How to cite a book in APA 7th edition: format and examples
Quick answer
An APA 7 book reference follows this order: Last name, F. M. (Year). Title of book in italics. Publisher. The city of publication is no longer included. If the book has a DOI or you read it online, add the link at the end.
What does a book reference look like?
Rivera, M. (2022). Rooftop gardens and city life. Example Press.The title is in italics. The data are fictional.
How do I cite it in the text?
- Parenthetical: Rooftop plots grew in a decade (Rivera, 2022).
- Narrative: Rivera (2022) documented the growth of rooftop plots.
How does it change by type of book?
| Case | Example |
|---|---|
| One author | Rivera, M. (2022). Rooftop gardens and city life. Example Press. |
| Two authors | Rivera, M., & Torres, A. (2021). Urban economies. Example Press. |
| With edition | Lopez, L. (2020). Urban farming (3rd ed.). Example Press. |
| Edited book | Torres, A. (Ed.). (2019). Views on urban food. Example Press. |
| Ebook with DOI | Rivera, M. (2022). Rooftop gardens and city life. Example Press. https://doi.org/10.0000/example |
How do I cite a chapter in an edited book?
Use the chapter author, a plain chapter title, then "In" and the book in italics:
Torres, A. (2019). Food and jobs. In M. Rivera (Ed.), Views on urban food (pp. 45-62). Example Press.Checklist
- Author's last name and initials
- Year in parentheses
- Italic title in sentence case
- Publisher without city
- DOI or link for ebooks
Frequently asked questions
How do you cite a book in APA?
In the text, with last name and year: (Rivera, 2022). In the reference list, use Last name, F. M. (Year). Title in italics. Publisher. Add the page number for direct quotes.
Do I include the publisher's city in APA 7?
No. The 7th edition dropped publisher location, so you write only the publisher's name. Leave out terms such as Inc. or Ltd. and the city, state or country where the book was published.
How do I cite a book edition?
Put the edition in parentheses after the title, not in italics: Title of book (2nd ed.). Mention the edition only from the second edition on, and leave it out for a first edition or a reprint.