How to Cite a Chapter in a Book APA: A Complete Guide

Have you ever meticulously crafted a research paper, only to feel a pang of uncertainty when citing that one insightful chapter from a multi-authored book? It’s a common predicament! Accurately citing your sources is the bedrock of academic integrity, ensuring proper credit is given to the original authors and allowing readers to verify your claims. Ignoring this step can lead to accusations of plagiarism and undermine the credibility of your work.

In the realm of academic writing, following a consistent citation style like APA is crucial. APA style provides a standardized format for acknowledging sources, promoting clarity and ease of navigation for readers. While citing an entire book is relatively straightforward, citing a specific chapter within an edited volume requires a slightly different approach. Mastering this skill is essential for students, researchers, and anyone engaging in scholarly communication.

What are the key elements of an APA chapter citation, and how do they differ from citing an entire book?

What’s the basic APA format for citing a book chapter?

The basic APA format for citing a chapter in an edited book includes the chapter author(s), year of publication, chapter title, book editor(s), book title, chapter page range, and the publisher. The format generally follows this pattern: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of chapter. In A. A. Editor & B. B. Editor (Eds.), *Title of book* (pp. xxx–yyy). Publisher.

When citing a specific chapter within an edited book, it’s crucial to acknowledge both the author of the chapter and the editor(s) of the entire book. The chapter author is credited with the intellectual content of that specific portion, while the editor(s) are recognized for compiling and overseeing the entire work. The “In” element of the citation signals that the chapter exists as part of a larger compilation, with the editor(s) named after this preposition. Including the page range (pp. xxx–yyy) is essential, as it directs the reader to the specific location of the cited information within the broader book. This helps readers quickly and efficiently locate the source material you’ve referenced. Remember to italicize the book title, but not the chapter title. Consistent application of these formatting rules ensures clarity and credibility in your academic writing, adhering to APA’s guidelines for source attribution.

How do I cite a chapter with a different author than the book editor in APA?

To cite a chapter in a book with a different author than the book’s editor in APA style, you need to reference both the chapter author and the book editor. The in-text citation will use the chapter author’s name, while the reference list entry will include details for both the chapter and the book, clarifying their respective roles.

When creating the reference list entry, start with the chapter author’s last name, followed by their initials. Then, include the year of publication in parentheses. Next, write the title of the chapter, capitalizing only the first word of the title and subtitle, and any proper nouns. After the chapter title, use “In” followed by the editor’s name (initials first, then last name), and “(Ed.)” or “(Eds.)” to indicate editor or editors. Then, provide the title of the book in italics, followed by the chapter page range in parentheses. Finally, include the publisher’s name. For example, consider a chapter titled “The Neuroscience of Memory” by Jane Doe in a book titled “Advances in Cognitive Psychology” edited by John Smith. The reference list entry would look like this: Doe, J. (2023). The neuroscience of memory. In J. Smith (Ed.), *Advances in cognitive psychology* (pp. 55-78). Academic Press. The in-text citation would be (Doe, 2023). Remember to alphabetize your reference list by the first author’s last name (in this case, Doe).

What information is needed for an APA citation of a chapter in an edited book?

To correctly cite a chapter in an edited book in APA style, you need the following information: the chapter author(s), the year of publication, the chapter title, the editor(s) of the book, the book title, the chapter’s page range within the book, and the publisher’s name.

Citing a chapter in an edited book differs slightly from citing an entire book. The citation emphasizes the individual chapter author and title because they represent the specific work you are referencing within the larger collection. Including the editor(s) and book title acknowledges that the chapter is part of a larger edited volume. Providing the page range is crucial so readers can locate the specific content you’re referencing within the book. Here’s a breakdown of the elements, followed by an example: Author(s) of Chapter. (Year). Title of chapter. In Editor(s) of Book (Ed[s].), *Title of book* (pp. page range). Publisher. For example: Wegener, D. T., & Claypool, H. M. (2017). Attitude change: Foundations and processes. In D. Albarracín & B. T. Johnson (Eds.), *The handbook of attitudes* (2nd ed., pp. 339-385). Routledge. Note that “Ed.” is used for a single editor and “Eds.” is used for multiple editors.

How do I cite a chapter if the book doesn’t have an editor?

If you’re citing a chapter from a book that doesn’t have an editor (meaning it’s authored by the same person or people as the entire book), you essentially treat the book as a whole. You cite the chapter by referencing the author(s) of the book, the year of publication, the chapter title, the book title, and the page range of the chapter within the book.

Here’s how to approach citing a chapter in a book without an editor in APA style: When the entire book is written by the same author or authors, you’re essentially citing a part of their whole work. Therefore, the citation structure is very similar to citing the entire book, but you include the chapter title and page numbers to pinpoint the specific section you’re using. The reference list entry should include the author(s), year of publication, the chapter title, the book title, and the page range where the chapter appears. To further illustrate, let’s imagine a book titled “Understanding the Brain” written solely by Dr. Anya Sharma, published in 2023. You’re citing chapter 3, “Cognitive Functions,” which spans pages 55-80. The reference list entry would look like this: Sharma, A. (2023). Cognitive functions. In *Understanding the brain* (pp. 55-80). Academic Press. In the body of your paper, you would cite this as (Sharma, 2023, p. 62) if you were quoting from page 62 of that chapter. The key is to remember you are citing the work of the author(s) of the *entire* book, just specifying a particular chapter.

Does the page range for the chapter go in the APA reference list entry?

Yes, the page range for the specific chapter you are citing is a crucial part of the APA reference list entry. Including the page numbers allows readers to locate the exact chapter within the larger edited book.

When citing a chapter from an edited book in APA style, you are essentially directing the reader to a specific, self-contained work within a larger compilation. The page range pinpoints the location of that specific chapter. Without it, a reader would have to search the entire book to find the cited information, which is inefficient and goes against the principles of clear and precise referencing. The format is typically included after the chapter title and editor information, following the “pp.” abbreviation. For instance, you would write “pp. 25-48” to indicate that the chapter spans from page 25 to page 48.

Remember that if you are citing the *entire* book, rather than just a single chapter within it, you would *not* include a page range in the reference list entry. The page range is only necessary when you are drawing information from a specific part of a larger whole, like a chapter in an edited book. Including this information correctly demonstrates scholarly rigor and respect for the sources you are using.

How does citing a chapter in an ebook differ in APA?

Citing a chapter in an ebook in APA style primarily differs from citing a chapter in a print book by including the ebook’s format and, if available, a stable URL or DOI (Digital Object Identifier). The core elements remain the same: author of the chapter, year, chapter title, editor(s) of the book, book title, and page range, but you must specify it was an ebook and provide location information.

The key additions when citing an ebook chapter address accessibility. Instead of just publisher and location of the publisher, you will add the ebook format within square brackets after the book title (e.g., [Ebook edition]). If the ebook has a DOI, include it at the end of the citation. If no DOI exists, but a stable URL is provided by the publisher or database, use that URL. If you accessed the ebook through a library database that requires a login, it is generally not recommended to include the database URL because it is not stable for other readers. In this case, leaving out the URL is preferred.

Here’s an example illustrating the difference: Smith, J. (2020). The impact of technology on society. In A. Jones & B. Williams (Eds.), *The future of humanity* (pp. 50-75). Publisher. Smith, J. (2020). The impact of technology on society. In A. Jones & B. Williams (Eds.), *The future of humanity* [Ebook edition] (pp. 50-75). https://doi.org/xxxxxxxxxxx

What is the proper in-text citation format for a book chapter in APA?

The proper in-text citation format for a book chapter in APA style includes the author(s) of the chapter and the year of publication. The page number(s) where the information is located must also be included for direct quotes. The basic format is (Author, Year, p. XX) for a single page and (Author, Year, pp. XX-YY) for a range of pages.

While citing the entire book would reference the book’s editor, citing a specific chapter requires acknowledging the chapter’s author(s). This is because the author of the chapter, not the editor of the book, is responsible for the content you’re referencing. The in-text citation should correspond to the chapter author’s name as it appears in the reference list entry for that chapter.

For example, if you are quoting from page 45 of a chapter written by John Smith and published in 2023, your in-text citation would be (Smith, 2023, p. 45). If you are paraphrasing Smith’s ideas, you would still include Smith’s name and the year of publication: (Smith, 2023). While page numbers are not required for paraphrasing, including them helps readers locate the information in the source, particularly in lengthy works, and is encouraged by APA especially when discussing specific sections.

And that’s all there is to it! Hopefully, this has cleared up any confusion about citing a book chapter in APA style. Thanks so much for reading, and please feel free to come back whenever you need a citation refresher. We’re always here to help you nail those references!