Citing an Encyclopedia

Published January 29, 2021. Updated August 15, 2021.

To create a reference or citation for an encyclopedia, you will need to know the author, title of the encyclopedia, publication year, publisher, and URL.

The examples below will show you how to cite an encyclopedia in MLA, APA, Chicago, and Harvard referencing styles. Easily cite an encyclopedia in the style of your choice using the Chegg Writing citation generator.

Citing an encyclopedia in MLA style

In-text citation template and example:

(Surname Page#)

(Kaplan 42)

Works cited entry templates and examples:

If information doesn't exist (e.g., volume number, editor, etc.), simply leave that section out of the entry.

"Article Title." Encyclopedia Name, edited by Editor's Full Name, edition or volume number., Publisher Name, Date Published, Location - either page range OR URL.

"Willis Carto." Encyclopedia of White Power: A Sourcebook on the Radical Racist Right, edited by Jeffrey Kaplan, 1st ed., Altamira, 2000, p. 42-45.

"Waimea Canyon State Park." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 30 June 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waimea_Canyon_State_Park

For more information on this citation style, see citing an encyclopedia in MLA style. Help protect your paper against accidental plagiarism with the Chegg Writing plagiarism checker and citation generator.

Citing an encyclopedia in APA style

In-text citation templates and examples:

("Article Title," Year published, p.Page# if available)

("Willis Carto," 2000, p. 42)

(Surname, Year Published)

(Tikkanen, 2022)

Reference list entry templates and examples:

Author Surname, First Initial. (Date published). Article title. In Editor First Initial and Surname (Ed.), Encyclopedia name (pp. #-#). Publisher Name.

Willis Carto. (2000). In J. Kaplan (Ed.), Encyclopedia of white power: A sourcebook on the radical racist right (pp. 42-45). Altamira.

Online (with author)

Author Surname, First Initial OR Organization Name. (Date published). Article title. In Encyclopedia name. Publisher Name. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL

Tikkanen, A. (2022, March 1). Hillsborough disaster. In Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 1, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/event/Hillsborough-disaster

Online (without author)

Article title. (Date published). In Encyclopedia name. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL

Waimea Canyon state park. (2021, June 30). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waimea_Canyon_State_Park

For more information on this citation style, see citing an encyclopedia in APA style.

Citing an encyclopedia in Chicago style, notes-bibliography

If information does not exist (e.g., edition number, editor, etc.), leave that section out of the citation.

Footnote templates and examples:

Author or Editor's Full Name, "Article Title," in Encyclopedia Title, Edition# ed., (Publisher Location: Publisher Name, Publication Date), pages or URL.
Encyclopedia Name, s.v., "Article Title," accessed Month Day, Year, URL.

Jeffrey Kaplan, ed., "Willis Carto," in Encyclopedia of White Power: A Sourcebook on the Radical Racist Right (Lanham: Altamira, 2000), 42-45.
Amy Tikkanen, "Hillsborough disaster," in Encyclopedia Britannica, accessed March 1, 2022, https://www.britannica.com/event/Hillsborough-disaster.
Wikipedia, s.v., "Waimea Canyon State Park," accessed March 1, 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waimea_Canyon_State_Park.

Bibliography entry template and example:

Author or Editor Last Name, First Name. "Article Title." In Encyclopedia Title, Page range. Publisher location: Publisher Name, Year published. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.

"Article Title." In Encyclopedia Title. Accessed Month Day, Year, URL.

Kaplan, Jeffrey, ed. "Willis Carto." In Encyclopedia of White Power: A Sourcebook on the Radical Racist Right, 42–45. Lanham: Altamira, 2000.

Tikkanen, Amy. "Hillsborough disaster." In Encyclopedia Britannica. Accessed March 1, 2022, https://www.britannica.com/event/Hillsborough-disaster.

"Waimea Canyon State Park." In Wikipedia. Accessed June 30, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waimea_Canyon_State_Park.

For more information on this citation style, see citing an encyclopedia in Chicago style.

Citing an encyclopedia in Chicago style, author-date

In-text citation example:

(Surname Year published, Page#)

(Kaplan 2000, 41)

Reference list entry example:

Author Surname, First Name. Date Published. Encyclopedia Title, Page range. Publisher location: Publisher Name.

Kaplan, Jeffrey, ed. 2000. Encyclopedia of White Power: A Sourcebook on the Radical Racist Right, 41–56. Lanham: Altamira.

For more information on this citation style, see citing an encyclopedia in Chicago style.

How to cite an encyclopedia in Harvard referencing style

In-text citation example:

(Surname Year published)

(Kaplan, 2000)

Reference list entry example:

Editor Surname, First Initial. (Year Published) Encyclopedia title. Publisher Location: Publisher Name.

Kaplan, J. (ed.) (2000) Encyclopedia of white power: A sourcebook on the radical racist right. Lanham, MD: Altamira.

For more information on this citation style, see citing an encyclopedia in Harvard referencing style. Writing a paper? Don’t forget to include a bibliography.

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