Basic Information
* Author's Last Name, First Name. *Title of Book*. *Edition if applicable* (e.g., 2nd ed.), *City of Publication*: *Publisher*, *Year of Publication*.
Example:
Smith, John. *The History of the United States*. 3rd ed., New York: HarperCollins, 2018.
Additional Information (depending on the source):
* Volume number: If you're citing a multi-volume work, include the volume number after the title (e.g., *Title of Book*, vol. 1).
* Translator: If the work is translated, include the translator's name after the title (e.g., *Title of Book*, trans. Jane Doe).
* Editor: If you are citing an edited collection, include the editor's name after the title (e.g., *Title of Book*, ed. Jane Doe).
* Series Title: If the book is part of a series, include the series title after the publisher information (e.g., *City of Publication*: *Publisher*, *Year of Publication*. *Series title*).
* Page numbers: If you are citing a specific passage, include the page number(s) in parentheses after the citation (e.g., *Title of Book*, 25-30).
Example with additional information:
* Multi-volume work:
Williams, Mary. *The History of English Literature*. Vol. 2, New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.
* Translated work:
Kafka, Franz. *The Metamorphosis*, trans. David Wyllie, New York: Penguin Books, 1996.
* Edited collection:
*The Norton Anthology of American Literature*, ed. Nina Baym et al., New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012.
* Series title:
Smith, John. *The History of the United States*. 3rd ed., New York: HarperCollins, 2018. *The History of the Americas* series.
* Specific page number:
Smith, John. *The History of the United States*, 235.
Other Points:
* Italics: Use italics for the title of the book.
* Punctuation: Use a period after the title and after the publisher information.
* Formatting: Use standard MLA formatting (double-spaced, 1-inch margins, 12-point font).
* Online Sources: If you're citing an online version of a book, include the URL and access date.
Example of online book citation:
Smith, John. *The History of the United States*. 3rd ed., New York: HarperCollins, 2018.
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers: For the most up-to-date and complete information, consult the official MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. You can find it online or at most college bookstores.