FAQ: How do I cite a book or ebook in APA style?

Book by a Single Author

The basic format for citing a book in APA style is:

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of book. Place of publication: Publisher.

For example (don't forget to indent the second and subsequent lines):

Wagner, M. E. (2011). The Library of Congress illustrated time line of the Civil War. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Co.

Book by Two Authors

The basic format for citing a book with two or more authors in APA style is:

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of book. Place of Publication: Publisher.

For example (don't forget to indent the second and subsequent lines):

Ward, G. C., & Burns, K. (2017). The Vietnam War: An intimate history. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

Books by Three to Seven Authors

According to the APA Manual Section 6.27 (pp. 184), you can list up to seven authors using the same format as above by just including more authors.

Author, A. A., Author, B. B., Author, C. C., Author, D. D., Author, E. E., Author, F. F., & Author, G. G. (Year). Title of book. Place of Publication: Publisher.

For example (don't forget to indent the second and subsequent lines):

Campbell-Kelly, M., Yost, J. R., Ensmenger, N., & Aspray, W. (2013). Computer: A history of the information machine. New York, NY: Westview Press.

Books by Eight or More Authors

According to the APA Manual Section 6.27 (pp. 184), if there are eight or more authors, list the first six authors, then insert three ellipsis points, and then add the last author's name.

Author, A. A., Author, B. B., Author, C. C., Author, D. D., Author, E. E., Author, F. F., . . . Author, H. H. (Year). Title of book. Place of Publication: Publisher.

For example (don't forget to indent the second and subsequent lines):

Smtih, G. A, Raine, T. R., Jacobs, F. C., Worth, N. E., Payne, T. L., Cooper, M. B., . . . Sully, B. R. (2012). History of social anxiety. New York: NY: Fake Publisher.

Electronic Book (eBook)

The basic format for citing an ebook that is ONLY available in electronic form in APA style is:

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book. doi: 10.xxxxxxxxxx

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book. Retrieved from URL

For example (don't forget to indent the second and subsequent lines):

Smith, J. J. (2010). A prophet's tale. doi: 10.10.36/007142363X

O'Keefe, E. (n.d.). Egoism & the crisis in Western values. Retrieved from http://www.onlineoriginals.com/showitem.asp?itemID=135.

The basic format for citing an ebook that is BOTH available in electronic form and in print form in APA style is:

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book. Retrieval statement with home URL of the ebook publisher or doi:       10.xxxxxxxxxx

For example (don't forget to indent the second and subsequent lines):

Smith, J. J. (2010). A prophet's tale. Retrieved from http://lib.myilibrary/com

Brown, C. (2006). Social psychology. doi: 10.4135/9781446247198

Click here for more examples of citing books and ebooks in APA style.

More Information:

• Citing Your Sources (Shapiro Library)
• APA (6th Ed.) Research Paper Basics Video Tutorials (Atomic Learning - log in using your SNHU email username and password)
• APA Style Blog (APA)

For further help please contact the Wolak Learning Center at 603.645.9606 (UC Students) and Online Writing Center at 866.721.1662 (Online/COCE Students) for additional information about citing sources in APA Style.

This information is intended to be a guideline, not expert advice. Please be sure to speak to your professor about the appropriate way to cite a book or ebook in your class assignments and projects.