How to Cite a Handbook in Literature

Citations tell readers the source of the information you are citing. The format for the citation depends on the citation method being used. There are several citations styles, but the American Psychological Association and the Modern Language Association are the most common styles used. APA is the most common in the social sciences where MLA is popular in the arts and humanities. In both cases, the writer is required to provide an in-text citation and a reference page at the end of the document.

Instructions

  1. APA Style

    • 1

      Cite the author and year of publication in the text for any information you paraphrase. For a handbook, it would be the author of the section from which you are working. If there is no author listed, then list the editor.

    • 2

      Include the page number of any direct quotes. For example: "According to Heaney (2010), 'dogs are tuned to their owner's emotions'" (p. 34).

    • 3

      Create a Reference List or Works Cited page at the end of the document. Here you will list all of the sources you used alphabetically by last name. The format is last name of the first author (or editor), first name. (year of publication) title of chapter. Editor's first name, Editor's last name. Title of book in italics. (pages of the chapter). Location: publisher.

    MLA Style

    • 4

      Cite only the author and page number for MLA style papers in the text. For example, "Plato says there are "three stages of corruption" (45). Notice that the year is left out in MLA citations even when using a direct quote.

    • 5

      Create a Works Cited page at the end of the document. Here you will list all of the authors you quote alphabetically by last name. For example, the entry for the Plato quote above would look like this: Plato. Gorgias (in italics). Trans. Donald J. Zeyl. Indianapolis: Hacket Publishing Company, 1987. Print.

    • 6

      Follow these guidelines with the information you have to cite a source on an MLA Works Cited page: Author's last name, Author's first name. "Title of Section or chapter in the handbook you are citing." Title of Handbook (in italics). Ed. (followed by editor's name). Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of publication. Pages of chapter or section. Medium of publication.

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