How to Reference a Textbook

Properly referencing a textbook in MLA style can be one of the most frustrating parts of writing an essay, term paper or research paper. Sometimes, but not always, a professor will require that you list textbooks that you referenced while researching a paper. There are many ways to reference a textbook, depending upon who wrote the textbook and the type of textbook used. These steps explain how to reference a textbook in MLA style.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Author
• Edition number (if applicable)
• Date of publication
• Publisher
• Publisher’s location

1. Create a "Reference" or "Works Cited" page (depending on what your instructor requests). On a new page following the end of your paper, center the text and title the page per your instructor's preferences. Skip two lines before beginning reference listings.

2. 
    
   Textbook reference

   Type your listing in this format: author’s last name, comma, first name, period. Textbook title underlined, period. Edition number (if other than first; if it is first edition, skip this step), period. City of publication (if city is relatively unknown, put city’s name, comma, state), colon, publisher's name, comma, date of publication, period.

3. 
    
   Annotated textbook reference

   Add annotated references if the instructor asks for them. These consist of a short synopsis of the information that you found in the textbook. Write the textbook’s reference information followed by a sentence or two describing the textbook.

4. After listing all of the works referenced, highlight the text, right-click (or use the toolbar) and select "Paragraph." Using the pull-down menu under "Special," select "Hanging." This will create hanging indents for all the references, which is required in a MLA paper.

Tips & Warnings

• Watch your punctuation. The way most people get points off for incorrect referencing a textbook MLA style is by forgetting punctuation or by using it incorrectly.
• Don't forget that MLA-style papers are double-spaced!