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How to: APA style- Resources: Books

APA How-to

General Information

Alphabetize your reference list by the first word of the citation (usually the author's last name).

Double space all of the citations on your reference page.

Indent the second & following lines of the citation 5-7 spaces.  

For 2-6 authors: Wingert, P., Smith, J., & Brown, P.

For more than 6 authors: Provide only the first author followed by a comma and et al. For example: Wingert, P., et al.

Only capitalize the first word of the document title. If there is a colon in the title, capitalize the first word after the colon.

No period after URL for e-books. 

No retrieval date is needed.

Books with an Editor

You may cite an essay from a book with an editor and multiple authors, or the whole book. This will depend on what you have quoted within your paper.

Entire Edited Book

Format

Last Name. First Initial(s) (Ed.). (Year). Title of book. (Edition of book). 

       City, State: Publisher.

Example

Montney, C.B. (Ed.). (2008). Asian American information directory. (5th ed.). Detroit, MI;

       Gale.

Essay from an Edited Book

NOTE: First name in citation is the author of the essay and second name is the editor of the book.

Format

Last Name, First Initial(s). (Year). Title of essay. In First Name Last Name (Ed.), 

       TItle of Book. City, State: Publisher.

Buford, J.A. (2000). Affirmative action benefits the workplace. In B.J.Grapes (Ed.),

       Affirmative Action. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press.

Electronic Books (E-Books)

An e-book citation follows the same rules as a print book citation except that the electronic retrieval statement (URL) takes the place of publisher and location. URL is the main publisher URL only.  See Greenwood Press below:

Format

Last Name, First Initial(s). (Year). Title of book. Retrieved from URL of publisher

       home page

Example

Carr, A. (2003). Abnormal psychology. Retrieved from http://ebooks.greenwood.com

Books By One to Six Authors

Format

Last Name, First Initial(s). (Year). Title of book. City, State: Publisher.

Example

Valenti, F. M. (2000). More than a movie. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

(More than one author)

Format

Last Name, First Initial(s), Last Name, First Initial(s), & Last Name, First(s). (Year).

       Title of book. City, State: Publisher.

Example

Valenti, F.M., Smith, J.H., Stone, B. (2000). More than a movie. Boulder, CO. Westview

       Press.

Books By More Than Six Authors

Format

Last Name, First Initial(s), et. al. (Year). Title of book. City, State: Publisher.

Example

Krupp, F., et. al. (2008). Earth, the sequel: The race to reinvent energy and stop global

      warming. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Co.

Books with No Author

Format

Title of book.  (Year). City, State: Publisher.

Example

 Half empty half full.  (2000). Orlando, FL: Harcourt.

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