Skip to Main Content

Citation Help for APA, 6th Edition: Electronic Book

Help with common issues and questions with APA 6th ed. Citation Style.

No Author?

Example:
The bluebook: A uniform system of citation (18th ed.). (2005). Cambridge, MA: Harvard Law Review Association.

Explanation:
When there is no author move the title to the author spot. Italicize title and end with a period. Follow title with publication date and publication information.

More information: See p. 184 in the APA Manual 6th Edition for further explanation.

Multiple Authors?

Example:
McGill, I., Glenn, J. K., & Brockbank, A. (2004). The action learning handbook: Powerful techniques for education, professional 
development and 
training. New York, NY: Routledge Falmer.

Explanation:
List each author last name first followed by the initials for the first and middle names followed by a comma. Insert an amperstand (&) before the last author.


Eight or More Authors?
List the first six authors' names, then insert three ellipses, and add the last author's name.

Example:
Gilbert, J. R., Smith, J. D., Johnson, R. S., Anderson, A., Plath, S., Martin, G., . . . White, N. (2004). Choosing a title (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Unnamed  Publishing.

More information: See p. 184 in the APA Manual, 6th Edition for futher information.

Group Author?

Example:
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author.

Explanation:
This includes a name of a study group, government agency, association, corporation, etc. Put the name of the group author in the author position followed by a period.

More information: See p. 184 in the APA Manual 6th Edition for further explanation.

Example of an Electronic Book Found on the Internet

Dickens, C. (1859). A tale of two cities [Classic Bookshelf version]. Retrieved from

     http://www.classicbookshelf.com/library/charles_dickens/a_tale_of_two_cities/
 

Explanation for an Electronic Book Found on the Internet

Author: Dickens, C.
Begin with the last name first, then initials for first and middle name (as applicable). End with a period.

Year of publication: (1859).
In parentheses. Close parentheses with a period.

Title & subtitle of the book: A tale of two cities
Title and subtitle are separated by a colon. Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle, and any proper nouns. Italicize. NO Period!

Description: [Classic Bookshelf version].
For electronic books that are an electronic version of a printed book, place a description of item immediately after the title. Place in brackets. End with a period.

Retrieval statement: Retrieved from
http://www.classicbookshelf.com/library/charles_dickens/a_tale_of_two_cities/

Begin with "Retrieved from" and end with the URL. Also be sure to remove hyperlink to URL. Do not end with a period.

NOTE: For more information, see pages 203 & 204 in the 6th edition of the APA manual.

Electronic Book Internet Only Example

Shrout, R. N. (n.d.). True hypnotism. Retrieved from

     http://www.onlineoriginals.com/showitem.asp?itemID=253

Electronic Book Internet Only Explanation

Author: Shrout, R. N.
Begin with the last name first, then initials for first and middle name (as applicable). End with a period.

Year of publication: (n.d.).
When there is no publication date use the abbreviation "n.d." (no date). Put a period after "n" and "d". Put in parentheses. Close parentheses with a period.

Title & subtitle of the book: True hypnotism.
Title and subtitle are separated by a colon. Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle, and any proper nouns. Italicize. Close with a period after the title.

Retrieval statement: Retrieved from http://www.onlineoriginals.com/showitem.asp?itemID=253
Begin with "Retrieved from" and end with the URL. Do not end with a period.

NOTE: For more information see page 203 in the 6th edition of the APA manual.

Electronic Book in EBSCO Example

Pinkzuk, J. Z., & Dunham-Taylor, J. (2015). Financial management for nurse managers: Merging the

     heart with the dollar (3rd ed.). Retrieved  from http://www.ebscohost.com

Electronic Book in EBSCO Explanation

Author: Pinkzuk, J. Z., & Dunham-Taylor, J.
Begin with the last name first, then initials for first and middle name (as applicable). End with a period.

Year of publication: (2015).
Put publication date In parentheses. Close parentheses with a period.

Title & subtitle of the book: Financial management for nurse managers: Merging the heart with the dollar
Title and subtitle are separated by a colon. Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle, and any proper nouns. Italicize. NO Period!

Edition: (3rd ed.).
For electronic books that are an electronic version of a printed book, place a description of item immediately after the title. Place in parentheses. End with a period.

Retrieval statement: Retrieved from http://www.ebscohost.com
Begin with "Retrieved from" and end with the URL for the collection. For EBSCO ebooks, you may use the URL above for all of your retrieval statements.

NOTE: For more information see page 17 in the 6th edition of APA Style Guide to Electronic References.

Electronic Book in Pageburst/Elsevier Nursing Collection Example

Jarvis, C. (2012). Physical examination & health assessment (6th ed.). Retrieved from

     https://pageburstls.elsevier.com

Electronic Book in Pageburst/Elsevier Nursing Collection Explanation

Author: Jarvis, C.
Begin with the last name first, then initials for first and middle name (as applicable). End with a period.

Year of publication: (2012).
Put publication date In parentheses. Close parentheses with a period.

Title & subtitle of the book: Physical examination & health assessment
 Capitalize only the first word of the title, and any proper nouns or abbreviations. Italicize. NO Period!

Edition: (6th ed.).
For electronic books that are an electronic version of a printed book, place a description of item immediately after the title. Place in parentheses. End with a period.

Retrieval statement: Retrieved from https://pageburstls.elsevier.com
Begin with "Retrieved from" and end with the URL for the collection. For ebooks in the Pageburst/Elsevier collection, you may use the URL above for all of your retrieval statements.

NOTE: For more information see page 17 in the 6th edition of APA Style Guide to Electronic References.

Editors?

Example:
Gibbs, J. T., & Huang, L. N. (Eds.). (2007). Children of color: Psychological interventions with minority youth. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Explanation:
Place the word Eds. followed by a period in parentheses also followed by a period after the editor(s) name(s).


Only One Editor?
Instead of Eds., use Ed. follow-up with a period, place in parentheses, and end with a period after the editor's name.

Example:
Avery, E. F. (Ed.). (2003). Assessing student outcomes for information literacy instruction. Chicago, IL: American Library Association.

More information: See p. 184 in the APA Manual 6th Edition for further explanation.

Edition?

Example:
Smith, S. (2008). Clinical nursing skills: Basic to advanced skills (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Explanation:
Place the edition number in parentheses after the book title. Follow by ed. and a period outside the parentheses. There is no period after the book title.