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Understanding Citations for Church, Biblical, and Religious Sources: Works Cited: Books

Guide to MLA-format citations for Master of Arts in Religious Education students

Works Cited: Books

The basic form for a book citation is

Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.

Book with One Author

Otto, Rudolf.  The Idea of the Holy.  London:  Oxford U.P., 1958. Print.

Frequent components of publishers' names are abbreviated, such as University Press (U.P.).

Book with Two or More Authors

Strunk, William, Jr., and E. B. White.  The Elements of Style.  New York:  Macmillan, 1979.

Note:  Titles (Dr., Prof., Sir, Saint) and degrees (M.A., M.Div.) are omitted.  Suffixes (Jr., III) follow the first name.  Frequent components of publishers' names, such as "Publishing Company," are omitted.  Religious affiliations, such as orders (e.g.,  S.J., CSSF) are also omitted.

Chapter in a Book

Lastname, Firstname.  "Title of Chapter."  Title of Book.  Ed. Editor's Name(s).  City of Publication:  Publisher, year.  Page range of entry.  Medium of publication.

Washington, Harold C.  "Proverbs."  Theological Bible Commentary.  Ed. Gail R. O'Day and David L. Petersen.  Louisville:  Westminster John Knox Press, 2009.  191-199.  Print.