How to cite a textbook in text apa

In this guide we’re going to be citing a textbook in APA 7 style. Like a regular book, textbooks are a published medium and a credible source to cite from. The method for citing them is similar, too.

1. How to cite a textbook automatically
2. How to cite a textbook by hand
   1. Locate the textbook details
   2. Citation template

How to cite a textbook automatically

Our free textbook citation generator can automatically create citations for textbooks–just search for the title of the textbook in the search box below.

How to cite a textbook by hand

Here’s what you need to know to cite textbooks correctly yourself every time:

Locate the textbook details

First, locate the details below. These can all be found on the textbook front cover, back cover, or within the first few pages inside.

• Author names. These will usually be on the front page of the textbook.
• Year published. Look on the back of the book or in the first few pages for this. The copyright date will do just fine.
• Textbook title. On the front of the book, say no more.
• Edition. Textbooks usually display this on the front cover. Otherwise it will be in the first few pages. This is not needed if it’s the first edition.
• Publisher. This will almost definitely be in the first few pages, close to the year published.
• Pages used. Look in the corners of the pages that you took information from.

Citation template

Next, position the details in this order and format:

Author last name, Author first name initial. (Year published). Textbook title (Edition, pages used). Publisher.

Your citation should look like this:

Perrin, R. (2015). Pocket guide to APA style (2nd ed., pp.34-36). Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

That’s it! You are ready to cite a textbook in APA style.

About Citing Books

For each type of source in this guide, both the general form and an example will be provided.

The following format will be used:

In-Text Citation (Paraphrase) - entry that appears in the body of your paper when you express the ideas of a researcher or author using your own words.  For more tips on paraphrasing check out The OWL at Purdue.

In-Text Citation (Quotation) - entry that appears in the body of your paper after a direct quote.

References - entry that appears at the end of your paper.

Information on citing and several of the examples were drawn from the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).

Numbers in parentheses refer to specific pages in the manual.

General Format 

      In-Text Citation (Paraphrase): 

      (Author Surname [of Chapter or Article], Year)

      In-Text Citation (Quotation):

      (Author Surname [of Chapter or Article], Year, page number)

      References (Quotation):

      Author Surname [of Chapter or Article], First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Article

            or chapter title. In Editor First Initial. Second Initial. Surname (Ed.), Book title:

            Subtitle (pp. page range of article or chapter). Publisher.

Example

      In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):

      (Lawrence & Dodds, 2003)

      In-Text Citation (Quotation):

      (Lawrence & Dodds, 2003, p. 526)

      References:

      Lawrence, J. A., &  Dodds, A. E. (2003). Goal-directed activities and life-span

            development. In J. Valsiner & K. Connolly (Eds.), Handbook of developmental

            psychology (pp. 517-533). Sage Publications.

Subject Guide

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