A book is a written or printed work consisting of pages bound together, typically containing a narrative or informative content. In the context of citation and formatting, books are significant sources of information that require proper acknowledgment in academic work, influencing how readers engage with textual resources.
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In MLA format, the basic structure for citing a book includes the author's last name, first name, title of the book in italics, publisher's name, and year of publication.
When citing multiple authors in a book reference, only the first author's name should be inverted (last name first), followed by 'et al.' for three or more authors.
If a book has no author, the title should be placed at the beginning of the citation, followed by the publication details.
When citing an edition other than the first, such as a second edition, it should be indicated after the title in the citation.
Page numbers are essential when referencing specific content from books; they provide precise locations for readers to find relevant information.
Review Questions
How do you properly format a citation for a book in MLA style?
To format a book citation in MLA style, you need to follow this structure: Author's last name, first name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication. For example, if you were citing 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald published by Scribner in 2004, it would look like this: Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 2004. Remember to use italics for the book title and include all necessary punctuation.
What are some key differences between citing a book with multiple authors versus one with a single author in MLA format?
When citing a book with multiple authors in MLA format, only the first author's name is inverted (last name first) while subsequent authors are listed in normal order. For example, if there are three authors like John Smith, Jane Doe, and Emily White, it should appear as: Smith, John, Jane Doe, and Emily White. In contrast, for a single author, you simply use their last name followed by their first name without additional formatting.
Evaluate the importance of properly citing books in academic writing and how it affects scholarly communication.
Properly citing books in academic writing is crucial as it upholds academic integrity and avoids plagiarism by giving appropriate credit to original authors. It also allows readers to trace back to primary sources for deeper understanding and verification of information. Moreover, accurate citations enhance scholarly communication by creating a reliable framework for sharing knowledge and building upon existing research, ultimately contributing to the advancement of collective understanding within various fields.
Related terms
Citation: A citation is a reference to a source from which information is obtained, providing credit to the original author and enabling readers to locate the source material.
Bibliography: A bibliography is a list of sources cited or consulted in the preparation of a work, usually placed at the end of an academic paper, formatted according to specific guidelines.
An in-text citation is a brief reference within the text of an academic work that indicates the source of information, usually including the author's last name and page number.