Question 1

How do I cite a book with multiple authors in MLA format?

Accepted Answer

For two authors, list both: Last, First, and First Last. For three or more, list only the first author followed by et al. Example: Burdick, Anne, et al. Digital Humanities. MIT Press, 2012. In-text: (Burdick et al. 78).

Question 2

How do I cite a chapter in an edited book using MLA?

Accepted Answer

List the chapter author first, then the chapter title in quotation marks, then the book title in italics as the container. Include the editor with 'edited by,' the edition, publisher, year, and page range.

Question 3

How do I cite an ebook or Kindle book in MLA format?

Accepted Answer

Cite it like a print book but use the ebook publisher if different. For in-text citations without page numbers, use chapter numbers (ch. 3), section headings, or paragraph numbers.

Question 4

What does et al. mean in an MLA book citation?

Accepted Answer

Et al. is Latin for 'and others.' Use it when a book has three or more authors. List only the first author's name followed by et al. This applies to both the Works Cited entry and the in-text citation.

Question 5

How do I cite a book with no author in MLA?

Accepted Answer

Begin the Works Cited entry with the book title in italics. For the in-text citation, use a shortened version of the title in italics: (World Almanac 45). Alphabetize by the first significant word.

Question 6

Should I include page numbers when I cite a book in MLA?

Accepted Answer

In the Works Cited entry, page numbers are only needed when citing a chapter or section within a larger work. In-text citations should always include the page number when quoting or paraphrasing a specific passage: (Smith 45).

Question 7

How do I cite a book with an editor instead of an author?

Accepted Answer

If you are citing the entire edited collection, list the editor as the author followed by 'editor': Greenblatt, Stephen, editor. If citing a specific chapter, list the chapter author first and the editor in the container section.

Question 8

How do I abbreviate publisher names in MLA book citations?

Accepted Answer

Abbreviate University Press as UP (Oxford UP, Cambridge UP). Omit business words like Inc., Ltd., Co., and Publishing. Use the shortest recognizable form of the publisher name.

Question 9

How do I cite a translated book in MLA format?

Accepted Answer

After the book title, add 'translated by' followed by the translator's name. Example: Camus, Albert. The Stranger. Translated by Matthew Ward, Vintage, 1989.

Question 10

Can I use an MLA citation generator for book citations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our free tool searches Open Library's database of over 20 million books. Enter a title or ISBN, select the correct result, and get a formatted Works Cited entry and in-text citation instantly.

📚 Free MLA Book Citation Generator

MLA Book Citation Format

How to Cite a Book in MLA Step by Step

Locate the author

Copy the full title

Note the edition and volume

Find the publisher and year

MLA Book Citation Examples

Special Cases for MLA Book Citations

No author listed

Translated book

Book in a series

Republished classic

MLA Book Citation FAQ