Citing Book Chapters in APA (Citation Guide)
To cite a chapter in an edited book in APA 7, name the chapter’s author, not the editor. Include the year, chapter title, editor or editors, book title, page range, publisher, and DOI when available. Use the chapter author and year in text. If the same author wrote the whole book, cite the book instead.
“A chapter has its own author, but the book has an editor. Which name do I cite?” I often hear a version of this question from students working on their first research papers. The key is to identify who wrote the specific words or ideas you used, then choose the reference format that matches how the book was created.
When to use an APA book-chapter citation
Use a chapter citation when a chapter in an edited book has its own author, and the book lists one or more editors. The chapter author gets credit for the chapter; the editor helps readers identify the book that contains it. If the same author wrote the whole book, cite the book instead.
An edited book is a book in which one or more editors bring together chapters, often written by different authors. Look at the chapter’s opening page, contents page, or book title page to check whether the chapter names an author and the book names an editor.
| What you find | What to cite |
|---|---|
| A chapter has an author, and the book has editors | Cite the chapter, starting with its author |
| One author or author team wrote the whole book | Cite the book, even if you used one chapter |
| A chapter has no separate author, but the book has editors | Check the chapter and book details; do not assume an editor wrote it |
| A chapter is reprinted from another source | Check your instructor’s or publisher’s rules for reprinted works |
This distinction matters because citing an editor as the chapter author can misidentify who wrote the material. If the book’s credits are unclear, check its title page, chapter opening, or publisher record before building your reference.
Format the reference-list entry
A reference-list entry gives readers the details needed to identify and locate the source. For an authored chapter in an edited book, place the chapter author first, followed by the year, chapter title, editor information, book title, page range, publisher, and DOI when available.
Use this APA 7 pattern:
Chapter Author, A. A. (Year). Title of chapter. In E. E. Editor & F. F. Editor (Eds.), Title of book (pp. xx–xx). Publisher. https://doi.org/xxxxx
Replace the sample names and details with those from the book. For one editor, use “(Ed.)”; for two or more editors, use “(Eds.).” Keep the chapter title in sentence case: capitalize the first word, the first word after a colon, and proper nouns. Italicize the book title, not the chapter title.
| Element | What to include | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter author | Surname, then initials | Lee, M. |
| Year | Year of publication in parentheses | (2022). |
| Chapter title | Sentence case, not italicized | Building classroom trust |
| Editor(s) | Initials before surnames; add role label | In R. K. Patel (Ed.), |
| Book title | Italicized and in sentence case | Teaching for belonging |
| Pages | Full chapter page range | (pp. 45–62). |
| Publisher | Publisher name only | North Shore Press. |
| DOI | Add as a full link if assigned | https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx |
Example with invented details for formatting practice:
Lee, M. (2022). Building classroom trust. In R. K. Patel & J. A. Chen (Eds.), Teaching for belonging (pp. 45–62). North Shore Press. https://doi.org/10.1234/abcd.5678
The example shows the order and punctuation; its publication details are illustrative, not a source to copy. APA 7 does not include the publisher’s city or state. If a book lists several publishers, follow the source details and your instructor’s guidance.
Add an edition and DOI correctly
An edition number belongs after the book title and before the page range. Keep the edition in parentheses, without italicizing it. A DOI, or digital object identifier, is a stable link assigned to some scholarly works; when a chapter has one, present it as a URL beginning with https://doi.org/.
For example, the middle of the entry could look like this:
In R. K. Patel (Ed.), Teaching for belonging (2nd ed., pp. 45–62). North Shore Press. https://doi.org/10.1234/abcd.5678
Do not add a database URL for an ordinary ebook accessed through a library database when it has no DOI. For a work available only online, include a suitable public URL when readers need it to find the source. Do not add a retrieval date unless the content is designed to change over time and APA guidance calls for one.
Cite the chapter in your text
An in-text citation points readers from your sentence to the matching reference-list entry. For a chapter with a named author, use the chapter author’s surname and publication year. Do not use the editor’s name in place of that author.
Use a parenthetical citation at the end of a sentence: (Lee, 2022). Use a narrative citation when the author’s name is part of your sentence: Lee (2022) explains .... Both forms should match the chapter author and year in the reference entry.
| Use | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Paraphrase, author not named in sentence | (Author, Year) | (Lee, 2022) |
| Paraphrase, author named in sentence | Author (Year) | Lee (2022) |
| Direct quotation with page | (Author, Year, p. page) | (Lee, 2022, p. 51) |
| Direct quotation across pages | (Author, Year, pp. pages) | (Lee, 2022, pp. 51–52) |
A direct quotation needs a locator, usually a page number. If the source has no page numbers, use another locator that helps readers find the passage, such as a paragraph number or a section heading. For example: (Lee, 2022, “Building Trust” section, para. 3). Use a locator for a quotation, not for every paraphrase.
For three or more authors, APA 7 generally uses the first author’s surname followed by “et al.” in in-text citations from the first citation onward: (Lee et al., 2022). The reference entry follows its own author-list rules, so do not shorten it in the same way without checking APA guidance.
Check your source details and avoid common errors
Before you submit, compare the chapter itself with the reference entry. A reference can look polished and still point to the wrong author, year, or pages. I recommend checking the chapter’s first page and the book’s title or copyright page rather than relying only on a search result or database preview.
- Author: Is this the chapter author, rather than the editor?
- Year: Does it match the edition of the book you used?
- Titles: Is the chapter title in sentence case and the book title italicized?
- Editors: Are initials before surnames, with “(Ed.)” or “(Eds.)”?
- Pages: Does the range cover the full chapter?
- Publisher: Is the name included without a city or state?
- DOI or URL: Is an assigned DOI shown as a full
https://doi.org/link? - In-text match: Does each citation lead to the right reference-list entry?
In a student paper, put the reference list on its own page and use a hanging indent: the first line starts at the left margin, and later lines are indented. Alphabetize the entry by the chapter author’s surname, not the editor’s. Follow your instructor’s directions if they set a different format for the assignment.
Frequently asked questions
These quick answers cover common questions about APA chapter citations. Use the chapter’s publication details to decide which rule applies, and check your course or publisher’s instructions when they differ from APA’s general guidance.
Do I cite the chapter author or the book editor?
Cite the chapter author when the chapter has its own author. Include the editor or editors in the reference entry as part of the book details.
How do I cite a chapter when the same author wrote the whole book?
Cite the book, not the chapter as a separately authored work. Use the book’s author in your in-text citations and reference entry.
Do I include the chapter’s page range?
Yes. In a reference for a chapter in an edited book, include the chapter’s full page range after the book title and edition, if any.
Should I include the publisher’s location?
No. APA 7 does not include the publisher’s city or state in a book or chapter reference.
Do I need a DOI for an ebook chapter?
Include the DOI if the chapter has one. Format it as a full link beginning with https://doi.org/.
Should I include a library database URL?
Usually not for a standard ebook or chapter from a library database when it has no DOI. Include a public URL when it is needed to locate an online-only work.
What if the chapter has no page numbers?
Leave the page range out of the reference if none is available. For a direct quotation, give another useful locator, such as a paragraph number or section heading.
Does a paraphrase need a page number?
A page number is not generally required for an APA paraphrase, though it can help readers find a specific passage. A direct quotation needs a locator.
How do I cite a chapter written by three or more authors in text?
Use the first author’s surname followed by “et al.” and the year, such as (Lee et al., 2022). Build the reference entry using APA’s author-list rules.
What if my instructor’s directions differ from APA?
Follow the assignment’s stated requirements. If the directions are unclear, ask whether they expect APA 7 defaults or a specific course format.
Final check before you submit
A sound chapter citation starts with the right source type: separately authored chapter in an edited book, or a chapter from a book written by the same author throughout. Then make sure the chapter author and year in your text match the reference entry, and verify the editors, book title, page range, publisher, and DOI. When a detail is missing or unclear, check the book itself and your instructor’s guidance.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Alan Westbrook. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
