How to Cite With No Author

Whenever you cite sources in a reference list, you must alphabetize them by author. However, you may run into a problem when you use a source that has no known author. The Chicago Manual of Style, the American Psychological Association (APA), and the Modern Language Association (MLA) all deal with sources from unknown authors in the same way: you must begin your reference entry with the title of your source. The exact form of your entry will depend on which set of guidelines you are adhering to.

Instructions

    • 1

      Cite a book by an unknown author in the following format if you are adhering to Chicago style:

      Title. City of Publication: Publisher, Year.

      For example:

      The Best Man in the American South. New York: Doubleday, 1997.

      The title should appear in italics.

    • 2

      Cite a book by an unknown author in the following format if you are adhering to MLA style:

      Title. City of Publication: Publisher, Year. Medium of Publication.

      For example:

      The Best Man in the American South. New York: Doubleday, 1997. Print.

      The title should appear in italics.

    • 3

      Cite a book by an unknown author in the following format if you are adhering to APA style:

      Title. (Year of Publication). City of Publication: Publisher.

      For example:

      The best man in the American south. (1997). New York: Doubleday.

      The title should appear in italics. Also note that in APA style, the title of a book is capitalized differently than in MLA and Chicago style. Only the first word of the title should be capitalized, except for proper nouns, which should also be capitalized.

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