How to cite a book in APA 7

References and in-text citations for books

This guide explains how to create the APA reference and in-text citations for authored books, edited books, ebooks, audiobooks, and complete reference works.

Do not confuse a whole book with a chapter written by someone in an edited book. That work follows the book chapter format.

Basic structure

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book (edition). Publisher. DOI or URL

Italicize the book title and use sentence case. Add the edition in parentheses after the title when it is not the first edition. Do not include the publisher's city or country.

An ebook with the same content as the print version does not need a device or platform label. Include a DOI when one exists. Without a DOI, add a URL only when the book is publicly available outside a common academic database.

If you reproduce a book's exact words, include the page where the passage appears. When an ebook has no page numbers, see which locator you can use in a direct quotation. Do not use a Kindle location number because it may change across devices.

Authored book example

The example details are illustrative.

Reference

Morales, J. P. (2023). Learning to conduct research (2nd ed.). Horizon Press.

Parenthetical citationThe source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024).

(Morales, 2023)

Narrative citationThe author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024).

Morales (2023)

Edited books and audiobooks

When a whole book has editors rather than authors, place the editors in the author position and add (Ed.) or (Eds.).

For an audiobook, identify the narrator and add [Audiobook] when the narration or that particular version matters. When only the format changed and the content is equivalent, the work may be referenced as the book.

For a translated or republished work, reference the version you used and retain the original year when its template requires it. The in-text citation may show both years separated by a slash.

More book and reference work examples

Invented publication details are used only to demonstrate the format. Religious and classical works retain their historical information.

Edited book

Reference

Fuentes, R. A., & Leon, M. P. (Eds.). (2022). Perspectives on digital education. Campus Press.

Parenthetical citation:The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Fuentes & Leon, 2022)

Narrative citation:The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Fuentes and Leon (2022)

Ebook

Reference

Torres, D. M. (2023). Clear writing for university. Open Classroom Press. https://example.com/books/clear-writing

Parenthetical citation:The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Torres, 2023)

Narrative citation:The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Torres (2023)

Audiobook

Reference

Salcedo, P. (2021). Stories for learning (M. Rios, Narr.) [Audiobook]. Sound Press. https://example.com/audio/stories

Parenthetical citation:The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Salcedo, 2021)

Narrative citation:The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Salcedo (2021)

Diagnostic manual

Reference

Association for Clinical Assessment. (2024). Manual of criteria for educational assessment (3rd ed.).

Parenthetical citation:The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Association for Clinical Assessment, 2024)

Narrative citation:The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Association for Clinical Assessment (2024)

Complete dictionary

Reference

Academy of Contemporary Language. (n.d.). Dictionary of academic terms. Retrieved August 4, 2026, from https://example.com/dictionary

Parenthetical citation:The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Academy of Contemporary Language, n.d.)

Narrative citation:The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Academy of Contemporary Language (n.d.)

Complete encyclopedia

Reference

Rivas, J. L. (Ed.). (2020). Encyclopedia of learning sciences (Vols. 1–3). Knowledge Press.

Parenthetical citation:The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Rivas, 2020)

Narrative citation:The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Rivas (2020)

Anthology

Reference

Molina, E. P. (Ed.). (2019). Anthology of university stories. Southern Letters.

Parenthetical citation:The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Molina, 2019)

Narrative citation:The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Molina (2019)

Religious work

Reference

New Revised Standard Version Bible. (1989). National Council of Churches.

Parenthetical citation:The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (New Revised Standard Version Bible, 1989)

Narrative citation:The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). New Revised Standard Version Bible (1989)

Classical work

Reference

Aristotle. (2011). Nicomachean ethics (R. Bartlett & S. Collins, Trans.). University of Chicago Press. (Original work published ca. 350 B.C.E.)

Parenthetical citation:The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Aristotle, ca. 350 B.C.E./2011)

Narrative citation:The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Aristotle (ca. 350 B.C.E./2011)

How to check the reference

• You cited a complete book rather than an authored chapter.
• You italicized the book title.
• You added the edition only when it was not the first.
• You omitted the publisher location.
• You included a DOI or URL only when appropriate.
• The citation contains the author surname and the year of the version used.

Return to the APA reference types.