Citing and referencing: Books

A guide to the styles recommended by Monash schools and departments for students and researchers

Books - author rules

The rules for books with one author, two or more authors, an organisation as author, or no author are the same as the general rules for presenting authors in reference list entries described on the Reference list page of this guide.

 

Print books - general rule

Rule: Author A (Year) Title of book: subtitle of book, Name of Publisher, Place of Publication.

Example: Fenton J (2016) Values in social work: reconnecting with social justice, Palgrave, London. 

 

eBooks

If the ebook has a DOI, include it in your reference.  If not, include the URL preceded by a full stop. You don't need to include an accessed date for eBooks as they are published in editions. For all eBooks you don't need to include a place of publication. 

Rule: Author A (Year) Title of book: subtitle of book, Name of Publisher, doi:number OR URL

Example: Delgado M (2020) State-sanctioned violence: advancing a social work social justice agenda, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/oso/9780190058463.001.0001

OR

Example: Poulin J and Matis S (2019) Social work practice: a competency-based approach, Springer. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/monash/reader.action?docID=5968733

 

In-press books

If a book is not yet published, use the term 'in press' in place of the year. 

Rule for print books: Author A (in press) Title of book: subtitle of book, Name of Publisher, Place of Publication (if known).

Rule for eBooks:  Author A (in press) Title of book: subtitle of book, Name of Publisher, doi:number OR URL

Example: Ross B (in press) Writing skills for social work students, Red Globe Press, London. 

 

Edition of a book

Include the edition number in the reference list entry. Abbreviate edition as ‘edn’ without a full stop. Include the year of publication of the edition you are using.

Rule for print books: Author A (Year) Title of book: subtitle of book, Xth edn, Name of Publisher, Place of Publication.

Rule for eBooks:  Author A (Year) Title of book: subtitle of book, Xth edn, Name of Publisher, doi:number OR URL

Example: Godfrey J, Hodgson A, Tarca A, Hamilton J and Holmes S (2010) Accounting theory, 7th edn, John Wiley & Sons, Milton.

 

Edited books 

If only an editor is included

Rule for print books: Editor E (ed) (Year) Title of book: subtitle of book, Name of Publisher, Place of Publication.

Rule for eBooks: Editor E (ed) (Year) Title of book: subtitle of book, Name of Publisher, doi:number OR URL

Example: Fleming ML and Baldwin L (eds) (2020) Health promotion in the 21st century. Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest.

 

Book with author and editor listed

Rule for print books: Author A (Year) Title of book: subtitle of book (Editor E ed), Name of Publisher, Place of Publication.

Rule for eBooks: Author A (Year) Title of book: subtitle of book (Editor E ed), Name of Publisher, doi:number OR URL

Example: Coates J (2009) Indigenous social work around the world: towards culturally relevant education and practice (Gray M and Bird MY eds)Routledge, doi:10.4324/9781315588360

 

Chapter in an edited book

Rule for print books: Author A (Year) ‘Title of chapter: subtitle of chapter’, in Editor E and Editor F (eds) Title of book: subtitle of book, Name of Publisher, Place of Publication.

Rule for eBooks: Author A (Year) ‘Title of chapter: subtitle of chapter’, in Editor E and Editor F (eds) Title of book: subtitle of book, Name of Publisher, doi:number OR URL

Example: Couldry N (2013) 'Why media ethics still matters', in Ward SJA (ed) Global media ethics: problems and perspectives, John Wiley & Sons. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/monash/detail.action?docID=1120866

 

Translation of a book

Rule: Author A (Year) English title of book: subtitle of book (Translator T trans), Name of Publisher, Place of Publication.

Rule for eBooks: Author A (Year) English title of book: subtitle of book (Translator T trans), Name of Publisher, doi:number OR URL

Example: Flaubert G (1926) Madame Bovary (Marx Aveling E trans), Alfred A. Knopf, New York.

Please note: For translated works, use the original author’s name in the in-text citation.