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How to MLA Cite a Textbook: A Comprehensive Guide for Effortless Referencing

Are you struggling to give proper credit to the authors of textbooks in your academic writing? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! MLA (Modern Language Association) style is a widely used citation format that provides clear guidelines for citing textbooks. In this in-depth guide, we’ll break down the steps involved in MLA textbook citations so you can navigate this citation style with ease. 😊🎉

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1. Book by One Author

When citing a textbook by a single author, follow this format:

In-text citation: (Author’s last name Page number)
Works Cited page:
- Last name, First name. Title of Textbook. Publisher, Publication year.

Example:

(Smith 123)
Smith, John. Introduction to Psychology. Pearson, 2023.

2. Book by Two or Three Authors

For textbooks with two or three authors, follow this format:

In-text citation: (Last name of first author, last name of second author Page number)
Works Cited page:
- Last name of first author, First name of first author, and Last name of second author, First name of second author. Title of Textbook. Publisher, Publication year.

Example:

(Jones and Smith 234)
Jones, Paul, and Michael Smith. How to Cite a Textbook. Oxford University Press, 2022.

3. Book by Four or More Authors

For textbooks with four or more authors, list only the first author’s last name followed by "et al." (meaning "and others") in both the in-text and Works Cited page citations.

Example:

(Smith et al. 567)
Smith, John, et al. The Essential Guide to MLA Style. Cambridge University Press, 2021.

4. Edited Book or Anthology Chapter

If you’re citing a chapter from an edited book or anthology, follow this format:

In-text citation: (Author’s last name Page number)
Works Cited page:
- Last name, First name. "Title of Chapter." Title of Edited Book, edited by First name Last name of Editor. Publisher, Publication year.

Example:

(Jones 156)
Jones, Mary. "The History of MLA Style." The MLA Handbook, edited by John Smith. Norton, 2020.

5. Online Textbook

When citing an online textbook, include the URL in the Works Cited page citation:

In-text citation: (Author’s last name Page number)
Works Cited page:
- Last name, First name. Title of Textbook. Publisher, Publication year. URL

Example:

(Smith 234)
Smith, John. Introduction to Sociology. Norton, 2022. https://www.norton.com/books/intro-sociology-1

6. Subsequent Citations

For subsequent citations of the same source, use a shortened version:

In-text citation: (Author’s last name Page number)
Works Cited page: No need for a separate entry

Example:

(Smith 234)

Conclusion

MLA citations for textbooks are an essential part of academic writing. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that you give proper credit to the authors of your sources and maintain academic integrity. Remember to check out our other articles for more helpful tips on MLA style and other writing-related topics. 👍🎉

FAQ about Citing a Textbook in MLA Style

P: What information do I need to cite a textbook?

A: Author(s) name(s), title of textbook, edition number (if applicable), publisher, year of publication, and medium (print or online).

P: How do I format the citation?

A:

For print textbooks: Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Textbook. Edition, Publisher, Year.
For online textbooks: Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Textbook. Edition, Publisher, Year. Web. Date Accessed.

S: What if there are multiple authors?

A: List all authors’ names in the order they appear on the title page, separated by commas and a space. Use the ampersand (&) before the last author’s name.

P: How do I cite a specific page or section of a textbook?

A: Include the page number(s) or section title after the year of publication, preceded by "p." or "Section."

S: How do I cite a textbook in a parenthetical citation?

A: Use the author’s last name and the page number(s), e.g.: (Smith 123).

P: How do I cite an online textbook?

A: Include the URL of the textbook after the year of publication, preceded by "Web."

S: How do I cite a textbook with no author?

A: If a textbook has no author, use the title of the book as the author’s name, e.g.: The American Heritage Dictionary.

P: How do I cite a textbook that is part of a series?

A: Include the series title and volume number after the title of the textbook, separated by commas and a space, e.g.: The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vol. 2.

how to mla cite a textbook