# >> College Life >> College Academics

How to Cite a Book by a Corporate Author Using MLA Style

When writing a term paper or working on a longer term research project, it is important to keep track of your sources of information so that you can credit them for contributing to your own original conclusions. While traditionally this type of credit has been given via footnote, more recent forms of citation actually occur within the text of a paper in abbreviated form and refer a reader to a more detailed reference at the end of the document. One of the most popular forms of this type of citation is MLA style, which enables a writer to use a parenthetical note in the text that directs a reader to a simple resource reference on a "Works Cited" page. MLA is especially popular in undergraduate classrooms where the process of citing references may be a new experience for students. Sometimes in the course of your research, you may encounter a text that is written or sponsored by a corporation instead of an individual. A corporate author is any group that does not identify its members individually, such as the American Heart Association. This type of resource should be cited slightly differently in order to give the corporate entity the credit that it deserves. Read on to learn how to cite a book by a corporate author using MLA style.

Name of the corporate entity
Title of the book
Year of publication
Publisher
City where the book was published

Instructions

- 1
  Write the name of the corporate entity followed by a period. Make sure that you capitalize correctly, and you can include the abbreviation if you wish in parentheses. For example, if you were citing a text by the American Association of Retired People (AARP), then so far your citation would look like this: American Association of Retired People (AARP).
- 2
  Follow the name of the corporation with the title of the book and another period. The title should be italicized. If your word processor cannot support this type of formatting, then use an underscore sign to indicate that the title should be underlined. For example, if the book were called "How to Age in Your Professional Life," then your citation should now look like this:American Association of Retired People (AARP). _How to Age in Your Professional Life_.
- 3
  Add the city where the book was published and a colon. This information can usually be found on the inside cover of the book or on the first few pages. If your book was published in Atlanta, Georgia, then your citation should now read: American Association of Retired People (AARP). _How to Age in Your Professional Life_. Atlanta:
- 4
  Add the name of the publisher followed by a comma. If your book was published by Gerner and Sons, then your citation will now read: American Association of Retired People (AARP). _How to Age in Your Professional Life_. Atlanta: Gerner and Sons,
- 5
  Finish with the year of publication and a period. If the book was published in 2007, your finished citation will look like this:American Association of Retired People (AARP). _How to Age in Your Professional Life_. Atlanta: Gerner and Sons, 2007.

How to Cite a Book with No Author or Editor Using MLA Style

How to Cite a Book Compiled By an Editor Using Harvard Style