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

To create a textbook reference or citation, you will need to know the name of the author or organization, the book title, the publisher name, the place of publication, and the publication year.

The templates and examples below will show you how to cite a textbook in MLA style, APA style, Chicago style, and Harvard referencing style.

Easily cite a textbook in the style of your choice using the Chegg Writing citation generator.

Help protect your paper against accidental plagiarism with the Chegg Writing plagiarism checker and citation generator.

Citing a textbook in MLA style

The title of the textbook should be in title case and italicized.

In-text citation template and example:

(Organization Name/Author Last Name)

(Morgan-Ellis 90)

Works cited entry template and example:

For more examples and information, view our citing a textbook in MLA guide.

Citing a textbook in APA style

The title of the textbook is set in sentence case and italicized.

In-text citation template and example:

(Organization Name/Author Surname, Publication Year)

(Rao, 2008)

Reference list entry template and example:

For more examples and information, view our citing a textbook in APA guide.

Citing a textbook in Chicago style, notes-bibliography

The title of the textbook is set in title case and italicized.

Footnotes template and example:

Note

1. Organization Name/Author’s Full Name, Title of the Textbook in Title Case (Place of publication: Publisher name, Year Published).

2. Patrick H. Hutton, History as an Art of Memory (Burlington: University of Vermont, 1993).

Shortened note

3. Organization Name/Author Surname, Book Title.

4. Hutton, History as an Art of Memory.

Bibliography entry template and example:

For more examples and information, view our citing a textbook in Chicago Style guide.

Citing a textbook in Chicago style, author-date

The book title should be in title case and italicized.

In-text citation template and example:

(Author Surname Publication Year)

(Sadasivan 2000)

Reference list entry template and example:

For more examples and information, view our citing a textbook in Chicago Style guide.

Citing a textbook in Harvard referencing style

The title of the textbook is set in sentence case and italicized.

In-text citation template and example:

(Author Surname, Publication Year)

(Potter and Hotchkiss, 1998)

Reference list entry template and example:

For more examples and information, view our citing a textbook in Harvard Referencing Style guide. Writing a paper? Don’t forget to include a bibliography.