and verify materials you reference.

This guide explains how to cite a book in MLA format, with step-by-step examples for different source types, in-text citations, and a sample Works Cited entry. Use Rephrasely's free citation generator to build citations quickly: Rephrasely Citation Generator.

General Rules

• MLA uses author-page style for in-text citations: include the author's last name and page number(s) in parentheses.
• Entries in the Works Cited list are alphabetized by the author's last name and use a hanging indent (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches).
• Use title case for titles (capitalize major words) and italicize book titles. Use quotation marks for article or chapter titles.
• Include only the elements that are relevant and available: author, title, edition, publisher, publication year, DOI or URL (for electronic sources).
• MLA no longer requires the medium (Print/Web); include URLs for online sources when useful for locating the source.

How to Cite by Source Type

1. Single-Author Book

Basic format: Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of publication.

Smith, John. The Modern Essay. Greenleaf Press, 2019.

Actionable tip: If the book has a subtitle, separate it with a colon: Title: Subtitle. Use the publisher name as listed on the title page and omit business words like "Co." or "Inc." when they don't change recognition.

2. Two or Three Authors

List authors in the order they appear on the title page. For two authors: First Author's Last Name, First Name, and Second Author's First Name Last Name.

Garcia, Maria, and Thomas Lee. Cultural Landscapes. Meridian Books, 2021.

For three authors, list all three names in the same order: First Author, Second, and Third.

3. Edited Book or Anthology

When a work has an editor instead of an author, use "ed." after the editor's name.

Wright, Henry, ed. New Directions in Poetry. Horizon Press, 2018.

For multiple editors, use "eds." and list names in the same order they appear on the title page.

4. Chapter or Essay in an Edited Collection

Format: Author of chapter. "Title of Chapter." Title of Book, edited by Editor Name(s), Publisher, Year, pp. xx–xx.

Lopez, Ana. "Narrative and Nation." Voices of the Continent, edited by D. Shah and L. Kim, Eastbridge, 2017, pp. 45–62.

Actionable tip: Include page range for the chapter so readers can find the specific essay within the collection.

5. E-Book (PDF, Kindle, or Online)

Format is similar to print but include the file type or URL/DOI if relevant. If the e-book is from an e-reader with stable location numbers, use page numbers if they match the print edition.

Reid, Samantha. Modern Myths. Skyview Digital, 2016. Kindle.

When using a URL, add it at the end: ... Publisher, Year, www.example.com.

6. Journal Article (Quick Reference)

Although not a book, you may need journal citation rules for interdisciplinary work. Format: Author. "Article Title." Journal Name, vol. #, no. #, Year, pp. xx–xx. DOI or URL.

Chan, Ming. "Language and Identity." Journal of Cultural Studies, vol. 12, no. 3, 2020, pp. 101–120. doi:10.1234/jcs.2020.045.

7. Website (Quick Reference)

Format: Author (if available). "Title of Page or Article." Website Name, Publisher (if different), Date of publication, URL. Access date is optional but useful for unstable sources.

Jones, Rhea. "Contemporary Poets." Poetry Online, Poetry Guild, 15 Mar. 2022, www.poetryonline.org/contemporary.

In-Text Citations

MLA in-text citations use the author-page method. Place the author's last name and the page number(s) in parentheses after the quoted or paraphrased material.

...as one critic argues (Smith 27).

If you name the author in the sentence, include only the page number in parentheses.

Smith argues that essays often "reshape cultural memory" (27).

For sources with no page numbers (web pages, some e-books), include just the author's name: (Jones). If no author is available, use a shortened title: ("Contemporary Poets").

For multiple authors: for two authors use both names (Garcia and Lee 153); for three or more use the first author's name followed by "et al.": (Wang et al. 58).

Works Cited (Reference List) — Formatting Rules and Example

The Works Cited page starts on a new page, title centered as Works Cited. Double-space all entries and use a hanging indent of 0.5 inches. Alphabetize entries by authors' last names.

Sample Works Cited entries:

Works Cited
Garcia, Maria, and Thomas Lee. Cultural Landscapes. Meridian Books, 2021.
Lopez, Ana. "Narrative and Nation." Voices of the Continent, edited by D. Shah and L. Kim, Eastbridge, 2017, pp. 45–62.
Smith, John. The Modern Essay. Greenleaf Press, 2019.

Actionable checklist for finalizing your Works Cited: verify author name spellings, check publication years, confirm title capitalization and italics, and ensure URLs are correct.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Incorrect title formatting: Remember to italicize book titles and use quotation marks for chapter or article titles.
• Wrong author order: Use the exact author/editor order from the title page; don't alphabetize within a multi-author book entry.
• Omitting page ranges for chapters: Always include the page range for a chapter or essay in an edited collection.
• Inconsistent punctuation and spacing: MLA is sensitive to commas, periods, and the placement of page numbers. Use a citation generator or style guide to check consistency.

Actionable tip: Use Rephrasely's citation generator (https://rephrasely.com/citation) to build accurate citations and then verify them against your source.

Practical Workflow for Accurate Citations

1. Collect bibliographic data as you research: author(s), title, editor, edition, publisher, year, page range, DOI/URL.
2. Build the citation with a trusted tool such as Rephrasely's citation generator.
3. Paste the generated citation into your Works Cited and format with hanging indents and double spacing.
4. Run your text through a plagiarism checker (see Rephrasely Plagiarism Checker) and refine wording with the AI writer/composer (Rephrasely Composer). Use the AI detector (Rephrasely AI Detector) when you need to check for AI-generated content.

Quick Reference: Common Citation Templates

• Book (single author): Last, First. Title. Publisher, Year.
• Chapter in edited book: Last, First. "Chapter Title." Title of Book, edited by Editor, Publisher, Year, pp. xx–xx.
• E-book: Last, First. Title. Publisher, Year. Kindle.
• Webpage: Last, First. "Page Title." Website Name, Publisher, Date, URL.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a book with no author in MLA?

If a book has no identifiable author, begin the Works Cited entry with the title (italicized). Use a shortened version of the title in your in-text citation: (Shortened Title 45).

Do I include the URL for an e-book or online book in MLA?

Include a URL or DOI for an online book if it helps readers locate the text. For stable, subscription-based e-books (like library databases), a DOI or database name may be sufficient instead of a full URL.

Can I use Rephrasely to create and check my citations?

Yes. Use Rephrasely's citation generator to build citations quickly, then verify originality with the plagiarism checker. You can also refine phrasing using the composer and check for AI-generated text with the AI detector.