APA 7th Citation Guide

In APA Style, you only provide the full reference for chapters in edited books. If you want to cite a chapter in an authored book, i.e. one that does not have an editor, then create a reference for the entire book and provide the chapter number with the in-text citation only. See the second-last box for an example. Consult the eBook page for how to reference a whole book. 

General Guidelines

• Ensure your punctuation is correct

  • Book title: Write the title of the journal article in italics and in sentence case, like as one writes a sentence. Begin subheadings with a capital letter. 

• Publisher name: 
  • Use regular font emphasis and use title case as the default, e.g. Royal Society of Chemistry. Exception: If the publisher name is intentionally in a different case, for example, a few publishers are in upper case.
  • Use the most concise version of the publisher name 
    • Leave out superfluous terms or designations of business structure, such as Inc., Co., Ltd., etc.
    • Do not abbreviate the publisher's name unless it is displayed as such on the work.

• Ensure your formatting is correct
  • ​Follow our red format structure and view our examples in black. E.g. For the elements of the reference we have italicized, you also italicize that same element in your reference.

• For specific guidelines for book chapters from different types of books, e.g. those that are edited, later editions, translated, etc.
  • ​Follow our guidelines below and consult our guidelines and examples on our eBooks page for the rest.

Format

eBook or print book with DOI

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of chapter. In E. Editor & F. Editor (Eds.), Title of book (pp. xx-xx). Publisher. http://doi.org/xxxx

From academic research database with no DOI OR print book

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of chapter. In E. E. Editor & F. F. Editor (Eds.), Title of book (pp. xx-xx). Publisher.

From nondatabase URL

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of chapter. In E. E. Editor & F. F. Editor (Eds.), Title of book (pp. xx-xx). Publisher. http://xxxx

Examples

eBook or print book with DOI

Gershoff, E. T., & Lee, S. J. (2019). Introduction: The rationale for reducing physical punishment. In Gershoff, E. T., & Lee, S. J. (Eds.), Ending the physical punishment of children: A guide to clinicians and practitioners (pp. 3-9). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000162-001

Academic research database with no DOI OR print book chapter no DOI

Huber, S. G. (2018). No simple fixes for schools in challenging circumstances: Contextualization for Germany (pp. 243-266). In Meyers, C. V., & Darwin, M. J. (Eds.)., International perspectives on leading low-performing schools. Information Age Publishing.

From nondatabase URL

Palmer, V. M. (2018). Hole in one: Library services on the green. In K. Bailin, B. Jahre, & S. Morris (Eds.), Planning academic library orientations: Case studies from around the world (pp. 3-9). Elsevier. https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780081021712/planning-academic-library-orientations

Citing In-Text: Example of one of the references

(Palmer, 2018) OR Palmer (2018) 

For more detailed guidelines on in-text citations go to our Citing In-Text tab.

Format of In-Text Citation

(Author, Year, Chapter #) 

Format of Reference

Reference the whole book. Consult the eBooks page for how to reference different types of books. 

Examples

In-Text Citation

(Journell, 2017, Chapter 3) OR Journell (2017, Chapter 3)

Reference

Journell, W. (2017). Teaching politics in secondary education: Engaging with contentious issues. SUNY Press. 

For more details and examples on how to reference chapters in edited books, including for types not covered here, consult the following section in the APA 7th Publication Manual:

Section 10.3 Edited Book Chapters and Entries in Reference Works 38-45. 

Augusta University provides free access to EndNote citation management tool students, faculty, and staff.

If you use EndNote to input your references, then choose the reference type underneath. If you export or import your citations, then check that EndNote automatically categorized them to the below reference type. Edit the reference type if it is incorrect.  

Reference Type: Book section