How to Cite a Book Chapter, Edited Book, and Anthology in Academic Papers

• Authored book chapters and edited book chapters follow completely different citation rules — knowing the difference prevents the most common formatting mistake
• In an edited book or anthology, the chapter author is listed first in your reference entry; the editor appears second
• In-text citations always point to the chapter author, never the book editor, regardless of citation style
• E-book chapters, online anthologies, and chapters with missing data each have specific formatting adjustments
• This guide covers APA 7th, MLA 9th, and Chicago 17th edition formats with worked examples for every scenario

Citing a chapter in an edited book or anthology sounds simple — until you realize you need to list both the chapter author and the book editor, figure out whether to include page numbers, and decide which citation style your professor actually requires. Getting any part wrong doesn’t just look sloppy; it can cause your citation to flag as a citation error in plagiarism checkers, even when your content is 100% original.

This guide walks through the exact formats for citing book chapters, edited books, and anthologies in the three citation styles most commonly used by students and researchers: APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, and Chicago 17th edition. Every section includes real examples and clear breakdowns so you know exactly which piece belongs where.

The Critical Distinction: Authored Book vs. Edited Book vs. Anthology

Before writing a single citation, you need to know what kind of source you’re citing. The three main categories are:

Authored Books

An authored book has a single author (or a small team of co-authors) who wrote every chapter. The entire book represents one person’s or one team’s consistent argument and perspective throughout.

If you cite a specific chapter from an authored book, you do not create a separate reference entry for the chapter. Instead, you create one reference entry for the whole book and point to the specific chapter or page in your in-text citation.

Edited Books

An edited book is a collection of chapters written by different authors, compiled and organized by an editor (or editorial team). Each chapter has its own author, argument, and conclusion — the editor selected, arranged, and sometimes shaped the content, but didn’t write the chapters themselves.

When you cite a specific chapter from an edited book, you create a reference entry for that chapter alone — not for the whole book. The chapter author takes priority; the editor appears as a secondary contributor.

Anthologies

An anthology is essentially an edited book focused on a unifying theme — often creative works (poems, short stories, essays) gathered by an editor around a topic, genre, or time period. The citation format is the same as an edited book chapter.

Practical test: Look at the table of contents. If each chapter lists a different author, it’s an edited book or anthology. If one person wrote the entire book, it’s an authored book.

How to Cite a Book Chapter in APA 7th Edition

APA 7th edition is the most widely used style in the social sciences, education, and many health sciences programs. It handles book chapter citations differently depending on whether the book is authored or edited.

Reference List Format

Edited Book Chapter

Chapter Author(s). (Year). Chapter title. In Editor(s) (Ed./Eds.). Title of book (pp. page range). Publisher.

Worked example:

Fountain, Y. (2019). Physical activity games. In J. Stone & C. E. Schaefer (Eds.), Game play: Therapeutic use of games with children and adolescents (3rd ed., pp. 79–98). John Wiley & Sons.

Breaking it down:

• Chapter author(s): List the person who wrote the chapter. If there are multiple chapter authors, use commas between names and and before the last one.
• Year: The book’s publication year — chapters don’t have their own publication date.
• Chapter title: Sentence case only (capitalize the first word, any word after a colon, and proper nouns). Do not italicise the chapter title.
• In + editor(s): Use (Ed.) for one editor, (Eds.) for multiple editors. The word “In” connects the chapter to the book it appears in.
• Book title: Italicise, sentence case.
• Page range: Enclosed in parentheses, preceded by pp.. For non-first editions, place the edition number in the same parentheses, separated by a comma: (3rd ed., pp. 79–98).
• Publisher: The publisher’s name only — no city or state required in APA 7th edition.

Authored Book Chapter

Create a standard reference entry for the entire book:

Author(s). (Year). *Title of book in sentence case* (Edition). Publisher. DOI (if available)

Kearney, D. J., & Simpson, T. L. (2020). Concise guides on trauma care: Mindfulness-based interventions for trauma and its consequences. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000154-000

In-Text Citation for Edited Book Chapters

Paraphrase (parenthetical): (Fountain, 2019)

Paraphrase (narrative): Fountain (2019) argued that...

Quotation (add page number): "...exact quote..." (Fountain, 2019, p. 85)

You can optionally add a page number to the in-text citation when the chapter is particularly long or complex, but APA Style treats it as optional for edited book paraphrases.

In-Text Citation for Authored Book Chapters

When pointing to a specific chapter in an authored book (paraphrase), include the chapter identifier:

• (parenthetical): (Kearney & Simpson, 2020, Chapter 2)
• (narrative): Kearney and Simpson (2020, Chapter 2) described...

Quotation: Always include the page number, regardless of paraphrase or narrative format: (Kearney & Simpson, 2020, p. 42)

E-Book Chapters and DOI

APA 7th edition treats e-book chapters and print chapters identically in the reference list. Do not include platform information (Kindle, etc.) or device type.

If the chapter has a DOI, append it after the publisher:

Fountain, Y. (2019). Physical activity games. In J. Stone & C. E. Schaefer (Eds.), *Game play: Therapeutic use of games with children and adolescents* (3rd ed., pp. 79–98). John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx

If the ebook chapter lacks pagination, omit the page range entirely. If the book has neither a DOI nor a stable URL, the reference ends after the publisher.

How to Cite a Book Chapter in MLA 9th Edition

MLA 9th edition is standard in the humanities — literature, language, cultural studies, philosophy, and the arts. MLA handles the “edited book” scenario very clearly: the chapter author comes first, and the editor is listed as a secondary contributor.

Works Cited Format

Chapter in an Edited Book or Anthology

Chapter Author(s) Last Name, First Name. "Chapter Title." Title of the Book, edited by Editor First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year, pp. Page Range.

Worked example:

Bedford, David. “The Beatles in Liverpool.” The Beatles in Context, edited by Kenneth Womack, Cambridge University Press, 2020, pp. 19–27.

Breaking it down:

• Chapter author(s): The person who actually wrote the chapter. Last name first, comma, first name.
• Chapter title: Enclosed in double quotation marks. Capitalize the first word and any proper nouns.
• Book title: Italicise. Capitalize the main words (title case).
• Edited by: Use edited by followed by the editor’s full name. If two editors, write edited by First Name Last Name and First Name Last Name. For three or more, write edited by First Name Last Name et al.
• Publisher and year: Publisher name, comma, publication year.
• Page range: Use pp. followed by the page range.

Chapter in an Authored Book

Cite the whole book, not the chapter:

Author(s) Last Name, First Name. *Title of Book*. Publisher, Year.

Kearney, Don J., and Tracy L. Simpson. Concise Guides on Trauma Care: Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Trauma and Its Consequences. American Psychological Association, 2020.

In-Text Citation for MLA

Paraphrase (parenthetical): (Bedford 24) — chapter author’s last name, no comma, specific page number

Paraphrase (narrative): Bedford argues that... (24)

For authored books, use the book author’s last name and the page number. There’s no chapter identifier in MLA for authored books — the page number alone suffices.

Key MLA formatting rules:

• The chapter author is always the name used in in-text citations, not the editor
• MLA shortens publisher names: “University Press” becomes “UP” (e.g., “Oxford UP”)
• For e-book chapters retrieved from databases, add the database name and URL or DOI at the end of the citation

How to Cite a Book Chapter in Chicago Style

Chicago style has two interchangeable systems: Notes-Bibliography (common in history, the humanities, and some social sciences) and Author-Date (used in the sciences and social sciences). Both handle book chapters, but the format differs.

Notes-Bibliography System

Footnote / Endnote (first citation)

Chapter Author(s) First Name Last Name, "Chapter Title," in Book Title: Subtitle, ed. Editor First Name Last Name (Place of Publication: Publisher, Year), page number.

Worked example:

1. Malcolm Higgs, “Change and Its Leadership,” in The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology and Work, ed. P. Alex Linley et al. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2013), 67.

Bibliography Entry

Chapter Author(s) First Name Last Name. "Chapter Title." In Book Title: Subtitle, edited by Editor First Name Last Name. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year.

Higgs, Malcolm. “Change and Its Leadership.” In The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology and Work, edited by P. Alex Linley et al. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013.

Author-Date System

In-Text Citation

(Chapter Author(s) Year, page number)

(Higgs 2013, 67)

Reference List Entry

Chapter Author(s) Last Name, First Name. Year. "Chapter Title." In Book Title, edited by Editor First Name Last Name. Place of Publication: Publisher.

Higgs, Malcolm. 2013. “Change and Its Leadership.” In The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology and Work, edited by P. Alex Linley et al. New York: Oxford University Press.

Important update: In Chicago 17th edition (CMoS 14.8), the page range for a chapter in a book is no longer required in reference list entries. Page numbers remain necessary only in the in-text citation or note.

Chicago Style Rules to Remember

• Notes-Bibliography uses footnotes or endnotes for the first citation, then shortened notes for subsequent citations
• Author-Date resembles APA closely: parenthetical in-text citations with author, year, and page number
• Chicago uses title case for book titles (capitalize main words), unlike APA’s sentence case

Special Scenarios and Edge Cases

Real-world sources don’t always follow neat categories. These scenarios come up frequently and each has specific guidance.

No Editor Listed

If a chapter has its own author but the book has no identifiable editor, APA Style recommends treating the reference as if the chapter author is the primary contributor. You would format the entry starting with the chapter author, followed by the year, chapter title, and then the book title (if identifiable).

MLA equivalent: List the chapter author and title first, then simply the book title, publisher, and year — skip the “edited by” portion entirely.

Chicago equivalent: Omit the editor entirely. The bibliography entry reads: Chapter Author. "Chapter Title." In Book Title. Place: Publisher, Year.

Multiple Editors

When a book has two or more editors:

• APA: List all editors. Use (Ed.) or (Eds.) at the end: In J. Stone & C. E. Schaefer (Eds.)
• MLA: Use edited by followed by all editors. For two: edited by First Name Last Name and First Name Last Name. For three or more: edited by First Name Last Name et al.
• Chicago: List up to three editors fully; use et al. after the third editor’s name.

Online Chapters and e-Books

APA 7th: Append the URL or DOI after the publisher. Do not include platform names (e.g., “Kindle Edition”). If the e-book chapter lacks pagination, omit the page range.

MLA 9th: Add the format (e.g., “e-book”) after the year, then include the database name if applicable, followed by the URL or DOI.

Chicago: For online chapters, include the URL or DOI at the end of the reference entry. Chicago Author-Date includes the URL; Notes-Bibliography includes it in the note.

Chapter with No Author

Use the title of the chapter as the author entry (italicise in APA, quote in MLA):

• APA: "Chapter Title." (Year). In Editor(s)... — use the title as the author position
• MLA: "Chapter Title." *Book Title*, edited by Editor, Publisher, Year. — title first, not italicised
• Chicago: "Chapter Title." In Book Title... — place the title in quotes at the author position

Reprinted or Originally Published Chapters

For reprinted chapters (original publication followed by a later reprint year), provide both years in the in-text citation:

• APA: (Original year / Reprint year) in parentheses: (Bronfenbrenner, 1973/2005)
• MLA: Include the reprinted year at the end: Bedford, David. "Title." *Book*, edited by Editor, Original Year, Reprinted Year.
• Chicago: List the original publication date, then the reprint information after the publisher: Higgs, Malcolm. "Change and Its Leadership." In *Book*, ed. Editor (Reprint, Year)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These errors appear consistently across student papers, thesis drafts, and even early-career journal submissions.

Mistake 1: Citing the Chapter Author as the Editor

You list the chapter’s author in the reference entry (correct), but then mistakenly use the editor’s name in the in-text citation. Never cite the editor when the chapter has its own author. The in-text citation should always point to whoever wrote the chapter you cited.

Mistake 2: Italicising the Chapter Title

Only the book title is italicised. Chapter titles go in quotation marks (MLA, Chicago) or appear in plain text (APA). This is the single most common formatting mistake students make across all citation styles.

Mistake 3: Treating Authored and Edited Books the Same Way

Creating a separate reference entry for a chapter from an authored book breaks all major citation style rules. If the book has a single author (or a consistent co-author team), cite the whole book and point to the chapter in your in-text citation. Only create separate chapter entries for edited books and anthologies.

Mistake 4: Including Page Numbers in In-Text Citations for Paraphrases (MLA)

MLA requires a page number for every citation — even paraphrases. Unlike APA, MLA doesn’t treat page numbers as optional for paraphrases. Failing to include the page number in an MLA paraphrase citation is a genuine formatting error.

Mistake 5: Using “pp.” in In-Text Citations

The abbreviation pp. appears only in the reference list or works cited entry, never in the in-text citation. Always use a single page number (e.g., (Bedford 24)) inside parentheses. Never write (Bedford, pp. 24) — that’s incorrect in every style.

Mistake 6: Adding Platform Names for E-Books

APA and Chicago treat the physical and digital versions of the same book identically. Do not include “Kindle Edition,” “e-book,” or “PDF” in the reference entry unless the format affects the page structure significantly. MLA 9th does allow format notation, but still omits the platform name.

When to Cite a Chapter vs. the Whole Book

This is the decision that determines your entire citation strategy.

Cite the chapter when:

• You’re drawing from a specific chapter written by a different author (edited book)
• The chapter contains unique data, findings, or arguments you’re directly referencing
• You need to point readers to a very specific section of the text and want precision

Cite the whole book when:

• The book has a single author and you’re engaging with its overall argument
• You’re drawing from multiple chapters
• The chapter doesn’t contain independent authorship (authored book)

The quick decision flow:

1. Does each chapter have a different author? → Cite the chapter
2. Does one person (or one team) write every chapter? → Cite the whole book
3. Is there an editor but no separate chapter authors? → Treat as authored; cite the book

Quick Reference Table

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the three main styles for a chapter in an edited book:

Summary

Citing book chapters, edited books, and anthologies correctly comes down to two core decisions: identifying whether your source is an authored book or an edited book, and then matching the format to your required citation style. The chapter author always comes first. The editor always comes second (when there is one). The book title is always italicised. Everything else follows from those three anchors.

If you’re working with a complex source — a reprinted chapter, an online anthology with no clear editor, or a multi-volume set — use the guidance above and cross-check it against the official style manual for your discipline. When in doubt, check your professor’s or journal’s author guidelines first, because those institutions often override the general style rules.

Related Guides

• How to Write a Literature Review: Structure, Synthesis & Plagiarism Avoidance — Essential guidance on structuring academic research and properly citing sources throughout
• Academic Citation Styles: APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard — Overview of all major citation formats and when to use each
• Citation Generators vs Manual Citation — Understand the trade-offs between automated tools and hand-formatted references
• How to Properly Attribute Sources — Ensure every source is credited correctly across formats
• How to Paraphrase Correctly — Pair proper paraphrasing techniques with accurate citations

Further Reading

• American Psychological Association. (2020). Chapter in an edited book/ebook references. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples/edited-book-chapter-references
• The OWL at Purdue. (n.d.). MLA: Works Cited — Books. Purdue Online Writing Lab. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_page_books.html
• The Chicago Manual of Style. (2017). Chapter or other part of an edited book. Chicago Manual of Style Online. https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-1.html