How to Reference a Book with One Author
When writing an academic paper or any formal document, it is crucial to provide proper citations and references to give credit to the original authors of the works you have used. One common scenario is referencing a book that has been written by a single author. In this article, we will discuss the various citation styles and how to reference a book with one author according to these styles.
APA Style
In APA style, when referencing a book with one author, you should include the author’s last name, followed by the first initial of their first name, the publication year, the book title, and the publisher. The format would look like this:
Smith, J. (2019). The History of Science. New York: Academic Press.
If you are citing a specific chapter from the book, you can include the chapter title and the page range after the book title:
Smith, J. (2019). The History of Science. New York: Academic Press. Chapter 4, pp. 100-120.
MLA Style
In MLA style, the reference format for a book with one author is similar to APA, but with a few differences. You should include the author’s last name, followed by the first name, the publication year, the book title, and the publisher. The format would look like this:
Smith, John. The History of Science. Academic Press, 2019.
If you are citing a specific chapter, you can include the chapter title and the page range after the book title:
Smith, John. “Chapter 4: The Impact of Technology.” The History of Science. Academic Press, 2019. 100-120.
Chicago Style
In Chicago style, there are two types of referencing systems: Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date. For a book with one author, the format would be as follows:
Notes-Bibliography System:
1. Smith, John. The History of Science. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2019.
Author-Date System:
Smith (2019) argues that…
If you are citing a specific chapter, you can include the chapter title and the page range after the book title:
Smith, John. “Chapter 4: The Impact of Technology.” The History of Science. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2019, 100-120.
Conclusion
Properly referencing a book with one author is essential for academic integrity and giving credit to the original authors. By following the guidelines for APA, MLA, and Chicago styles, you can ensure that your references are accurate and consistent throughout your document. Always remember to double-check the specific requirements of your institution or publication to ensure compliance with their citation style.
