How to cite a book in MLA
To cite a book in a reference entry in MLA style 9th edition include the following elements:
- Author(s) name: Give the last name and name as presented in the source (e. g. Watson, John). For two authors, reverse only the first name, followed by ‘and’ and the second name in normal order (e. g. Watson, John, and John Watson). For three or more authors, list the first name followed by et al. (e. g. Watson, John, et al.)
- Title of the book: Titles are italicized when independent. If part of a larger source add quotation marks and do not italize.
- Publisher: If the name of an academic press contains the words University and Press, use UP e.g. Oxford UP instead of Oxford University Press. If the word "University" doesn't appear, spell out the Press e.g. MIT Press.
- Year of publication: Give the year of publication as presented in the source.
Here is the basic format for a reference list entry of a book in MLA style 9th edition:
. Title of the book. Publisher, Year of publication.
Take a look at our works cited examples that demonstrate the MLA style guidelines in action:
Examples
Book with one author.
. Roots: The Saga of an American Family. Doubleday, 1976.
Book with two authors
. The Talisman. Viking Press, 1984.
Note: The format to cite two author's names is: Last, First, and First Last.
A book with three authors
. Faster, Smarter, Greener: The Future of the Car and Urban Mobility. MIT Press, 2017.
Note: From three authors on, cite only the first author given followed by et al.
This citation style guide is based on the MLA Handbook (9th edition).