How to Cite a Book in American Political Science Association (APSA)
In APSA cite a book in the text with author and year, and in the reference list give author, year, the title in italics, the place, and the publisher. APSA follows Chicago author-date conventions for political science writing.
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How to cite a book in APSA step by step
- Author and year. Invert the author name and follow it with the year, since APSA places the date directly after the author.
- Italicize the title. Set the full book title in italics, capitalized headline style.
- Place and publisher. Give the place of publication and the publisher after the title.
- Edition. Add the edition after the title when it is not the first.
- In-text pinpoint. In the text, add a page after the year for a direct quotation.
APSA book citation format
APSA orders a book as author, year, title, place, and publisher, following Chicago author-date. The worked example shows both the reference entry and the in-text form.
Common book citation variations
How do I cite an edited book or a chapter in APSA?
For a chapter, give the chapter author, year, chapter title, then In the edited book title, the editor, page range, place, and publisher.
How do I cite a book with a corporate author in APSA?
Use the organization as the author in both the text and the reference list, for example a government department or research institute.
How do I cite a reissued or later edition of a book in APSA?
Add the edition after the title and use the year of the edition you consulted as the date in the citation.
How do I cite a classic political theory text in APSA?
Cite the edition you used with its publication year, and you may note the original date if relevant to your argument.
Cite any source in APSA
Book citation FAQ
Does APSA put the year next to the author for a book?
Yes. As an author-date style, APSA places the year immediately after the author in the reference list.
Is the publisher needed for a book in APSA?
Yes. APSA gives the place and publisher in the reference list, following Chicago author-date practice.