Should I start with the chapter author or the editor?

Start with the chapter author. Editors belong in the container information after the book title, introduced by “edited by”.

How do I format in-text citations for a book chapter in MLA?

MLA in-text citations usually include the chapter author’s last name and the page number. The in-text citation points readers to the Works Cited entry. Examples: (Smith 42) or Smith argues that ... (42).

Do I include the chapter title in MLA in-text citations?

Most of the time, no. Use the author’s last name and a page number. Include a shortened chapter title only when you cite more than one work by the same author and you need to distinguish them. Example: (Smith, "Cognitive Development" 118).

Where do the page numbers go in an MLA Works Cited entry for a chapter?

In MLA, the chapter page range appears near the end of the entry. Use “pp.” before the page range. ..., Publisher, Year,pp. 45–62.

Do I use title case or sentence case for chapter titles in MLA?

MLA uses title case for titles in the Works Cited list. Apply title case to both the chapter title and the book title.

How do I format editor names for a book chapter in MLA?

After the book title, list the editor or editors introduced by “edited by”. Write editor names in normal order, first name followed by last name. Title of Book, edited by Jane Smith and Tom Lee, Publisher, Year, pp. xx–xx.

How do I cite a chapter from a book that has an author, not an editor?

If the book is written by an author and you cite a chapter, you still cite the chapter as part of the book. The difference is that you typically do not add “edited by” unless the book actually has an editor. Your in-text citation still uses the author’s last name and the page number.

How do I cite a chapter with no listed author in MLA?

If the chapter has no author, start the Works Cited entry with the chapter title in quotation marks. In the in-text citation, use a shortened version of the title and the page number. Example in text: ("Chapter Title" 12).

How do I cite a chapter with three or more authors in MLA?

For a chapter with three or more authors, list the first author followed by “et al.” in the Works Cited entry. Author Last Name, First Name,et al. "Title of Chapter."Title of Book, ...

Do I include a URL for a book chapter in MLA?

Include a URL if you accessed the chapter online and the URL helps readers locate the source. Place the URL at the end of the entry. If the link does not provide meaningful access, the URL may be omitted.

Should I include “http://” or “https://” in MLA URLs?

If you include a URL, keep it in a clear, usable form. Use the full URL as needed for access.

What if I used an e-book chapter and the page numbers are not stable?

Use the most helpful location information you have. If the source provides stable page numbers, include them. If it does not, focus on the entry details that let readers find the chapter, and use whatever location method your version of the source provides when you quote or cite a specific passage.

MLA Book Chapter Citation

Q: Do I italicize the chapter title in MLA?

No. In MLA, the chapter title is placed in quotation marks. The book title is italicized.

Cite a chapter from an edited or authored book in MLA style.

Journal article

Example result

Watson, J. D., & Crick, F. H. C. (1953). Molecular structure of nucleic acids: A structure for deoxyribose nucleic acid. Nature, 171(4356), 737–738. https://doi.org/10.1038/171737a0

Source data complete

MLA 9th

Watson, James D., and Francis H. C. Crick. “Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid.” Nature, vol. 171, no. 4356, 1953, pp. 737–738. DOI: 10.1038/171737a0.

Source data complete

MLA 9th

Watson, James D., and Francis H. C. Crick. 1953. “Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid.” Nature 171 (4356): 737–38. https://doi.org/10.1038/171737a0.

Source data complete

MLA Format for Book Chapter Works Cited
9th Edition

 Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Chapter." Title of Book, edited by Editor First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year, pp. xx–xx, URL.

Author (of the chapter)

List the author or authors of the chapter.
Write the author’s name as last name followed by first name.
For two authors, separate names with and.
For three or more authors, list the first author followed by et al..

Title of chapter

Place the chapter title in quotation marks.
Capitalize the title using title case.
End the chapter title with a period inside the quotation marks.

Title of book

Write the title of the book in italics.
Capitalize the book title using title case.

Editor(s)

After the book title, list the editor or editors introduced by edited by.
Write editor names in normal order, first name followed by last name.
If there is more than one editor, separate names with commas and use and before the final name.

Publisher

List the name of the publisher.
Do not include business terms such as Inc. or Ltd.

Year

Include the year the book was published.
Place the year after the publisher name, followed by a comma.

Page range

List the page range of the chapter.
Use pp. before the page numbers.
Place a comma after the page range.

URL

If the chapter is accessed online and the URL provides stable access for readers, include the URL at the end of the entry.
Place the URL after the page range, preceded by a comma.
End the URL with a period.
If the URL does not help readers locate the source, it may be omitted.

MLA Book Chapter Examples

Use this format when citing a chapter, essay, or section from a book. If you are citing the entire book, use the MLA book format instead.

One chapter author (edited book)

Begin with the chapter author and chapter title. Then list the book as the container, including the editor, publisher, year, and page range.

Example:

Darwin, Charles. "Natural Selection." Human Evolution, edited by Bernard Campbell, Aldine, 1964, pp. 125–130.

Two chapter authors

For two authors, list both names in the order shown in the chapter and connect them with and.

Example:

 Watson, James D., and Francis H. C. Crick. "Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids." The Double Helix, edited by G. S. Stent, Atheneum, 1968, pp. 37–51.

Three or more chapter authors

When a chapter has three or more authors, list the first author followed by et al..

Example:

 Tversky, Amos, et al. "Extensional versus Intuitive Reasoning." Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases, edited by Daniel Kahneman, Paul Slovic, and Amos Tversky, Cambridge University Press, 1982, pp. 11–20.

Chapter in an edited collection

For chapters in edited collections, keep the standard MLA container order: book title, edited by, publisher, year, and page range.

Example:

Foucault, Michel. "Panopticism." The Foucault Reader, edited by Paul Rabinow, Pantheon Books, 1984, pp. 206–213.

Online chapter with URL

If the chapter is accessed online and the URL helps readers locate the source, include the URL at the end of the entry.

Example:

 Barr, Anthony J. "SAS Data Management." SAS User’s Guide, SAS Institute, 1979, pp. 11–12, https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx.

Include a DOI or URL only when it provides stable access for readers. Prefer a DOI or a publisher page that leads directly to the chapter.

In-Text Citations

In MLA style, in-text citations point readers to the Works Cited entry. For a book chapter, the in-text citation is based on the chapter author, not the editor or the book title. MLA in-text citations typically include the author’s last name and the relevant page number.

Basic citation styles

Parenthetical citation

The author’s last name and the page number appear in parentheses.

The concept has been widely discussed (Smith 42).

Narrative citation

The author appears in the sentence; the page number appears in parentheses.

Smith explains this concept in detail (42).

Two Authors

Parenthetical citation

List both authors’ last names joined by and, followed by the page number.

(Smith and Johnson 19)

Narrative citation

Keep both authors in the sentence; place only the page number in parentheses.

Smith and Johnson describe the approach (19).

Three or More Authors

Parenthetical citation

Use the first author’s last name followed by et al., then the page number.

(Garcia et al. 73)

Narrative citation

Use et al. after the first author in the sentence; include the page number in parentheses.

Garcia et al. argue this point (73).

Organization as Author

Parenthetical citation

Use the organization name as it appears in the Works Cited entry, followed by the page number.

(World Health Organization 6)

Narrative citation

Use the organization name in the sentence; include the page number in parentheses.

World Health Organization reports similar findings (6).

No Author

Parenthetical citation

Use a shortened chapter title in quotation marks, followed by the page number.

("Cognitive Development" 118)

Narrative citation

Use the shortened title in the sentence; include the page number in parentheses.

"Cognitive Development" outlines the framework (118).

Citing Specific Pages in a Chapter

Single page

Provide the page number without p. or pp..

(Smith 46)

Page range

Use an en dash for a range of pages.

(Smith 45–47)

Chapter vs. Whole Book

Citing a chapter

Use the chapter author’s last name, even when the book has an editor.

(Smith 42)

Citing the entire book

Use the book author’s last name when the whole book is the source you cite.

(Brown 10)

Same Author, Different Works

Parenthetical citation

When you cite more than one work by the same author, add a shortened title after the author’s name.

(Smith, "Cognitive Development" 118)

(Smith, "Learning in Context" 52)

Narrative citation

Use the author in the sentence; include the shortened title and page number in parentheses.

Smith emphasizes this point ("Cognitive Development" 118).

Smith offers a different framing ("Learning in Context" 52).

Multiple Sources in One Citation

Parenthetical citation

Separate citations with semicolons.

(Brown 10; Smith 42)

Narrative citation

If the sources serve different points, cite them in separate sentences for clarity.

Quick Checklist

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

Mistake 1

Starting with the editor instead of the chapter author

In MLA, the Works Cited entry for a chapter begins with the chapter author. The editor belongs after the book title, introduced by edited by.

Wrong

✕ Brown, Tom, editor. "Chapter Title." Book Title, Publisher, 2020, pp. 12–28.

Correct

✓ Smith, John. "Chapter Title." Book Title, edited by Tom Brown, Publisher, 2020, pp. 12–28.

Mistake 2

Using initials for author names

MLA lists the author’s name as Last name, First name. Initials are not used in place of first names in standard MLA entries.

Wrong

✕ Smith, J. "Chapter Title." Book Title, edited by Tom Brown, Publisher, 2020, pp. 12–28.

Correct

✓ Smith, John. "Chapter Title." Book Title, edited by Tom Brown, Publisher, 2020, pp. 12–28.

Mistake 3

Leaving out quotation marks for the chapter title

In MLA, a chapter title is placed in quotation marks. The book title is the element that appears in italics.

Wrong

✕ Smith, John. Chapter Title. Book Title, edited by Tom Brown, Publisher, 2020, pp. 12–28.

Correct

✓ Smith, John. "Chapter Title." Book Title, edited by Tom Brown, Publisher, 2020, pp. 12–28.

Mistake 4

Italicizing the chapter title

The chapter title is not italicized in MLA. Italics are used for the title of the book.

Wrong

✕ Smith, John. "Chapter Title." Book Title, edited by Tom Brown, Publisher, 2020, pp. 12–28.

Correct

✓ Smith, John. "Chapter Title." Book Title, edited by Tom Brown, Publisher, 2020, pp. 12–28.

Mistake 5

Placing the year immediately after the author

MLA does not place the year in parentheses after the author for book chapters. The year appears later, after the publisher, followed by a comma.

Wrong

✕ Smith, John. (2020). "Chapter Title." Book Title, edited by Tom Brown, Publisher, pp. 12–28.

Correct

✓ Smith, John. "Chapter Title." Book Title, edited by Tom Brown, Publisher, 2020, pp. 12–28.

Mistake 6

Formatting multiple authors like a Works Cited list of editors

In MLA, two authors are connected by and. For three or more authors, list the first author followed by et al..

Wrong

✕ Smith, John, Kay Brown, and Li Chen. "Chapter Title." Book Title, edited by Tom Brown, Publisher, 2020, pp. 12–28.

Correct

✓ Smith, John, et al. "Chapter Title." Book Title, edited by Tom Brown, Publisher, 2020, pp. 12–28.

Mistake 7

Using p. or page numbers without “pp.” in the Works Cited entry

For a chapter in a book, MLA lists the page range and uses pp.. The entry typically ends after the page range unless a URL is included.

Wrong

✕ Smith, John. "Chapter Title." Book Title, edited by Tom Brown, Publisher, 2020, p. 12–28.

Correct

✓ Smith, John. "Chapter Title." Book Title, edited by Tom Brown, Publisher, 2020, pp. 12–28.

Mistake 8

Including a URL that does not help readers locate the source

MLA allows URLs, but they should be included only when they help readers find the source you used. When included, the URL appears at the end of the entry.

Wrong

✕ Smith, John. "Chapter Title." Book Title, edited by Tom Brown, Publisher, 2020, pp. 12–28, https://example.com.

Correct

✓ Smith, John. "Chapter Title." Book Title, edited by Tom Brown, Publisher, 2020, pp. 12–28.