General Rules (applicable across styles):
* Italics: Always italicize the title of a book. This distinguishes it from shorter works like articles or chapters.
* Capitalization: Capitalization rules vary slightly between styles, but generally, capitalize the first word, the last word, and all principal words (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs) in the title and subtitle. Articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet), and prepositions (unless they are the first or last word) are usually not capitalized.
Specific Style Examples:
* MLA (Modern Language Association):
Italicize the title. In the text, you usually just mention the title the first time, then use a shortened version thereafter, if appropriate. The full citation appears in your Works Cited page.
*Example in text:* *To Kill a Mockingbird* explores themes of racial injustice... Later: Harper Lee's *Mockingbird* further illustrates...
*Example in Works Cited:* Lee, Harper. *To Kill a Mockingbird*. J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1960.
* APA (American Psychological Association):
Italicize the title. Similar to MLA, you'll mention the full title the first time and use a shorter version subsequently. A full citation goes in your References page.
*Example in text:* (Lee, 1960). or Lee (1960) described the themes of racial injustice in *To Kill a Mockingbird*.
*Example in References:* Lee, H. (1960). *To Kill a Mockingbird*. J.B. Lippincott & Co.
* Chicago (Turabian):
There are two main styles within Chicago: Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date.
* Notes-Bibliography: Italicize the title. The first citation uses a full citation in a footnote or endnote. Subsequent mentions can be shortened. A bibliography is included at the end.
*Example in footnote (first citation):* 1. Harper Lee, *To Kill a Mockingbird* (J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1960), 12.
*Example in footnote (subsequent citations):* 2. Lee, *Mockingbird*, 35.
*Example in Bibliography:* Lee, Harper. *To Kill a Mockingbird*. J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1960.
* Author-Date: Similar to APA, italicize the title. Use the author's last name and year of publication in the text, with a full citation in the bibliography.
*Example in text:* (Lee, 1960)
*Example in Bibliography:* Lee, Harper. *To Kill a Mockingbird*. J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1960.
Important Considerations:
* Subtitles: Include subtitles, separated from the main title by a colon. For example: *The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring*.
* Consistency: Be consistent in your use of italics and capitalization throughout your essay, following the guidelines of the chosen style guide.
* Citation Management Software: Tools like Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote can help you manage citations and create bibliographies automatically, reducing the risk of errors.
Always consult the specific style guide's manual for the most accurate and up-to-date information. The examples above are simplified for clarity. Your institution or professor might have specific preferences within a given style.