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A basic MLA book citation lists the author’s last name and first name, the italicized book title, the publisher, and the publication year. An in-text citation points to that works-cited entry and, when available and relevant, the page containing the quoted or paraphrased material.
Use the edition you actually consulted. Check its title page and publication details rather than relying on a search snippet or an automatically generated citation.
Basic book citation format
Template: Last Name, First Name. Book Title. Publisher, Year.
Illustrative example: Rivera, Maya. Designing Useful Workshops. Example Press, 2025.
The names, titles, publisher, and page numbers in this article’s examples are invented to demonstrate formatting. Replace them with verified details from your source. They are not books to add to a real bibliography.
The MLA Style Center’s book guide supplies the basic structure and explains that additional elements depend on the publication. In your document, format works-cited entries with the required hanging indent and spacing; follow any assignment-specific instructions.
How to cite a book in the text
For a passage on page 42 of the illustrative Rivera book, a parenthetical reference would be (Rivera 42). If your sentence already names Rivera, use (42) when a page locator is needed.
Do not repeat the author’s name unnecessarily in both the sentence and parentheses. The MLA in-text citation overview explains how the reference directs readers to the entry and the relevant location.
A paraphrase still needs attribution. Changing the wording does not make the underlying idea your own. If you are citing a whole work rather than a specific passage, do not invent a page reference.
Two authors and three or more authors
Two-author template: Last Name, First Name, and First Name Last Name. Book Title. Publisher, Year.
Illustrative example: Rivera, Maya, and Noah Chen. Planning Better Interviews. Example Press, 2025.
Illustrative in-text reference: (Rivera and Chen 18).
For three or more authors, the works-cited entry generally uses the first listed author followed by et al. An illustrative entry begins “Rivera, Maya, et al.” and its parenthetical reference could be “(Rivera et al. 18).” Preserve the source’s author order. Purdue OWL’s MLA book guide covers these variations.
A chapter in an edited collection
When the chapter has its own author, begin with that author and put the chapter title in quotation marks. The collection title is italicized, followed by the editor and publication details.
Illustrative example: Chen, Noah. “Preparing an Interview.” Practical Research Methods, edited by Maya Rivera, Example Press, 2025, pp. 31-48.
Cite Chen in the text for that chapter, not the collection editor. The page range in the works-cited entry describes the chapter; an in-text reference points to the particular page used.
E-books and online books
Start with the same core publication details, then add the version, platform or container, and location information appropriate to the copy consulted. Do not automatically insert an APA-style bracketed “[Kindle Version]” into an MLA entry.
For an online book, verify the hosting container and stable URL or DOI. A digitized edition may have different publication details from the original print edition. Purdue’s electronic-source guidance explains how containers, versions, and locations fit into an entry.
If the source has no page numbers or other numbered divisions, do not invent them or count your own paragraphs. When the author is already identified in your sentence and there is no locator, an additional parenthetical reference may be unnecessary. See the MLA’s guidance on unpaginated works.
Translations, editions, and scriptural works
For a translation, identify the translator as an additional contributor. For a specific edition or volume, include the relevant version or number from the source. These details help a reader find the material you actually used.
A specific published edition of the Bible or another scriptural work can require a works-cited entry. Do not omit it categorically. The MLA’s scriptural-writing guidance distinguishes general references from citations of particular editions.
For older books, record the publication evidence accurately. Do not guess an original year or combine details from different editions just because the title is familiar.
Check the citation before submitting
- Does the entry describe the copy you consulted?
- Do names and titles match the source?
- Does each in-text reference lead to the right entry?
- Are quotations exact and page references verified?
- Are paraphrased ideas attributed?
- Have invented placeholders and unverified generated details been removed?
For a content team using RankWell, keep source notes alongside the article brief and manually verify citations before publication. An AI-generated reference is a draft to check, not evidence that the book or passage exists.
Frequently asked questions
Is the book title italicized?
Yes, a standalone book title is italicized in the works-cited entry. A chapter title is generally placed in quotation marks within its collection entry.
Do I put a comma between the author and page number?
Not in a basic author-page reference such as (Rivera 42).
Can I use a citation generator?
It can prepare a starting point. Compare every field with the actual source and the relevant MLA guidance before relying on the result.
Reviewed and updated October 2, 2026.
Written by
Julia McCoy has contributed articles to BrandWell on content marketing, writing, and search engine optimization. This archive retains her original bylines; individual articles may be updated by the BrandWell editorial team.
